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10 March 2023
Three Alleged Gang Members Indicted for Murder in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A superseding indictment has been returned by a federal grand jury charging three men, Michael Hobson, 30, and Tomarcus Baskerville, 34, of Somerville, Tennessee, and Christopher Peeler, 31, of Moscow, Tennessee, with committing murder in aid of racketeering and causing death using a firearm. The charges arise from a 2015 Hardeman County murder.
“This is another great example of the diligent work of the law enforcement community to rid our communities of the violence that gang members inflict upon our citizens. This indictment should serve as notice that we will use every available resource to bring those who engage in organized crime to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz.
“We applaud the diligent and thorough work of our special agents and law enforcement partners and are grateful for the continued work of the U.S. Attorney in ensuring the individuals responsible for this deadly and devastating string of organized crime, throughout West Tennessee, will be held accountable for every criminal act they have committed,” said TBI Director David Rausch.
According to U.S. Attorney Ritz, as well as the charges and information presented in court, in 2022, a federal grand jury indicted 14 alleged members and associates of the Traveling Vice Lord/Junk Yard Dog gang on various racketeering charges, including murder, attempted murders, and narcotic trafficking. This superseding indictment adds charges for a second murder and includes Michael Hobson as an alleged gang member and offender.
The indictment includes charges for six separate shootings, two murders, and four attempted murders in Hardeman County. As a result of these crimes, nine individuals were shot, and two of those victims died. Each of the defendants are being detained.
The RICO conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life. The charge of murder in aid of racketeering charge carries a sentence of life imprisonment. Each of the acts of brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a penalty of not less than 10 years consecutive to its related attempted murder (Violent Crime in Aid in Racketeering).
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, and the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham and Beth Boswell are prosecuting the case.
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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.
Tampa Bowling Arcade Shooter SentencedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Cedric Durham, Jr. (22, Tampa) to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Durham had pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022.
According to court documents, on March 6, 2022, a shooting occurred at the Pin Chasers Bowling Arcade in Tampa. Durham was the initial target and after being shot at, returned fire. Law enforcement arrived on scene as individuals were dispersing from the area in fear. Durham was arrested shortly after the shooting, after law enforcement observed him leaving the scene. The vehicle in which Durham was traveling was stopped and a firearm was found in Durham’s possession. The firearm matched the forensic evidence at the scene indicating that Durham had returned fire using 30 rounds of ammunition.
Durham was previously convicted of a felony offense and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
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, 2021m the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Springfield, Illinois, Woman Sentenced to Three Years of Probation for Pandemic Benefit Related Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, woman, Amber Bolen, 43, of the 200 block of South Durkin Drive was sentenced today to three years of probation, to include three months’ home confinement, for three counts of wire fraud related to fraudulently obtaining pandemic related benefits.
At Bolen’s sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that Bolen’s action deprived actual small businesses of receiving loan funds. Judge Myerscough also noted that some of those businesses had to close due to the effects of the pandemic and the depletion of funds.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Bolen submitted false information to the Small Business Association to obtain an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Bolen claimed that she operated a limousine and transportation business that employed 11 people, had over $90,000 in gross revenue in the prior year, and had operated since 2013. The information was false, as Bolen never operated any such business.
Bolen pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2022 and has remained free on bond.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
COVID-19 disaster relief benefits are intended to help people and businesses suffering as a result of the pandemic. If members of the public suspect that anyone fraudulently obtained or misused benefits, they should contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NDCF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submit the NCDF Web Complaint Form. The NCDF is a national coordinating agency within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division dedicated to improving the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of criminal conduct related to natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19). Hotline staff will obtain information regarding complaints, which will then be reviewed by law enforcement officials. More information is available at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Kenneth Neal, 32, of the 1800 block of Stanhope Road, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 100 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, for distributing 110 grams of heroin between December 2019 and February 2020.
Neal has been detained since his arrest and is presently serving a previously imposed state sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The statutory penalties for distribution of heroin after having previously been convicted of a qualifying prior offense are: not more than 30 years in prison, not more than a $2,000,000 fine, and not less than six years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Springfield Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Neal 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.
Springdale Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced yesterday to 396 months in prison without the possibility of parole on one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor via Production of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, in early 2022, the Springdale Police Department initiated a sexual assault investigation after a 13-year-old female disclosed to a counselor that, Pearson Pete Patrick, age 39, had been sexually abusing her over the past two years. During the ensuing investigation, Springdale Officers located Patrick, who during a post-Miranda interview, admitted to abusing the minor.
Law enforcement then obtained a residential search warrant for Patrick’s Springdale residence. A forensic examination of the electronic devices taken from the residence revealed multiple homemade videos depicting the sexual abuse of the 13-year-old victim. Further analysis revealed that Patrick had also recorded other minors via a hidden camera staged in the bathroom of his residence.
Patrick was indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in September 2022 and entered a plea of guilty in October 2022.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville, the Springdale Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 48 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – George L. Howell, 55 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the making of false statements in the straw purchase of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Howell was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in January 2020, Howell had another person buy a firearm for him at a pawn shop in South Bend, Indiana. The buyer lied on a form saying that they were the actual buyer, but both Howell and the buyer knew that the gun was really for Howell. Howell could not legally buy the gun because he was a convicted felon and thus prohibited from making the purchase. Howell’s prior felony convictions include battery resulting in serious bodily injury, burglary, and residential entry. The firearm was ultimately recovered from a truck Howell was driving.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.
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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Source of Supply for Carrollton Fentanyl Trafficker ChargedRead the Press Release
A Flower Mound man who supplied fentanyl to a trafficker linked to at least one juvenile overdose has been federally charged, announce U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Stephen Paul Brinson, 18, was arrested in Flower Mound on Wednesday, charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute a schedule II controlled substance. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rene Toliver Friday.
“In just four weeks, we have charged five adults accused of trafficking deadly fentanyl to children. The Justice Department will deploy every investigative technique, pursue every lead, and exhaust every legal avenue available to eradicate counterfeit fentanyl pills,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “In the meantime, we urge the community to remind our young people: Any pill not prescribed by a doctor could be lethal. One pill can kill.”
“The latest arrest of Mr. Brinson shows that our determination to reduce the threat of illicit fentanyl and save lives will not stop,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “Let me be clear to those who still continue to traffic fentanyl pills: DEA Dallas and our law enforcement partners such as Carrollton PD will find you and hold you accountable for your selfish actions. The safety of our families and community depend on it.”
“Taking this dealer out of the network puts a significant dent in the dealers’ ability to sell drugs to all DFW-area children. We remain committed to arresting those who put the lives of our children in danger,” said Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.
According to the complaint, Mr. Brinson acted as the source of supply for fentanyl to Donovan Jude Andrews, the Carrollton dealer who allegedly capitalized on the arrest of Luis Navarrete and Magalo Cano to advertise his pill business. (Mr. Andrews is allegedly tied to at least one juvenile fentanyl overdose, and Mr. Navarrete and Ms. Cano, along with their supplier, Jason Villanueva, are allegedly tied to ten others.)
Law enforcement identified Mr. Brinson shortly after they arrested Mr. Andrews and his juvenile driver, identified in court documents as “DC,” a Hebron high school student who allegedly chauffeured the dealer around in exchange for fentanyl pills.
In DC’s phone, DEA agents found text messages identifying the Instagram user “superstarxs” – later identified as Mr. Brinson – as a “plug,” or source, for fentanyl pills. A few days later, another young woman also identified Mr. Brinson, whom she called “Steve-O,” as the “main plug” for fentanyl.
On March 8, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mr. Brinson’s house in Flower Mound, where they encountered his 19-year-old girlfriend apparently under the influence of fentanyl. She told officers that there were crushed-up fentanyl pills near the nightstand in the room that she and Mr. Brinson shared and advised that Brinson had two safes in the bedroom. Inside one of the safes, Carrollton police officers found multiple bags containing more than 1,000 blue counterfeit M/30 pills that field tested positive for fentanyl:
Officers also found a digital scale covered in drug residue, small drug baggies used for repackaging for sale, and bulk U.S. currency. On a console table at the bottom of the stairs, they also found a note from Mr. Brinson’s parents outlining chores they wanted him to do and warning him, “don’t meet people in front of the house or in view of the house.” (Mr. Brinson’s father later told law enforcement he and his wife knew Stephen used fentanyl but claimed they did not know he was dealing pills in front of the home.)
Meanwhile, law enforcement observed Mr. Brinson load a large bag into his Lexus and followed him to a nearby parking lot, where cooperating defendants claimed he often conducted drug transactions. Inside the car, officers found an FN 5.7 pistol, commonly referred to a “cop killer,” and an AR-15 platform rifle; inside Brinson’s sock, they found a small baggy containing an M/30 pill. When he arrived at the Carrollton Jail for processing, Mr. Brinson began kicking his cell door and shouting. He later insisted he was “minding his own [expletive] business in my white-[expletive] house in Flower Mound,” and advised agents and officers that because he was white and living in Flower Mound, Texas, that was going to help him in his case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Brinson is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as are Mr. Andrews, Mr. Navarrete, Ms. Cano, and Mr. Villarreal.
If convicted, Mr. Brinson faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Flower Mound Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Six Houston gang members charged with using firearm in racketeering murderRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury in Houston has returned an indictment charging five men and one woman with aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
The six defendants are alleged members of the 100% Third Ward (103) Gang, which operates in and around the Third Ward area of Houston.
This is the first indictment returned as part of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) and local, state and federal law enforcement. This joint effort, first announced in September 2022, concentrates on addressing violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal racketeering laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecute violent offenders and to assist intervention, prevention and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, including through funding provided by the department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Since we announced the Violent Crime Initiative less than six months ago, our dedicated prosecutors and agents have been working tirelessly to target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent gang members that are terrorizing Houston residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These efforts have led to today’s announcement of an indictment charging half a dozen 103 Gang members with murder as part of their war with a rival gang. But we recognize that the fight against violent crime requires more than just enforcement actions and we are continuing to engage directly with the community to build trust and allow for meaningful and sustained change.”
“To gang members and others infecting our streets with this type of crime – the power of the federal government is here. We will not stop. We will find you. No matter how long it takes, we will prosecute and ensure you pay the price for your actions,” said SDTX U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “A priority of this office, every day, is for the Third Ward’s children to feel safe in their homes and on the streets from the terror of local gangs, and we will work with all partners and use all tools to make that priority a reality.”
The defendants are Shaquile O’Neal Richards, 29; Alexandra Elizabeth Nicks, 23; Deandre Watson, 24; Marcus Dewane Christopher, 26; Marquis Juwan Erskin, 29; and Mertroy Harris, 32.
The defendants, all from Houston, are charged with their involvement in a murder that occurred on London Street in the Third Ward in Houston in October 2017.
As alleged in the indictment, returned March 9, Richards was incarcerated in a state prison for aggravated robbery when he and Nicks ordered 103 Gang members to shoot members of a rival gang as part of an ongoing gang war. On Oct. 16, 2017, Watson, Christopher, Erskin and Harris allegedly saw someone they believed was a rival gang member. They allegedly opened fire at that individual, who was standing with another man. The suspected rival gang member was shot and injured, but the other victim, not part of any gang, was killed.
After the shooting, Watson, Christopher, Erskin and Harris allegedly attempted to flee in a stolen car but drove into a ditch. The four allegedly fled that car, and Watson, Christopher and Erskin then carjacked another vehicle by forcing a woman and child from it.
According to the indictment, the 103 Gang is an enterprise that engaged in criminal acts involving murder, robbery, narcotics distribution and assault. The 103 Gang allegedly recruits new members primarily from the neighborhoods within the Third Ward area. Gang members use violence, threats of violence and intimidation to protect the power, reputation and territory of the 103 Gang, according to the indictment.
“These indictments highlight he Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) commitment to investigating and bringing to justice those who use firearms to terrorize our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “Our streets are safer today because of the diligent work done on this case by ATF and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners that comprise the Violent Crime Initiative.”
“Gang violence impacts nearly every aspect of our communities, from the safety of our streets to the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Assistant Director Luis M. Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners and use every available tool to combat the fear and violence caused by these gangs and bring them to justice.”
“The commitment to putting violent offenders in jail and getting guns off our streets is a high priority,” said Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department (HPD). “I am so grateful and proud of this collaboration with our federal partners that allows us to continue to put criminals in jail and seek justice for those victimized by violent crime.”
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.
The ATF, FBI and HPD conducted the investigation the case with assistance from the Texas Anti-Gang Center.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Sheila Lafferty of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Six Houston Gang Members Indicted for Using a Firearm in Racketeering Murder of Innocent BystanderRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced an indictment charging five men and a woman with aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
The six defendants are alleged members of the 100% Third Ward (103) Gang, which operates in and around the Third Ward area of Houston.
This is the first indictment returned as part of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement. This joint effort, first announced in September 2022, concentrates on addressing violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal racketeering laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecute violent offenders and to assist intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, including through funding provided by the department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Since we announced the Violent Crime Initiative less than six months ago, our dedicated prosecutors and agents have been working tirelessly to target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent gang members that are terrorizing Houston residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These efforts have led to today’s announcement of an indictment charging half a dozen 103 Gang members with murder as part of their war with a rival gang. But we recognize that the fight against violent crime requires more than just enforcement actions and we are continuing to engage directly with the community to build trust and allow for meaningful and sustained change.”
“To gang members and others infecting our streets with this type of crime – the power of the federal government is here. We will not stop. We will find you. No matter how long it takes, we will prosecute and ensure you pay the price for your actions,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “A priority of this office, every day, is for the Third Ward’s children to feel safe in their homes and on the streets from the terror of local gangs, and we will work with all partners and use all tools to make that priority a reality.”
The defendants are Shaquile O’Neal Richards, 29; Alexandra Elizabeth Nicks, 23; Deandre Watson, 24; Marcus Dewane Christopher, 26; Marquis Juwan Erskin, 29; and Mertroy Harris, 32.
The defendants, all from Houston, are charged with their involvement in a murder that occurred on London Street in the Third Ward in Houston in October 2017.
As alleged in the indictment, Richards was incarcerated in a state prison for aggravated robbery when he and Nicks ordered 103 Gang members to shoot members of a rival gang as part of an ongoing gang war. On Oct. 16, 2017, Watson, Christopher, Erskin, and Harris allegedly saw someone they believed was a rival gang member. They allegedly opened fire at that individual, who was standing with another man. The suspected rival gang member was shot and injured, but the other victim, not part of any gang, was killed.
After the shooting, Watson, Christopher, Erskin, and Harris allegedly attempted to flee in a stolen car but drove into a ditch. The four allegedly fled that car, and Watson, Christopher, and Erskin then carjacked another vehicle by forcing a woman and child from it.
“These indictments highlight the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) commitment to investigating and bringing to justice those who use firearms to terrorize our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the ATF. “Our streets are safer today because of the diligent work done on this case by ATF and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners that comprise the Violent Crime Initiative.”
“Gang violence impacts nearly every aspect of our communities, from the safety of our streets to the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Assistant Director Luis M. Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners and use every available tool to combat the fear and violence caused by these gangs and bring them to justice.”
“The commitment to putting violent offenders in jail and getting guns off our streets is a high priority,” said Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department (HPD). “I am so grateful and proud of this collaboration with our federal partners that allows us to continue to put criminals in jail and seek justice for those victimized by violent crime.”
According to the indictment, the 103 Gang is an enterprise that engaged in criminal acts involving murder, robbery, narcotics distribution, and assault. The 103 Gang allegedly recruits new members primarily from the neighborhoods within the Third Ward area. Gang members use violence, threats of violence and intimidation to protect the power, reputation, and territory of the 103 Gang, according to the indictment.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.
The ATF, FBI, and HPD investigated the case with assistance from the Texas Anti-Gang Center.
Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Sheila Lafferty of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Silver Spring Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Darryl Colton Frazer, age 34, of Silver Spring, Maryland, yesterday to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for gun and drug conspiracy charges and for violation of supervised release. Frazer was convicted of those charges on November 3, 2022, after a three-day trial.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
According to the evidence presented at trial, on July 25, 2019, MCPD officers approached Frazer and co-defendant Shamire Moore after noting that Moore appeared to match the description of an individual involved a recent shooting. When Frazer and Moore saw the officers, they ran into a nearby residential area. Officers followed them and found Frazer in a nearby apartment building’s open stairwell attempting to enter an apartment.
Witnesses testified that Frazer was ordered to stop and to drop a black bag that he was carrying. Instead, Frazer threw the black bag from the stairwell into an adjacent courtyard. The black bag was immediately recovered by police, and Frazer was arrested. The black bag contained: a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol; 103 grams of marijuana packaged into four separate plastic bags; a digital scale, and latex gloves.
At the time of his arrest, Frazer was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction for unlawful weapons possession and had only finished his sentence for that offense the month before. Frazer knew that as a result of his previous conviction, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Shamire Moore pleaded guilty just before trial. According to Moore’s plea agreement, officers found Moore lying on the ground in a nearby wooded area. They ordered Moore to stand up and surrender, but instead, Moore scaled a fence and jumped onto an adjacent government property. Moore was eventually caught and arrested after a struggle. The black bag that Moore was carrying contained a loaded .38 caliber revolver, 106 grams of marijuana packaged into four separate plastic bags inside a larger Ziploc bag, and a digital scale, among other items. During a search of Moore’s clothing and effects, law enforcement also recovered $579 in cash, which represented proceeds of Moore’s drug trafficking offense. Moore admitted that he possessed the marijuana with intent to distribute it and that the firearm was in furtherance of drug trafficking since it was intended, at least in part, to defend his drug inventory and drug proceeds.
Shamire Moore, age 31, of Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced on March 7, 2023, to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam K. Ake, Joel Crespo and Patrick D. Kibbe, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Seven Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle More Than $20 Million of Cocaine in International WatersRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced seven Mexican and Ecuadorian nationals to federal prison for their roles in a plan to smuggle more than $20 million of cocaine from South America to Central America in a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The individuals were sentenced to the following prison terms:
Name Age, Residence Sentence Imposed Luis Alberto Bran-Lopez 43, Oaxaca, Mexico 21 years, 10 months Isaac Enriquez Oyando 34, Chiapas, Mexico 21 years, 10 months Romeo Santos Hernandez 37, Paredon, Mexico 20 years Juan Hernandez 45, Mexicali, Mexico 21 years, 10 months John Dario Macias Agua 34, Ecuador 21 years, 10 months Jaime Velez Arcentales 40, Manabi, Ecuador 21 years, 10 months Eddy Anchundia Velez 32, Jaramillo, Ecuador 21 years, 10 monthsBran-Lopez pleaded guilty on April 15, 2022. Enriquez-Oyando, Santos-Hernandez, Macias Agua, Velez Arcentales, and Anchundia Velez were convicted at trial on August 19, 2022. Juan Hernandez pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022.
According to court documents and trial evidence, these individuals were part of a seven-person crew smuggling 760 kilograms of cocaine from South America to Mexico. On January 14, 2021, aerial surveillance spotted a suspicious vessel in international waters more than 200 miles south of Huatulco, Mexico. A law enforcement detachment from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast interdicted the vessel and found the seven crew members in the process of trying to throw bales of cocaine overboard. Evidence was presented that the vessel departed South America and rendezvoused with a boat from Mexico to transport the cocaine to shore. However, the Mexican vessel experienced engine troubles, and all seven conspirators had to travel in the slower South American vessel until the Coast Guard interdicted them.
During the trial, the defendants from Mexico claimed that they were tricked into going on a drug trip and the defendants from Ecuador claimed they were adrift at sea and rescued shortly before the Coast Guard showed up. At trial, the jury heard evidence that investigators learned of a plan that one of the seven coconspirators would plead guilty and then provide false information to law enforcement exonerating the others. Bran-Lopez, who the evidence showed was the captain of the Mexican go-fast vessel that broke down during the smuggling operation, was the designated “fall guy.” He pleaded guilty and then testified for the defense that he tricked his codefendants into thinking they were going on a fishing trip because his family had been kidnapped. While at sea, his coconspirators found Macias Agua, Velez Arcentales, and Anchundia Velez adrift in another vessel. However, the timeline of events in Bran-Lopez’s testimony did not match evidence obtained from searches of cellphones and GPS data showing that he and his coconspirators were at sea days before he claimed the kidnapping happened. Trial evidence also showed that Juan Hernandez had a prior federal trafficking conviction, and at sentencing the court considered evidence of Anchundia Velez having a drug trafficking conviction in Ecuador that is pending appeal.
The Court found that each defendant obstructed justice through the scheme to have Bran-Lopez provide false information at trial. Bran-Lopez, specifically, obstructed justice when he gave false information to agents, and the codefendants obstructed justice when trying to benefit from Bran-Lopez’s trial testimony, knowing that it was false.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Pardo and Dan Baeza.
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Receiving Ammunition While Under Felony IndictmentRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced today that CHRISTOPHER RAY EDWARDS, age 37, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was sentenced on March 8, 2023, by Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl to 70 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment, for receiving ammunition while under a felony indictment.
Edwards was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and receiving ammunition while under a felony indictment. As part of a plea agreement, Edwards pleaded guilty to the receiving-ammunition charge.
On June 4, 2022, Wyoming Highway Patrol pulled over Christopher Edwards while he was driving on Interstate 80 in Albany County for suspicion of driving under the influence. Troopers searched the vehicle and discovered a homemade AR-15 style rifle and multiple rounds of various ammunition. A subsequent criminal history check revealed that Edwards had several prior felony convictions and was under indictment in South Carolina for another felony.
This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney T.J. Forwood prosecuted the case.
Case No. 22-CR-00054-ABJ
Rockland County Jail Inmates Charged with Production of Child Pornography While Awaiting Trial on Murder and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Louis Falco III, the Rockland County Sheriff, announced that DARIN PETERSON and ANTHONY MITCHELL were charged today with production of child pornography. According to the Complaints, PETERSON and MITCHELL enticed a child (the “Victim”) — while the Victim was 14 and 15-years-old and while the defendants were incarcerated, awaiting trial for murder and other serious charges — to send them digital content of herself engaged in sexually explicit activity. The defendants were transferred into federal custody today and presented on the charges in White Plains Federal Court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The harm that child sex abuse can inflict on the most innocent of victims is something no child should bear. That these defendants committed these crimes while awaiting trial for murder and other serious charges makes their conduct especially contemptible, and this Office and our FBI partners will continue to exhaustively detect, identify, and charge any individuals engaged in this sinister conduct.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Petersen and Mitchell, while incarcerated awaiting trial for murder and additional violent crimes, allegedly preyed on a child, inducing them to send sexually explicit content to the defendants. The FBI and our partners in law enforcement will remain tireless in our efforts to protect children from violent predators.”
Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III said: “The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockland County Intelligence Center were proud to assist the FBI Safe Streets Task Force in this investigation. Sexual predators who exploit children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As alleged in the Complaints:[1]
From on or about August 12, 2022, up to and including on or about September 25, 2022, in the case of MITCHELL, and from on or about December 7, 2022, up to and including on or about January 29, 2023, in the case of PETERSON, the defendants contacted the Victim and demanded that she take and send to them sexually explicit digital media depicting herself.
The defendants committed these crimes while PETERSON awaited trial for murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, and while MITCHELL awaited trial for murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon.
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MITCHELL, 23, of Haverstraw, New York, and PETERSON, 29, of West Haverstraw, New York, are charged with one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of 30 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and thanked the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this case.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Arad is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Repeat Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking in KokomoRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jerry Glenn, 36, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, on July 18, 2021, at approximately 4 in the morning, Kokomo Police Department Officers found Jerry Glenn asleep in the driver seat of a parked vehicle. Officers offered Glenn a ride home. Before placing him in the squad car, officers searched Glenn and recovered 139 grams of methamphetamine in his back pocket. Glenn intended to sell and distribute the methamphetamine.
At the time of his arrest, Glenn had been previously convicted of multiple felonies related to possessing and dealing in methamphetamine and other controlled substances.
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
“Methamphetamine and other controlled substances are killing far too many Hoosiers and have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Repeat drug dealers like this defendant must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. I commend the efforts of the DEA and Kokomo Police Department to make our communities safer by getting meth and meth dealers off our streets.”
DEA and Kokomo Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Glenn be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $500.00 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case.
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Repeat Child Pornography Defendant SentencedRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to ten years in prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, David Hooke, 48, previously was convicted in 2016 in Franklin (Virginia) Circuit Court for possession of child pornography. After serving a brief period in jail, Hooke moved into the Onesimus Transition Center (OTC), a residential facility in Chesapeake for men who have been released from prison. In March 2021, the FBI received information that a computer user at OTC was sharing images of child pornography. In September 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at OTC. Hooke, who was on state supervision at the time, admitted to sharing images of child pornography online, and an analysis of his computers revealed numerous images of child pornography.
During the execution of the search warrant, another OTC resident and convicted sex offender, Morris Guy Warren, was also found to be in possession of child pornography. Warren was sentenced in federal court to ten years’ imprisonment in December 2022.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-61.
Randolph Woman Arrested for Hiding over $3.2 Million in PayrollRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Randolph woman was arrested today in connection with her involvement in a payroll tax avoidance scheme.
Lilian Giang, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury with mail fraud and failure to collect and pay over taxes. Giang was released on conditions following an appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell.
According to court records, between 2015 and 2019, Giang owned and operated Able Temp Agency, a temporary employment agency in Quincy that served client companies in Massachusetts. The client companies paid Able Temp Agency for the temporary employees’ work on an hourly basis. Giang deposited those payments into bank accounts in the name of Able Temp Agency that she controlled, and then allegedly paid the temporary employees through a combination of checks and cash. By using cash payments, Giang allegedly hid over $3.2 million in payroll and avoided paying more than $815,000 in required payroll taxes. It is further alleged that Giang also used her false payroll numbers to obtain worker’s compensation insurance at lower premium rates.
The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of failure to collect or pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $10,000 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.
United States Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking over Three Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Pea Ridge man was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in prison without the possibility of parole followed by five additional years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on May 29, 2022, investigators with the Benton County Drug Unit, assisted by officers from Arkansas Probation and Parole, conducted a home compliance check with Dustin Vann, age, 33, who was on parole based on a previous felony conviction. Upon entry of his Pea Ridge residence, the investigators located Vann in his bedroom along with a backpack that contained 8 baggies of methamphetamine. The gross weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 3.6 pounds. The backpack also contained a drug ledger, clear plastic baggies, digital scales, and $764 in U.S. currency.
Vann was subsequently charged in federal court via Grand Jury and pleaded guilty to possessing and intending to distribute the approximate 3 pounds of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Benton County Drug Unit and Arkansas State Probation and Parole investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Physician Convicted of $5M Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a physician today for a $5 million health care fraud scheme.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Frederick Gooding, 71, of Wilmington, Delaware, owned and operated a now-shuttered physiatry and pain management practice in Washington, D.C. Between 2015 and 2018, Gooding fraudulently billed Medicare more than $5 million for injections he did not perform, or did not provide as billed, including complicated spinal injections for which he did not own the necessary equipment.
Gooding was convicted of 11 counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. 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, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG, with assistance from the Washington, D.C. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jil Simon and Emily Gurskis of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant Chiefs Jillian Willis and Scott Armstrong were also involved in the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Peoria, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (“Ice”) with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Keyshawn Q. Banks, 24, of the 1000 block of West Thrush Avenue, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine (“Ice”).
At the sentencing hearing before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the government presented evidence establishing that Banks distributed ice methamphetamine in the Peoria area from at least March 2022 to July 2022. On July 13, 2022, officers intercepted Banks in his vehicle on his way to a drug sale. When several officers surrounded his vehicle, Banks tried to flee from the scene but struck a nearby house and was apprehended. Officers then found 118 grams of methamphetamine on the backseat of his car. The methamphetamine was 99% pure. Banks was held accountable for possessing and distributing 2.78 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the four-month investigation.
A criminal complaint was filed against Banks in July 2022, and he was indicted in August 2022. He entered a guilty plea in September 2022. Judge Mihm accepted Banks’s guilty plea in December 2022.
The statutory penalty for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute is a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $10 million dollars, and no less than 5 years to life of supervised release.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Peoria Police Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team (“TRIDENT”), investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Banks is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Miguel Lobano-Diaz, 35, a Mexican citizen living in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lobano-Diaz to 48 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Lobano-Diaz is also pending an order of deportation.
In July 2022, Omaha police narcotics detectives identified Lobano-Diaz as a suspected supplier of cocaine in the Omaha area. On August 10, 2022, officers executed a search warrant of Lobano-Diaz’s residence and found 100 grams of methamphetamine and nine ounces of cocaine. Laboratory testing confirmed the methamphetamine was 94 percent pure. During the search, officers also located a large rechargeable scale and drug packaging.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Ogden Man Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Prior Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one and a half years followed by a 36-month term of supervised release for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon for a prior burglary conviction.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2021, Taydon Tailor Law, 22, of Ogden, Utah, a convicted felon restricted from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition, possessed a Ruger LC9, 9mm firearm and ammunition that he took without permission from a home where he was working. The firearm and ammunition were not manufactured in the state of Utah and travelled in interstate commerce.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah will continue to prosecute cases where individuals illegally possess and transfer firearms putting our citizens at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “Our goal is to prevent gun violence and we appreciate the commitment from our law enforcement partners who work to bring justice to victims and the community for these crimes.”
The case was investigated by the Ogden Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Branden B. Miles, for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Ricky Darnell Franklin, Jr. (31, Ocala) to three years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Franklin had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022.
According to court records, Franklin has four prior state felony convictions, including two convictions for attempted second degree murder with a firearm (2010), shooting at or into an occupied vehicle (2010), and possession of a firearm by a delinquent (2010). On September 30, 2021, officers from the City of Ocala Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Franklin was a passenger and recovered methamphetamine and a loaded handgun from the car. Laboratory testing by the FBI conclusively showed Franklin’s DNA on multiple parts of the loaded firearm, including the trigger. As a convicted felon, Franklin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Nicaraguan admits role in smuggling conspiracy resulting in deathRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old Nicaraguan citizen illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On June 6, 2022, Arling Antonio Gutierrez-Garcia drove a semi-tractor pulling a belly dump trailer with 63 citizens from Mexico and Guatemala. The metal trailer was covered with a vinyl tarp, thereby eliminating air circulation and increasing temperatures which led to the aliens’ distress.
Gutierrez-Garcia noticed them jumping out the trailer from a tear in the tarp they had made. He then stopped the semi-tractor in west Webb County on a private ranch road where law enforcement saw him standing by the cab.
Law enforcement and medical personnel provided assistance to the individuals located in the trailer and brush. One alien was found at the bottom of the trailer’s pit and pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities apprehended Gutierrez-Garcia in the brush, at which time he claimed he was being transported with the others. However, the investigation revealed he was the driver of the vehicle.
“Transporting dozens of human beings in a vinyl-covered all metal trailer in the South Texas summer heat demonstrates the callousness and indifference of smugglers to human life,” said Hamdani. “The sweltering heat that built up in this vehicle which was designed not for people, but for hauling sand, rock and other materials maximized the potential for injury and the eventual and tragic death of one of the victims. This defendant will now face substantial consequences for his inhumane crime.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that hearing, Gutierrez-Garcia faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Sheriff’s Offices in Webb and Dimmit Counties, Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KIDUS AWLACHEW, age 33, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Jay Zainey after previously being charged in a one-count bill of information with international parental kidnapping, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1204, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, AWLACHEW and Person 1, an adult female, began dating in about 2018. Soon thereafter, Person 1 and her daughter, Minor Victim, moved into AWLACHEW’S residence. Between 2018 and January 2022, AWLACHEW often voluntarily acted in a parental capacity toward Minor Victim .
In about December 2021, AWLACHEW told Person 1 that he wanted to take Minor Victim to Ethiopia to experience a different culture for about one month. Based on those representations, Person 1 agreed. In fact, AWLACHEW intended to keep Minor Victim in Ethiopia for more than one month.
Thereafter, AWLACHEW purchased tickets for he and Minor Victim to travel to Ethiopia on January 14, 2022, and to return on February 21, 2022. AWLACHEW and Minor Victim did not return on February 21. On numerous occasions, Person 1 inquired why AWLACHEW had not returned with Minor Victim and to demand that he do so. AWLACHEW either ignored the inquiries or provided a false justification for not returning. Moreover, AWLACHEW usually did not allow Person 1 to correspond directly with Minor Victim.
Law enforcement authorities recovered Minor Victim from AWLACHEW’S custody in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and took AWLACHEW into custody, on July 20, 2022. United States law enforcement authorities arranged for Minor Victim to be returned to New Orleans and reunited with her mother. AWLACHEW was returned to the United States on August 24, 2022.
AWLACHEW faces up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing before Judge Zainey has been scheduled for June 13, 2023, at 10:30 am.
"The ending in this case might have been much different without the coordination and cooperation between national and international partners," said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. "We thank the Louisiana State Police, the State Department, our fellow agents in Addis Ababa, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for bringing this case to a swift and positive conclusion."
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of State, and Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. U.S. Attorney Evans also expressed appreciation for the cooperation provided by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Iberia Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jaron Mitchell, 30, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 122 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge David C. Joseph conducted the sentencing hearing.
In this case, on May 10, 2022, a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) intercepted a package at UPS World Port in Louisville, Kentucky and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) began an investigation. Investigators learned the package contained several smaller boxes that were destined for a home in New Iberia, Louisiana. Agents discovered that the boxes contained infant/baby equipment, toys, and a total of ten (10) large Ziplock bag bundles containing suspected methamphetamine, each weighing approximately one pound. The total suspected weight of the methamphetamine was slightly more than ten pounds. Agents tracked the package to a home associated with Mitchell and then to a car where it was found. Mitchell was observed picking up the package from the home where it was delivered and was the driver of the car when package was located by officers. A data extraction of Mitchell’s cellphone showed he had been tracking the package through the UPS app on his phone. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charge on December 9, 2022.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
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Montgomery Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking and Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that William Kennedy Allen, II, 37, from Montgomery, Alabama, received a 23-year prison sentence for carjacking and federal gun crimes. The judge also ordered that Allen serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to Allen’s plea agreement and other court records, on August 9, 2021, an Alabama State Trooper attempted to stop a motorcycle traveling through Chilton County on Interstate 65 with no tag. The motorcycle driver, later found to be Allen, refused to stop and accelerated to speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour. The trooper followed and the pursuit continued as Allen exited the interstate and drove into a Clanton mobile home park. There, Allen abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot. By this time, other law enforcement officers were assisting in the pursuit. One officer caught up with Allen and took him to the ground. Once on the ground, Allen discharged a shot from a pistol he was holding in his hand. Luckily, the bullet did not strike anyone.
Roughly one month later, on September 10, 2021, agents with the United States Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force were looking for Allen to arrest him pursuant to a state warrant. Agents observed Allen driving in east Montgomery and attempted to block Allen’s car with their vehicles. Allen rammed the law enforcement vehicles and struck at least two other cars before leaving his vehicle behind and running through an assisted living facility located off Taylor Road. Allen then stepped into the middle of Taylor Road and forced a man out of his truck by pointing a gun at him. Once the man was out, Allen sped away in the victim’s vehicle. Next, Allen drove to Tuskegee and stopped at a gas station. There, he approached a man who was getting into his car. Allen grabbed the car door handle and put a gun in the man’s midsection, then Allen drove away in the vehicle. Law enforcement officers responding to the Tuskegee carjacking pursued Allen on Interstate 85. Eventually, Allen crashed the second stolen car and officers then took him into custody.
On September 1, 2022, Allen pleaded guilty to carjacking, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 8, 2023, the judge imposed the 23-year sentence.
“The disregard for the safety of others in this case is disturbing,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “During just a few weeks, Allen endangered the lives of so many individuals. I am grateful for the combined effort of the local, state, and federal law enforcement officials involved. Together, they apprehended a dangerous person and made multiple communities safer as a result.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Clanton Police Department, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted this case.
Monroeville Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to more than 4 Years Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Monroeville Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 51 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Damon Johnson, age 33.
According to information presented to the court, Johnson conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl between September 2020 and December 2021. Johnson sold some of the fentanyl to another distributer, who then sold it to an individual who suffered a fatal overdose after ingesting the fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.
Mississippi Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A McComb woman was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison and pay $58,668 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for preparing false tax returns for her clients, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to court documents and facts revealed at her plea hearing, Elizabeth Stephens, 41, worked at a tax return preparation business in McComb. Between 2014 and 2017, Stephens prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including false W-2 information and Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business Forms. These false expenses and altered W-2s reduced taxable income and maximized the Earned Income Credit, increasing the total refund amount. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022. She pled guilty on October 12, 2022.
“The sentence today is an example of the consequences people face when they prepare and file false returns,” said Lisa Fontanette, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “As a tax preparer, Elizabeth Stephens failed to follow the ethical responsibilities of her profession.”
The owner of the tax return preparation business, Shameka Wells, was sentenced on July 13, 2021 to 13 months in federal prison for filing a false tax return.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.
Michigan Man Arrested and Charged for Illegally Possessing Firearms While Making Threats to Kill Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Michigan man was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with illegally possessing firearms after having been committed to a mental institution and while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. The man came to the attention of the FBI after he made numerous threats over YouTube to kill FBI agents, members of the LGBTQ community, President Biden, and Governor Whitmer.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the criminal complaint, Randall Robert Berka II, 30, of Sebewaing, Michigan, was illegally in possession of four firearms, three long guns and a pistol, after he had been committed to a mental institution and while he was a daily user of marijuana. Berka also was in possession of ammunition and body armor. The firearms were previously purchased for Berka by a relative who now feared that his mental health treatment was not working and was scared of Berka. The relative cooperated with FBI agents in securing the complaint.
The complaint further provides that Berka came to the attention of the FBI after Google reported to the agency that Berka was posting various threats on YouTube. Among other statements, Berka posted the following: “im going to kill these democrats biden deserves to die,” “im gonna kill lgbt freaks,” “you could be like me and get guns and threaten to kill politicians. Im more than willing tot kill whitmer and I do live in Michigan,” “Ill assault her . . . with my bullets,” and “i buy guns though and plot to kill people.”
The FBI arrested Berka at his residence in Sebewaing on Thursday, March 9, 2023. He will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today in the Bay City, Michigan courthouse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be asking the Court to hold Berka in pretrial detention because of his danger to the community and the risk that he will flee.
“We will take immediate action when we learn of individuals illegally possessing firearms and threatening to harm or kill others,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “I applaud Google’s vigilance in this matter, and we hope members of the community will, likewise, pay attention and report such conduct to law enforcement.”
“This defendant’s actions were very alarming,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “When free speech crosses a line and becomes a threat of violence against another – aggravated by the illegal possession of firearms – the full investigative resources of the FBI will be brought to bear. As always, we encourage the public to be vigilant and report concerning behavior to the FBI and local law enforcement.”
Based on the charges in the complaint, Berka faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Vance.
Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Growing over 6,500 Marijuana Plants in the Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Agustin Cruz-Sanchez, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the United States for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and depredation of public lands and resources, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from April to August 2018, Cruz-Sanchez lived and worked at an illegal marijuana grow site in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, along with co-defendant Abraham De Los Santos-Sanchez. Beginning on Aug. 17, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search of the grow and eradicated 6,575 marijuana plants, a marijuana processing area, and harvested marijuana. The marijuana had an estimated street value of more than $1.5 million. Cruz-Sanchez and Santos-Sanchez expected to share in those profits, along with the off-site leader of the operation, Fidel Sanchez-Cruz.
During the search and reclamation of the grow site, law enforcement found a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with an obliterated serial number, pellet rifles, a loaded Smith & Wesson magazine, and a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition cartridge in front of Cruz-Sanchez’s tent. The handgun was found along the route that Cruz-Sanchez fled from law enforcement during the search of the grow site, before he was apprehended and arrested. Photographs and videos found on Cruz-Sanchez’s cellphone showed him and Santos-Sanchez posing with the handgun and pellet rifle in the marijuana fields and touting their ability to protect the grow with the weapons.
The environmental damage to the forest was analyzed and documented by Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems that has examined over 100 public land marijuana grow sites.
According to the report of the investigation filed with the court, environmental scientists found and documented extensive environmental damage, including the use and disposal of bottles of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. The hazardous wastes found at the grow site included carbofuran, a toxic pesticide that is banned in the United States. The environmental assessment concluded that the carbofuran and other pesticides and fertilizer at the grow site likely posed a significant direct risk to a number of endangered and threatened species, including the northern spotted owl, the foothill yellow-legged frog, and coho salmon. Makeshift reservoirs and a large network of plastic irrigation lines were also found and eradicated. The environmental assessment concluded that more than 14.25 million gallons of water were illegally diverted at the grow site.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice – North State Marijuana Investigation Team, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, the Corning Police Department, and the Red Bluff Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
Santos-Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and on June 18, 2020, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On May 19, 2022, Fidel Sanchez-Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, and depredation of public lands and resources. Sanchez-Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Sanchez-Cruz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS-JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA, a/k/a “Fernando A. Lopez,” a/k/a “Juan C. Martinez,” a/k/a “Oscar Flores,” a/k/a “Martin Peralta,” a/k/a “Juan Castaneda,” age 54, pled guilty on March 9, 2023 to a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to documents filed in court and signed by him, JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA (“MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA”) admitted reentering the United States after being previously deported on February 3, 2003. MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Victor Gerardo Mendez-Gil, 34, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendez-Gil to imprisonment for a term of 60 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Mendez-Gil will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Mendez-Gil will be removed by immigration authorities from the United States to Mexico after completing his sentence.
On February 9, 2021, Mendez-Gil was dispatched by a Mexico-based methamphetamine supplier to deliver one pound of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Omaha. The methamphetamine weighed approximately 464.4 grams. After additional investigation, agents were able to obtain a warrant to search Mendez-Gil’s Omaha residence. Mendez-Gil was arrested during the search on February 16, 2021. At the time, he was in possession of approximately 36 pounds of methamphetamine mixture and $15,099.00 in United States Currency. The currency consists of proceeds from methamphetamine trafficking and has been criminally forfeited to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Division.
Man Pleads Guilty for his role in a Delaware County MurderRead the Press Release
A man who took part in a shooting that led to the death of one man and the injury of a woman pleaded guilty in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Dakota Chase Buzzard, 21, of Grove, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence.
Buzzard admitted in a plea agreement that he agreed with others to carry and use a .22 caliber rifle to confront victim Jerry Tapp at his home in Delaware County. Tapp was killed during the confrontation. The other two individuals allegedly involved in the killing were the defendant’s brother Cody Dwayne Buzzard, 29, and his father James William Buzzard, 50.
On Aug. 1, 2019, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting near Jay. Deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard. It appeared that Tapp sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and that a second victim had sustained a gunshot wound to her arm. According to court documents, the victim told investigators that she heard a noise outside the home early that morning and thought Tapp had forgotten his keys to the house. When she turned on the light and opened the door, she heard gunfire and felt a sudden pain in her right wrist. She then shut and locked the front door, crawled to another room, and called 911. The three defendants were later charged with the crime.
On Aug. 11, 2022, Cody Buzzard pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country and conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence.
James Buzzard is currently scheduled for trial in April. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
See indictment press release here.
The FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger is prosecuting the case.
Man Indicted on Multiple Kidnapping, Carjacking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a Chicago man on three counts of kidnapping, two counts of carjacking, and one firearms charge for offenses he committed while on pre-trial release for a previously charged federal gun offense. Those convicted of committing a criminal offense while on pretrial release are subject to an enhanced criminal penalty.
The superseding indictment alleges that on February 27, March 8, and March 10, 2021 ANDREW ANANIA, 28, of Chicago, kidnapped the drivers of three vehicles, one on each date. On two of the occasions, Anania also stole the victims’ motor vehicle with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. In October 2021, Anania was previously indicted on a kidnapping charge for the incident that occurred on March 8 during which he also sexually abused his victim. Anania was arrested for this offense on March 13, 2021 and has been in custody since that time.
Prior to the conduct described in the superseding indictment, on February 15, 2019, while driving in the neighborhood of Little Village, Anania was stopped by Chicago Police Officers. When officers attempted to approach Anania, he fled on foot through a residential neighborhood. During the pursuit, officers observed Anania throw a firearm into a residential yard. Officers arrested Anania and recovered the firearm a short time later. Anania was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm on June 26, 2019, and a court later granted his request for pre-trial release. On October 14, 2021, Anania pleaded guilty to this firearms offense, and he was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment for that offense on February 14, 2022.
The indictment is announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the Darien Police Department, Cicero Police Department, Summit Police Department, and Stickney Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cornelius Vandenberg.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of kidnapping is punishable by up to life imprisonment, and each count of carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years in federal prison. The charge of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a mandatory sentence of at least 7 years’ imprisonment if the government proves that the firearm was brandished, which sentence must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Lackawanna County Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Moises Vargas-Olivio, age 22, of Olyphant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 9, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, to the charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vargas-Olivio admitted to possessing a loaded .357 Magnum revolver, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, and an illegal “sawed-off” shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge stems from an incident on May 22, 2022, in which Lackawanna County Detectives and members of the Olyphant Police Department made a purchase of cocaine from Vargas-Olivio and then obtained a search warrant for Vargas-Olivio’s residence in Olyphant. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of an additional amount of cocaine packaged for distribution, approximately $20,000 in U.S. currency, numerous pills, marijuana, two loaded handguns, and a loaded “sawed-off” shotgun.
The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by Lackawanna County Detectives, the Olyphant Police Department, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Brian J. Gallagher are prosecuting the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Under federal law, for the firearms charges, Vargas-Olivio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of life, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Knoxville Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 10, 2023, Clarence (“Buzz”) Nabers, 56 years old, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home detention by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Judge Crytzer also ordered Dr. Nabers to serve one year on supervised release, pay restitution in the amount of $249,600.02, and pay a fine of $22,128.
Dr. Nabers, a Tennessee licensed dentist, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1347.
As set forth in the written plea agreement filed with the court, during the time of the conspiracy, which began on an unknown date and lasted until at least November 1, 2018, Dr. Nabers conspired to submit more than 6,700 fraudulent claims to three health care benefit programs, resulting in a loss amount to those programs of $249,600.02.
Those fraudulent claims, which were submitted using Dr. Nabers’s National Provider Identifier number, falsely represented that Dr. Nabers had either personally performed or supervised various dental procedures in his office, including but not limited to Oral Evaluations, Oral Evaluations for Patients under 3 Years of Age, and Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluations. These procedures are required to be performed or supervised by a dentist, and not by a dental hygienist or dental assistant. Dr. Nabers admitted that he had not, in fact, personally performed or supervised the performance of those procedures because he was not physically present at the office when they were performed. Instead, the procedures were performed by dental hygienists or dental assistants when the defendant was not physically present in the office.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Assistant United States Attorney T.J. Harker, and current Assistant United States Attorney William A. Roach, Jr., prosecuted the case.
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Kentucky Man is Last of Six Sentenced in Anabolic Steroids and Pill Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Justin T. Hail, 37, of Somerset, Kentucky, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, methamphetamine, N-Ethylhexedrone, and Alprazolam, and conspiracy to launder money. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hail to imprisonment for a term of 72 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Hail will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Hail was a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that produced and distributed anabolic steroids and other controlled substances to customers throughout the country using a private Facebook group as an online storefront and the United States Postal Service to ship the drugs to locations throughout the country. Two members of the conspiracy operated clandestine laboratories from the west coast, specifically for the purpose of producing finished anabolic steroids. In addition to anabolic steroids, the DTO marketed and sold pharmaceutical drugs described as Xanax and Adderall. Legitimately prescribed pharmaceutical Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance containing amphetamine salts. However, laboratory testing revealed that the pills marketed as “Adderall” by the DTO were counterfeit and contained methamphetamine, also a Schedule II controlled substance. The “Xanax” distributed by the DTO contained N-Ethylhexedrone, a Scheduled I controlled substance. “Xanax” is a brand name for Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Alprazolam was also confirmed by laboratory testing to be present in substances recovered by investigators.
Customers purchasing controlled substances from the DTO were required to use cryptocurrency and cash to pay. Hail conducted sales for the organization and used peer-to-peer digital payment platforms to accept payments for controlled substances from customers and to transfer funds to and from other DTO members. In addition to the use of digital payment platforms, the DTO used various other methods designed to protect the membership’s anonymity and to provide security for the criminal organization from law enforcement and other criminal organizations. Proceeds from the sale of steroids and other controlled substances were laundered by various sophisticated means
In addition to Hail, five other members of the DTO were prosecuted and convicted. They were Jonathan Stidham, sentenced to imprisonment for 156 months; Fernando Lopez-Reyes, 96 months; Robert Hood, 72 months; Lindsey Garcia, 48 months, and Justin Ames, who received a time served sentence.
“These defendants attempted a complex and unique scheme using social media platforms and cryptocurrencies, but ultimately could not escape the reach of IRS Criminal Investigation’s special agents and our law enforcement partners,” said St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “IRS-CI is proud to be part of such a premier investigation team to help dismantle drug trafficking organizations across the country.”
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case was investigated by the Omaha offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Kent, Washington, resident indicted for dealing fentanyl while illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 36-year-old Kent, Washington, resident was indicted by a grand jury for trafficking narcotics while illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Mohamed Aweys Muse is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Muse is scheduled for arraignment on March 15, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, Muse came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2022, when Muse was observed making hand-to-hand drug sales in the area of Airport Way South and South Holgate Street in Seattle. Muse appeared to target the clients of a methadone clinic a block away for his drug sales.
In January, Muse started staying overnight at a Lynwood, Washington apartment. On February 2, 2023, law enforcement served a court-authorized search warrant on both the Lynnwood and Kent apartments. In the Lynnwood apartment, investigators found fentanyl, cocaine, and three firearms. In the Kent apartment, law enforcement found additional cocaine. Muse was arrested and has been in federal custody since his arrest.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Due to the drug quantities involved, Muse faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the drug trafficking charges. The firearms count is punishable by an additional five years in prison to run consecutive to any prison term imposed on the drug charges.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.
Justice Department Announces Allison Turkel as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation FundRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced that he has chosen Allison Turkel to head the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Turkel, who has served in the Justice Department for over 14 years, most recently in the Office for Victims of Crime, will assume her new position effective March 12, 2023. She will be taking over from August Flentje, who on April 29, 2022, was appointed as Special Master on an interim basis following the departure of former Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya.
“In administering the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the Justice Department is committed to honoring the victims and survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks, including those who bravely responded that day and in the years after, putting themselves at great risk,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am grateful for August’s service as interim VCF Special Master and I am confident that Allison’s leadership, vision, and commitment to serving victims will enable VCF to continue its essential mission.”
“As a native New Yorker, a former Philadelphia area police officer and lieutenant, and a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, it is an honor and privilege to be selected by the Attorney General for this important service,” Turkel said. “I recognize I am stepping into the position to carry on the legacy of those who held the role before me, while also focusing on the future of a program that must continue to meet the needs of claimants for decades to come. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated VCF staff to ensure that 9/11 claimants promptly receive the payments to which they are entitled. I also want to thank August for serving as interim Special Master over the past 10 months, leading the team and ensuring there was no slowdown in claims processing.”
The VCF has made tremendous progress since it re-opened in October 2011. As of Feb. 28, 2023, over $11.1 billion in compensation has been awarded to more than 50,000 responders and survivors who have been harmed because of their exposure to 9/11 toxins. Under Flentje’s leadership over the past 10 months, the VCF issued over 7,400 awards totaling over $1 billion dollars. Flentje continued to build upon the progress made during Bhattacharyya’s tenure, including reviewing and rendering decisions on nearly 800 appeals, meeting his goal to reduce to six months or less the waiting period for a decision after an appeal hearing is held. Flentje also saw that the VCF Transformation effort – initiated following the VCF’s Permanent Authorization in July 2019 – continued to move forward to ensure the program remains operational for decades to come.
Flentje is a career civil service attorney with the Department’s Civil Division and will support the VCF and Special Master Turkel as she steps into her new role. The Department does not expect any interruption in VCF claim review or in the issuance of awards during this transition.
Turkel’s career in public service has spanned decades, including her recent work with the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Prior to this role, Turkel oversaw all grant functions for the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Her prior work also included oversight of the team working with American Indian Tribes to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, for which she and her team received the Assistant Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service.
Turkel previously served as the Deputy Director of the Federal, International, and Tribal Division at OVC. She oversaw the Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program, including the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, National Mass Violence Victimization Center, and OVC’s Mass Violence victim support program. As Deputy Director, she also provided guidance and resources for federal partners’ victim services programs. In addition, she led the Tribal victims’ services program, including the creation of innovative and efficient processes to help the Department effectuate a massive increase in funding for the first ever Tribal Victim Services Set Aside Program, and the creation of the Tribal Financial Management Center.
Before her federal service, Turkel was the Director of the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), where she managed program activities and staff; and trained and provided technical assistance nationwide on child abuse, maltreatment, sexual exploitation, computer facilitated crimes against children, and domestic violence. Prior to her position at NDAA, Allison was a prosecutor for over 11 years, serving in New York and Illinois. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office for more than nine years, where she tried a wide variety of felony cases.
Turkel was born and raised in New York City, and although she has lived in the Washington D.C. area for the past 20 years, considers herself a lifetime New Yorker. Before beginning her legal career, she served as a police officer and lieutenant for eight years in the Philadelphia area. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
“This is a program that has always operated with transparency and compassion, and this will not change as we continue to work to provide full compensation to those who have suffered as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,” said Turkel.
For additional information on the Victim Compensation Fund, please visit: www.vcf.gov.
Jenks Man Pleads Guilty After Groping a Girl in a Store and Later Following Another Girl and Burglarizing her HomeRead the Press Release
A man who restrained and groped a girl at a Dollar General store where he worked and who followed another girl home from a school bus stop then burglarized her family’s home pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
William Mark Parnell, 21, pleaded guilty to Attempted Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country and Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country.
On June 1, 2021, Parnell admitted that he was working at a Dollar General in Glenpool when he saw a minor female walk inside. He followed the girl down an aisle then grabbed her from behind, placing one hand over her mouth and another hand down her pants. He told the minor to be quiet and move. He stated that when he tried to turn the girl to face him, she was able to escape. He admitted that he intended to engage in sexual contact with the victim.
On May 16, 2022, Parnell followed a different girl from a bus stop and broke into her family’s home in Tulsa. The child fled to a neighbor’s house just prior to Parnell’s entry. Parnell admitted that while inside, he stole a firearm. Shortly after, Parnell discarded the stolen firearm in a pond to conceal it from law enforcement.
Parnell was later identified and arrested, and the firearm was recovered from the pond in a joint effort by Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police and Tulsa Police.
The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, Glenpool Police Department, and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam C. Bailey and Stacey P. Todd are prosecuting the case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 7 was:
Antonio Ledesma Rodriguez, aka Uncle, 52, and Jose Delrefugio Rodriguez, 27, both of Yakima, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-106.
Stephen Jeffrey Vogel, 35, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Vogel faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vogel was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-26.
Titus Lee Pedraza, 40, of Box Elder, on charges of strangulation, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Pedraza faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Pedraza was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-24.
Thomas Knife, aka Smurf, 40, of Box Elder, and Antonio Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Knife also faces a charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, while Infante also faces a charge of distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other charge, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of possessing a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-21.
Heriberto Rodriguez Acosta, 30, of Yakima, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Acosta faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Acosta was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force, Rocky Boy’s Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and Kootenai County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-97.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 9 was:
Jeff David Burke, 37, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Burke faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Burke was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and U.S. Postal Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-15.
Michael Shane Oset, 47, of Livingston, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Oset faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Oset was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Park County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-18.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, wh ich provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indianapolis Man Charged in Federal Indictment for Two Armed Robberies, Armed Carjacking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging George Landy, 52, of Indianapolis, with interference with commerce by robbery, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, two counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As charged in the indictment, on October 24, 2022, Landy carjacked a woman outside a Dollar Tree store in Lawrence, Indiana. Landy approached the woman as she got into her car, displayed a firearm in his waistband, and ordered that she move to the passenger seat. Landy drove the woman to a bank and forced her to withdraw $500 from her account. Landy then drove the victim to the IndyGo Transit Center in downtown Indianapolis. Landy left her at the transit center and drove away in the stolen vehicle, with the victim’s money, jewelry, debit card, and driver’s license. The victim immediately called 911 and reported the carjacking.
The next day, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers (IMPD) located the stolen vehicle near Landy’s residence and observed him open the door using a key. When police approached Landy, he fled on foot and threw a firearm on the ground as he ran. Landy was apprehended, and police recovered the firearm. Landy is charged with illegally possessing the firearm following a felony conviction.
After Landy’s arrest, investigators linked him to two other violent crimes in Indianapolis; an armed robbery at a Family Dollar store on October 16, 2022, and an attempted armed robbery at a McDonald’s on October 23, 2022. Landy was armed with a firearm during both crimes. During the attempted armed robbery at the McDonald’s, Landy fired two shots into the restaurant. No one was injured.
If convicted on all counts, Landy faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, Randal Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and Gary Woodruff, Chief of the Lawrence Police Department, made the announcement.
The investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Lawrence Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hudson County Man Admits Producing Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey man, admitted producing images of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ramon Zelaya, 36, of Union City, pleaded guilty by videoconference on March 9, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to a second superseding indictment charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between Aug. 20, 2018 and Sept. 20, 2018, Zelaya used an alias Instagram account to message a minor victim and entice, threaten, and coerce the minor into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos. From April 2018 through May 2018, Zelaya used an alias Facebook account to conspire with an individual in the Dominican Republic to sexually abuse the individual’s minor child, create images of that abuse, and send the images to Zelaya. In May 2017, Zelaya used another messaging application to engage an additional underage victim in sexually explicit conversations during which Zelaya requested that the victim take sexually explicit photographs and videos of the victim and send them to him.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, and officers of the Union City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony Facchini, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie H. Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty and Sentenced for Using Another Individual’s Social Security Number to Secure EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ELTON JOHN MEJIA EUCEDA, age 22, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty yesterday to illegally using a social security number belonging to another individual, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans
According to documents filed in federal court, the defendant used a social security number belonging to another individual to secure employment with a local business. The defendant pled guilty before United States District Judge Susie Morgan and was sentenced to one year of probation and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty and Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Re-Entry After DeportationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – NORMAN GARCIA- GARCIA(“GARCIA-GARCIA”), age 24, was sentenced on March 7, 2023 for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, GARCIA-GARCIA admitted to reentering the United States after being previously deported on February 23, 2018. GARCIA-GARCIA was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to time served, which was over four months.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
Home health owner set to appear on fraud chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Houston woman has been charged for conspiracy to commit and committing health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Rose Davies is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 2 p.m.
A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment March 1 against Davies.
The charges allege Davies owned Pri Home Healthcare in Houston from 2012 to 2020. During that time, she allegedly paid recruiters and doctors to bill Medicare for home health care services using Medicare beneficiary information regardless of whether they needed home health care services or not.
If convicted, Davies faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of health care fraud as well as another five years for the conspiracy. All charges also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine.
Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace Murphy and James Hu are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Henderson County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A Henderson County, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, on October 7, 2021, Jason P. Elder, 43, of Henderson, Kentucky, possessed with the intent to distribute 164.95 grams of methamphetamine. When Elder committed this offense, he was on supervised release for a previous federal drug trafficking conviction, and he received an additional sentence of 12 months and 1 day for that violation. His total sentence in federal prison is 163 months and 1 day. Following the prison sentence, Elder will serve 5 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Individuals like the defendant, who plan to flood Western Kentucky communities with poisonous substances, will face lengthy federal prison sentences,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to focus federal resources on drug traffickers as we strive to increase public safety in the Western District.”
“As highly addictive drugs continue to plague communities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, this sentence removes an important cog in this western Kentucky ring of destruction,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Cohen. “Knowing the harm that drug trafficking brings to our neighborhoods, the FBI will continue to use all resources necessary to bring drug dealers to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Owensboro Satellite Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Greenfield Felon Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison After Breaking into a Hancock County Home, Stealing 25 Firearms, and Selling ThemRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- William Campbell, 32, of Greenfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on February 8, 2021, Campbell and another individual broke into a Hancock County residence and stole 25 firearms. Campbell then sold the firearms to another individual. As of today, only 8 of the firearms have been recovered by law enforcement officers.
Campbell is prohibited from lawfully possessing any firearm due to his three previous felony convictions for theft and drug offenses.
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
“Trafficking of stolen guns fuels the violence that devastates so many families,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Criminals like this defendant are part of the reason why so many firearms end up in the hands of dangerous criminals. The sentence imposed here demonstrates that those who violate our homes and endanger our neighbors will be held accountable.”
ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Campbell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Abhi Kambli, how prosecuted this case.
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Green Bay Man Sentenced to Ten Years of Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on March 10, 2023, Michael R. Chapman (age: 32) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced for conspiring to distribute over 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846.
According to court documents, between June and September of 2022, Chapman travelled to Southern California for the purpose of obtaining methamphetamine. Once in possession of the controlled substance, Chapman used the U.S. Postal system to mail the packages to his co-conspirators in Green Bay. The methamphetamine was then sold by Chapman upon his return to Wisconsin.
At sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Chapman’s offense and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Chapman and anyone else who might seek to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Chapman to serve ten years in federal prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Brown County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Framingham Man Sentenced in Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Framingham man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
Gustaf Njei, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Njei was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $94,630. In December 2022, Njei was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of wire fraud, one count of structuring to avoid reporting requirements, one count of unlawful monetary transactions and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Njei set up a bank account in the name of a fake business, “Njei Trading,” to receive the criminal proceeds of a BEC scheme. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated scam often targeting businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause employees of the victim company (or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions) to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers.
Njei’s co-conspirators used hacked and spoofed email accounts to trick the victims of the scheme into wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to a bank account under Njei’s control. Njei then transferred part of the funds to a bank account located overseas, while splitting the remaining funds with a co-conspirator in the United States.
“Since June 2016, victims have lost over $43 billion to BEC fraud schemes just like the one Mr. Njei and his co-conspirators engaged in. The network of online criminals targeting victims is growing every day and their tools are getting more sophisticated. This sentence should send a clear message to scammers that they will be identified and held accountable,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Njei knew he was engaging in a devastating fraud scheme, but all that mattered to him was lining his pockets with proceeds stolen from unwitting innocent victims. This sentence holds him accountable and we will to make sure that the restitution the court ordered gets to his victims.”
“Scam artists like Gustaf Njei are committing fraud on a massive scale and must be held accountable. This sentence does exactly that, although the harm the victims in this case suffered can’t be measured in dollars and cents,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Every year, victims lose billions of dollars of their hard-earned money, along with many sleepless nights, and fear losing their businesses and credibility. This case shows the FBI will do everything it can to find and hold financial fraudsters like Mr. Njei accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William B. Brady and Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.