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Thursday 26 January 2023
Pasadena Man Who Allegedly Adheres to Extremist Anti-Government Ideology Charged in Federal Complaint with Possessing Machine GunRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Pasadena man who allegedly sympathizes with the anti-government extremist “Boogaloo” movement has been charged in a federal criminal complaint alleging he brandished a loaded “ghost gun” near a South Los Angeles high school late last year, the Justice Department announced today.
Isaac Aaron Morgan Loftus, 26, is charged with one count of possession of a machine gun, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Loftus, who has been in state custody since his arrest in late November 2022, is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in the coming days.
According to an affidavit filed on January 23 with the complaint, around lunchtime on November 22, 2022, law enforcement received a call about an armed individual in the vicinity of Thomas Jefferson High School in South Los Angeles who was wearing a tactical vest and cargo pants. A witness told law enforcement that the individual – later identified as Loftus – had pointed a firearm at two passing motorists.
Loftus, who at first refused to obey multiple commands to stop and attempted to walk away from officers, eventually complied with officers’ requests, was detained and handcuffed and later arrested, the affidavit states.
Law enforcement allegedly removed a 9mm handgun with no serial number – commonly known as a “ghost gun” – one which contained one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine, from a holster on Loftus’s front right hip area. The holster was decorated with symbols commonly associated with the Boogaloo movement, according to the affidavit.
The “Boogaloos” are a loosely organized anti-government extremist movement whose adherents believe there will be a civil war or uprising against the United States government following perceived incursions on constitutional rights – including the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms – or other perceived government overreach.
On Loftus’s person, officers allegedly also recovered two heavy duty zip ties, a tactical plate carrier, a pocketknife with a three-inch blade, a black knife with a four-inch fixed blade, and two key fobs for a Honda Clarity that had been reported stolen from a car dealership earlier in the day. The Honda also had been involved in a hit-and-run accident that same day, located approximately five blocks from where Loftus was arrested.
Law enforcement searched the Honda and found a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” in the glove compartment and a toolbox containing the upper and lower receiver of a nearly 12-inch AR-style rifle, a drop-in auto sear – designed for converting a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun – dozens of rounds of various calibers of ammunition, approximately 23 magazines, and a silencer, according to the affidavit.
During a search of Loftus’s residence, law enforcement allegedly found firearms and firearms cases, dozens of additional auto sears, and a large U.S. flag with symbols consistent with the Boogaloo ideology.
Loftus is prohibited under California law from possessing firearms.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathrynne N. Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Ocala Felon with Loaded Handgun Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Michael Tyrone Young (32, Ocala) to 33 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Young was also required to forfeit the firearm and ammunition seized from him by law enforcement. He had been found guilty following a trial on August 29, 2022.
According to evidence presented at trial, on the night of August 31, 2021, officers from the Ocala Police Department encountered Young in the hallway of a building at a local public housing complex. The officers were specifically patrolling the area due to recent shootings at the complex. The officers confronted Young after seeing him drop and retrieve what appeared to be a weapon. As they talked with him, the loaded firearm fell out of Young’s pants and onto the floor. Young admitted that he had the firearm because he had been “looking for a certain person” who was “fixin’ to get him.” A records check showed that Young had three state felony convictions for drug distribution. As a convicted felon, Young is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
The case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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.
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Misappropriating Identities to Defraud Federal Student Aid ProgramRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Clayton, North Carolina man, Jerry Lynn Johnson, Jr., was sentenced today to 53 months in prison and three years of supervised release for organizing and leading a fraudulent scheme to obtain, and attempt to obtain, over $400,000 in federal financial aid funds. On August 2, 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge of mail fraud and aiding and abetting. As part of the judgment, Johnson was also ordered to pay $289,403 in criminal restitution to the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
“This defendant fraudulently used other people’s identities to apply for student aid to attend numerous colleges, taking advantage of a system meant to help poor and disadvantaged citizens get a college education,” said U.S Attorney Michael Easley. “We should be proud to live in a country that has programs in place to help people fulfill their dreams of attending college. We will zealously guard the integrity of those programs and prosecute those who take advantage of our country’s generosity to line their pockets at taxpayer expense. let this be a warning to financial fraudsters - scamming our education system will get you a full ride to federal prison.”
"I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement colleagues for shutting down yet another student aid fraud ring and holding the ringleader accountable for his criminal actions,” said Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “The OIG is committed to fighting student aid fraud, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those that participate in these types of crimes."
Federal Student Aid (FSA) is the ED office responsible for administering financial aid programs to assist qualified students with pursuing post-secondary education, including grants, loans, work study funds, and other disbursements. FSA also develops, distributes, and processes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form or “FAFSA”. After a school applies a financial award to a student’s tuition and fees, any remaining balance is refunded to the student for education-related expenses.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2016 and 2019, Johnson used the personal identifying information of multiple individuals— “straw students”—to falsely and fraudulently apply for financial aid to attend various post-secondary schools, including American Public University in Charles Town, West Virginia, Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. Johnson submitted the FAFSA in the names of the straw students while concealing his identity as the preparer. After the financial aid packages were approved, Johnson assumed the identities of the straw students to enroll them in classes, complete required coursework, and otherwise maintain the illusion of attendance and bona fide efforts to complete the chosen degree program for the purpose of enriching himself with the associated student aid refunds. In furtherance of the scheme, Johnson diverted over $190,000 in refunds to North Carolina addresses under his control.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-CR-61-FL.
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New York Man Sentenced on Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Joseph Wynder, 37, of New York City, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months incarceration for straw purchasing a firearm. The sentence was imposed in District Court by the Honorable Richard G. Andrews.
Court filings show that on six occasions, from April through July of 2021, Wynder traveled from New York City, where he was residing, to Delaware and successfully bought a total of 14 handguns and attempted to buy four more. The law provides that when buying a firearm in Delaware, the purchaser must certify in writing that the purchaser is a Delaware resident. Wynder unlawfully did that, providing a former New Castle address and producing a Delaware Identification Card with that address. In fact, Wynder had not lived in Delaware for two years. Wynder admitted at sentencing that he sold the guns at a profit in New York City.
U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “Straw purchasing firearms and illegally selling those firearms to individuals who cannot legally purchase a firearm is a threat to public safety. I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their hard work in investigating this case. For anyone considering purchasing a firearm for someone that cannot legally purchase their own firearm, consider the end result in Mr. Wynder’s case – federal prison.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond Falgowski.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-08.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MAURICE FLORANT, age 34, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on January 26, 2023 in a two-count indictment for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act.
FLORANT is charged in Counts 1 and 2 with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
As to each, FLORANT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller is in charge of the prosecution.
New Britain Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Firearm Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that RAFAEL MARTINEZ, 31, of New Britain, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force identified Martinez as a large-scale distributor of fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Martinez used an apartment on Sargeant Street in Hartford to store and process fentanyl for distribution, and he also distributed the drug from his residence on Hayes Street in New Britain. On August 3, 2022, investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at Martinez’s New Britain residence and encountered Martinez, who they observed throwing a white powder substance from the living room window. A search of the residence revealed approximately 3,000 wax folds of fentanyl, additional loose quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, narcotics paraphernalia, two handguns, ammunition, and $28,777 in cash. Investigators subsequently recovered another approximately 200 grams of fentanyl, as well as items used to process and package narcotics, that Martinez had thrown from the window.
Martinez’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on April 13.
Martinez has been detained since August 3, 2022.
This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Missouri Man Arrested for Cyberstalking Multiple VictimsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Evan Stauffer (23, Missouri) with cyberstalking, making interstate threats, and making obscene and harassing phone calls. If convicted on all counts, Stauffer faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, for nearly two years, Stauffer engaged in a campaign of online and telephonic harassment and threats against multiple victims that reside in the Middle District of Florida. Specifically, Stauffer cyberstalked, harassed, and threatened several victims through repeated emails, phone calls, text messages, and social media messages from numerous phone numbers and social media accounts.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kansas City (Missouri) Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
Member of Violent Boston Gang Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Racketeering and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in connection with his involvement in the violent Boston-based street gang, NOB.
Michael Brandao, a/k/a “G Fredo,” and “Frizzblock Fredo,” 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2022, Brandao pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Brandao is one of 10 defendants indicted together in June 2020 as part of a broader federal sweep targeting numerous NOB street gang members and associates in which 31 total defendants were charged. All of Brandao’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.
According to court documents, NOB – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry streets in Dorchester – is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in numerous types of criminal activities, including murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, drug trafficking, sex trafficking and illegal firearms offenses. During the investigation, numerous contraband items were seized including 11 firearms, over one kilogram of fentanyl (including over 2,000 fentanyl pills manufactured to appear as commercial oxycodone pills), a commercial pill press, over 15 pounds of marijuana and approximately $36,000 in cash.
Brandao was an active and violent member of the NOB gang who personally committed and supported multiple violent crimes on behalf of the gang. The Court determined that Brandao was responsible for an attempted murder and took it into consideration at sentencing. Specifically, in November 2018, an individual was shot multiple times with a .40 caliber pistol in broad daylight near their residence in New Bedford; this individual survived their injuries. Additionally, according to court documents, Brandao actively facilitated, promoted and furthered the criminal activities committed by the NOB gang in various ways, including. by publishing recordings and videos boasting about violence he and the NOB gang committed, bragging about his personal participation in gang violence, threatening rival gangs and intimidating witnesses.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Bryan Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan; Randolph Police Chief Anthony Marag; Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez; Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins; Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald, Jr.; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III; and Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Crowley and Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Threatening a Member of CongressRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Justin Kuchta, age 39, of Annapolis, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal charge for threatening to murder a United States Member of Congress.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the United States Capitol Police; and Acting Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, Lt. Colonel Dalaine Brady.
“You have the right to your own opinions, but not the right to threaten a federal official’s life,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to his plea agreement, Kuchta made threats to murder a U.S. Member of Congress. Specifically, a U.S. Member of Congress’ district office in Texas reported that on July 18, 2022, it received a threatening message via an event management website. The website was being used by an event planner to coordinate an event held in the State of Missouri, being attended by Member of Congress 1. The Subject line of that email read, in relevant part: “Rally in Missouri – Featured Guest [Member of Congress 1], [Individual 1], and [Individual 2].” The message stated, “Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f*ckers!!! Especially the chuckle-f*ck Zodiak [sic] Killer [Member of Congress 1]!! That fat fake f*cker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f*ckers!!!” The Member of Congress’ Washington office reported that a similar message was sent on July 22, 2022, using the same event management website.
As detailed in the plea agreement, an investigation revealed that the IP address was registered to a private high-speed network operated by the State of Maryland. Network records revealed that the IP address originated from a Virtual Private Network and computer assigned to Kuchta. Kuchta was subsequently interviewed by Special Agents with the U.S. Capitol Police and investigators assigned to the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit at his place of employment in Annapolis, Maryland, after being advised of his rights. While Kuchta initially denied sending the email messages, he ultimately admitted that he sent the July 18, 2022, threatening message over the website.
Kuchta faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for interstate communication containing a threat to injure. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the United States Capitol Police and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, and its efforts to protect national security, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/anti-terrorism.
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Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment for Filing Fraudulent Applications for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Benefits and for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Ryan E. Dales, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, with illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and with wire fraud, relating to the submission of fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
According to the two-count indictment, Dales illegally possessed a firearm on January 20, 2023.
The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including workers who otherwise wouldn’t be eligible for UI benefits. The indictment alleges that beginning in December 2020 and continuing through about September 2021, Dales submitted applications for UI benefits that contained false statements, misrepresentations, and omissions related to his employment, his eligibility to received UI benefits, and his purported businesses, including their existence, operation, and profits. Dales allegedly submitted a fictitious tax form in support of his applications.
More information on the allegations against Dales may be found here.
If convicted, Dales faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Dales is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, but no date has been set.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The District of Maryland COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is one of three strike forces established by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and DOL-OIG for their work in the investigation. United States Attorney Barron and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley are prosecuting the case. Mr. Barron also recognized the assistance of the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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Man Indicted for Violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TOWNSEND GRANT, age 19, was charged today in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury for possession of a machinegun, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
If convicted of possessing a machinegun, GRANT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute heroin, GRANT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, GRANT faces a minimum sentence of thirty (30) years of imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to all other counts, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to five (5) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Additionally, as to each count of the indictment, GRANT faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee .
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.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel.
Man Charged with Immigration Fraud for Concealing War Crime Charge in CroatiaRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was arraigned today on criminal charges related to his alleged false statements to U.S. immigration and law enforcement officials about his military service and involvement in a politically and ethnically-motivated attack on civilians in Croatia during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
According to the indictment unsealed today, Jugoslav Vidic, 55, of Parma Heights, allegedly made multiple false statements in his successful application to become a lawful permanent resident, including falsely stating that his only past military service was in the Yugoslav Army from 1988 to 1989 and omitting his service in the Serb Army of Krajina and its predecessors from 1991 to 1995. The indictment alleges Vidic falsely stated that he had never been charged with breaking any law even though he had been convicted in absentia in 1998 of a war crime in Croatia, and falsely stated that he had never participated in killing a person because of ethnic origin or political opinion. Vidic also allegedly participated in an attack by ethnic Serb military forces in September 1991 in which Vidic singled out and took away at gunpoint a Croatian civilian who had recently shaken hands with Croatia’s then-president, Franjo Tudjman, who supported Croatian independence from Yugoslavia. The victim was never seen alive again and his body was later exhumed from a mass grave.
Vidic immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1999. His application to become a lawful permanent resident was approved in 2005. Vidic is also accused of lying to law enforcement agents in 2017 when questioned about his immigration application. Vidic is charged with one count of possessing a green card that was procured by means of materially false statements and one count of making false statements to a federal agent. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the first charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the second.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Gregory D. Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office, Acting Executive Associate Director Steve Francis of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar of the HSI Detroit Field Office made the announcement.
HSI and the FBI are investigating the case with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), including the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Department of Justice thanks the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia, which were both instrumental in furthering this investigation.
Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Jerome J. Teresinski for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or its online tip form at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or its online tip form at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Los Lunas man sentenced for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Martin Perea was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Perea, 42, of Los Lunas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2022, to two counts of production of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court records, on July 1, 2015, the victim’s mother discovered pornographic content of the eight-year-old victim on a memory card from Perea’s cellular telephone. The victim’s mother confronted Perea who apologized and blamed the victim’s mother for his conduct. Then, Perea threatened to burn the victim’s mother and her house down. The victim and her mother fled to Spokane, Washington where they contacted the Spokane Police Department.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation later recovered numerous video files of child pornography on the memory card.
In his plea agreement, Perea admitted that from Oct. 8, 2014, to March 2015, he knowingly used the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Perea acknowledged that the victim was seven and eight years old at the time Perea committed the crimes.
Upon his release from prison, Martin will be subject to 25 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Police Department and the New Mexico Computer Forensic Laboratory as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Lewistown man sentenced for bank fraud in obtaining loans for cattle ranching businessRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lewistown man who admitted to defrauding a bank and a credit union after obtaining more than $1 million in loans for his cattle ranching business was sentenced on Jan. 25 to time served, followed by five years of supervised release, with one year of home confinement, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Eric Edward Mack, 43, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to bank fraud.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine restitution at a later hearing.
The government alleged in court documents that from November 2015 to January 2018, Mack applied for and received multiple operating loans from Garfield County Bank and from the Fergus Federal Credit Union for his cattle ranching business. At the Garfield bank, Mack had loans totaling approximately $885,000 from 2015 to 2017, and at the Fergus credit union, Mack had loans totaling approximately $250,000 from 2016 to 2018. Mack secured loans at both businesses with items, including cattle belonging to him. The government further alleged that Mack sold cattle secured by loans at Garfield and Fergus and failed to pay the proceeds of the sale to either bank. Mack also engaged in improper conduct when obtaining the loans by misrepresenting the status of collateral used to secure the loans at each institution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Kodiak Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Kodiak man with possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and numerous firearms.
According to court documents, Mark Daniel Nason, 55, possessed over 400 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, five handguns, two revolvers, two rifles, one shotgun, and almost $60,000 in cash. Nason has five prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on January 26, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) with the help of the Kodiak Police Department (KPD) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana B. Weber is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department Files Pay Equity Lawsuit Challenging Compensation Discrimination by Wisconsin Department of Military AffairsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a complaint today against the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs (WDMA) alleging that the WDMA discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when it offered a woman a lower salary than similarly or less qualified men for the same job. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits compensation discrimination and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion.
“It is a violation of federal law for employers to offer a qualified woman less pay simply because of her sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to confronting the gender pay gap and holding state and local government employers accountable when they discriminate on the basis of sex in setting compensation. Title VII is a critical tool in bringing an end to unlawful actions that perpetuate gender pay disparities in the workplace.”
The lawsuit, filed by the United States in the Western District of Wisconsin, alleges that the WDMA engaged in compensation discrimination based on sex by offering Michelle Hartness a lower salary than it offered or paid similarly or less qualified men for a director position in the WDMA. According to the complaint, Ms. Hartness was selected for a director position, but the WDMA offered her a salary below the salary range stated in the job announcement. When Ms. Hartness pointed this out and asked for a salary commensurate with the range from the posting and her skills and experience, the WDMA offered her the lowest salary in the range. Ms. Hartness asked for a salary consistent with her qualifications and on par with the man holding the other director position in the division. The WDMA rejected her request. Instead, the WDMA conducted another selection process and offered the Director position to only men, at salaries significantly higher than the salary it offered Ms. Hartness, even though she was as or more qualified than these men. The WDMA ultimately hired a less qualified man at a higher salary than it offered Ms. Hartness.
Ms. Hartness filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s Milwaukee Area Office investigated the charge and found reasonable cause to believe that Ms. Hartness was discriminated against because of her sex. After unsuccessful conciliation efforts, the EEOC referred the charge to the Justice Department.
Ensuring that local, county and state governments comply with Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the jurisdiction of the Employment Litigation Section is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt/ and https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Senior Trial Attorneys Patricia Stasco and Hector Ruiz of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Depew Man for Sexually Abusing a Minor, Enticing Two OthersRead the Press Release
A federal jury today found a Depew man guilty of sexually abusing a child younger than 12 years old and sexually propositioning and inappropriately touching two teenagers.
Darrel Dean Guinn, 37, was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 in Indian Country; two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Country; and abusive sexual contact with a minor in Indian Country.
“Darrel Guinn preyed on, manipulated and repeatedly sexually abused a young girl. He also made sexual advances toward two other minors,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for bringing this case to trial and the jury for delivering justice on behalf of those victims harmed by Mr. Guinn.”
Guinn’s crimes were reported to authorities after a child revealed to two older siblings that she had been sexually abused by Guinn. The two older siblings also disclosed that Guinn had sexually propositioned them on several occasions.
During trial, prosecutors brought forth evidence showing that Guinn sexually abused the young child on at least three occasions from approximately June 23, 2020, through Aug. 1, 2021.
The child stated that the abuse began when she was 10 years old. At that time, the two were watching a movie alone, and he sexually assaulted her. When he was done, he told her not to tell anyone. The final time he sexually assaulted her, he told the victim she was his “favorite” and that it was “their secret.”
The second victim stated that when she was 14, Guinn asked her if he could have sex with her. On another occasion when she was 14, he was watching a movie with the teenager, laid next to her, and began to push his pelvis against her buttocks, humping her.
Finally, a third victim disclosed that Guinn propositioned her for sex when she was approximately 16 or 17. She also reported that at one point, Guinn seemed to be rubbing his groin on her buttocks.
During the investigation, two other adults came forward stating they were sexually assaulted by Guinn when they were children and he was a teenager.
One woman stated that Guinn exposed himself to her when she was five years old and he was 13. He began to ostracize the victim after she disclosed the incident.
After the exposure, Guinn began sexually abusing another child on a regular basis when she was between the ages of six and nine years old. He was approximately seven years older than the victim.
At trial, victims and witnesses also said that Guinn regularly commented to the victims that “incest was best,” that he was “bored and horny,” or called the victims “teases.” Experts testified that sexualized comments are often associated with grooming behavior, where perpetrators try to desensitize victims to sexual commentary and acts in order to exploit and abuse them.
In closing, federal prosecutors reminded the jury that five different people came into court to testify about the abuse they endured at the hands of Guinn at various times in his life. Prosecutors stated that “incest is best” and “bored and horny” were not simply immature jokes to Guinn, but rather were mottos Guinn lived by. They asked the jury to hold Guinn accountable for his criminal conduct.
The jury deliberated 3 hours and found the defendant guilty on all counts.
The FBI and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey P. Todd and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case.
Jackson Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to serve 63 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Gregory L. Randle, 30, was found in possession of a firearm and several pounds of marijuana in a vehicle he was driving after he fled from a Mississippi Highway Patrol traffic safety checkpoint. Randle was under the supervision of the United States Probation Office at the time of these offenses, and so received an additional 12-month sentence that will run consecutively to the 51-month sentence received for the firearm and drug charges. This additional 12-month sentence was imposed due to Randle’s violation of the conditions of his supervised release. The total sentence imposed is 63 months of imprisonment.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay B. Baldwin and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Iowa City Man Sentenced for Firearm Charge and False DeclarationsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – An Iowa City man was sentenced on January 24, 2023, to five years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and making false declarations before a grand jury.
Law enforcement identified Wesley Jovan Carter, age 36, as being involved in a November 2020 burglary of an Iowa City towing company with Jeremiah Duwon Snead, age 32, of Cedar Rapids. Snead was sentenced to ten years in prison in August 2022 after a jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence at Snead’s trial showed that Snead committed the November 2020 burglary and left his blood in Carter’s car. Carter’s car was observed on surveillance videos and his geolocation data placed him at the burglary scene. Carter was called to testify before a grand jury and falsely denied being present at the burglary or having any knowledge of it. A review of Carter’s Google account showed videos of Carter in possession of a nine-millimeter handgun and at a shooting range in possession of five firearms. Carter had been previously convicted of a felony and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Inmate Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Facilitating the Smuggling of Cellphones into Dauphin County PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Danny Cruz, age 44, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 25, 2023, to 51 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for smuggling cellular telephones into Dauphin County Prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Cruz was an inmate in Dauphin County Prison on charges of attempted murder. While he was incarcerated, he bribed a prison guard to help him smuggle cellphones into the prison. He also recruited his mother to facilitate the bribe payments and the transfer of cellphones to the guard. On multiple occasions between October 2015 and January 2016, Cruz’s mother gave money and cellular telephones to a prison guard, former Corrections Officer Kyle Bower, age 34, of Harrisburg, who then smuggled the phones into the prison to Cruz. Corrections Officer Bower was paid hundreds of dollars for each phone he smuggled into the prison.
When imposing the sentence, Judge Conner ordered that Cruz serve his 51-month sentence after he completed serving his attempted murder sentence of 9-20 years.
All other participants in the conspiracy have entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to smuggle phones into the prison. Former Corrections Officer Kyle Bower was sentenced to two months in federal prison to be followed by two months of home detention after his release. Alice Martinez, age 43 of Chambersburg, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Lizarah Matthews, age 31, of York, was sentenced to one year of probation. Cruz’s mother, Aida Rosado, age 62 of Harrisburg, was sentenced to two years of probation with the first two months on home detention.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
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Indictment Charges Stamford Man with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Jean Pierre Njock, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging RICARDO GEORGES, 32, of Stamford, with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment was returned on January 19, 2023. Georges appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia and entered a plea of not guilty. Georges has been detained since his arrest by Stamford Police on related state charges on May 7, 2022.
As alleged in the indictment, on May 7, 2022, Georges possessed a loaded Para USA, model Expert Commander 1911, .45 ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol.
It is further alleged that Georges’ criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and New York for assault on public safety personnel, robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and multiple drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
If convicted of the charge, Georges faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Honduran Woman Charged with Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ENNA SERRANO-CRUZ, age 31, a native of Honduras, was charged on January 25, 2023 in a one-count bill of information with illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
ENNA SERRANO-CRUZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney M. Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran Man Charged with Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WILSON MAZARIEGOS SARAVIA, age 28, a native of Honduras, was charged on January 25, 2023 in a one-count bill of information with illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
WILSON MAZARIEGOS SARAVIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney M. Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
Herkimer County Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Update his RegistrationRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Eric L. Henderson, age 38, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for failing to update his registration as a sex offender after he fled New York State parole supervision and moved to South Carolina.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.
Henderson must register as a sex offender because he was convicted of rape-third degree in 2020, in Herkimer County, for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old. In pleading guilty, Henderson admitted that following his release from state prison in May 2021, he cut off contact with his state parole officer and fled to Kingstree, South Carolina, without updating his sex offender registration in New York or registering as a sex offender in South Carolina. Henderson was arrested on October 27, 2021, in South Carolina, by the United States Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.
The United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case.
Henderson County Man Is Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Henderson County man was sentenced to 14 years in prison today for receipt of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Todd Andrew Riley, 45, of East Flat Rock, N.C. was also ordered to serve a lifetime under court supervision, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay a $10,000 fine and $68,200 in restitution.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in June 2019, HSI was alerted to an individual, later identified as Riley, using the Kik messaging application to receive child pornography. On June 25, 2019, HSI agents met with Riley who admitted to using Kik and other messaging applications and online platforms to view and receive child pornography. According to court records, a forensic examination of Riley’s electronic devices revealed that he possessed thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child pornography, some of which depicted the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.
On August 12, 2022, Riley pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. He is currently in federal custody and he will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI for their investigation of this case.
The prosecution for the government was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Solheim of U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Heart Butte man indicted on murder charge in death of woman on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Heart Butte man with second degree murder in the death of a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The indictment, filed on Jan. 25 in U.S. District Court, charges Terrance Travis Aimsback, 34, with second degree murder. The maximum penalty for the crime is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 24, 2022 at Heart Butte, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Aimsback knowingly and unlawfully killed Jane Doe with malice aforethought.
An arraignment date is to be determined. Aimsback is in federal custody.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI, with assistance from Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Pondera County, investigated the case.
PACER case reference. 23-07.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which 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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Granite City Man Heads Back to Prison After Ditching Firearm on a Playground During Police PursuitRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – In a U.S. District Court on Thursday, a Granite City man was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after possessing a firearm as a felon while out on supervised release from previous gun convictions.
Donnie A. Sherrell, 30, pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm as a Felon. After serving his sentence, he will receive three years of supervised release.
“It’s disappointing when individuals don’t learn from their mistakes, and the defendant’s reckless decisions have rightfully landed him back in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate the tenacity by law enforcement to pursue this criminal on foot, and I’m relieved the firearm was recovered without incident.”
“The Illinois State Police will always go the extra mile to protect the public and pursue repeat offenders who continue to break the law,” said Illinois State Police Major Gregg Cavanaugh.
According to court documents, the defendant was the passenger in a car during a traffic stop by law enforcement on July 20, 2022. When the police officer asked Sherrell to step out of the vehicle, the defendant told the driver to go, and a car chase ensued.
Sherrell jumped out of the car with a gun, and the chase continued on foot. The defendant scaled a fence to a playground at an elementary school in Madison, Illinois, where he was on surveillance video ditching the firearm. After Sherrell was apprehended, police officers located a Mossberg .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol a few feet away from the playground.
In March 2015, Sherrell was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release on two counts of Sale of a Weapon to a Convicted Felon and two counts of Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.
ISP led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert prosecuted the case.
Gibraltar Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Gibraltar man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of children, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Travis Timmons, 33, of Gibraltar, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Judith E. Levy. Timmons pleaded guilty to using his cellular phone to create a video of himself performing a sex act on a child who was less than ten years old. In addition, he also pretended to be a younger male online, engaging in inappropriate conversations with minor females and offering them vape pens in exchange for sexually explicit images and sex acts. When law enforcement attempted to arrest Timmons, he jumped out of his window and fled.
“This offender engaged in hands-on abuse to create sexually explicit images of a young child. This sentence holds him accountable for this serious offense. Our commitment to vigorously work to keep children in our community safe is unwavering.” U.S. Attorney Ison stated.
“We must protect the most vulnerable members of our community – our children – from sexual exploitation,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “I would like to thank the Gibraltar Police Department for their partnership during this investigation. No amount of prison or restitution can make these victims whole but lengthy prison sentences, like the one in this case, send a strong message to these offenders that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will use all our available resources to bring them to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gibraltar Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Rawsthorne.Georgia man sentenced for drug distribution resulting in deathRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Cartersville, Georgia, man was sentenced today to federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation and the dismemberment of the body of a Fairmont woman to conceal her overdose death.
Seddrick Banks, age 30, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. During the June 2021 trial, the jury heard testimony that Banks trafficked and distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine hydrochloride and fentanyl, in Marion County and elsewhere. He would travel from Georgia to West Virginia, trafficking the drugs from different motel and hotel rooms and other locations. After a fentanyl overdose in a motel in Lewis County on August 9, 2018, Banks and a co-conspirator took the body of 20-year-old Courtney Dubois to Georgia, where they dismembered her and disposed of her body at a landfill.
The Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Three Rivers Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force; the West Virginia State Police; The Bartow County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the FBI in Rome, Georgia; and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon S. Flower and Andrew M. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Fourth Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Member Indicted After Investigation into Brutal Beating at the Vallejo ClubhouseRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Kenneth Caspers Jr., 55, of Vacaville, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Caspers is the fourth individual to be indicted in the Eastern District of California based on an investigation into a brutal beating at the clubhouse for the Vallejo chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. The other three defendants—Jaime Alvarez, Dennis Killough Jr., and Michael Mahoney—were indicted by a grand jury in 2022.
According to court documents, in October 2021, two different victims—both of whom were members of a different motorcycle club that is considered a “puppet” (or subordinate) club of the Hells Angels—were beaten by Caspers, Mahoney, Alvarez, Killough, and other club members based on perceived infractions of the Hells Angels’ rules.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Caspers’ Vacaville home and found several firearms and ammunition, including 18 rounds of .22‑caliber, .25‑caliber, and/or .38 caliber ammunition in Caspers’ master bedroom and bathroom. Caspers has previously been convicted of several felony crimes—including a previous felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm—that prevent him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Vacaville Police Department, the Vallejo Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron D. Pennekamp and Jason Hitt are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Caspers faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The three other defendants have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced as follows: Alvares on March 7, 2023, Killough on March 27, 2023, and Mahoney on May 2, 2023. They all face a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Cornelius Jackson, age 34, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady on his plea of guilty to aiding in the making of false statements while purchasing a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Jackson was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in August 2021, law enforcement discovered that Jackson, a convicted felon, solicited another person to purchase a firearm for him from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In doing so, he enlisted a third individual to finance the purchase. Jackson later sold a firearm to a prohibited person. Jackson has three prior felony convictions and, as such, is prohibited from purchasing or possessing the firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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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Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 156 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Oh Min, age 22, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady on his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Min was sentenced to 156 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in April 2021, while investigating the complaint of drug dealing occurring in a church parking lot, law enforcement discovered Min in a vehicle along with 170 fentanyl pills, marijuana, THC vaping cartridges, and a loaded firearm. Min was arrested on outstanding warrants. In September 2021, a search warrant was served at Min’s residence where an additional 120 fentanyl pills and marijuana were discovered along with a loaded handgun.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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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Former Stoneham Police Officer and Electrical Contractor Indicted on Additional Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Stoneham Police Officer and his brother, an owner of an electrical contracting company, were charged in a superseding indictment today with an alleged bribery and kickback scheme that netted them millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts.
Joseph Ponzo, 49, of Stoneham, and Christopher Ponzo, 48, of North Reading, were originally charged by a federal grand jury in April 2022 in a 13-count indictment with one count of wire fraud conspiracy and 12 counts of wire fraud stemming from a bribery-kickback scheme with a Mass Save vendor that dated from 2013 to 2017. The superseding indictment includes 12 additional wire fraud counts alleging that the Ponzos’ bribery scheme continued after 2017 through as recently as March of 2022, with the Ponzos paying thousands of dollars in cash bribes to another former employee of a Mass Save lead vendor company to obtain millions more in lucrative Mass Save contracts.
The superseding indictment also charges Joseph Ponzo with four counts of causing false tax returns to be filed with the IRS from 2016 to 2019. Joseph Ponzo and Christopher Ponzo were also each charged with one count of making false statements to government officials. A date for the defendants’ arraignment in federal court on the new charging document has not yet been scheduled.
Massachusetts law requires utility companies to collect an energy efficiency surcharge on all Massachusetts energy consumers. These funds, which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars each year, are to be disbursed by the utility companies to fund energy efficiency programs and initiatives in Massachusetts.
Mass Save is a Massachusetts public-private partnership sponsored by various gas and electric utility companies that disburses these energy efficiency funds through funding energy conservation projects for consumers. Under the Mass Save program, the utility companies select lead vendors. to approve and select contractors to perform energy improvement work for residential customers. This contracting work – performed by contractors at no-cost or reduced cost to the customer – is then paid for by the lead vendor with Mass Save funds.
Joseph Ponzo, a former full-time Stoneham Police Officer, and his brother, Christopher Ponzo, the owner of an electrical contracting company, allegedly conspired to pay, and did pay, tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes, kickbacks, and other in-kind benefits, including a John Deere tractor, a computer, home bathroom fixtures, and free electrical work, among other things, to Company A employees (Associates 1 and 2) in exchange for the Associates’ assistance in getting the defendants millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts.
It is alleged that on a weekly basis, from 2013 to 2017, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $1,000 in cash. At times, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $5,000 to $10,000 in cash, telling Associate 1 that the extra money was allegedly from Joseph Ponzo for his part in the bribery scheme. In return for these payments, Associate 1, among other things, allegedly helped Joseph Ponzo set up a shell company, Air Tight, to do insulation work and get approved as a Company A contractor under the Mass Save program. It is further alleged that Joseph Ponzo put his spouse’s name on Air Tight incorporation documents and contracting licenses in order to conceal his involvement. Despite having no professional experience in residential insulation work, Joseph Ponzo collected over $7 million under the Mass Save program.
After Associate 1 left Company A in 2017, Christopher Ponzo and Joseph Ponzo allegedly recruited Associate 2 to the bribery-kickback scheme from approximately 2018 to 2022, paying Associate 2 thousands of dollars in cash and hiring a relative of Associate 2 as part of the ongoing scheme.
During the course of the bribery-kickback scheme, it is also alleged that Ponzo aided in the filing of false tax returns from 2016 to 2019 by claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in false business deductions. To disguise personal expenses as business deductions, Ponzo used his company credit card to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchases at The Home Depot, Lowes, and Staples, claiming to his tax preparers that charges at those establishments were business-related. It is alleged that in reality, Ponzo used the company credit card at those stores to purchase gift cards that he and his spouse then used to make thousands of dollars in personal expenditures.
The superseding indictment also alleges that in April 2022, both Joseph and Christopher Ponzo falsely denied making bribe payments to any Company A employees when interviewed by federal agents.
The charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false statements provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of aiding in filing false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Wan and Dustin Chao of Rollins’ Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former St. Louis County Employee Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Pandemic Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a former St. Louis County, Missouri employee who launched a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds to 18 months in prison.
The scheme by Anthony “Tony” Weaver Sr. was “borne out of his own personal greed” and “his unbridled arrogance,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said during Thursday's sentencing hearing.
In May of 2020, Weaver approached a man who owned several small businesses in St. Louis County and suggested a way to fraudulently obtain grants from the county’s Small Business Relief (SBR) Program. The program used federal CARES Act money to help small businesses deal with the cost of closures due to pandemic-related stay-at-home orders.
Weaver then prepared false grant applications seeking the maximum of $15,000 and planned to split the money with the business owner. Weaver boasted to the business owner of his position in St. Louis County government, his relationship with high-ranking officials and his political influence, Goldsmith said.
Weaver falsely claimed in the applications that the businesses were closed and had to lay off employees during the pandemic. Weaver concealed the fact that Smith had at least 25% ownership in all six businesses because an owner was only allowed to apply for one grant.
Weaver claimed his former boss on the St. Louis County Council, Rochelle Walton Gray, would approve the grants, telling the business owner Walton Gray's office is “going to do what I tell them to do."
Weaver was formerly the administrative assistant for Walton Gray, who has since left the council. Weaver left for a higher-paying job as the “change management coordinator” at the St. Louis County jail. He was working at the jail at the time of his indictment in May of 2022. Weaver also served as the longtime committeeman of the Spanish Lake Township and on the board of Unity PAC, a north St. Louis County political organization.
In a May 14, 2020 meeting, Weaver told Smith, “There is a note here that Rochelle gets the final decision. They’ve got a commission, doesn’t really matter, she can override them.”
In a June 1, 2020 conversation, Weaver said, “All we have to do is apply for them because my people are inside, work their magic and do what they need to do.” He also claimed to have direct communication and conversations with the St. Louis County employee charged with overseeing the grant program.
Weaver never obtained any fraudulent grants for Smith, but told Smith he’d been paid $300 as a kickback for obtaining a grant for someone else.
“Had the Defendant’s scheme been successful, it would have diverted much needed grant funds from legitimate business applicants which actually had to close their doors and lay off employees during the pandemic,” the sentencing memorandum says.
Weaver pleaded guilty in October to four felony counts of wire fraud.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.
Former President of Venezuelan Supreme Court Indicted on Charges of Accepting Bribes to Resolve Court CasesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami federal grand jury has indicted Maikel Jose Moreno Perez, 57, former president of the Venezuelan Supreme Court and current Venezuelan Supreme Court justice, with conspiring to launder and laundering bribes he received in exchange for using his position to resolve civil and criminal cases in Venezuela to favor bribe payers.
According to the criminal charging documents, as president of the Venezuelan Supreme Court, Moreno had the power to influence judicial decisions in Venezuela because he had the authority to determine the panel of judges hearing cases at the Supreme Court and the power to appoint or remove lower court judges on the trial and appellate level in Venezuela. This activity went on from 2014 through March 2019.
It is alleged that Moreno received more than $10 million dollars in bribes, typically from Venezuelan contractors who had received contracts from Venezuelan government-owned entities. In 2014, prior to his appointment as president of the Supreme Court, he received $1 million via wire transfers to his personal bank account in Miami from a Venezuelan contractor. This money was for agreeing to resolve future Venezuelan criminal cases in favor of this contractor.
During his tenure on the Supreme Court, Moreno received bribes in exchange for influencing actions in criminal cases, including dismissing criminal charges and arrest warrants or ordering home confinement for charged defendants, according to the criminal charging documents. Moreno received bribes from a contractor charged in the United States with a multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme to have a Venezuelan criminal case dismissed. He also received bribes in exchange for taking official actions in Venezuelan civil cases. He agreed to authorize the judicial seizure of a General Motors auto plant (valued at approximately $100 million) as part of a civil dispute in exchange for a percentage interest in proceeds from the sale of the plant, it is alleged. He maintained a bribe ledger that tracked millions of dollars of incoming bribes and personal expenses.
Moreno allegedly used bribe proceeds to purchase or renovate real estate around the world, including a villa in Tuscany, Italy, for 2.4 million euros, a luxury villa in La Romana, Dominican Republic, for $1.5 million, a building in Las Mercedes in Caracas, Venezuela, for $1.3 million, and an apartment in Miami for $1.3 million. He also used bribe proceeds for cars, luxury goods, luxury travel, and more than $300,000 for a musical performance at his wedding.
The indictment charges Moreno with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of concealment of money laundering, and two counts of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. The money laundering counts each carry a 20-year maximum sentence and the engaging in transactions in criminally derived property counts each carry a 10-year maximum sentence.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI Fort Lauderdale, El Dorado Task Force-South investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger is prosecuting it and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx P. Calderón is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Former Louisville, Kentucky Department of Corrections Officer Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Violent Assault on Pretrial DetaineeRead the Press Release
Darrell Taylor, 32, a former officer with the Louisville Metro Department of Correction, in Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for using unreasonable force against a detainee, thereby violating the detainee’s civil rights.
In October 2022, a jury heard evidence proving that the defendant, while working as a correctional officer, assaulted B.R., a pretrial detainee being detained in the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. On Dec. 15, 2020, Taylor was serving breakfast to detainees in the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. During the breakfast service, B.R., a detainee with reported mental health issues, used insulting language in a conversation with Taylor, after which Taylor followed B.R. back to B.R.’s bunk, grabbed him, threw him to the ground and punched him repeatedly in the face. After the fourth punch, B.R. went limp and lost consciousness. Taylor then lifted B.R. and slammed him face-first into the ground. B.R.’s jaw and cheekbone were broken during the assault.
“The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer and betrayed the public’s trust when he violently assaulted a detainee in his custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Officials working inside jails and prisons who abuse inmates and detainees are not above the law, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute those who deprive people of their Constitutional rights.”
“The defendant’s violent assault in this case was a blatant disregard of the civil rights and physical well-being of a Metro Department of Corrections’ detainee,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “This office will continue to thoroughly investigate and aggressively prosecute corrections officials who violate the civil rights of individuals through the use of unreasonable force.”
“Corrections officers are tasked with the difficult job of maintaining a safe and secure environment in our prison facilities. When one officer abuses the authority placed in them by violating the civil rights of an inmate, it undermines the trust placed in all law enforcement officers,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “This sentence should be a reminder that the FBI takes all allegations of civil rights violations seriously and will vigorously investigate and seek prosecution for these abuses of power.”
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Former Hillsborough Township School District Official Admits to Paying Kickbacks for Illegal Overtime PaymentsRead the Press Release
Trenton, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey man yesterday admitted to paying kickbacks in return for fraudulent overtime payments that he received in connection with his former role as the Director of Buildings and Grounds for the Hillsborough Township School District, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Anthony DeLuca, 61, of Raritan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to one count of embezzling, stealing, and obtaining by fraud more than $137,000 of funds belonging to and under the care, custody and control of the Hillsborough Township School District, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).
According to the documents filed in this case:
DeLuca, a long-term employee of the Hillsborough Township School District, was promoted to the position of Director of Buildings and Grounds in approximately July 2019, a salaried position that did not entitle him to overtime pay. Nevertheless, shortly after assuming this position, the School District employee to whom DeLuca reported (referred to as “Individual 1” in the Information) began directing DeLuca to claim that DeLuca was entitled receive overtime payments, including for hours which substantially exceeded those that DeLuca actually worked. DeLuca submitted these claims to Individual 1 who then authorized overtime payments for DeLuca in return for cash kickbacks.
DeLuca admitted in court yesterday that upon receiving the overtime payments approved by Individual 1, DeLuca would typically withdraw cash from his bank account to provide kickbacks to Individual 1. DeLuca stated that Individual 1 would designate the location to which DeLuca should deliver envelopes containing the cash kickbacks, including the console of Individual 1’s vehicle and a drawer in Individual 1’s office desk. DeLuca admitted that through this scheme he received in excess of $137,000 in overtime payments to which he was not entitled and that he provided Individual 1 with at least $39,800 in kickbacks between July 2019 and January 2022.
DeLuca faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and maximum fine of 250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel in Newark; and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Information pertain to Anthony DeLuca and any other individuals referenced are presumed innocent unless and until those individuals are proven guilty.
Defense counsel: S. Emile Lisboa IV, Esq., Hackensack, NJ
Florence meth trafficker sentenced to nine years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Florence man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found more than six pounds of the drug, seven firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition during a search of his residence was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jason Charles Allen, 48, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement received information from at least five individuals who discussed Allen’s involvement in trafficking meth in the greater Missoula area. On May 24, 2022, an FBI SWAT team executed a federal search warrant on Allen’s residence. Investigators retrieved meth that Allen was attempting to burn in a fire. Law enforcement also recovered seven firearms, 3,200 rounds of ammunition, more than $8,000 in cash and more than six pounds of meth. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 21,744 doses. Earlier that month, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of meth from Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.
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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Five Members and Associates of White Supremacist Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering, Kidnapping, and MurderRead the Press Release
Five members and associates of a white supremacist gang were sentenced in Alaska this week to life in prison without the possibility of parole for racketeering, including murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, and other offenses.
The person formerly known as Timothy Lobdell, 46, who legally changed his name to “Filthy Fuhrer” (Lobdell); Roy Naughton, aka Thumper, 46; Glen Baldwin, aka Glen Dog, 41; Colter O’Dell, 30; and Craig King, aka Oakie, 57, were convicted at trial of racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping conspiracy on May 2, 2022. Baldwin, O’Dell, and King were each also convicted of murder in aid of racketeering. Lobdell and Naughton were also convicted of an additional two counts each of kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and assault in aid of racketeering.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were leaders, members, and associates of the 1488s, a violent, prison-based Neo-Nazi gang that operated inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska. The 1488s use Nazi-derived symbols to identify themselves and their affiliation with the gang, including a 1488 “patch” tattoo which depicts an Iron Cross superimposed over a swastika. The tattoo can only be awarded to members who gained full membership by committing acts of violence on behalf of the gang. The gang enforced discipline through written rules and a code of conduct, including the boast that “the only currency we recognize is violence and unquestionable loyalty.”
Lobdell founded and led the 1488 gang from inside a state maximum-security prison, where he was serving a 19-year sentence for the attempted murder of an Alaska State Trooper. In addition to directing acts of violence aimed at establishing the gang’s dominance in the prison hierarchy, Lobdell ordered members of the gang to commit violent kidnappings and assaults in the “free world” outside of prison. As part of a plan to impose greater organization and structure among non-incarcerated members, Lobdell insisted on punishing members that he perceived to be defying the 1488 code of conduct, which he believed diminished the power, influence, and reputation of the gang. Lobdell sent out a trusted lieutenant with a list of directives, which culminated in the kidnapping and assault of two lower-level gang members on April 2, 2017, and July 20, 2017, and the kidnapping, assault, and murder of 1488 member Michael Staton on Aug. 3, 2017.
On April 2, 2017, Roy Naughton and other 1488 members, acting at the direction of Lobdell, lured a victim to a gang meeting at Naughton’s residence. Once there, the victim was taken into a basement where he was held at gun point, tied up, and assaulted. As part of the assault, the gang members shattered a lightbulb in his mouth and tattooed him with a racial epithet. The victim was threatened with more violence if the incident was reported to police.
On July 17, 2017, Lobdell called Naughton from prison. During the call, Naughton boasted about the April 2 assault, and reported to Lobdell that another member would be assaulted in the next few days. On July 20, 2017, a second victim was assaulted in a similar manner as the first victim and his 1488 membership “patch,” which is a tattoo, was burned off.
In 2016, Naughton asked for and received permission from Lobdell to impose exceptionally severe discipline on Staton, who had previously stolen from both the 1488s and Craig King, who held himself out as a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Naughton, King, Baldwin, and O’Dell worked with other 1488 members to locate, kidnap, and murder Staton. On Aug. 3, 2017, 1488 members, including Baldwin and O’Dell, lured Staton to Wasilla, Alaska, where they beat him and took him to King’s duplex. After arriving, Staton was taken to an empty room, which had been lined with plastic sheeting. Inside the room, King and the 1488s beat and tortured the victim, including cutting off his 1488 tattoo with a knife that had been heated with a propane torch. The co-conspirators wrapped Staton in the plastic and carpeting, and Baldwin and O’Dell drove him to a remote section of Wasilla, where they shot him and set fire to his body. O’Dell was awarded full membership in 1488s for his role in the murder.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Investigation, investigated the case in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). Investigative assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Anchorage Police Department; and the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections.
Trial Attorney Jeremy Franker of the Criminal Division’s OCGS and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor, James Klugman, and Chris Schroeder for the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.
Five Members and Associates of White Supremacist Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering, Kidnapping, and MurderRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Filthy Fuhrer, formerly Timothy Lobdell, 46; Roy Naughton, aka Thumper, 44; Glen Baldwin, aka Glen Dog, 41; Colter O’Dell, 30; and Craig King, aka Oakie, 57, were sentenced this week in Alaska to life in prison without the possibility of parole. All five defendants were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping conspiracy. Fuhrer and Naughton were also each convicted of an additional two counts of kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and assault in aid of racketeering.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendants were leaders, members, and associates of the 1488s, a violent, prison-based Neo-Nazi gang that operated inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska. The 1488s used Nazi-derived symbols to identify themselves and their affiliation with the gang, including a 1488 “patch” tattoo that depicts an Iron Cross superimposed over a swastika. The tattoo was awarded to members who gained full membership by committing acts of violence on behalf of the gang. The gang enforced discipline through written rules and a code of conduct, including the boast that “the only currency we recognize is violence and unquestionable loyalty.”
The trial testimony established that Fuhrer founded and led the 1488 gang from inside a maximum-security prison, where he was serving a 19-year sentence for the attempted murder of an Alaska State Trooper. In addition to directing acts of violence aimed at establishing the gang’s dominance in the prison hierarchy, Fuhrer ordered members of the gang to commit violent kidnappings and assaults in the “free world” outside of prison. As part of a plan to impose greater organization and structure among non-incarcerated members, Fuhrer insisted on punishing members that he perceived to be defying the 1488 code of conduct thereby diminishing the power, influence, and reputation of the gang. Fuhrer sent out a trusted lieutenant with a list of directives, which culminated in the kidnapping and assault of two lower-level gang members on April 2, 2017, and July 20, 2017, and the kidnapping, assault, and murder of Michael Staton on Aug. 3, 2017.
According to the trial evidence, on April 2, 2017, defendant Roy Naughton and other 1488 members, acting at the direction of Fuhrer, lured a victim to a gang meeting at Naughton’s residence. Once there, the victim was taken into a basement where he was held at gun point, tied up, and assaulted. As part of the assault, the gang members shattered a light bulb in his mouth and tattooed him with a racial epithet. The victim was threatened with more violence if the incident was reported to police.
In addition, the evidence at trial demonstrated that on July 17, 2017, Fuhrer called Naughton from prison. During the call Naughton boasted about the April 2 assault and reported to Fuhrer that another member would be assaulted in the next few days. On July 20, 2017, a second victim was similarly assaulted and had his 1488 membership patch burned off.
Evidence also showed that in 2016 Naughton asked for and received permission from Fuhrer to impose exceptionally severe discipline on 1488 member Michael Staton, who held himself out as a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, for stealing from both the 1488’s and defendant Craig King. Naughton, King, and defendants Glen Baldwin and Colter O’Dell worked with other 1488 members to locate, kidnap, and murder Staton. On August 3, 2017, 1488 members, including Baldwin and O’Dell, lured Staton to Wasilla where they beat him and took him to King’s duplex. After arriving, Staton was taken to an empty room which had been lined with plastic sheeting. Inside the room King and the 1488s beat and tortured the victim, including cutting off his 1488 tattoo with a knife that had been heated with a propane torch. The defendants wrapped Staton in the plastic and carpeting, and Baldwin and O’Dell drove him to a remote section of Wasilla where they shot him and set fire to his body. O’Dell was awarded full membership in 1488s for his role in the murder.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will use every tool at its disposal to combat and dismantle violent criminal enterprises,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “These life sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ conduct in the maiming of two individuals and the brutal murder of a third, all in order to strengthen their hate-based criminal enterprise. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state and local investigative partners to ensure those engaging in such loathsome crimes are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“With federal life sentences imposed on five defendants who were associated with a violent, hate-driven gang, Alaska’s law enforcement community has delivered a devastating blow to the 1488 criminal enterprise,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Dismantling violent, criminal organizations is a priority for the FBI, and a goal that is shared among our law enforcement and prosecution partners across Alaska.”
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Investigation, investigated the case in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). Investigative assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Anchorage Police Department (APD), and the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor, James Klugman and Chris Schroeder and Trial Attorney Jeremy Franker of OCGS prosecuted the case.
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Federal and Local Law Enforcement Announce New Public Education Campaign to Highlight Danger of Fentanyl – 'Death in Disguise'Read the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – Inland Empire law enforcement officials today rolled out a public outreach education campaign to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis and the skyrocketing number of fentanyl poisonings.
Anchored by a new public service announcement titled “Death in Disguise” that expands on the DEA-led “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, the new program announced today includes the wide release of the PSA in conjunction with the launch of a widespread engagement program that will target schools and community groups across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The new campaign was announced at a news conference today by United States Attorney Martin Estrada, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, San Bernardino County Assistant District Attorney Simon Umscheid, and Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Division Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner.
“The fentanyl epidemic has targeted our youth, devastating families and scarring communities,” said United States Attorney Estrada. “It is therefore critical that we continue our educational, outreach, and enforcement efforts with our law enforcement partners. We are committed to doing all we can to combat the fentanyl threat and holding accountable those who traffic in this poison.”
“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is devastating our community,” said District Attorney Hestrin. “Our office continues the urgent work of educating our residents about the dangers of fentanyl and holding those accountable who peddle this poison in Riverside County.”
“At the rates we are seeing, if a fentanyl poisoning hasn’t affected you personally, it soon will,” said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson. “That means every person in this county and beyond shares a responsibility to fight the opioid crisis – a responsibility in awareness, in prevention, in response, and in holding social media, dealers and distributors accountable.”
“Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is fueling poisonings and drug-caused deaths at historic rates and poses a greater risk to our communities than any other illicit drug in history,” said Special Agent in Charge Bodner. “As we target individuals responsible for importing and distributing fentanyl we are equally focused on educating and increasing awareness about fentanyl so individuals can make better informed decisions. There’s not a community, family, or person that is immune from the dangers of fentanyl, which is why our joint awareness efforts are widespread and boundless.”
As part of this new outreach project, federal officials worked closely with members of the District Attorney’s offices to create age-appropriate presentations for middle and high school students to be made in schools or other community-based settings.
The young people targeted in these presentations will hear from members of law enforcement, prosecutors, health care professionals and victims, who will engage students and their parents with an interactive presentation, including visual aids and Q&A to help students and parents understand to dangers of fentanyl poisoning. The presentations are designed to drive home the crucial points that tiny amounts of fentanyl can be deadly, and it is inherently dangerous to purchase seemingly legitimate “pharmaceutical” drugs on social media platforms.
The partners involved in this project are developing law enforcement trainings for colleges and universities across the Inland Empire. These will include trainings by DEA special agents on the widespread availability of fentanyl on social media sites, the recognition and safe handling of fentanyl, and the proper use of Narcan by health care professionals.
The “Death in Disguise” PSA was developed in partnership with the Department of Cinema and Television Arts at the California State University, Northridge.
This new outreach campaign is an important part of the law enforcement arsenal to address the fentanyl crisis that continues to take lives every day in Southern California. In conjunction with law enforcement’s prosecution and interdiction efforts, the public education component is part of a comprehensive strategy to address the problem and save lives.
Federal Jury Convicts Blackfoot Man of Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – After a three-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Pocatello found Joseph Hornof, 41, of Blackfoot, Idaho, guilty of two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye presided over the trial, which began on January 23, and concluded with a guilty verdict on January 25. Following the jury’s verdict, Hornof is subject to a sentencing enhancement for committing a prior sex offense against a child in 2009 in Bannock County, Idaho.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Hornof used the Kik messenger application to communicate with an undercover officer in North Carolina. Hornof shared videos and images of child pornography with the officer. Hornof then directed the officer to join a social media group called “pedophilia” that Hornof administered. In that group, Hornof distribution 24 videos of child pornography to other members of the group. Law enforcement later served a search warrant at Hornof’s residence in Blackfoot. After seizing his laptop and cellphone, officers discovered additional images of child pornography on the devices.
The charge of distribution of child pornography, with a prior conviction, carries a minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, per count, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years and up to lifetime of supervised release. The charge of possession of child pornography, with a prior conviction, carries a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years and up to lifetime of supervised release. Hornof will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
Sentencing is set for May 1, 2023, before Judge Nye at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit, of the District of Idaho commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho ICAC Task Force, Boone North Carolina Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Shirts and Erin Blackadar.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Eldon Man Pleads Guilty to $437,000 COVID Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Eldon, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a scheme to use the identities of deceased people to file hundreds of false stimulus claims under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Lamar K. Johnson, 41, formerly of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2023.
By pleading guilty today, Johnson admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to defraud the federal government from March 28, 2020, to April 15, 2021, by using stolen identities to file fraudulent claims. Co-defendant Warren W. Watkins, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to the same offense on March 17, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2023.
Conspirators used the identities of other people to file 238 false and fraudulent economic impact payment claims. Most of the individuals whose identities they used were deceased. Each claim sought a $1,200 economic impact payment available under the CARES Act, for a total of $285,600. Watkins also filed at least 28 false and fraudulent federal income tax returns in the names of other individuals seeking a total of $152,155 in income tax credits and refunds. The total attempted loss from both schemes was $437,755. The IRS paid $4,800 of the claims.
Watkins was associated with two Kansas City, Mo., funeral homes; 226 of the individuals whose identities were used to file the false claims had received funeral services from the two funeral homes or a third associated funeral home.
Under federal statutes, Johnson and Watkins each are subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Mahoney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Duquesne Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 78 months’ imprisonment and six years’ supervised release on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Brandon McCaskill, age 28.
According to information presented to the Court, on Aug. 17, 2020, officers with the Duquesne Police Department attempted to locate a suspect in an unrelated investigation at Brandon McCaskill’s residence in Duquesne. Upon arriving at the residence, officers observed McCaskill seated on the front porch with a backpack between his legs. Officers also detected the strong odor of marijuana. As a result, law enforcement applied for and obtained a search warrant for the porch of the residence.
The backpack between McCaskill’s legs contained a loaded handgun, controlled substances packaged into 11 bricks stamped “Dr. Pepper”, and several plastic bags. A “brick” is typically comprised of 50 glassine bags. From on and underneath a couch on the porch, officers recovered two digital scales, bulk United States currency, and additional packaged controlled substances. The Drug Chemistry Section of the Office of the Medical Examiner, Allegheny County, tested the seized substances. The laboratory confirmed that the bricks marked “Dr. Pepper” contained a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol; that other bricks contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol; and that some plastic baggies contained cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the City of Duquesne Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McCaskill.
Dominican National Sentenced, Faces Deportation for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national detained on drug trafficking charges since March 28, 2022, today admitted to a federal judge that he acted as a member of a criminal drug conspiracy when he attempted to retrieve U.S. Priority Mail packages containing cocaine intended for later distribution, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Rafael Fleury Munoz, 23, admitted that, on March 26, 2022, working with other members of the criminal drug conspiracy, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to retrieve a package from a postal carrier that had been mailed to an address in Providence. That package contained 1.15 kilograms of cocaine; two days later, Fleury Munoz successfully retrieved a different parcel, delivered to a Johnston residence, that contained 1.07 kilograms of cocaine.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, Fleury Munoz pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Detained in federal custody since his arrest on March 28, 2022, Fleury Munoz was sentenced to time served and he was ordered turned over to Immigration and Custom Enforcement to face deportation proceedings.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Stacey A. Erickson.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Eugene W. Williams, also known as “Bo,” 46, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 4, 2021, Williams sold what he now knows was a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant near Mount Hope in Raleigh County. Williams admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling an additional quantity of fentanyl to the same confidential informant on March 11, 2021.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-32.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 20 years for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon and Tampering with a Witness Related to 2021 ShootingRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA –A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of tampering with a witness.
In August 2022, Roylee Richardson, Jr., age 32, went to trial and was found guilty by a federal jury. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, at approximately 11:00 a.m. on February 7, 2021, Davenport Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment complex at 3348 Heatherton Drive in Davenport, related to shots fired. Officers located spent casings and two bullet fragments. Richardson was identified as the shooter, and officers subsequently located Richardson attempting to scale off a second-story balcony. Officers then located a loaded pistol inside of the apartment that Richardson had fled from. After being arrested, Richardson repeatedly contacted the victim, and attempted to tamper with the witness’s testimony.
This is the third time Richardson has been convicted for charges related to a shooting. In November 2008, Richardson was convicted of Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury and Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, in the Iowa District Court for Scott County. In July 2016, Richardson was convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent, Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon, Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury, and Going Armed with Intent, in the Iowa District Court for Scott County.
Richardson was sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment for each offense, with the sentences to be served concurrently: ten years in prison for the firearm conviction and twenty years in prison for the witness tampering charges. After his prison term, Richardson was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon to more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Donald Joseph Boteler, Jr, 48, of Pell City, to 106 1/2 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Boteler pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in September 2022.
“The illegal possession of firearms by repeat felony offenders is a persistent threat to the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “We are grateful for the work of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF in apprehending this defendant and securing the evidence for this case.”
“This was extremely great work done by the law enforcement officers who took part in this investigation. Protecting the public from violent criminals who illegally possess firearms is at the core of the mission of the men and women of the ATF. We will continue to work collaboratively with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crimes in an effort to maintain public safety and hold violent members of our society accountable,” said ATF SAC Marcus Watson.
According to court documents, in December 2021, St. Clair County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to pull over a truck driven by Boteler for traveling in the middle of two lanes of traffic. Boteler fled at a high rate of speed from the deputies. The deputies located the truck at the bottom of a hill where Boteler exited the truck and fled on foot. The St. Clair County canine unit was dispatched to the scene and, after a lengthy search, located Boteler in a wooded area. Boteler resisted arrest and deputies were forced to use their tasers to get Boteler to comply. Boteler continued to struggle with deputies and pulled a Diamondback 9mm pistol from his waistband. As deputies struggled to control the pistol, Boteler fired one round. Boteler was eventually taken into custody and the pistol was recovered.
Prior to his arrest in this case, Boteler had been convicted of 13 other felony offenses, including Unlawful Possession and Distribution of Controlled Substances, Receiving Stolen Property, and Escape.
ATF investigated the case, along with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Royster prosecuted the case.
Clinton Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison Related to a January 2022 Shooting in DavenportRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Clinton man was sentenced yesterday to eight years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, related to his involvement in a January 2022 shooting in Davenport.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Timothy Eugene Angel, age 39, fired multiple shots in the area of 13th Street and Washington Street, a residential area, during the early morning hours of January 29, 2022. Evidence presented showed that Angel was involved in an altercation inside the Thunderguard Club, that the other involved party was kicked out of the club, and that Angel then left the club, retrieved a firearm, and fired numerous rounds, striking one person.
Leonard Fisher, age 32, of Davenport, was identified as another shooter involved. In January 2023, Fisher was convicted by a federal jury of possessing a firearm as a felon. Fisher’s sentencing is set for May 31, 2023. Fisher faces up to ten years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Cherokee, N.C. Man Is Sentenced for ArsonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILE, N.C. –James Ralph Brady, 55, of Cherokee, N.C. was sentenced to four years in prison today followed by five years of supervised release for the arson of a home that caused approximately $10,000 in damage, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Brady was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.
Chief Carla Neadeau of the Cherokee Indian Police Department joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, on July 25, 2021, a residential structural fire was reported at 37 Bob Owle Road in Cherokee. The residence is a single-wide trailer and the fire was set to an exterior wall with damage done throughout the residence. Court records reveal that Brady was on house arrest on Tribal charges at the time and his ankle monitoring device pinged at the residence near the time the fire was discovered. According to court documents, when Brady was questioned by Tribal police he admitted throwing an incendiary device commonly called a “Molotov cocktail” near the residence before it caught fire. Law enforcement records show that Brady thought his intended target lived at the residence but was mistaken and that he had no dispute with the actual victim. The victim was able to put the fire out but not before substantial damage was done to the home.
Brady is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.