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24 February 2023
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced today to 212 months in prison without the possibility of parole followed by 25 years of supervised release on two counts of Receipt of Child Pornography. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, in July 2016, the defendant, Richard Blane Gamblin, age 28, was convicted in the Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville Division, of Receiving Child Pornography via the Internet. He was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years supervised release. On October 6, 2021, Gamblin was released from federal prison and began his 10-year term of Court ordered supervised release in the Western District of Arkansas.
On December 7, 2021, U.S. Probation officers did a compliance check on Gamblin’s Springdale residence and discovered he was in possession of a cellular phone. That phone was later turned over to the Department of Homeland Security, who forensically determined that it contained images of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Gamblin was subsequent indicted via Grand Jury on new charges of Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography. On or about August 11. 2022, Gamblin pleaded guilty to two (2) separate counts of Receipt of Child Pornography.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville, and the Northwest Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to over 11 Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Cassius Sinclair Jordan, 38, of Huntingdon, Tennessee has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on May 28, 2020, at approximately 12:30 a.m., an officer with the Huntingdon Police Department observed a vehicle parked with the rear of the vehicle in the roadway. As the officer approached the vehicle, he observed the driver laying across the steering wheel as if he was asleep. The officer awakened the driver and identified him as the defendant, Cassius Sinclair Jordan.
The officer observed a glass pipe and a cigarette lighter in Jordan’s hands and directed him to exit the vehicle, at which time he was detained. A search of the vehicle revealed the following:
• A Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun, which was loaded with nine rounds
• An additional 12 .40 caliber rounds of ammunition
• A bag containing approximately 93 grams of methamphetamine
• A bag containing 41 Xanax tablets
• A bag containing 14.2 grams of marijuana
• $7,285.75 in cash
• A box of baggies
• Digital scalesAccording to the laboratory report issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the methamphetamine seized from Jordan's vehicle tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride with a net weight of 93.89 grams and a purity level of
97%.A special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined
Jordan's firearm and ammunition and determined that the firearm and ammunition were manufactured outside the state of Tennessee.On February 17, 2023, the Honorable S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Jordan to a total of 140 months' imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Anderson also ordered
Jordan's federal sentence run consecutive to a state sentence that Jordan is presently serving following his convictions for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault with a weapon in Carroll
County in 2019. While Jordan could be paroled from his current state sentence, there is no parole in the federal system.This case was investigated by the Huntingdon Police Department, the ATF and DEA.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – An Isle of Wight man was sentenced today to 81 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, on June 27, 2018, Ronald Devon Matthews, 36, was convicted of carrying a firearm without a license, a felony, in Pennsylvania. On Dec. 7, 2021, Matthews was arrested after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Carrsville. During the search, deputies discovered a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun and ammunition under a sofa in the den of the residence. Law enforcement also discovered two 9mm pistols, magazines, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest in a gun safe in Matthews’ bedroom.
From jail, Matthews made phone calls instructing an accomplice to clean out his storage unit in Franklin. The following day, deputies executed a search warrant on Matthews’ storage unit and discovered four rifles, four pistols, one shotgun, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, 2.2 kilograms of marijuana, and a digital scale bearing methamphetamine residue. Two of the firearms were affixed with devices subsequently determined to be illegal “firearm silencers” or “firearm mufflers” by the ATF Firearms Technology Branch.
Matthews was sentenced to 81 months in prison with 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit 14 firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Darrell Logwood, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Derek W. Gordon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Significant assistance was provided by the Isle of Wight Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-110.
Colorado Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jason Lee Henderson, age 36, formerly of Wray, Colorado, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering. Henderson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $400,858.07 in restitution. The court also imposed a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $399,452.
According to the plea agreement, from March 2020, until October 2020, Henderson was part of a conspiracy to launder funds obtained from a government official impersonation scheme. Victims in the United States were contacted by telephone and coerced into believing they were under investigation by “Agents” of federal law enforcement agencies (the FBI, SSA, DHS, Treasury, or U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). It was further part of the conspiracy that the conspirators told these victims that their identities had been connected to a criminal incident, that their imminent arrest and/or deportation from the United States had been ordered by law enforcement, and that the only way to avoid arrest and or deportation was to pay the “Government” large sums of money, as instructed. The victims were instructed to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and mail the cash to various addresses, which turned out to be Walgreens stores in northeastern Colorado.
Henderson was paid to use fake identification cards to pick up victims’ packages of cash mailed to the Walgreens stores in Colorado. The government has identified 57 victims who in total have lost over $7.5 million through this scheme. Of that $7.5 million, $1.6 million in cash was mailed to Colorado. Video surveillance from these stores and text messages from the defendant’s phone tied him to specific fake identification cards used to pick up the packages.
United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced Henderson on February 23, 2023.
This investigation is being conducted jointly with investigators from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Sterling, Colorado Police Department. The District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District has also provided assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha A. Paluch and Laura B. Hurd.
Case number: 22-cr-202
Civil Forfeiture Complaint Filed Against Six Luxury Real Estate Properties Involved in Sanctions Evasion and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Andrew C. Adams, the Director of Task Force KleptoCapture, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Maged Behnam, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against six real properties located in New York, New York, Southampton, New York, and Fisher Island, Florida, worth approximately $75 million. The Complaint alleges that the properties, which are beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, are the proceeds of sanctions violations and were involved in international money laundering in promotion of sanctions violations committed by, among others, Vladimir Voronchenko, a/k/a “Vladimir Vorontchenko,” who was indicted on February 7, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s action, filed on the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, seeks forfeiture of six luxury properties owned by Viktor Vekselberg that his associate Vladimir Voronchenko maintained by funneling millions of dollars into the United States. With the filing of this complaint, the United States sends a strong message to those who violate sanctions and engage in money laundering that the United States will use every available tool to forfeit criminal proceeds and will use that money to help our allies in Ukraine under the newly enacted law.”
Director of Task Force KleptoCapture Andrew C. Adams said: “Strawmen, corrupt professionals, and shell companies may be the hallmarks of money laundering and sanctions evasion, but they are obstacles that diligent, dedicated investigators and prosecutors will surmount. Today’s filing marks yet another step that the Department of Justice and our partners at HSI and FBI have taken toward dislodging ill-gotten gains from those who would attempt to evade U.S. sanctions, and toward making the value of these properties available for aid to Ukraine.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “For years, Russia’s weaponization of corruption has relied on opaque legal structures – and Western enablers – to move, hide, and spend stolen wealth, enriching its oligarchs and ultimately resourcing the war in the Ukraine. Since the invasion, HSI New York and our partners have worked tirelessly to cut Russia’s corruptocrats and their assets out of the American financial system. Today we continue our active measures and remove jewels from the crown of yet another oligarch, stripping him of the luxury assets he so cherishes.”
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam said: “The mission of the interagency Task Force KleptoCapture is to enforce sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures imposed by the United States in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine one year ago. This civil forfeiture complaint is an example of the Task Force’s ongoing work to fulfill this mission. I commend the hard work, dedication, and cooperation of this team of professionals.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court today:[1]
On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Vekselberg as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. On or about March 11, 2022, OFAC redesignated Vekselberg as an SDN and blocked Vekselberg’s yacht and private airplane.
Prior to his designation by OFAC, between in or about 2008 and in or about 2017, Vekselberg, through a series of shell companies, acquired six real properties in the United States, specifically, (i) two apartments on Park Avenue in New York, New York, (ii) an estate in Southampton, New York, (iii) two apartments on Fisher Island, Florida, and (iv) a penthouse apartment also on Fisher Island, Florida (collectively, “the Properties” or the “Defendants-in-rem”). As of the date of the Complaint, the Properties were worth approximately $75 million.
Voronchenko, Vekselberg’s close friend and business associate, retained an attorney (the “Attorney”), who practiced in New York, New York, in connection with the acquisition of the Properties. The Attorney also managed the finances of the Properties, including by paying common charges, property taxes, insurance premiums, and other fees associated with the Properties in U.S. dollar transactions from the Attorney’s interest on lawyer’s trust account (“IOLTA account”).
Prior to Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, between approximately February 2009 and March 2018, companies owned by Vekselberg sent approximately 90 wire transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million to the IOLTA account. At the direction of Voronchenko and his family member who lived in Russia, the Attorney used these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties.
Immediately after Vekselberg’s designation as an SDN, the source of the funds used to maintain and service the Properties changed. The IOLTA Account began to receive wires from a bank account in the Bahamas held in the name of a shell company controlled by Voronchenko, Smile Holding Ltd., and from a Russian bank account held in the name of a Russian national who was related to Voronchenko. Between approximately June 2018 and March 2022, approximately 25 wire transfers totaling approximately $4 million were sent to the IOLTA account. Although the source of the payments changed, the management of the payments remained the same as before: Voronchenko and his family member directed the Attorney to use these funds to make various U.S. dollar payments to maintain and service the Properties. Additionally, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in 2018, Voronchenko and others tried to sell both the Park Avenue apartment and the Southampton estate. No licenses from OFAC were applied for or issued for any of these payments or attempted transfers.
On or about May 13, 2022, federal agents served Voronchenko on Fisher Island with a Grand Jury subpoena, which called for his personal appearance for testimony and his production of documents, including documents relating to the Properties. Approximately nine days later, on or about May 22, 2022, Voronchenko took a flight from Miami, Florida, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and then went to Moscow, Russia. Voronchenko failed to appear before the Grand Jury and has not returned to the United States.
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The Properties subject to the forfeiture action are as follows:
- 19 Duck Pond Lane, Southampton, New York 11968;
- 515 Park Avenue, Units 21 and 2I, New York, New York 10022;
- 7002 Fisher Island Drive, Unit 7002 PH2, Miami Beach, Florida 33109; and
- 7183 Fisher Island Drive, Units 7182 and 7183, Miami Beach, Florida 33109.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York and Miami field offices of HSI and the FBI. Mr. Williams further thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs and OFAC for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.
On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Task Force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Joshua A. Naftalis, and Sheb Swett are in charge of this action.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for threatening and coercing a Massachusetts minor to engage in sexual conduct.
Ernesto Herrera, 33, of Chicago, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In August 2022, Herrera pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
“Mr. Herrera preyed on the vulnerability of a young, innocent child to manipulate and exploit her for his own sexual gratification. He threatened and blackmailed the victim into sending and giving him access to abusive sexual imagery of herself. Like many others, Mr. Herrera was wrong to think he could hide behind the anonymity of the internet. This case is another example that online predators will be identified and held accountable,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “I commend the victim for her bravery in providing information to law enforcement – her courage ensured that Mr. Herrera was held accountable and likely spared countless other minors from being victimized. My office remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting the safety, innocence and wellbeing of our children and removing individuals who seek them harm from our communities.”
“Ernesto Herrera is a sexual predator who went to great lengths to conceal his identity when he manipulated a 16-year-old girl into providing him with sexually explicit images of herself. No sentence can undo the devastating harm he inflicted on his victim, but this courageous teen stood up, came forward, and ensured this man will no longer be in a position to harm others for quite some time,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “We commend her for exhibiting great courage throughout our investigation and prosecution of this case, and rest assured, we will continue our aggressive pursuit to hold others like him accountable.”
In June 2020, Herrera reached out to the minor victim from an anonymous phone number using a messaging application. Herrera demanded that the victim send images and videos of herself engaged in sexual conduct, among other things. Herrera threatened the victim that if she did not comply with his requests, videos of the victim would be leaked to her friends and the internet. Herrera also accessed the victim’s Snapchat account and, from June 2020 through January 2021, sent over one thousand images and videos of the victim to his Snapchat account. Several of these files depicted child sexual abuse material.
In June 2021, during a search of Herrera’s residence in Chicago, he admitted to contacting the minor using a text messaging service and acknowledged that he knew the victim was being blackmailed by other people at the time that he communicated with her. Herrera confirmed that he received images of the victim engaged in sexual conduct, among other things. Herrera also admitted to creating various Snapchat usernames and email addresses to communicate with and request nude images from other minor females, and that he had threatened at least two other minors via Snapchat to send him explicit images.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Chatsworth Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison for Cyberstalking Campaigns Against Victims in California and GeorgiaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 85 months in federal prison for stalking two sisters in California by sending them text messages that threatened them with rape and murder and for threatening and harassing a teenage girl in Georgia.
Alex Scott Roberts, 27, of Chatsworth, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who at today’s hearing called Roberts’ conduct “egregious.”
Roberts pleaded guilty in August 2022 to two counts of stalking. He has been in federal custody since December 2020.
In the California case, in July and August 2020, Roberts used text messages and internet communications to place the two victims “in reasonable fear of death and serious bodily injury,” and that he intended to cause “substantial emotional distress,” according to court documents.
After being told by an individual identified in court papers as “Victim 1” and her family that the woman did not want to communicate with Roberts, he created a listing on Craigslist that offered a room for rent at Victim 1’s home and invited prospective renters to “Stop by anytime,” court papers state.
Roberts then sent anonymous text messages to a friend of Victim 1 that demanded Victim 1’s phone number, threatened to publish nude photographs of Victim 1, and threatened to send someone to rape Victim 1.
He also sent numerous anonymous messages to Victim 1, Victim 1’s sister, and at least one friend of Victim 1, demanding Victim 1’s telephone number, threatening to send nude photographs of Victim 1, threatening to send someone to rape Victim 1 and her sister, and threatening to kill Victim 1 and her family.
In the Georgia case, in June 2020, Roberts sent a series of threatening and harassing messages to a 15-year-old girl, identified in court papers as “Minor 1.”
Roberts claimed to possess nude images of Minor 1 and threatened to send the images to her parents as “payback” if she did not send Roberts additional nude images. He then sent harassing and threatening messages to Minor 1 via both text message and Instagram.
In response to his threats to send nude images of Minor 1 to her family, Minor 1 sent Roberts “selfie” photographs of herself. Roberts responded by continuing to send Minor 1 harassing messages, including several messages containing edited versions of the “selfie” photographs Minor 1 had sent to Roberts in response to his threats.
“Only a few months after being paroled on state prison sentences related to stalking and extorting young women online…Roberts…began tormenting new victims,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “His messages traumatized the victims, putting them in fear for their lives and the lives of their family.”
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Cape Coral Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Karl Patrick Kluge (54, Fort Myers) to eight years and one month in federal prison for possession of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Kluge was also sentenced to a 15-year term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Kluge was found guilty following a bench trial on October 31, 2022.
According to court documents, in May 2021, an FBI task force agent had connected to Kluge’s computer sharing files depicting a child being sexually abused. The FBI later executed a search warrant at Kluge’s residence and seized Kluge’s laptop computer, cellphones, and a thumb drive. Kluge admitted to agents that he looked at child sex abuse images. A subsequent forensic examination of Kluge’s devices revealed in excess of 300 images and more than 150 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office that assisted with this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bank and Identity Fraud Conspiracy Members Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today the sentences of New York and Connecticut residents for their involvement in a bank and identity fraud conspiracy. The charged defendants worked together and with others to use stolen identities of actual Regions Bank customers to steal over $125,000 from branches in northwest Florida, southern Alabama, Iowa, and Missouri in December 2019.
Nicole Maguire was sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges. Desmond Brannon, also known as Desmond Scott, was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud charges. Brannon was on supervised release for a prior federal bank fraud conspiracy conviction at the time he committed these offenses and is also awaiting violation proceedings in the Southern District of New York. Steven Mussington was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison following a two-day jury trial convicting him of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud charges. Another co-defendant, Chelsie Worthen, of Arkansas, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
Alleged co-conspirators Darrell Wells and Georgia Ward, both New York residents, are being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York in a separate but related indictment. Ward pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to time served and an additional nine months of home confinement. Wells is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Regions Bank Corporate Security Fraud Investigators, the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department, the Monticello (Iowa) Police Department, and the Jefferson City (Missouri) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the Northern District of Florida cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Bvi Man Pleads Guilty Transporting Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Samuel Davies, of Tortola, BVI, pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller to bringing an alien to the United States for private financial gain.
According to court documents, on September 7, 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations intercepted a vessel as it approached Coral Bay, St. John, with no navigational lights. Davies, the captain, and a Dominican Republic male were the occupants of the vessel. Neither occupant could produce legal documentation that allow their presence in the United States. Davies later told the agents that he met a man in Tortola known to him as “San Diego” who asked to take the Dominican National to Jost Van Dyke, BVI, but they accidentally ended up in Coral Bay. The passenger was later deported to the Dominican Republic and Davies will be sentenced by a federal judge at a hearing scheduled by the court.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of UkraineRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Anniversary of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine:
“For the past year, the United States and the world have seen the horrific images and heard the heart-wrenching accounts of brutality and death resulting from Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“Today, the Department of Justice reiterates its resolute commitment to standing with our Ukrainian partners in pursuit of justice.
“Prosecutors with the Department’s War Crimes Accountability Team are working closer than ever before with our Ukrainian counterparts to investigate specific crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilian targets. At the same time, Congress has expanded our authority to prosecute alleged war criminals who are found in the United States.
“Our Task Force KleptoCapture — a group of prosecutors, agents, analysts, translators, and other Department personnel and law enforcement partners — continues to bring prosecutions and effect seizures against sanctioned enablers of the Kremlin and Russian military.
“And we are also exercising new authority granted by Congress to transfer certain assets we have seized from Russian oligarchs for the rebuilding of Ukraine. Earlier this month, I authorized the first-ever transfer of such assets to the State Department to support the people of Ukraine. More will follow.
“I am proud of this work and of the many Department personnel supporting it.
“Over the past year, the Ukrainian people have shown the world what courage looks like. And for as long as it takes, the Department of Justice will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Ukrainian and international partners in defense of justice and the rule of law.”
Ukrainian
Armed Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JERRELL JAMISON, also known as “Rell” and “Big Bro,” 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an ongoing investigation into gangs, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms in Waterbury. On April 16, 2019, the Waterbury Police Department’s Vice and Intelligence Unit conducted a court-authorized search of Jamison’s residence and seized more than 1,400 individual dose bags of fentanyl/heroin; distribution quantities of cocaine, crack and marijuana; a loaded .40 caliber pistol, and more than 40 rounds of ammunition. Jamison fled his residence when investigators entered, but was apprehended in the rear yard.
Jamison has been identified as a member of the Paybacc Crips street gang. Subsequent analysis of the seized firearm via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected it to shell casings recovered from five prior events, including an assault in December 2016.
After it was determined that Jamison was continuing to engage in criminal activity while released on bond in his state case, his case was adopted for federal prosecution. Jamison has been detained since his federal arrest on March 10, 2022. On September 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
Armed Drug Trafficker Who Previously Shot a Wilmington Officer Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Kenneth Brown, 41, of Wilmington North Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, five counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brown, a validated member of the United Blood Nation gang, was convicted in 2003 on state charges for shooting at a law enforcement officer and received a sentence of more than 15 years in state prison.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on June 23, 2021, Brown sold 13 grams of cocaine base to an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent in Brunswick County. During the deal, Brown indicated that he was involved in trafficking guns to New York. On June 30, 2021, Brown sold an additional 13 grams of cocaine base to the same ATF agent. Brown and the agent discussed the sale of a firearm. Brown pulled out a loaded Glock 9mm handgun. The agent attempted to purchase the gun, but Brown declined to sell it. Brown indicated that the gun was registered to his girlfriend. Brown, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Brown sold the agent 26 grams of cocaine base on August 5 and 18. During the last deal, Brown did not produce the amount agreed initially so he retrieved some additional cocaine and cooked it into cocaine base. Brown’s girlfriend who was present during the deal said that Brown was a master crack cooker and she had seen him do on a number of occasions.
On October 9, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Brown. During a search of the car, law enforcement found a loaded HK 9mm handgun.
On March 15, 2022, Brown was arrested on federal charges and found in possession of a revolver. On March 16, 2022, law enforcement served two search warrants at residences associated with Brown. During a search at an apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a loaded rifle with a large capacity magazine and more than 100 rounds of additional ammunition. During a search of a different apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found more than 65 grams of cocaine.
This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00011-FL.
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Alleged Drug Trafficking Members Indicted on Multiple Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Marcus Jamar Fowler (32, Tarpon Springs) a/k/a “Drastic,” and Abelardo Torres (36, Tampa) with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. Pierre Marquise Fowler (34, Port Richey), a/k/a “Durk,” and Cyion Craig Kerr (45, New York), a/k/a “Bling,” are charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit nine pieces of real property, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, Marcus Jamar Fowler and Pierre Marquise Fowler conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount fentanyl, and 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
The indictment further alleges that Kerr conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Torres is alleged to have conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Alburgh Man Charged with Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Kenneth C. Bishop, 38, of Alburgh, Vermont appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle after his indictment and arrest for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Bishop was ordered temporarily detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
According to court records, on September 29, 2022, Bishop’s cellphone was confiscated after he violated the conditions of his furlough from the custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections. A search of that cellphone subsequently revealed that Bishop had saved CSAM videos and images in an encrypted vault application on the cellphone.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Bishop remains presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Bishop faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the detectives of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office’s Criminal Division, agents of Homeland Security Investigations, and members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Bishop is represented by Jordana Levine, Esq.
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 Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (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 .
Albuquerque man pleads guilty in armed robberies of letter carriersRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced that Cisco Casaus-Alires was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Casaus-Alires, 21, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on June 29 to robbery of mail, money and other property of the United States and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On Nov. 7, 2020, Casaus-Alires robbed a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier at gunpoint in southeast Albuquerque, demanding the letter carrier’s cell phone, USPS keys and mail. On Dec. 26, 2020, in southwest Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires robbed another letter carrier at gunpoint. Casaus-Alires demanded the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys, and then demanded that the letter carrier load parcels into Casaus-Alires’ vehicle.
On Dec. 28, 2020, in south Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires robbed a third letter carrier at gunpoint, demanding the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys. As Casaus-Alires took mail and parcels from the USPS vehicle, he asked the letter carrier where “the good stuff” is delivered, then fled the area.
“USPS Letter Carriers walk our streets on a daily basis to bring us everything from checks to medicine to gifts,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “Delivering mail should not be a dangerous job. We will hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of those who work tirelessly to serve our community.”
“The highest priority of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating acts of violence against USPS employees,” stated Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division. “Through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, Casuas-Alires is no longer a threat to USPS Letter Carriers or the public. This substantial sentence is a message to all criminals. If you rob a USPS employee, Postal Inspectors will not stop until you are brought to justice. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department for their support on this investigation.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
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Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Grand Bay, Alabama man pled guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Walton Stephen Vaughan, 67, was found to be in possession of hundreds of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct when FBI agents and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Lucedale residence on February 27, 2019.
Vaughan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If Vaughan is determined to have a qualifying prior conviction under federal sexual exploitation statues, military law, or state law, to include abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, he would then face a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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.
23 February 2023
Violent, Wanted Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison After Firing Shot into Ceiling of Hotel Room in During Standoff with SWAT TeamRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Dennis, 38, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, on April 20, 2021, investigators with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest Dennis on several outstanding warrants while he was staying at a Baymont Hotel in Kokomo. Dennis refused to let officers into the room and informed them that he had a gun.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene and made several attempts to get Dennis to exit the room. Officers eventually emitted pepper spray under the door. Dennis told officers “if you spray that s**t one more time, I am going to shoot,” at which point, he fired a shot into the ceiling of the hotel room.
After several hours of negotiations, Dennis exited the room and was safely taken into custody. Officers located a 9mm pistol inside the room.
Dennis is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his multiple previous felony convictions including Criminal Recklessness, Strangulation, and Battery on a Child.
The sentence was announced by Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division and Jerry Asher, Howard County Sheriff.
“Every day, law enforcement officers do their duty to protect their public, knowing they may encounter a violent offender with a gun,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We have seen far too many tragedies in Indiana, and across the country when, law enforcement officers encounter criminals with a history of domestic violence and a gun in their hands. It is a testament to the skill, professionalism, and training of the responding Howard County Deputies that this defendant was arrested without injury to the public, law enforcement officers, or himself. The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of our office, the ATF, and our law enforcement partners to protect the public from these dangerous offenders.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Dennis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and be subject to a $1,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
Utah Residents Face Federal Charges After Allegedly Attempting to Forcibly Take an Elderly Man’s VehicleRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment charging an Ogden man and woman with carjacking an SUV that belonged to an elderly citizen.
According to court documents, on January 30, 2023, Elvis Tahirovic, 33, and Brittany Ann Peters, 33, fled from Salt Lake City Police in a reported stolen Mercedes out of South Salt Lake. Salt Lake City Police initiated a high-speed pursuit, that was terminated due to public safety. Utilizing the Department of Public Safety helicopter, Tahirovic and Peters were tracked crossing into Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties before troopers utilized a “cold spike” to flatten the Mercedes tires in Weber County. According to the complaint, at the intersection of Higley Road, the Mercedes came to an abrupt stop and Peters ran to a Chevrolet Tahoe at a stop sign and opened the driver’s door. Tahirovic also exited the Mercedes and ran to the driver’s door of the Tahoe, and forcibly removed the elderly victim out of his SUV before getting behind the wheel. Peters entered the passenger’s seat of the Tahoe. Tahirovic and Peters were unable to take off in the vehicle because the victim took the keys out of the ignition. Unable to flee, Tahirovic charged for the victim, but authorities arrived and took Tahirovic and Peters into custody.
Tahirovic and Peters are charged with one count of carjacking. The defendants made their initial court appearance on their indictment February 16, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carlos Esqueda, for the District of Utah 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.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released earlier this week. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO-MDFL), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.
The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.
“Transparency and accountability are integral to establish public and private trust,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “The new Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy is an important step in encouraging corporate governance. This policy incentivizes corporations to do the right thing by reporting wrongdoing before detected by regulators and law enforcement. We hope that it will have a transformative effect in promoting positive, corporate practices within our district and nationwide.”
Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.
Download United States Attorney's Office Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyUnited States Attorney Kavanaugh Announces New Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy.
The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate, and timely and appropriately remediate.
The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations.
The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.
Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation.
A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy, and fully meets the other requirements of the policy by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea, may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range, and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment, (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company, or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50%, and up to a 75%, reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.
“With this new Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, there is now a nationwide standard among all United States Attorney’s Offices in determining whether a company has made a voluntary self-disclosure, as well as the specific benefits that a company will receive for doing so,” stated United States Attorney Kavanaugh. “By providing such transparency and clear benefits of early disclosure, this policy will motivate companies to timely report wrongdoing, fully cooperate, and remediate criminal conduct, all while receiving the same treatment across United States Attorney’s Offices.”
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Monaco Memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of United States Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including United States Attorney Peace, as well as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher R. Kavanaugh, and United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Staff Emphasize Value of Word Choice to Local StudentsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Words have the power to uplift or destroy and that was the message staff from the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, recently brought to 7th graders at Charles R. Drew K-8 Center in Miami.
Power of Words focused on the importance of choosing one’s words carefully. The presentation went through real-life scenarios and the impact that using insulting and belittling language can have on people.
“It shows how hurtful words can sometimes lead to threats and assaultive behavior,” said Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith. “The presentation identifies the common warning signs and how to proactively identify potentially harmful interactions between students.”
Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Mark McKinney conducted the training which involved videos, real cases, and plenty of class participation.
“If you’re choosing bad words, you’re going to get bad results,” said McKinney. “Hurtful words often lead to aggressive behavior. It can lead to suicide and what else? Anyone know?”
The message is that one never knows how deeply hurtful words cut.
“And just because you apologize doesn’t mean the other person will be able to forgive and move on,” said McKinney.
Research shows that early childhood experience may play a part in verbal abuse. Someone who witnesses this behavior at an early age may replicate it later—becoming an abuser for fear of becoming a victim.
“You have to learn to be comfortable with you,” said Latisha Robinson, a civics teacher at Charles R. Drew K-8 Center. “Life will hit you. Life is hard. But that’s reality. You don’t know what the person next to you is going through and the words you choose can make all the difference.”
Kindness was emphasized throughout the training.
“Be kind to everybody and be mindful of what is going on around you,” said McKinney. “Be aware of how to speak to someone who may be having a bad day. This will help you avoid negative responses.”
The training was valuable to Robinson because it gave her students a different perspective.
“This exercise gives our students that third lens to show them that they do use those words,” she said. “The message is to switch up, change, and make a difference.”
Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Mark McKinney goes over a Power of Words presentation with a group of 7th graders at Charles R. Drew K-8 Center in Miami. The goal was to show students how hurtful words can escalate into violence and ways to identify potentially harmful student interactions.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal Shooting Outside Wharf RestaurantRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against a commander from the Metropolitan Police Department who was involved in the July 2022 fatal shooting of Lazarus Wilson, outside a restaurant in the Wharf neighborhood in Southwest Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian eyewitness accounts, surveillance video, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, the autopsy report, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the evidence, after 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, MPD Commander Jason Bagshaw of the Special Operations Division was dining with his wife, an MPD investigator, at a restaurant located in the Wharf neighborhood in Southwest D.C. Although Commander Bagshaw was off duty, he was equipped with his Glock 17 service pistol. Commander Bagshaw and his wife observed a commotion from the area of the restaurant facing Wharf Street SW and the Potomac River. Patrons and employees of the restaurant began crouching down and crawling away. Commander Bagshaw and his wife walked towards the direction of the commotion.
When Commander Bagshaw and his wife exited the restaurant, they observed Lazarus Wilson pointing a firearm at another individual in what appeared to be a robbery attempt. The firearm was later recovered at the scene. A friend of Mr. Wilson was also present on the scene. Commander Bagshaw retrieved his Glock 17 service pistol from its holster, pointed it in the direction of Mr. Wilson and stated, “MPD, drop the gun!” However, Mr. Wilson did not comply, and Commander Bagshaw discharged one round striking Mr. Wilson in the left cheek. Mr. Wilson was transported by DCFEMS to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that evening.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Commander Bagshaw used excessive force under the circumstances.
Use-of-force investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. To prove civil rights violations, prosecutors must typically be able to prove that the involved officers willfully used more force than was reasonably necessary. Proving “willfulness” is a heavy burden. Prosecutors must not only prove that the force used was excessive, but must also prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyRead the Press Release
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that the Southern District of Indiana has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released yesterday. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.
“Accountability for businesses and individual wrongdoers are important priorities in our efforts to combat corporate crime,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Businesses in America benefit greatly from the protections and opportunities afforded by our rule of law--and must abide by it. This new national Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for all U.S. Attorney’s Offices provides more predictable outcomes and incentivizes companies to do the right thing when wrongdoing is uncovered. Companies and their counsel should take note: honest businesses that voluntarily self-disclose criminal activity when it is discovered, fully cooperate with investigations and prosecutions, and remediate their criminal conduct, will fare far better than those that do not.”
The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.
Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a corporate guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a corporate guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. U.S. Attorney Myers sits on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s White Collar Crime subcommittee.
The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.
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U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released this week. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely, and appropriately remediate wrongdoing and misconduct. The policy provides potential benefits only to companies. It does not apply to individuals.
The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.
Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea against the company; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty against the company that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may cause a USAO to seek a guilty plea against a company even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances of each case to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual, and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.
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Tyler Orvis Indicted for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 21, 2023, Tyler Orvis, 40, of Milton, Vermont, was arrested in connection with an indictment charging violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act for drug trafficking and related activity.
According to court records, between October 2022 and December 30, 2022, Orvis conspired with others to distribute cocaine and fentanyl in Vermont. On December 29, 2022, the Milton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a state search warrant at Orvis’ residence in Milton, Vermont. Inside of the house, investigators found thousands of glassine bags intended for the packaging of controlled substances, and various additional items used to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Milton Police Department, Lamoille County Sheriff’s Office, Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Essex Police Department.
The defendant made his initial appearance on February 23, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, and is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
If convicted, Orvis faces up to twenty years of imprisonment on each charge. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig. Tyler Orvis is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.
Two Previously Deported Men Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two previously deported men were indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Sandrino Trifu, age 24, of Croaova, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Trifu was previously removed from the United States on July 10, 2019, through Chicago, Illinois, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on February 6, 2023, Trifu was encountered in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE).
Refugio Pimentel-Garcia, age 28, of Puruándiro, Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Pimentel-Garcia was previously removed from the United States on October 12, 2016, through Brownsville, Texas, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on January 27, 2023, Pimentel-Garcia was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 2 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating is prosecuting both cases.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Two MS-13 Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Their Roles in MurdersRead the Press Release
Two members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were sentenced to life in prison for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering.
According to court documents, Luis Flores-Reyes, aka Maloso, aka Lobo, 41, of Arlington, Virginia, and Jairo Jacome, aka Abuelo, 40, of Langley Park, Maryland, were members of MS-13, an international criminal organization and one of the largest street gangs in the United States. MS-13 is organized into a series of sub-units or “cliques” that operate in specific geographic locations. Flores-Reyes was a leader within the powerful Sailors Clique, which held territory in Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and El Salvador. Jacome was the highest-ranking member in a local clique called Langley Park Salvatruchas (LPS). Together, the two MS-13 cliques, including Flores-Reyes and Jacome, ran a protection scheme in and around Langley Park, extorting local businesses by charging them “rent” for the privilege of operating in MS-13 “territory.” The gang also trafficked in illegal drugs, including heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. A large share of the proceeds of the gang’s illegal activities were sent to gang leadership in El Salvador to further promote the gang’s illicit activities, using structured transactions and intermediaries to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.
Flores-Reyes and Jacome participated in at least four murders during the period of the conspiracy, mostly of victims they believed to be gang rivals.
Among the most important rules of MS-13 is the prohibition against talking to law enforcement, embodied by the maxim ver, oir, y callar – see, hear, and say nothing. The gang enforced this rule by placing a “green light” – an order to kill – on any member of MS-13 who was thought to be informing on the gang. On December 4, 2016, Jacome directed and participated in taking a 14 year-old boy from Langley Park to a wooded area outside Germantown, Maryland, and murdering him by repeated blows with a machete because Jacome suspected that the victim had provided information to the police about the gang. Jacome fled the murder scene in fear of being discovered by police but returned the next morning to bury the body. The victim was a missing person until his skeletal remains were recovered by law enforcement on June 6, 2018.
In March 2017, a member of the Sailors Clique, who in an effort to hide from law enforcement was living in the Lynchburg, Virginia-area, had a dispute with a local high school student over marijuana. In response, Flores-Reyes authorized that a squad of MS-13 members drive to Lynchburg and murder the high school student. The gang members kidnapped the student from his front lawn and cut his hand off before killing him. After the murder, Flores-Reyes helped to hide and protect the killers from law enforcement.
In September 2022, Flores-Reyes, Jacome, and a third MS-13 member, Brayan Contreras-Avalos, were each convicted of racketeering conspiracy. Flores-Reyes and Jacome were additionally convicted of murder in aid of racketeering and extortion conspiracy, and Flores-Reyes and Contreras-Avalos were convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Contreras-Avalos was sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 13.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office, HSI Baltimore, DEA New York Field Division, DEA Baltimore District Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Virginia State Police, Lynchburg Police Department, Prince William County Police Department, and Bedford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office also provided valuable assistance.
Trial Attorney Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Hagan and Christopher Sarma for the District of Maryland prosecuted the case.
Two Individuals and a Healthcare Management Company Indicted for Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering, PPP Fraud, and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla and Carla Carrillo-Torres, and the company VIP Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (“VIP Healthcare”) were indicted by a federal Grand Jury in relation to bankruptcy fraud, a money laundering scheme, PPP fraud, and bank fraud announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla, the President of VIP Healthcare, was indicted in a bankruptcy fraud scheme for making materially false representations from March 2017 to May 2022 in order to defraud during her bankruptcy proceeding, In re: Ivelisse Rivera Padilla, Case No. 17-01782, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 157. Additionally, she is charged with 10 counts of concealment of assets during her bankruptcy proceedings in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(1), and 3 counts of making false statements in relation to such bankruptcy proceedings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(3).
The indictment alleges that during the bankruptcy proceedings, Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla concealed property and income and failed to disclose to the trustee charged with control of the debtor’s property and from the creditors and the United States Trustee all of the bankruptcy estate during the course of her bankruptcy proceedings, including, but not limited to the creation, operation, ownership, and control of VIP Healthcare.
On or about June 23, 2017, Rivera-Padilla incorporated VIP Healthcare, and on or about June 30, 2017, signed a contract between VIP Healthcare and the Municipality of Cataño to manage and administer the “Job Andujar” Diagnostic and Treatment Center. The contract awarded VIP Healthcare $1,134,000.00 paid via monthly installments of $189,000.00. Between 2017 and 2022, additional contracts were executed between VIP Healthcare and the Municipality of Cataño in excess of $9,000,000.00. Rivera-Padilla accessed, controlled, and used over $1,000,000.00 of these proceeds from VIP Healthcare’s bank accounts for her personal use and benefit without disclosing such income during her bankruptcy proceedings.
The indictment further alleges that Rivera-Padilla concealed the purchase of an apartment located at Condominium Golf & Playa, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, for $270,000.00, and a 2,159.5152 square-meter plot of land located at Rainforest and Sea View Resort in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, for $275,000.00. Rivera-Padilla also concealed the creation and interest in another corporate entity known as Farmacia Libertad, as well as income from a rental property business through AirBnB.
Defendants Rivera-Padilla, Carrillo-Torres, and VIP Healthcare are facing 28 counts of money laundering based on individual transactions made using funds concealed during the bankruptcy proceedings. These transactions were made to purchase multiple properties and real estate for Rivera-Padilla and Carrillo-Torres.
Additionally, Carrillo-Torres and VIP Healthcare are charged with making false statements in relation to a $249,755.35 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan.
If convicted, Carla Carrillo-Torres may be sentenced to a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of $1,000,000.00 for violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1014 and 1344 (Bank Fraud). For each count of money laundering under 18 U.S.C § 1957, Rivera-Padilla and Carrillo-Torres face up to 10 years of imprisonment. In addition, Rivera-Padilla also faces up to 5 years of imprisonment for each count under 18 U.S.C §§157 and 152 (Bankruptcy Fraud). VIP Healthcare faces monetary fines, among other penalties, for each count of conviction.
“The defendants used bankruptcy proceedings to defraud the United States Trustee Program and creditors. They also illegally used COVID relief funds to benefit themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains vigilant in the effort to enforce bankruptcy laws and punish those who illegally diverted and used critical COVID funds for their own personal gain.”
“Together with U.S. Attorney Muldrow and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue fraud and abuse in bankruptcy cases,” stated Mary Ida Townson, U.S. Trustee for Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands (Region 21). “I am thankful for the appointment by the U.S. Attorney of two Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from our San Juan office for the prosecution of those who engage in fraudulent conduct in bankruptcy cases.” The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws.
“During the regular course of an investigation, the FBI gives individuals involved in criminal activity, numerous opportunities to do the right thing. Such was the case with these two subjects,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “The FBI message has been clear from day one. Come to us before we come to you. We are committed to investigating every violation to its last consequence.”
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney José Capó Iriarte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney José C. Díaz Vega from the Office of the U.S. Trustee.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is a continuation of the investigation involving municipal contracts awarded in the Municipality of Cataño, which has resulted in the conviction of multiple contractors and public officials. See United States v. Félix Delgado-Montalvo, 21-463 (RAM); United States v. Oscar Santamaria-Torres, 21-464 (RAM); and United States v. Raymond Rodríguez, 21-465 (RAM); United States v. Pedro Marrero-Miranda, 22-251 (RAM); United States v. Mario Villegas-Vargas, 21-468(FAB); and United States v. Jose Bou-Santiago, 22-379(ADC).
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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Toledo Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – A Toledo man was sentenced to spend more than 23 years – or 280 months – in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary on Feb. 8, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from his role in a Toledo-area drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jackie Green, 53, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, beginning in December 2019, Green and more than 20 other co-conspirators conspired together to traffic large amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine in the Toledo area. Court documents say that Green received large amounts of drugs from various suppliers and then further distributed those drugs to others.
Court records show that members of the conspiracy used cell phones and code words to conceal their activity and multiple residences in the Toledo area to store, break down, package, and distribute their narcotics and proceeds. Furthermore, court documents state that Green used various vehicles to transport and deliver the narcotics that he sold.
In September 2020, Green was found by law enforcement authorities to be in possession of a firearm. Green was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple previous drug trafficking convictions in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas.
On December 16, 2020, federal, state, county, and local law enforcement authorities participated in a wide-ranging takedown operation of 24 individuals involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Toledo Metro Drug Task Force, and the Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force.
The FBI Safe Streets is comprised of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, and the Oregon Police Department. The Toledo Metro Drug Task Force is comprised of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force is comprised of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, and the Lucas and Wood County Sheriff’s Offices.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling, Robert N. Melching, and Sara A. Al-Sorghali.
Three of the Highest-Ranking MS-13 Leaders in the World Arrested on Terrorism and Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, a four-count indictment was unsealed charging 13 of the highest-ranking MS-13 leaders in the world with directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere, over the past two decades. Specifically, the defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide or conceal material support to terrorists, and narco-terrorism conspiracy. Four of the defendants are also charged with alien smuggling conspiracy which resulted in death.
On February 22, 2023, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, also known as “Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales” (Arevalo-Chavez), Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, also known as “Baxter de Park View” and “Bastard de Park View” (Hernandez-Rivera), and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo, also known as “Rojo de Park View” (Menjivar-Portillo), were located by Mexican authorities and expelled from Mexico via the United States. When Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, they were placed under arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Earlier this afternoon, the defendants had initial appearances in the Southern District of Texas, pending removal to the Eastern District of New York.
Four co-defendants, Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, also known as “Indio de Hollywood,” Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as “Cruger de Peatonales,” Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood,” and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” remain at large. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the four fugitives.
Six other co-defendants, Edwin Ernesto Cedillos-Rodriguez, also known as “Renuente de Abriles Dangers,” Carlos Tiberio Ramirez-Valladares, also known as “Snayder de Pasadena,” Dany Fredy Ramos-Mejia, also known as “Cisco de Teclas,” Dany Balmore Romero-Garcia, also known as “Big Boy de Normandies,” “Dig Boy de Normandies,” and “D Boy de Normandies,” Ruben Antonio Rosa-Lovo, also known as “Chivo de Centrales,” and Miguel Angel Serrano-Medina, also known as “Cabro de Park View,” are believed to be in custody in El Salvador. The United States will explore options for their extradition with the government of El Salvador.
Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY); Christopher A. Wray, Director, FBI; Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson, Homeland Security Investigations; and John J. Durham, Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), announced the indictment and arrests.
“Today’s action makes clear that there is no hiding place, anywhere in the world, for the leaders of violent gangs that terrorize American communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to use the full force of our law enforcement authorities to disrupt and dismantle MS-13 and other transnational criminal organizations and hold their leaders accountable.”
“The relentless efforts of our Office and law enforcement partners are systematically dismantling the MS-13 from the bottom to the very top, and we will not stop until this transnational criminal organization and its leaders are held accountable for the extreme violence they have inflicted on our district, the United States, and the countries where this scourge is based,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Geographic borders will not shield violent actors from American justice.”
“Today’s indictment demonstrates the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to hold MS-13’s highest ranking leaders responsible for the terrorism and violence that they have unleased on communities from Long Island to El Salvador and elsewhere,” said JTFV Director Durham. “Only by combating MS-13’s command and control structure, and bringing the transnational criminal organization’s highest-ranking leaders to justice in the United States will we be able to break the persistent cycles of violence that have plagued our communities.”
“The FBI will continue to vigorously investigate and hold transnational organized groups like MS-13 and their leaders accountable for the continued violent and terrorist criminal activities they orchestrate,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s reach and commitment to seeking justice against those individuals who jeopardize American lives and liberty. We will never stop working in coordination with our international partners to protect our respective citizens from MS-13 and other gangs wherever they are.”
"As a member of Joint Task Force Vulcan, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting national security and the communities we serve against transnational criminal organizations,” said Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “With our broad legal authorities and ability to investigate a wide spectrum of crimes, our HSI special agents will continue to maximize global efforts that detect, deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal syndicates, like MS-13, and those who propagate associated illicit operations."
As set forth in court filings, the 13 defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales, and play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States and throughout the world. In the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al., a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional, who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.” Formal extradition packages were submitted by the United States for 12 of those defendants, who either are or were in El Salvador custody, and remain pending. The two other defendants, Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parad, also known as “Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View,” and Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, also known as “El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners,” still are fugitives.
As further alleged, the defendants have engaged in a litany of violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the government of El Salvador (GOES). The defendants have used terrorist violence to obtain benefits and concessions from the GOES and to target GOES law enforcement and military officials. They have also used improvised explosive devices and grenades and operated military-style training camps for firearms and explosives. The defendants have actively engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, to obtain and control territory and to manipulate the electoral process in El Salvador. Several of these defendants have played prominent roles in MS-13’s past and current negotiations with the GOES.
Further, these defendants authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including numerous murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
Several of these defendants, including Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo, coordinated MS-13’s expansion into Mexico (the Mexico Program), at the direction of the Ranfla Nacional, which was a coordinated effort to maintain MS-13’s continuity of operations in response to law enforcement pressure previously exerted by the United States and GOES. Additionally, the Mexico Program included forging alliances with Mexican cartels and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling and extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking. As alleged in the indictment, the MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants bound for the United States, including suspected members of the rival 18th Street gang and MS-13 members attempting to flee MS-13 in El Salvador without permission. Finally, drug trafficking was an important part of MS-13’s money-making operation, especially in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s large membership in the United States to generate financial support for MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador.
Since its creation in August 2019, JTFV has successfully implemented a whole-of-government approach to combatting MS-13, including increasing coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. JTFV has also identified and targeted for prosecution the MS-13 programs, cliques and individuals that have had the most violent impact in the United States and it has coordinated significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders.
JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the EDNY; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the FBI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In addition, HSI also plays a critical role in JTFV.
U.S. Attorney Peace expressed his sincere thanks to the FBI’s Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Newark and Houston Field Offices, with critical support provided by the Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, and HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit, who spearheaded this investigation. Additionally, FBI Legal Attaché in Mexico City, HSI Mexico, and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers and Area Port Director Shawn Polley at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrests as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas for handling the initial appearance.
Further, U.S. Attorney Peace recognized the numerous Department of Justice components that contributed to this indictment, including: the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office; the Office of International Affairs; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training and Organized Crime and Gangs Section. In addition, the Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General have provided critical support for JTFV’s mission.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison, and the four defendants charged with alien smuggling conspiracy, which resulted in death, also are eligible for the death penalty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly, Matthew Shepherd and Stewart Young from JTFV, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci and Megan E. Farrell from the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.
Defendants in U.S. Custody:
VLADIMIR ANTONIO AREVALO-CHAVEZ (also known as “Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales”)
Age: 47WALTER YOVANI HERNANDEZ-RIVERA (also known as “Baxter de Park View” and “Bastard de Park View”)
Age: 29MARLON ANTONIO MENJIVAR-PORTILLO (also known as “Rojo de Park View”)
Age: 47Fugitive Defendants:
JOSE WILFREDO AYALA-ALCANTARA (also known as “Indio de Hollywood”)
Age: 55JORGE ALEXANDER DE LA CRUZ (also known as “Cruger de Peatonales”)
Age: 45JUAN ANTONIO MARTINEZ-ABREGO (also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood”)
Age: 42FRANCISCO JAVIER ROMAN-BARDALES (also known as “Veterano de Tribus”)
Age: 45Defendants Believed to be in El Salvador Custody:
EDWIN ERNESTO CEDILLOS-RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Renuente de Abriles Dangers”)
Age: 35CARLOS TIBERIO RAMIREZ-VALLADARES (also known as “Snayder de Pasadena”)
DANY FREDY RAMOS-MEJIA (also known as “Cisco de Teclas”)
Age: 44DANY BALMORE ROMERO-GARCIA (also known as “Big Boy de Normandies,” “Dig Boy de Normandies,” and “D Boy de Normandies”)
Age: 48RUBEN ANTONIO ROSA-LOVO (also known as “Chivo de Centrales”)
Age: 52MIGUEL ANGEL SERRANO-MEDINA (also known as “Cabro de Park View”)
Age: 47E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 22-CR-429 (JMA)
Three High-Ranking MS-13 Leaders Arrested on Terrorism and Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A four-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip, a charging 13 of the highest-ranking MS-13 leaders in the world with directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere, over the past two decades. Specifically, the defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide or conceal material support to terrorists, and narco-terrorism Conspiracy. Four of the defendants are indicted for Alien Smuggling Conspiracy.
On Feb. 22, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, aka Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales (Arevalo-Chavez), Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, aka Baxter de Park View and Bastard de Park View (Hernandez-Rivera), and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo, aka Rojo de Park View (Menjivar-Portillo), were located by Mexican authorities and expelled from Mexico via the United States. When Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, they were placed under arrest by the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Earlier today, the defendants had their initial appearances in the Southern District of Texas, pending removal to the Eastern District of New York..
Four co-defendants, Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, aka Indio de Hollywood, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, aka Cruger de Peatonales, Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, aka Mary Jane de Hollywood, and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as Veterano de Tribus, remain at large.
“Today’s action makes clear that there is no hiding place, anywhere in the world, for the leaders of violent gangs that terrorize American communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to use the full force of our law enforcement authorities to disrupt and dismantle MS-13 and other transnational criminal organizations and hold their leaders accountable.”
“The FBI will continue to vigorously investigate and hold transnational organized groups like MS-13 and their leaders accountable for the continued violent and terrorist criminal activities they orchestrate,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s reach and commitment to seeking justice against those individuals who jeopardize American lives and liberty. We will never stop working in coordination with our international partners to protect our respective citizens from MS-13 and other gangs wherever they are.”
“The relentless and heroic efforts of law enforcement here and in Central America are systemically dismantling the MS-13 the very top to bottom, and we will not stop until this transnational gang and it’s leaders are held accountable for the extreme violence they have inflicted on our district, the United States and the countries where this scourge is based,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York.
“As a member of Joint Task Force Vulcan, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting national security and the communities we serve against transnational criminal organizations,” said Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “With our broad legal authorities and ability to investigate a wide spectrum of crimes, our HSI special agents will continue to maximize global efforts that detect, deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal syndicates, like MS-13, and those who propagate associated illicit operations.”
Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the four fugitives.
Six other co-defendants, Edwin Ernesto Cedillos-Rodriguez, aka Renuente de Abriles Dangers, Carlos Tiberio Ramirez-Valladares, aka Snayder de Pasadena, Dany Fredy Ramos-Mejia, aka Cisco de Teclas, Dany Balmore Romero-Garcia, aka Big Boy de Normandies, Dig Boy de Normandies, and D Boy de Normandies, Ruben Antonio Rosa-Lovo, aka Chivo de Centrales, and Miguel Angel Serrano-Medina, aka Cabro de Park View,”are believed to be in custody in El Salvador. The United States will explore options for their extradition with the government of El Salvador.
As set forth in court filings, the 13 defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales, and play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al., a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional, who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.” Formal extradition packages were submitted by the United States for 12 of those defendants, who either are or were in El Salvador custody, remain pending.
As further alleged, the defendants have engaged in a litany of violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the government of El Salvador (GOES) policy and to obtain benefits and concessions from the GOES; targeting GOES law enforcement and military officials; employing terrorist tactics such as the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (“IEDs”) and grenades; operating military-style training camps for firearms and explosives; using public displays of violence to intimidate civilian populations; using violence to obtain and control territory; and manipulating the electoral process in El Salvador. Several of these defendants have played prominent roles in MS-13’s past and current negotiations with the GOES.
Further, these defendants authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including countless murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s (EDNY) has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members and associates for carrying out with more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
Several of these defendants, including Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo, coordinated MS-13’s expansion into Mexico (the Mexico Program), at the direction of the Ranfla Nacional, which was a coordinated effort to maintain MS-13’s continuity of operations in response to law enforcement pressure previously exerted by the United States and GOES. Additionally, the Mexico Program included forging alliances with Mexican cartels and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling and extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking. As alleged in the indictment, the MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants bound for the United States, including suspected members of the rival 18th Street gang and MS-13 members attempting to flee MS-13 in El Salvador without permission. Finally, drug trafficking was an important part of MS-13’s money-making operation, especially in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s large membership in the United States generate financial support for MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador.
Since its creation in August 2019, JTFV has successfully implemented a whole-of-government approach to combatting MS-13, including increasing coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala; designating priority MS-13 programs, cliques, and leaders, who have the most impact on the United States, for targeted prosecutions; and coordinating significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders.
JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the EDNY; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the FBI; the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In addition, HSI also plays a critical role in JTFV.
The FBI Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Newark and Houston Field Offices investigated the case, with critical support provided by the FBI Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit and HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit, who spearheaded this investigation. Additionally, FBI Mexico, HSI Mexico, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and Area Port Director Shawn Polley at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrests.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell for Eastern District of New York, and U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly, Matthew Shepherd and Stewart Young for JTFV prosecuted the case.
Texas Resident Sentenced to More than 20 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Texas man on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Aaron Martinez, 33, of Houston, Texas, to 248 months in prison. Martinez pleaded guilty in October 2022 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on February 17, 2021, a police officer with the Leeds Police Department conducted a traffic stop at Buc-ee’s located in Leeds on a vehicle driven by Martinez. The traffic stop resulted in the officer recovering 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, and two firearms. Martinez was travelling from Houston to Atlanta. Martinez has a lengthy criminal history including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Burglary of Habitation, and is associated with a gang in Houston, Texas.
HSI investigated the case along with the Leeds Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.
Susquehanna County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Clifford Johnson, age 58, of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2023, before US. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charges of distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Johnson admitted to distributing and conspiring with others to distribute between 500 and 1500 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the Susquehanna County area between August 2019 and April 2020.
The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Under federal law, the drug trafficking offenses carry a maximum possible penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Story County Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – A Nevada, Iowa man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison following his guilty plea for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on or about December 21, 2021, William Ryan Buttermore, age 24, knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography, including 44 images and four videos, some of which depicted infants and other minors younger than 12 years old. Buttermore downloaded the material from the internet. In addition, Buttermore used an account on Kik Messenger to transport child pornography to others and to encourage others to produce child pornography and engage in sex acts with children. Following his prison term, Buttermore must also serve a ten-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. The Story County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Iowa Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
St. Louis Man Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri accused of involvement in a convenience store shootout was indicted Wednesday on drug and gun charges.
Kennis Body, 25, was indicted on a drug conspiracy count, one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A criminal complaint and a motion seeking to have Body held in jail until trial accuse him of wielding an AR-15-style rifle during a shootout inside a St. Louis convenience store on January 9. After an altercation, people inside the store drew handguns and appeared to fire them out of the store. Body then walked in with the rifle and fired multiple rounds into the store, the complaint and detention motion say.
During Body’s January 31 arrest, police, U.S. Marshals and Drug Enforcement Administration agents found the loaded AR-style rifle and about 670 capsules containing suspected fentanyl, the motions say. Body was on probation at the time of the arrest and the shooting.
The drug charges each carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. The firearm charge carries a sentence of five years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ogden is prosecuting the case.
South Carolina Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Brandon Eugene Massey, 38, of Blacksburg, S.C., to 151 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also imposed five years of supervised release following incarceration.
According to filed documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, between 2019 and 2020, Massey was responsible for trafficking one and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, including 150 grams of ultra-high purity methamphetamine, that was seized from his co-conspirators. Court documents show that Massey was responsible for supplying the methamphetamine to individuals who then distributed it in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties and elsewhere. According to court records, prior to being sentenced, Massey fled from prosecution and was arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which to date has led to the federal prosecution of more than 60 individuals for drug trafficking. Law enforcement have also seized more than 49 kilograms of methamphetamine, 29 kilograms of fentanyl, 27 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, 70 firearms, more than $385,000 in cash, and over $800,000 in other property.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their coordination and investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
St. Croix Man Sentenced 150 Months Incarceration on Home Invasion and Carjacking ConvictionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Joel G. Rivera, 37, of St. Croix, was sentenced by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis to 150 months incarceration for his conviction on Carjacking and Using a Firearm During a Violent Crime, followed by three years of supervised release, a fine of $1,000.00, a special assessment of $200.00, and $1,600.00 restitution.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of September 10, 2017, Rivera, along with two assailants, broke into a couple’s home in Estate Rust Op Twist while brandishing a firearm. The group physically assaulted the male victim by punching him in the head and threatened to kill the couple while demanding money. Thereafter, at gunpoint, Rivera and his assailants forced the couple into the rear passenger seat of their Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck and drove to the shoreline location where the male victim had left his wallet. After retrieving the wallet, Rivera and his assailants fled in the Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck and a Jeep Wrangler. In addition to the vehicles, Rivera stole $200.00 cash, two iPhones valued at $600 each and an iPad valued at $200.00.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Roseville Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Randy Edward Martin, 40, of Roseville, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between July 6, 2020, and Sept. 14, 2020, Martin distributed child pornography using the Kik Messenger app. Martin used a smartphone, the internet, and Kik Messenger to distribute videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct to a person in Oregon.
“Today’s sentence ensures that this defendant will stay far away from minors for a long time,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “But cellphones and messaging apps have increased the ability of predators to sexually abuse children. We need parents, educators, and other responsible community members to be aware of the danger and join the law enforcement effort to protect innocent children from predators who try to exploit them.”
“Safeguarding children from being victimized by predators is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI San Francisco (NorCal) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI appreciates the assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Sacramento County Probation, and the Roseville Police Department on this investigation; and appreciates the prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. HSI also reminds parents and caregivers of the dangers children face on the internet and encourages close oversight and vigilance when online.”
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath and Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Rodeo and NRG Park resolve ADA violationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) has completed the investigation into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) and NRG Park, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The investigation announced in 2022 was conducted under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and expanded to include NRG Stadium, NRG Center, NRG Arena and NRG Park Outdoor areas. It evaluated the accessibility for disabled individuals attending the Rodeo and using the NRG complex.
“HLSR did the right thing and made its facilities accessible to the entire community, including those with disabilities” said Hamdani. “With the cooperation of the HLSR and NRG Park, and after my office’s investigation, all individuals in the district will have a chance to enjoy the Rodeo.”
Title III of the ADA prohibits private places of public accommodation from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The matter stemmed from complaints that the HLSR violated the ADA. Among the allegations were lack of accessible parking, accessible seating, accessible facilities and accessible routes.
SDTX’s investigation found significant barriers to accessibility.
However, the HLSR and NRG Park cooperated fully with the investigation. After the barriers were brought to their attention, officials worked diligently and expeditiously to correct all major violations before the start of the 2023 Rodeo.
Several areas are now ADA compliant - parking, many bathrooms and toilet areas, temporary ramps and handrails and several permanent countertops within NRG Park.
The number of accessible porta-potties, accessible dining areas and accessible seating has increased, accessible paths and surfaces were revamped and obstructions were either modified or removed. They also added a new stair lift in NRG Arena and attendants to assist with self-service kiosks in NRG Stadium.
NRG Stadium also revised their elevator policy during the Rodeo to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Additionally, NRG Park has revised its parking policies to provide improved access to NRG Park events including increased available accessible parking spaces and accessible drop-off points as well as modified placard requirements and improved traffic flow for those areas. They also added the Orange Lot Shuttle along Circle Drive.
The SDTX is committed to vigorously enforcing the ADA and welcomes public comments or complaints. To file a comment or complaint, or to learn more about the ADA, individuals can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas at (713) 567-9140 or via email.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Elizabeth Karpati and former Executive AUSA Keith Wyatt handled the matter.
Robert Kelly Sentenced to 20 YearsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Recording artist ROBERT SYLVESTER KELLY, also known as “R. Kelly,” was sentenced earlier today by United States District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber to 20 years in federal prison, with one year to run consecutive to the 30-year sentence previously imposed in the Eastern District of New York.
On September 14, 2022 after a four-week trial a federal jury in Chicago convicted Kelly on three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The trial revealed that Kelly enticed multiple underage girls to engage in sexual activity, and that he continued to abuse his victims for years, at times recording some of the abuse on videotape. Kelly met the victims in the late 1990s and engaged in sex acts with them beginning when they were as young as 14, 15, and 16 years old.
On multiple occasions over several years Kelly took steps to cover up his abuse and silence his victims.
The sentence is announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; R. Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannice W. Appenteng, Elizabeth R. Pozolo, Jason A. Julien, and Brian F. Williamson represented the government.
“With today’s sentence, a sexual predator is being held accountable for the years of abuse he inflicted on minor victims,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch. “Kelly used his celebrity and wealth to attract and victimize young girls, and to obstruct prior criminal proceedings intended to end his despicable conduct. We commend the courage and the strength of the victims who came forward in this case to expose Kelly’s crimes. Our office will never cease seeking justice for victims of child sexual abuse, and the public can take comfort knowing that Kelly will never again be in a position to exploit young girls.”
“Robert Kelly used his power and fame for evil when he exploited children for his own gratification,” said Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago. “We are confident that Kelly’s sentence will empower victims who are facing similar circumstances to come forward knowing they will be supported. HSI, alongside its partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation, will do everything in our power to ensure perpetrators like Kelly face justice.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact HSI’s confidential tip line by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by logging on to https://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ringleader of Multi-State Gun Trafficking Scheme Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – The ringleader of a multi-state gun trafficking scheme was sentenced today to 127 months in prison for illegally trafficking more than 100 guns bought by straw purchasers in Eastern North Carolina. Jacintre Holley of Middletown, Connecticut, pled guilty to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Holley, 26, pled guilty on July 7, 2022.
“Dangerous felons who are blocked from legally buying guns are turning to gun traffickers and straw purchasers in North Carolina to supply them with the tools to kill,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The criminal conduct in this case put guns bought in Eastern North Carolina in the hands of a killer in Connecticut – within 6 days. This case shows exactly why Attorney General Garland and ATF Director Dettelbach have made stopping gun trafficking a top priority. We and the ATF are relentlessly pursuing violent felons and the gunrunners and straw purchasers who arm them.”
“A federal firearms license is required for anyone engaged in the business of selling firearms,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Individuals selling without a license often means firearms end up in the wrong hands. By identifying and apprehending those involved in illegal firearms sales, we disrupt the firearms trafficking networks and better protect our communities.”
According to documents and other information presented in court, Holley bought over 100 firearms from straw purchasers in North Carolina—including at least 37 from codefendant Keshawn Squire and another 34 from codefendants Jasnika Craig and Shyheim Williams. Craig and Williams were romantic partners living together in Williamston, North Carolina. Ten of these firearms were recovered in separate investigations in Connecticut and New Jersey, including a murder investigation and several drug investigations.
This gun trafficking investigation began when the Middletown, Connecticut Police Department recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol used in a murder. A trace of the gun’s serial number showed that Keshawn Squire purchased the firearm in North Carolina on May 10, 2021, only six days before the murder. Trace records for Squire further showed that he had purchased at least 16 firearms in the five months between December 13, 2020, and May 29, 2021, suggesting potential gun trafficking.
Surveillance video from Smokin' Barrel Gun and Ammo in Raleigh, where Squire had purchased the Taurus, showed that he made a phone call from the store parking lot immediately after buying the firearm. Call records revealed that he called a Connecticut phone number. By comparing phone records and data from a mobile payment application, investigators were able to link the Connecticut phone number to defendant Jacintre Holley. Records also revealed that Squire and Holley had as a mutual contact a phone number associated with codefendants Jasnika Craig and Shyheim Williams.
Trace records for Craig showed that she made over 20 firearm purchases in North Carolina since 2020. Law enforcement recovered one of those guns at a crime scene in Connecticut within five days of its purchase. Investigators obtained video surveillance from Academy Sports in Greenville for purchases by Craig on May 11 and 14, 2021. The May 14 footage shows Craig and Williams arrive in the same car. Williams then went alone into the store for 25 minutes while Craig waited in the car. Then Craig entered and immediately bought two pistols.
On July 8, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety conducted a probation search at Williams’ and Craig’s Williamston home. Williams was on state probation for a driving while impaired conviction. Officers found seven firearms hidden in the home.
Craig agreed to a recorded interview and admitted to selling firearms. She said she sold firearms for a significant premium over market price and had purchased them from various locations including Academy Sports. Williams identified the guns she should buy and set up the deals, which took place in Craig’s car in their driveway. She admitted that almost all firearms went to Holley, who she estimated had come from Connecticut every two weeks since December 2020 to buy around seven firearms each time. In total, Craig estimated that she had sold around 100 firearms to Holley.
Also on July 8, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Squire’s telephone and interviewed Squire at his home. Squire admitted to selling multiple firearms to Holley in at least three meetings beginning in March 2021. He said he did this as a business and sold the firearms for significantly higher than the purchase price.
On July 31, 2021, the Greenville Police Department located Holley driving on University Suites Drive and conducted a traffic stop based on an outstanding warrant. Officers searched the car and found a Glock 19 pistol with an extended magazine in a bookbag in the front seat. The pistol had been modified to function as a fully automatic machine gun. In an iPhone box within the same bag, officers found 109 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with white residue, a Glock magazine, over $13,000, and a key to a room at a Quality Inn. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the hotel room, where they found a Glock .40 caliber pistol. A trace of Glock .40 revealed that Jasnika Craig had purchased it.
Investigators interviewed Holley after his arrest. He confirmed that he had bought firearms from Squire and Williams multiple times over the previous several months and sold those firearms in Connecticut. He admitted to possessing the Glock from the hotel room, claimed that he carried the automatic Glock machine gun in his car for protection, admitted buying the cocaine while in North Carolina. He acknowledged sometimes receiving cocaine as payment in firearm transactions.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) field offices in Raleigh, NC, New Haven, CT and Hartford, CT investigated the case, with assistance from the Middletown, CT Police Department, the Martin County, NC Sheriff’s Office, the NC Department of Probation Services and the Williamston, NC and Greenville, NC Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
The court previously sentenced Squire and Craig after they each pled guilty to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. On February 14, 2023, Craig received a 24-month sentence for that offense, and Squire received an 18-month sentence the same day. Shyheim Williams was arrested federally on February 9, 2023, and his arraignment is set for the April 11, 2023, term of court.
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. 4:22-cr-0019-FL.
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Richmond Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking of Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Amber Bailey, 41, of Richmond, Indiana, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, in September of 2020, the FBI began investigating Bailey after she distributed 25 grams of a fentanyl mixture and 9 grams of methamphetamine to another individual. On October 8, 2020, Bailey helped an accomplice distribute 54 grams of methamphetamine and 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture to the same individual.
On November 5, 2020, FBI investigators served a search warrant at Bailey’s Richmond residence. During the course of the search, investigators found 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture, a 9mm handgun and ammunition, $500 in cash, and lactose, a known cutting agent for dilution of controlled substances.
“The increase in fentanyl overdoses in our neighborhoods is a crisis—drug poisonings are now the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45 years old. The defendant had a direct hand in pushing this poison into our community,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed fentanyl traffickers are a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. With our federal, state, and local partners, we are committed to dismantling these operations and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”
“Fentanyl has become a serious and life-threatening problem in Indiana,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Indianapolis Office. “The FBI will join with all our federal, state, and local partners as often as possible to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Wayne County Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Bailey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case.
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Rhode Island Man Arrested and Charged with Laundering More than $35 Million in Fraud Proceeds and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston in connection with allegedly using his accounting and “virtual CFO” business to launder tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from internet fraud schemes.
Craig Clayton, 73, of Cranston, R.I., was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of obstruction of justice. He will appear in federal court in Boston today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.
According to the charging documents, from 2019 to present, Clayton and others used his accounting and “virtual CFO” business, Rochart Consulting, as a front to launder the proceeds of internet fraud schemes. As part of the alleged conspiracy, Clayton founded dozens of shell companies in the United States and used those shell companies to open business bank accounts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through which he laundered the criminal proceeds for his clients in exchange for fees. In total, since 2019, it is alleged that Clayton opened approximately 80 bank accounts purportedly on behalf of 65 different companies.
It is alleged that, in communications with one of his Rochart business associates, Clayton stated that they were “money mules complicit in their [Rochart’s clients’] offenses.” In encrypted communications with one of his clients, Clayton allegedly expressed concern that his phone was “tapped” by law enforcement and sought to obtain “dirt” on a victim who had reported the fraud scheme in order to “distract the police.” In recorded conversations with an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a potential Rochart client, Clayton allegedly stated that several of his clients were “fugitives from justice.” It is further alleged that, when banks and law enforcement began to investigate Rochart, Clayton falsely told investigators and bank personnel that his shell companies were legitimate businesses, among other things. After he became aware that a federal grand jury was investigating him, Clayton allegedly attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation by making several false statements to federal agents during an interview.
In addition to today’s arrest, five seizure warrants were executed on Rochart bank accounts holding several hundred thousand dollars of alleged money laundering proceeds and a Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle that Clayton purchased.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the proceeds, whichever is greater. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Darnell Edwards, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Alexandra Amrhein of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Redmond man pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud COVID-19 Payroll Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 62-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiring to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $646,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph M. Freeman used the names of two companies he registered to try to obtain forgivable Paycheck Protection Loans to protect the salaries of non-existent employees. After detecting the fraud, federal investigators froze approximately $220,000 that remained in Freeman’s bank account and returned it to the Small Business Administration. Freemen will be sentenced for the fraud conspiracy on May 16, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in May 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators used information about a company he formed in 2004 to claim $500,000 in PPP funds. Freeman claimed Special Delivery LLC had 15 employees and a payroll of $200,000 per month, when in fact it had no employees other than Freeman. Freeman used fake Internal Revenue Forms to make it appear the company had employees and sought $500,000 in PPP funds. On May 20, 2020, the loan proceeds were wired to Freeman’s bank. After receiving the funds, Freeman created an account with a payroll service to disburse the funds to individuals who were not employees of the company.
On June 15, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators submitted a second fake application. Freeman claimed New Jack Trucking LLC had 10 employees and a monthly payroll of $58,400. Freeman and his associates claimed the business had been in operation in February 2020 even though the entity never had any genuine business activity. The coconspirators used fake IRS forms and a falsified bank statement to make it appear New Jack Trucking had employees. On June 16, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators obtained $146,000 for that fraudulent application.
Freeman supplied some of the loan proceeds to his coconspirators and used some of the funds for his own benefit. In July 2020, after federal investigators detected the fraud and notified Freeman’s bank, approximately $220,000 of the loan proceeds were frozen and returned to the Small Business Administration. The net loss from the scheme is $426,666.
Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Funds is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross monetary gain to the defendant or the gross monetary loss to the victims of the offense. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than two years in prison for Freeman.
This case was investigated by the U.S Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Thomas John Mills, 37, of Beckley, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of child pornography. Following his release from prison, Mills must register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mills admitted to coercing a 15-year-old minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct, including masturbation and the lascivious exhibition of her genitals, between March and October 2020 for the purpose of creating images and videos of this conduct. Mills had the minor take pictures and videos to send to him and also had her participate in live video chats where he told her to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
The court described the case as “one of the worst set of circumstances” it has seen.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-96.
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Portland Fentanyl Dealer Charged in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A local man caught dealing counterfeit prescription pills and powdered fentanyl in downtown Portland was charged today in federal court.
Yexon Efrain Mendez-Zuniga, 19, of Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, unlawfully possessing a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on February 22, 2023, officers from the Portland Police Bureau were conducting surveillance in downtown Portland where numerous open-air drug transactions had been observed and reported. At approximately 10:40am, a PPB officer observed Mendez-Zuniga conduct a suspected hand-to-hand drug transaction near the intersection of SW 4th Avenue and SW Washington Street. Within a matter of minutes, officers observed Mendez-Zuniga conduct several additional transactions. They also observed Mendez-Zuniga using a handheld radio, appearing to communicate with other accomplices in the area.
Shortly thereafter, two officers approached Mendez-Zuniga near Director’s Park on SW Yamhill Street and directed him to stop. Mendez-Zuniga initially ran from the officers, but was soon arrested without incident. The officers searched Mendez-Zuniga’s person and located two clear baggies containing approximately 250 blue M30 pills and a chunk of suspected fentanyl powder, a loaded 9mm handgun, and a large fold of cash.
In an interview with officers, Mendez-Zuniga claimed he started dealing drugs one week prior to earn more money than he did in his previous job as a roofer. He admitted to selling approximately 300 M30 pills daily for $2 a piece and small quantities of powdered fentanyl he would pinch off a larger piece he had purchased from another dealer. He further told officers that he possessed the firearm for his own protection while dealing drugs. Investigators estimate Mendez-Zuniga has sold as many as 2,100 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl in Portland in the last week.
Mendez-Zuniga is expected to make his first appearance in federal court this week.
This case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (NOC) and Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Murder for HireRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for conspiring with Sean Caddle and a longtime accomplice to murder one of Caddle’s associates, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Bomani Africa, 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Judge Vazquez imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
Caddle pleaded guilty on Jan. 25, 2022, before Judge Vazquez, to his role in the murder scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2023.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In April of 2014, Caddle solicited another conspirator, George Bratsenis, 74, of Monroe, Connecticut, to commit a murder on Caddle’s behalf in exchange for thousands of dollars. Bratsenis then recruited Africa, a longtime accomplice, to join the plot. After Bratsenis confirmed his and Africa’s interest in the job, Caddle told Bratsenis that the target was a longtime associate who had worked for Caddle on various political campaigns.
On May 22, 2014, Africa and Bratsenis traveled from out of state to the victim’s apartment in Jersey City. After entering the apartment, Africa and Bratsenis stabbed the victim to death and then Bratsenis set fire to the victim’s apartment.
After Caddle learned that the victim had been murdered, the following day, he met Bratsenis in the parking lot of a diner in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Caddle paid Bratsenis thousands of dollars in exchange for the murder, and Bratsenis shared a portion of those proceeds with Africa.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Africa to five years of supervised release.
Bratsenis pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on March 24, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance.
The government is represented by Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr. and Sean Farrell, Chief of the New York Office of the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.
Parma Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Arson During May 30, 2020, Demonstrations and Unrest in Downtown ClevelandRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Parma man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson related to the destruction of a parking booth during the May 30, 2020, demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland.
According to court documents, on May 30, 2020, Seth Calig, 51, and other co-conspirators set fire to the Shaia & PPR parking booth on West 3rd Street. Court documents state that during demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland, Calig and others gathered around the parking booth, ignited a roll of paper towels and cardboard with a lighter, and placed it inside the booth. As a result of their actions, court documents state that Calig and the others caused significant physical damage to the parking booth.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Nugent ordered Calig to pay $220 dollars in restitution and recommended he undergo 500 hours of a residential drug abuse program.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cleveland Division of Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Galvin.
Pair Accused of Two St. Louis CarjackingsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man and a woman have been indicted and accused of two armed carjackings in St. Louis, Missouri last May.
Jermanine Smith, 48, of St. Louis, and Bianka North, 27, of Illinois, were each indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The indictment accuses them of stealing a 2006 Pontiac G6 at gunpoint on May 14, 2022 and a 2009 Toyota Scion the next day.
A criminal complaint filed February 16 says the pair feigned vehicle problems in North Riverfront Park in St. Louis to lure the owner of the G6 out of the car. A female carjacker then pointed a gun at the victim and stole the car.
The Scion was carjacked in the 1600 block of South 9th Street in St. Louis just after midnight on May 15. The criminal complaint says the G6 was used in the carjacking, the Scion was taken to Smith’s block and Smith tried to use Cash App on the Scion victim’s mobile phone to transfer money to himself.
Surveillance video at an apartment complex showed someone matching Smith’s description accessing the Scion and the G6, the complaint says.
The carjacking charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison consecutive to any other charge.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.