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11 January 2023
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas - A Groves man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Paul Cole Bartee, 36, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Jan. 10, 2023.
According to information presented in court, between February and September 2021, Bartee had frequent encounters with various law enforcement agencies while in possession of narcotics. Bartee was found in possession of a total of 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 15 grams of heroin, and 38 grams of fentanyl, as well as a firearm and $5,000 cash. Bartee was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 6, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Bridge City Police Department, Orange Police Department, Nederland Police Department, Port Arthur Police Department and Groves Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Jackson, Michigan man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography after sexually assaulting at least six children in the process, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations.
Bryant Joseph Shepherd, 60, was sentenced on January 10, 2023 by United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. For nearly nine years, Shepherd violated children who he encountered by secretly recording them changing in his home. He also collected commercial child pornography. But worst of all, Shepherd made videos of himself sexually assaulting multiple children. To coerce a victim, Shepherd would promise money and candy. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations detected Shepherd’s unlawful activities in 2019 when he was found to be using a Peer-to-Peer file-sharing program to share child pornography. Troopers with the Michigan State Police and federal agents executed a search warrant at Shepherd’s home in early January 2020, seizing electronic devices. A review of those devices led to the discovery that Shepherd had personally victimized at least six children by covertly recording them, or, in two cases, molesting and sexually assaulting them. Shepherd was subsequently charged in federal court with eight counts of production of child pornography, and the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. He was also charged in Jackson County for his sexual assault of one of his victims. That case is still pending.
“This defendant committed one of the most serious offenses recognized under the law – producing child pornography. While there is nothing that will take away the enduring harm caused by this defendant, we will work tirelessly to protect our children and ensure individuals who commit crimes like this are held accountable for their misdeeds.” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
Predators like Shepherd belong behind bars, far away from the members of our community they would seek to exploit and victimize”, said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar. “Working with our partners, we will continue to prioritize the innocence and safety of children by diligently investigating child exploitation cases.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Ithaca Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Leroy Reed, age 54, of Ithaca, New York, was sentenced today to serve 15 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli.
As part of his guilty plea, Reed, admitted that from February 2020 to March 2021 he used a computer to download child pornography over the internet using peer-to-peer file sharing software. A subsequent search of Reed’s apartment revealed that he was in possession of 55 images and 94 video files depicting child pornography. Reed is a registered sex offender who was convicted in 2002 of Rape in the First Degree involving a victim who was 15 years old.
United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will start after Reed is released from prison, and ordered him to pay a $200 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $6,000.00. Reed will also be required to continue to register as a sex offender.
Reed’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), with assistance from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Inmate Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Forcibly Assaulting A Federal Correctional OfficerRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced John Jones (56, District of Columbia) to 20 years in federal prison for assaulting a federal correctional officer with a deadly weapon and possessing contraband in a federal penitentiary. This sentence was imposed consecutively to the life sentence Jones is currently serving for two first-degree murder convictions from the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Jones had pleaded guilty on September 6, 2022.
According to the court documents, Jones was an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex serving a life sentence for two first-degree murder convictions. On September 5, 2021, Jones stabbed his cellmate in the shoulder and left arm using a six-and-a-half-inch bladed weapon. When a correctional officer responded to the attack, Jones lunged at the officer multiple times with his right arm extended and clutching his weapon. Jones later admitted that he intended to kill his cellmate, stating that he was aiming for his cellmate’s jugular vein.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Independence Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing several firearms.
Christopher Dorrell, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 16 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.
On Jan. 18, 2022, Dorrell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Dorrell admitted that he distributed at least five kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy that began in 2018 and lasted throughout 2019.
On Feb. 4, 2019, Dorrell was driving a gold 2002 GMC Yukon that was stopped by Kansas City, Mo., police officers as it was leaving a known drug house. When a passenger in the vehicle fled on foot, Dorrell fled in the vehicle. He failed to stop at a stop sign and nearly struck other motorists as he entered the roadway. Officers pursued him and later found the abandoned vehicle near the intersection of 42nd Street and Agnes Avenue. They found a loaded Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the driver’s seat and a Remington 12-gauge pump action sawed-off shotgun between the front passenger seat and the center console. A Kevlar vest and a large quantity of ammunition in various calibers was in the back seat.
Kansas City police officers arrested Dorrell again on June 11, 2019, when they were contacted by employees of a local hotel, who suspected drug trafficking was occurring in one of the rooms. Dorrell was seen getting into a stolen BMW in the hotel parking lot when officers arrived, and was in the hotel room where officers arrested another person. Officers searched the BMW and found a .22-caliber Henry rifle, a Sig Saur P228, a Taurus .38-special revolver, ammunition, and 146 grams of methamphetamine. Dorrell admitted the firearms and methamphetamine belonged to him.
On Nov. 15, 2019, Dorrell was arrested on a federal warrant in this case. He was in possession of a loaded SCY 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen, a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun and a loaded Ruger .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Dorrell has a prior felony conviction for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, as well as 38 misdemeanor convictions.
Dorrell is the fifth defendant in this case to be sentenced. Four co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Moeder and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Baker. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Hudson County Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 51 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Jerome Powell, 43, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Susan D. Wigenton to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence by videoconference on Jan. 10, 2023.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2019 through Feb. 2, 2020, Powell and others agreed to possess and distribute narcotics in Jersey City. Upon his arrest, Powell had 400 vials of cocaine in his pocket.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Powell to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel J. Kafafian, New Jersey Division; and members of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.
Houston Man Sentenced for Stealing Beaumont MailRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced for stealing mail in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Dontae Dewey McGee, 23, pleaded guilty on June 21, 2022, to theft of mail and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. McGee was also ordered to pay $55,372.30 in restitution to victims.
According to information presented in court, in January 2022, the U.S. Postal Service received complaints of stolen mail from various Post Office locations within Beaumont. An investigation began which included a surveillance operation resulting in the identification of McGee and co-defendant Tyrin Terelle Robinson. On Feb. 28, 2022, a vehicle pursuit between law enforcement and the defendants ensued during which mail was being thrown from the vehicle. Spikes were deployed, the vehicle was stopped, and the defendants were arrested. Robinson pleaded guilty on Sep. 7, 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee.
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Henrico Man Pleads Guilty in $1.1 Million COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man pleaded guilty today to defrauding the Small Business Administration by obtaining over $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of two defunct companies he owned.
According to court documents, throughout 2020 and 2021, Kortney T. Kelley, 45, filed at least four fraudulent applications for PPP loans on behalf of his two non-operational companies. As part of these loan applications, Kelley made numerous false representations and certifications about the operation of these two companies, including that the companies—which had no employees— together employed more than 140 workers and paid-out over $220,000 in monthly payroll expenses. Furthermore, Kelley submitted forged tax returns and other forged documentation purporting to substantiate his false claims that his companies paid substantial payroll expenses.
Kelley spent the loan proceeds on purposes unrelated to those authorized by the Small Business Administration (SBA), including spending at least $142,711 in loan proceeds at various casinos and on gaming, and transferring at least $834,077 in loan proceeds to Kelley’s personal brokerage accounts. Kelley made further false statements to the SBA in a loan forgiveness application, which resulted in the complete discharge of the loans.
Kelley also defrauded other COVID-19 related assistance programs. Kelley submitted a separate fraudulent application under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to the SBA on behalf of one of his defunct companies, containing a false certification that loan proceeds would be used exclusively on business expenses. As a result, the SBA disbursed $10,000 to Kelley’s business bank account. Moreover, Kelley submitted fraudulent claims to the Virginia Employment Commission for unemployment benefits. The application for unemployment benefits falsely stated that Kelley was laid off from his job as a sales manager of a company that Kelley exclusively owned.
Kelley is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-35.
Guam Resident Sentenced to 121 Months Imprisonment for Smuggling Drugs from the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Fritz Ventura Tady Ganzon, age 40 from Dededo, Guam, was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment with credit for time served by the District Court of Guam. Ganzon was charged with Conspiracy to Import Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
Ganzon conspired with others since January 2017 to import methamphetamine from the Philippines into Guam for distribution. Two trips were planned. On the first trip, a Philippine drug supplier paid for Ganzon’s travel expenses and arranged for the drugs to be delivered to Ganzon. In April 2017, Ganzon travelled to the Philippines to pick up the drugs, which were concealed in noodle packaging. Ganzon then smuggled the drugs into Guam on May 5, 2017. The supplier paid Ganzon $3,000 for importing the drugs.
During April 2017, the Philippine supplier offered Ganzon $2,000 to conduct a second trip to Guam. On May 1, 2017, Ganzon informed Joel Po Ymballa that he planned to smuggle a kilogram of methamphetamine into Guam. Ganzon recruited Ymballa to travel with him to the Philippines to act as a lookout and assist with importing the drugs. Ganzon and Ymballa agreed to deliver the drugs to a Guam distributor for the Philippine supplier.
On May 18, 2017, Ganzon gave Ymballa cash to purchase two round-trip tickets on Philippine Airlines, departing Guam to the Philippines on June 9, 2017, and returning to Guam on June 24, 2017. At the Guam airport, Ganzon instructed Ymballa to carry $9,000 on his person until they landed in the Philippines. Once in the Philippines, Ganzon paid for all travel expenses, in addition to methamphetamine that they both smoked. Ganzon then met with the Philippine drug supplier to obtain the drugs for importation into Guam. The drugs were wrapped in 23 cellophane bundles and concealed in nine snack boxes. Ganzon and the Philippine drug supplier placed the snack boxes into Ymballa’s suitcase. Ymballa’s suitcase was seized upon arrival at the airport in Guam. The Drug Enforcement Administration Southwest Laboratory determined that the 23 bundles contained 969.5 grams of methamphetamine, with 98% purity.
“This case reveals that drugs in Guam are sourced from many locations, including overseas,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Our federal and local partnerships are key to interdicting this criminal activity. I applaud the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations in protecting our homeland from these threats.”
“Together with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s office we will continue to investigate and prosecute distributors like Ganzon who bring methamphetamine to our community,” said John F. Tobon, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Honolulu. “Dangerous drugs like meth are a global scourge and we have zero tolerance for them here.”
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Guam Customs and Quarantine. It was prosecuted by Laura C. Sambataro and Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Guam.
Greenville, NC Man Convicted of Assault on Federal Agents Faces up to Thirty Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A federal jury convicted Ikeviaun Quamonn Johnson, 22, of Greenville, yesterday on firearm charges and for assaulting two federal agents with a deadly weapon.
“We stand with the brave men and women of law enforcement, and their families, who make great sacrifices every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We will continue to prioritize prosecuting violent offenders, especially those who threaten the lives of law enforcement. This defendant fired eight rounds at federal officers and is now facing up to three decades in federal prison.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on October 16, 2020 an FBI Special Agent and Greenville Police Officer deputized and sworn as a federal Task Force Officer were conducting surveillance on suspected high-ranking gang members in a residential area of Greenville. An unidentified person outside of the trailer under surveillance held up his cell phone, likely taking a video of the agents. As the agents switched locations after having been detected, a black Ford Explorer began following them aggressively. The defendant fired eight rounds from his Glock 19 at the agents from the rear left window of the Explorer. According to witness testimony, the defendant thought that the agents’ unmarked car was that of a rival gang member, which led him to open fire in broad daylight without knowing for sure who was in the car.
Pitt County Sheriff’s Office detectives recovered eight shell casings, a distinctive Glock 19 with an extended magazine, and Johnson’s cell phone which contained photos of Johnson posing with the same distinctive firearm. Eyewitnesses also identified Johnson as the shooter.
The defendant was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence which carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence; and assault on federal officers with a deadly weapon for which the defendant faces up to an additional 20 years in prison. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the verdict. The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department and the FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradford Knott and David G. Beraka are prosecuting 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. 4:21-cr-18-BO-1.
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Great Falls woman sentenced to prison for fraud, identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman who admitted to participating in a scheme to use fraudulent checks to buy retail merchandise was sentenced today to seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,652 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Crystal Lynn Jackson, aka Crystal Lynn Barber, 38, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that between September 2019 and May 2020, Jackson participated in a scheme with co-defendants, Rachel Abbott and John Dailey, in which she used stolen and altered checks to help pay for retail merchandise and other goods at businesses in the Great Falls area. Abbott and Dailey used fake identification cards, stolen checks and check printing software to create new checks with valid account numbers. Dailey would make the fake identification cards for Abbott that contained a real identity with Abbott’s picture. Jackson accompanied Abbott to businesses where the duo shopped for items and used the forged checks as payment. Dailey was sentenced to 51 months in prison and Abbott was sentenced to 26 months in prison for their convictions in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Great Falls Police Department.
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Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Milwaukee Man Charged with Drug & Gun Offenses
Travis Lee Young, 38, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and with renting a place for the purpose of distributing controlled substances. The indictment also charges Young with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The indictment alleges that he possessed the drugs and a handgun on August 3, 2022, and that he rented a motel room in Eagle River, Wisconsin on that day for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
If convicted, Young faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the methamphetamine charge, 20 years on the charges involving fentanyl and cocaine and the charge of renting a place for the purpose of distributing controlled substances, 10 years on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 5 years on the charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is a mandatory minimum of 5 years; federal law requires that this sentence be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The charges against Young are the result of an investigation by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the Eagle River Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg is handling the prosecution.
Wood County Man Charged with Drug & Gun Offenses
John W. Andereggen, 55, Vesper, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. The indictment also charges Andereggen with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that on October 6, 2022, he possessed the methamphetamine and cocaine and five firearms, including three rifles, a 9mm pistol, and a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun.
If convicted, Andereggen faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the methamphetamine charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years on the cocaine charge. The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms has a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against Andereggen are the result of an investigation by the Wood and Marathon County Sheriffs’ Offices; the Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Stevens Point, and Plover Police Departments; the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Marie Boor is handling the prosecution.
Fitchburg Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm & Ammunition
Derrick W. Johnson, 25, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on December 5, 2022, Johnson possessed a loaded 9mm handgun and 9mm ammunition.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
The Young, Andereggen, and Johnson cases are 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.
Grand Junction Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Bruce Holder, age 57, of Grand Junction, was sentenced to life in federal prison. Holder was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and counterfeit substances, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl, and distribution of a counterfeit substance, after an 11 day trial in April 2021.
Facts presented at trial established that Holder worked in conjunction with multiple co-conspirators, including his wife, children, and other members of his family, to distribute pills that appeared to be legitimate 30mg Oxycodone pills, but in fact were counterfeit and spiked with fentanyl. Between 2017 and 2018, Holder imported tens of thousands of these pills from Mexico into Western Colorado where he and his co-conspirators distributed them for substantial profit.
In 2017, a young man died after using one of the pills. Evidence presented at trial established that this man would not have died but for the fentanyl present in the counterfeit pills distributed by Holder and his co-conspirators. Despite knowing of this death, and hearing of other concerns, Holder and his co-conspirators continued to import and distribute these counterfeit pills. This continued even after Holder’s arrest in August 2018. Evidence at trial also showed that, following his arrest, Holder discussed with co-conspirators plans to destroy evidence and possibly murder a cooperating witness.
United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the trial and sentenced the defendant on January 11, 2023.
“It has taken more than five years to get justice for the victims’ families. We hope this brings them some amount of peace,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We could not have gotten to this point without the hard work and dedication from our law enforcement partners at the DEA, the FBI, Homeland Security, the Grand Junction Police Department, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. We hope this sentence sends a strong message to fentanyl dealers that we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law if your illicit drugs kill people in our state.”
“First and foremost, I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors who tirelessly worked on this case for years with tenacity and compassion. It was their relentless determination that made it possible for us to see justice for these families,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Special Agent in Charge Brian Besser. “There is no outcome that will bring back loved ones; but we do hope today is a small step forward for the families, and a stark reminder that DEA’s work to protect our communities from dangerous and greedy fentanyl distributors continues this very hour and we will not stop.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Rocky Mountain Division conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the FBI, ATF, HSI, USMS, Western Colorado Drug Task Force, Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team (“TRIDENT”), Carbondale Police Department, Fruita Police Department, Grand Junction Police Department, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Jaime Pena and former assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Chaffin and handled the prosecution of the case, with the assistance of Victim/Witness Coordinator Donna Summers.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
CASE NUMBER: 18-cr-00381-CMA-GPG
For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr
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Getzville Man Going to Prison for Threatening to Kill Police OfficersRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Benjamin Bolton, 38, of Getzville, NY, who was convicted of using social media to threaten to kill Amherst Police officers, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the case, stated that on March 18, 2022, Amherst, NY, police officers responded to reports of a male carrying a rifle in the vicinity of Sweet Home Road, near the nature view parking lot. The complainant told officers that she saw the male, later identified as Bolton, place the rifle in the trunk of a Black Toyota Corolla. Officers located the vehicle in the area, but it was unoccupied. A few hours later, officers observed Bolton exiting the woods with a suspected long gun. Bolton told officers it was a BB gun, which the officers verified that it was. Officers then advised Bolton the town ordinance that individuals are prohibited from carrying firearms in certain areas of the township, and Bolton left the area.
On April 8, 2022, Amherst officers responded to a Starbucks on Transit Road, for a menacing call. The victim stated that a black Toyota Corolla had “cut off” the victim as they were trying to enter the drive thru. As the victim attempted to drive around the vehicle, the victim saw the Corolla’s driver pointing what appeared to be a handgun out of the window and at the victim. The victim then fled the area and called 911. Officers located and stopped the black Toyota Corolla in the vicinity of Dodge and Glen Oak Roads. Bolton was taken into custody by Amherst Police Officers.
On April 10, 2022, Bolton posted communications on his Instagram and Twitter accounts, threatening members of the Amherst Police Department. On his Instagram account, Bolton posted, “Fictionally speaking, it’s time to kill a bunch of Amherst cops in front of their families.” Another post on the same day, which included a picture of Amherst Police Headquarters, read, “fictionally speaking, it’s time for this building to be blown up with all the cops and judges inside.” Bolton also posted a similar message on his Twitter account.
The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott P. Chamberlin, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury.
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Gary Man Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Daiquan McClinton, 21 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to possessing an unregistered machinegun, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
McClinton was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in March 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Gary, Indiana. McClinton illegally possessed a loaded pistol with a machinegun conversion device attached to it, making it capable of firing multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. The firearm was not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer record, making his possession of it illegal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff.
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.
Four Gun Traffickers Charged with Selling over 50 Firearms in BrooklynRead the Press Release
Prosecution Is First In New York To Publicly Charge the Gun Trafficking Provisions of The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a seven-count indictment was unsealed charging David Mccann, Tajhai Jones, Raymond Minaya, and Calvin Tabron with allegedly conspiring to illegally traffic more than 50 firearms. Mccann and Minaya are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Mccann is additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Mccann, Jones, Minaya, and Tabron were arrested this morning. Mccann and Minaya are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. Jones and Tabron will be arraigned in Virginia.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Frank A. Tarentino, III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division announced the charges.
“As alleged, the defendants are responsible for attempting to flood the streets of Brooklyn with over 50 deadly weapons, including ghost guns, as well as narcotics, feeding the cycles of gun violence and drug abuse,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As the first prosecution utilizing new federal legislation in New York, and one of the first in the country, these arrests demonstrate this Office’s commitment to utilize all tools available to more effectively stop gun traffickers from endangering our community.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said: “This groundbreaking legislation is intended to address the sobering reality of the link between guns and drugs; the two biggest public safety threats in New York. DEA New York and our law enforcement partners are aggressively taking every step to protect communities from gun violence and drug trafficking in order to save lives. I commend the NYPD, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York on their diligent efforts and collaboration throughout this investigation.”
“This case, initiated in direct response to complaints from the New Yorkers we serve, underscores some disturbing truths,” stated NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “First, that illegal guns proliferate and circulate in many neighborhoods that still need our help. And second, that every day the women and men of the New York City Police Department perform incredibly dangerous work to prevent these firearms from getting into criminals’ hands. I commend and thank the NYPD undercover officer who so successfully worked this long-term investigation, all of the detectives with our Violent Crimes Squad, and our invaluable partners at the ATF, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their critical work in helping to get these guns – and these gun traffickers – off our streets.”
As alleged in the indictment and court documents, the defendants engaged in multiple transactions involving the sale of at least 50 illegal firearms in Brooklyn between January 2022 and August 2022. The defendants sold these firearms in broad daylight from vehicles in and around New York City Housing Authority’s Breukelen Houses, which are located across the street from a church and blocks away from a preschool and grade school in Canarsie, Brooklyn. The defendants would often carry the guns they trafficked in whatever they could find, including gloves and shopping bags.
Two members of the gun-trafficking operation obtained the firearms in Virginia and then transported them to New York to be sold on the streets of Brooklyn. Some of the firearms had defaced serial numbers or were made from ghost gun kits, making them harder for law enforcement to trace. Two defendants also engaged in significant narcotics trafficking conspiracies, including a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that introduced thousands of lethal doses of fentanyl into our community.
The defendants sold the guns and drugs to an undercover officer who recorded many of the transactions. The undercover officer told the defendants that he was a drug dealer who needed guns and that he was also going to resell some of the guns that were provided to him. Despite this knowledge, the conspirators continued to sell large quantities of drugs and guns to the undercover officer without hesitation.
Firearms sold in the conspiracy have also been linked to several shootings in Brooklyn. For example, on June 22, 2022, Minaya sold an undercover officer a Glock 30, .45 caliber handgun. The investigation revealed that this gun was used in an August 16, 2021 shooting in Bedford-Stuyvesant, during which armed perpetrators shot into a large crowd gathered for a family day celebration. In total, eight individuals were struck by gunfire. Another gun trafficked by the conspirators—a Glock 43, 9-millimeter caliber handgun—is linked to a December 18, 2021 shooting of an individual in Canarsie, in the blocks surrounding the Breukelen Houses complex. That individual sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body, including his right hand, shoulder, neck, and the base of his skull.
When agents arrested Minaya in Brooklyn this morning, he was in illegal possession of two handguns, including one with an extended magazine. The defendant threw one of the guns out a window in an attempt to hide it; both guns were recovered.
This prosecution is the first in New York, and among the first in the country, to charge the gun trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress and the President enacted in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target gun trafficking. Among other provisions, it creates a standalone firearm trafficking conspiracy offense, which the government has charged in this case to hold accountable those who conspire to illegally sell firearms. The Act provides for sentences of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering and General Crimes sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir, Irisa Chen, and James Simmons are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Abiodun Ojo. The joint investigation was conducted by the Detective Borough Brooklyn South Violent Crimes Squad, under the supervision of Captain Genienne King and Deputy Chief Joseph Gulotta, who is the Commanding Officer of Detective Borough Brooklyn South, and under the overall supervision of NYPD Chief of Detectives James W. Essig.
The Defendants:
David Mccann
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkTajhai Jones
Age: 28
Portsmouth, VirginiaRaymond Minaya
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkCalvin Tabron
Age: 25
Virginia Beach, VirginiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-8
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Remon D. Phillips, 39 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after being found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Phillips was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
A jury found Phillips guilty of the firearm offense following his three-day jury trial in October 2022. According to documents in the case, Phillips was a passenger in a vehicle a Fort Wayne Police Officer attempted to pull over on February 20, 2022. The driver alluded police and led them on a short pursuit. During the pursuit, Phillips was observed as he leaned out of the rear window of the car while pointing a handgun at the officer who was attempting to stop the car. Later in the pursuit, Phillips tossed the handgun which police ultimately recovered. The firearm, a Taurus 9mm handgun, contained an extended (30 round) magazine. Phillips’ criminal history revealed he has nine prior felony convictions and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah E. Nokes and Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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.
Former Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft in Connection with Ballot Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Schofield, age 43, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully using the names and dates of birth of voters to fraudulently apply for absentee ballots for elections held in Rensselaer County in 2021.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Schofield was an Elections Commissioner at the Rensselaer County Board of Elections (“RCBOE”) until late last month, when he resigned in anticipation of today’s guilty plea.
In pleading guilty to a 12-count indictment, Schofield admitted that in 2021, he unlawfully possessed and used the names and dates of birth of voters in connection with 12 absentee ballot applications he electronically submitted in the voters’ names to the New York State Voter Absentee Ballot Application Request Portal.
Schofield admitted that for each application, he falsely certified that he was the voter requesting the ballot. He also admitted that he took personal possession of 9 of these ballots, while knowing and intending that RCBOE records would falsely reflect that the ballots had been mailed to the voters.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2023, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. On each count, Schofield faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Schofield’s plea agreement required that he immediately resign from the RCBOE.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Former Philadelphia Restaurant Owner Sentenced to 15 Months for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Matthew Swartz, 50, of Fairmount, West Virginia, was sentenced to 15 month’s imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $486,000 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
In November 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to failing to pay employee withholding taxes to the IRS from his employees’ taxes in 2014. Swartz, the owner of a group of Philadelphia area restaurants operating as the Grainery Group, was personally responsible for preparing the payroll for the company. As part of that responsibility, he prepared payroll stubs for employees that represented that taxes had been withheld from their pay and paid over to the IRS. In fact, Swartz did not pay to the IRS the taxes he withheld from the employee’s pay. As part of a plea agreement, Swartz acknowledged that he had failed to pay over withholding for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, in addition to the charged conduct in the 2014 tax year.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Barrett.
Former Muncie Police Department Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice for Writing False Report to Cover up Excessive Force by Other OfficersRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A former sergeant with the Muncie Police Department (MPD), in Muncie, Indiana, pleaded guilty today to one count of obstruction of justice for writing a false report to cover up the excessive use of force by other MPD officers under his command.
According to court documents and statements made during the change of plea hearing, on or about August 9, 2018, Joseph Krejsa, 52, responded to the scene of an arrest involving a civilian with the initials L.G. Before he arrived on the scene, other MPD officers under his supervision – including Officer Chase Winkle, the son of the then-Chief of Police – had used excessive force against L.G., resulting in serious injury to L.G.’s face. The day after the arrest, Krejsa conducted a supervisory review of the incident, during which he noted that he had watched the videos of the incident and falsely deemed those uses of force “justified.”
Several days later, on or about August 13 and August 14, 2018, the captain of MPD’s patrol division tasked Krejsa with conducting a more in-depth review of the officers’ uses of force during L.G.’s arrest, which was separate from the typical shift sergeant review. In response to this request, Krejsa watched the involved-officers’ body worn camera videos, which revealed what had happened during the arrest: Two officers under his supervision, Chase Winkle and Corey Posey, approached L.G. in an alley way and gave several verbal commands to L.G. – including to put his hands on his head and to get on the ground – and L.G. complied with those commands. On the ground, as Posey held both of L.G.’s hands behind his back, L.G. directed a verbal insult towards officers, and in response, Winkle lifted his left knee, and, using his knee, dropped his bodyweight down onto L.G.’s neck and head area. L.G. screamed out words to the effect of, “He crushed my whole face!” and pulled his hands towards his face. Winkle then tased L.G., as other MPD officers, including Officer Jeremy Gibson, arrived to assist. Toward the end of the incident, officers secured one of L.G.’s hands in handcuffs, lifted him up to a seated position, and Gibson delivered two forceful knee strikes directly to L.G.’s face.
After reviewing the officers’ body camera videos, Krejsa knowingly authored a lengthy memorandum for MPD’s official records that contained several false statements. Specifically, Krejsa falsely implied that any force used against L.G. was justified to ensure officer safety; falsely asserted that officers used only low levels of force near the start of the incident, and escalated to higher levels of force only after lower levels of force were ineffective; falsely stated that Winkle “kneeled on [L.G.]’s left shoulder and upper body,” when in fact he knew that Winkle had used his knee to strike L.G.’s head and neck area; and falsely implied that Winkle’s uses of force against L.G. caused only cuts to L.G.’s face, when he knew that the use of force against L.G. caused serious bodily injury to L.G. As part of his plea, Krejsa admitted that he knew, when he wrote the false report, that the inaccuracies and material omissions in his report were intended to influence any potential investigation into the incident.
Krejsa is the fourth Muncie Police Department official to plead guilty in connection with this investigation. Krejsa was one of four MPD officers who were indicted in April 2021 in a 17-count superseding indictment for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and/or attempting to cover up the misconduct. A fifth Muncie police officer, Dalton Kurtz, previously entered a pre-indictment guilty plea on August 4, 2021, to one count of misprision of felony for concealing and failing to report inappropriate use of force by Winkle during a separate incident.
On May 13, 2022, Gibson also pleaded guilty to civil rights and obstruction charges for assaulting a different arrestee and writing a false report about the incident. On December 5, 2022, Winkle pleaded guilty to eleven counts of civil rights and obstruction offenses for assaulting arrestees and writing false reports about the incidents, including the arrest of L.G. The last remaining officer is scheduled to stand trial at a later date.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana, and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
The FBI Indianapolis conducted the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
Former Mayor of Trujillo Alto Sentenced for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The former mayor of the Municipality of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, José Luis Cruz-Cruz, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments in exchange for directing municipal employees to execute municipal contracts for the benefit of an asphalt and paving company and a trash removal company.
José Luis Cruz-Cruz, 63, pleaded guilty in June 2022 to one count of conspiracy to engage in a bribery scheme. According to court documents and statements made in connection with his plea and sentencing, Cruz-Cruz was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Trujillo Alto from 2009 until 2022. In 2020 and 2021 he directed municipal employees to execute municipal contracts with Company A and Company B. In exchange, Cruz-Cruz agreed to receive kickback payments in cash from Company A and Company B. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the defendant was sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.
These cases are part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. See United States v. Félix Delgado-Montalvo, 21-463 (RAM); United States v. Oscar Santamaria-Torres, 21-464 (RAM); United States v. Raymond Rodríguez, 21-465 (RAM); United States v. Mario Villegas-Vargas, 21-468 (FAB); United States v. Radamés Benítez-Cardona, 21-475 (PAD); United States v. Luis Arroyo-Chiques, 21-485 (SCC); United States v. Eduardo Cintron-Suarez, 22-151 (SCC); United States v. Ramon Conde-Melendez, 22-221 (PAD); United States v. Pedro Miranda-Marrero, 22-251 (RAM); and United States Jose Bou-Santiago, 22-379 (ADC).
Additionally, the department recently obtained indictments charging several former officials with bribery related to municipal contracts, and those cases are still pending. See United States v. Ángel Pérez-Otero, 21-474 (ADC); United States v. Javier García-Pérez, 22-185 (ADC); and United States v. Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, 22-186 (PAD).
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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Former Louisiana State Senator and Chair of State Political Party, Sentenced to 22 Months Imprisonment for Role in Nearly Seven-Year Scheme to Defraud Campaign Entity, Donors, and Political Party OrganizationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that former Louisiana State Senator and Chair of State Political Party “A,” KAREN CARTER PETERSON, age 53, from New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance to 22 months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information charging her with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2. Additionally, Judge Vance sentenced Peterson to serve a period of 3 years of supervised release, 600 hours of unpaid community service, restitution in the amount of $53,106.93, a fine of $115,000, with $94,250 due immediately and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. PETERSON was ordered to report to authorities to commence serving her prison sentence on March 6, 2023.
According to court documents, PETERSON served as a Louisiana State Senator for the 5th District from about 2010 until about April 8, 2022, and as the Chair of State Political Party A between about 2012 and 2020. As a Louisiana State Senator, PETERSON formed and maintained a campaign organization, the “Karen Carter Peterson Campaign Fund (“KCPCF”),” to solicit and raise campaign funds from individual and corporate donors. The campaign funds were solicited based upon false representations that the funds would be used to facilitate PETERSON’S reelection for the position of State Senator. In the course of soliciting campaign donations, PETERSON also failed to disclose to potential contributors that she had already used prior contributions for her personal benefit.
In furtherance of her scheme, PETERSON diverted, and caused her friends and associates to divert, campaign funds from the KCPCF to PETERSON’S personal use for the purpose of obtaining and using money and property from contributors to the KCPCF by means of materially false and fraudulent representations and promises for nearly seven (7) years. She did so by writing checks drawn on the KCPCF account to at least four (4) of her friends and associates and directing them to cash the checks at financial institutions in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and then to give PETERSON the proceeds. Occasionally she allowed the individuals cashing the checks to keep a small portion of the proceeds. PETERSON used the funds to pay for personal expenses unrelated to her campaign or the holding of public office, including to pay gambling-related expenses. Further, PETERSON caused the public filing of false and misleading campaign finance reports that mischaracterized expenditures as being for legitimate purposes related to her campaign or the holding of public office, but were, in fact, unrelated to such purposes and, instead, were diverted to PETERSON’S personal use. In total, between about November 25, 2013, and March 5, 2020, PETERSON fraudulently employed the scheme on numerous occasions to divert and convert to her personal use approximately $94,250 that had been donated by contributors to her campaign.
Additionally, in her role as Chair of State Political Party A, PETERSON oversaw the strategic decision-making, operations, outreach, and direction of Party A and supervised its permanent staff, including individuals who had signatory authority of State Political Party A’s financial accounts. PETERSON exploited her position to choose entities (“Companies”) operated by her associates, purportedly to provide campaign-related services to State Political Party A, and to determine the amount that Party A would pay each of the Companies. PETERSON represented to State Political Party A that the payments were for a campaign purpose. In reality, the Companies provided either no or minimal services for State Political Party A. PETERSON then willfully and wrongfully directed the Companies to remit a portion of the funds paid to them by State Political Party A to PETERSON through either checks drawn on the accounts of the Companies or in cash. In total, between about October 7, 2019, and April 4, 2020, PETERSON received approximately $53,106.93 of funds from State Political Party A through this fraudulent scheme.
“People have the right to expect that their elected leaders will uphold the trust placed in them,” said the United States Attorney’s Office. “Former State Senator Peterson illegally used campaign funds and state political party funds for her personal use during the majority of her tenure as a state senator. She broke the law, deceived contributors, and violated her duty to the voters and the political party with which she was affiliated on dozens of occasions. Such crimes feed public frustration, cynicism, and civic disengagement. This case is proof that our office is committed to holding corrupt public officials accountable.”
“The FBI is committed to aggressively pursuing those who violate the trust placed in them by the public and holding them accountable for their actions. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that individuals like former Louisiana State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, who stole money to enrich herself, will be held responsible,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge. “I would like to thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and Metropolitan Crime Commission for their strong partnerships in helping the FBI disrupt public corruption in Louisiana."
“As an elected official, Karen Peterson was expected to lead by example and lookout for the best interests of her constituents,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “However, Peterson diverted campaign funds for personal use. Today’s sentencing proves no matter a person’s position or power, when the public’s trust is abused through illegal means, they will be held accountable.”
The United States Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and Forensic Accountant Josephine M. Beninati, CPA, CFE in this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
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Former Executive Director of Long Island Charity Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Senior United States District Judge Edward R. Korman sentenced Wafa Abboud to a term of imprisonment of 33 months. As part of the sentence, Judge Korman also ordered Abboud to forfeit $836,000 and pay $1,415,000 in restitution to Human First, Inc. (Human First), the nonprofit agency that Abboud led for more than five years. Abboud was convicted following a two-week jury trial in July 2019 of theft from programs receiving federal funds, bank fraud, and conspiracies to commit those crimes.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“Stealing taxpayer money earmarked for developmentally disabled youth to pay for vacations, cosmetic surgery, and luxurious vacations is shameful,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today, the defendant has been held accountable for betraying the most vulnerable among us whom she was entrusted to serve and treating the non-profit organization bank accounts as though they were her own.”
Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its investigative work on the case.From January 2011 until her termination on May 27, 2016, Abboud was the Executive Director of Human First, a non-profit corporation that provided services to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. In that capacity, Abboud exercised nearly complete control over the charity’s finances. During Abboud’s tenure, Human First received tens of millions of dollars annually from the New York State Office for People with Development Disabilities, which is funded in significant part by the Medicaid program. The money was disbursed to Human First to support its mission of providing residential, rehabilitative, and other services to developmentally disabled youth.
Abboud entered into an agreement with co-defendant Marcelle Bailey whereby Abboud caused Human First to pay Bailey’s company MPB Management Services LLC (MPB) approximately $16,000 per month in purported “consulting” fees. Bailey deposited approximately half of each monthly disbursement into bank accounts that were controlled by Abboud, who used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including expensive international vacations, visits to luxury spas and high-end beauty salons and restaurants, and elective cosmetic surgeries. Abboud also withdrew approximately $120,000 from the accounts in cash and wired tens of thousands of dollars in the account overseas. In total, Abboud stole approximately $420,000 between May 2011 and February 2016 through the MPB embezzlement scheme.
Abboud also conspired with co-defendant Rami Taha to steal over $400,000 through a scheme in which Abboud deliberately issued overpayments to contractors performing work on Human First properties with the knowledge that the overpayment would be kicked back to her. The overpayments were disguised through the use of inflated invoices submitted to Human First, and the payments to Abboud were hidden by transferring the funds through a number of sham bank accounts before ultimately depositing them into accounts controlled by Abboud. Abboud used the stolen money to finance the down payment and renovation of her residence. To conceal the true source of the funds, Abboud lied to her mortgage lender, falsely claiming that the funds were a settlement payment she had received for damage caused to her previous home.
Bailey pleaded guilty to embezzlement and bank fraud in December 2017 and was sentenced by Judge Korman in August 2021 to 33 months in prison. Taha pleaded guilty in May 2019 to embezzlement. A fourth defendant, Arkadiusz Swiechowicz, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in September 2018. Taha and Swiechowicz are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Polemeni and Turner Buford are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters in the case.
The Defendant:
WAFA ABBOUD
Age: 55
Merrick, NY
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-396 (ERK)Former Drug Treatment Clinic Owner Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The former owner of an Olathe, Kansas, clinic that treated opioid addiction has been sentenced in federal court for possessing methamphetamine to distribute.
Trevor J. Robinson, 46, of Olathe, Kan., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Tuesday, Jan. 10, to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.
Robinson owned and operated Nuvista, LLC, a Suboxone outpatient clinic in Olathe for individuals with opioid addiction, from June 2013 until his arrest in October 2020, after which the business closed. On Nov. 3, 2021, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Robinson used the Nuvista clinic location to process, store, and distribute methamphetamine. A confidential informant purchased a pound of methamphetamine from Robinson during a controlled transaction in the clinic’s parking lot a few days before his arrest. Robinson also showed the confidential informant another pound of methamphetamine inside the Nuvista clinic that he was in the process of converting from liquid to crystal.
Although the government does not currently have evidence Robinson sold drugs to specific clients of the clinic, according to court documents, the evidence does show he distributed drugs into the same community he was trying to service with treatment. Robinson was a large-scale supplier and did not sell directly to users, who would be clients of the clinic. Therefore, the government maintains it is possible the drugs he distributed made their way to the addicts he was also treating.
Robinson admitted he was in possession of illegal drugs when he was arrested by Kansas City police officers on Oct. 22, 2020. Law enforcement officers had Robinson, who had an outstanding arrest warrant, under surveillance at a Northland hotel. Robinson conducted several short meetings with individuals in the parking lot. Those meetings were consistent with hand-to-hand drug transactions. Robinson left the hotel carrying a grey backpack, got into his Dodge Ram truck, and drove to a downtown parking garage. Robinson left his truck in the parking garage and drove away in his 2014 Maserati, which he parked on the street nearby. Officers then surrounded the Maserati and arrested Robinson.
Robinson was in possession of a plastic bag that contained 15 white round pills imprinted with “M30” in his front right pocket and $900 in his wallet. Laboratory tests confirmed 14 of the pills contained fentanyl and one pill contained oxycodone.
Officers searched Robinson’s Maserati and found a grey backpack on the front passenger’s seat. The backpack contained a digital scale, plastic bags that contained approximately 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, plastic bags that contained cocaine and heroin, several plastic bags that contained various pills, including MDMA/ecstasy, a plastic bag that contained marijuana, $12,548 in cash, two iPhones, and a leather-bound ledger notebook.
After his arrest, Robinson told investigators that he sold methamphetamine in ounce or pound quantities. He admitted he bought pound and kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from at least three different suppliers on a regular basis. He paid $6,000 per pound of methamphetamine, which he sold for about $700 per ounce.
According to court documents, Robinson has four prior felony convictions for drug trafficking in California from 1999 through 2003. He was released to parole in 2005 and discharged from supervision in 2008.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Northeast Kansas Drug Task Force.
Former Doctor Convicted of Illegal Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a doctor formerly licensed in Ohio today for illegally prescribing controlled substance pills in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Freeda Flynn, 69, formerly of St. Clairsville, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, to her patients outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Some patients were prescribed high doses of medication without justification despite their addictions, which were known to Flynn and which placed them at risk for overdose or death. Others were prescribed medication in dosages, or in combinations, that were outside the course of professional practice. Flynn previously surrendered her DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances, and her medical license was revoked by the State Medical Board of Ohio in January 2021.
Flynn was convicted in the Southern District of Ohio of eight counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio; Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the DEA Detroit Division; and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Christopher Jason and Maryam Adeyola of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past three years, ARPO has charged over 115 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. To date, more than 60 ARPO defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Five Defendants Arrested for Stealing Millions from Government-Funded Childcare Programs for Low Income FamiliesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Susan A. Frisco, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), announced the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment today charging five defendants with participating in schemes to steal millions of dollars from government-funded childcare programs for low-income families, including by stealing proceeds from a fake after-school program that received millions in funding and by using funds to purchase private real estate, items at auction, and a luxury vehicle. Four of the defendants were arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in federal court in Manhattan. HAROLD SCHWARTZ was arrested and will be presented in the Southern District of Florida. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants brazenly participated in schemes that stole from programs meant to benefit society’s most vulnerable members — children — and spent the proceeds of their crimes on items like real estate, cars, and to buy items at auction. Their schemes used children as currency, creating a fake afterschool program and ‘enrolling’ in that program children who never attended it, all so they could line their own pockets. Let me be clear: this Office is committed to rooting out the abuse of government funds intended for the public welfare.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Today we allege the defendants operated multiple schemes to enrich themselves by defrauding government-funded childcare programs designed to assist needy families. The FBI remains dedicated to uncovering and eliminating the abuse of government-sponsored programs and ensuring those who exploit programs intended to assist low-income families will be held accountable.”
HHS-OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Frisco said: “The monies that the defendants are alleged to have stolen were intended to support New York families that greatly need financial assistance in securing safe and quality care for their children. HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners are fervent in our efforts to detect and investigate individuals believed to defraud federally funded childcare programs and deprive deserving enrollees in an attempt to gain personal wealth.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and statements made in court filings:[1]
MARTIN HANDLER, MENACHEM LIEBERMAN, HAROLD SCHWARTZ, ISIDORE HANDLER, and BEN WERCZBERGER participated in multiple related schemes to steal from and defraud daycares receiving funding from the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”).
Among their schemes, MARTIN HANDLER, LIEBERMAN, SCHWARTZ, and ISIDORE HANDLER participated in a scheme to fraudulently claim reimbursement from ACS for the enrollment of children in a fake after-school program purportedly operated by a non-profit daycare provider (“Daycare Provider-1”), resulting in the theft of more than $1,000,000.
MARTIN HANDLER and LIEBERMAN perpetrated another fraudulent scheme against HHS by concealing their secret ownership of Daycare Provider-1, an ostensible “non-profit” entity without any legal owners that has received in excess of $90 million in federal funding since 2009. MARTIN HANDLER’s and LIEBERMAN’s secret ownership of Daycare Provider-1 allowed them to circumvent statutory and regulatory restrictions against less-than-arm’s length partnerships. MARTIN HANDLER and LIEBERMAN steered Daycare Provider-1 into partnerships with their respective for-profit daycares (“Daycare Provider-2 and Daycare Provider-3”), that resulted in millions of dollars of federal funding for Daycare Provider-2 and Daycare Provider-3.
MARTIN HANDLER, LIEBERMAN, SCHWARTZ, and ISIDORE HANDLER also submitted false information to HHS to hide their fraudulent schemes. In about December 2021, HHS initiated an investigation into Daycare Provider-1 and conveyed allegations that had arisen about LIEBERMAN’s relationship with Daycare Provider-1. MARTIN HANDLER, LIEBERMAN, SCHWARTZ, and ISIDORE HANDLER then conspired to submit a letter to the regional HHS office responding to these allegations that, among other things, falsely denied LIEBERMAN had a less-than-arm’s length relationship with Daycare Provider-1, even though, in fact, LIEBERMAN secretly owned it.
MARTIN HANDLER and BEN WERCZBERGER participated in a scheme to steal, and to launder the proceeds of their theft, from HANDLER’s for-profit daycare, Daycare Provider-2. MARTIN HANDLER and WERCZBERGER stole at least $2.8 million in federal funding intended for childcare services for low-income children in the Bronx. They carried out this theft by funneling a portion of HHS’s monthly funding to WERCZBERGER, by providing no-show jobs to WERCZBERGER’s wife and grandson, and by having Daycare Provider-2 cover the cost of a luxury SUV for WERCZBERGER’s wife.
Finally, MARTIN HANDLER himself stole funds from Daycare Provider-2’s operating expenses, including to purchase real estate, to repay a $500,000 loan to a business associate, to purchase historical items at auction, and to purchase a luxury vehicle.
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A chart containing the names of the defendants who were charged today and the charges and maximum penalties they face is attached. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Defendant
Age
Charges
Maximum Penalties
MARTIN HANDLER
Brooklyn, NY
48
Wire Fraud Conspiracy
Count One
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
Count Three
Conspiracy to Falsify Documents and Records
Count Four
Theft of Government Funds
Count Five
Money Laundering Conspiracy
Count Six
Theft of Government Funds
Count Seven
20 years
Five years
Five years
10 years
20 years
10 years
MENACHEM LIEBERMAN
Brooklyn, New York
46
Wire Fraud Conspiracy
Count One
Aggravated Identity Theft
Count Two
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
Count Three
Conspiracy to Falsify Documents and Records
Count Four
20 years
Two-year term consecutive to any other prison term
Five years
Five years
HAROLD SCHWARTZ
Brooklyn, New York
67
Wire Fraud Conspiracy
Count One
Conspiracy to Falsify Documents and Records
Count Four
20 years
Five years
ISIDORE HANDLER
Brooklyn, New York
37
Wire Fraud Conspiracy
Count One
Conspiracy to Falsify Documents and Records
Count Four
20 years
Five years
BEN WERCZBERGER
Brooklyn, New York
70
Theft of Government Funds
Count Five
Money Laundering Conspiracy
Count Six
10 years
20 years
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and HHS-OIG. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General for their assistance with this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Wolf and Mollie Bracewell are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Join Forces to Disrupt Violent Crime, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking in Multiple Jurisdictions Across the CountryRead the Press Release
“Today, the Justice Department has taken several significant enforcement actions to disrupt large-scale illegal gun and drug trafficking operations,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to all of the Department’s agents, prosecutors, and staff involved in these actions, as well as to our state and local partners, for their tireless work. The actions taken today represent the work that is being done by this Department every single day to disrupt violent crime, combat gun violence, and get deadly fentanyl out of our communities.”
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a seven-count indictment was unsealed charging David Mccann, Tajhai Jones, Raymond Minaya, and Calvin Tabron with allegedly conspiring to illegally traffic more than 50 firearms. Mccann and Minaya are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Mccann is additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Mccann, Jones, Minaya, and Tabron were arrested this morning. Mccann and Minaya are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. Jones and Tabron will be arraigned in Virginia.
This prosecution is the first in New York, and among the first in the country, to charge the gun trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress and the President enacted in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target gun trafficking. Among other provisions, it creates a standalone firearm trafficking conspiracy offense, which the government has charged in this case to hold accountable those who conspire to illegally sell firearms. The Act provides for sentences of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Read more about the case here.
In the Northern District of West Virginia today, two Baltimore-based drug trafficking organizations that supplied large amounts of fentanyl to West Virginia and caused at least two deaths have been dismantled by separate federal indictments that were unsealed today.
Thirty-four people from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia were indicted on charges related to the sale of fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs in Hampshire County and Mineral County. The drugs distributed led to a spike in overdoses in the region, both fatal and non-fatal. Much of the fentanyl had high levels of purity and had a purple tint to distinguish it from drugs sold by competitors.
In the first indictment, Kentrel Anthony Rollins, aka T-Rock, 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, is alleged to be the leader of a fentanyl distribution operation in Hampshire County and elsewhere from January 2020 to October 2021. Court documents show that in addition to the sale of drugs, there was firearms trafficking and the trading of guns for drugs. Many of the firearms were acquired by a straw purchaser on behalf of the organization. 12 people are charged in this matter, which also includes the alleged trafficking of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.
In the second indictment, Sean Jarred Davis, 31, also of Baltimore, is alleged to be the leader of a conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, as well as heroin, in Hampshire County and elsewhere from February 2021 to January 2023. A total of 22 individuals are charged in the case.
Read more about the case here.
And in the Southern District of Georgia today, 76 defendants are named in a newly unsealed federal indictment describing a massive drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang that includes allegations of multiple deaths from illegal drug overdoses.
As announced today at a multi-agency news conference held at Glynn County Police Department Headquarters in Brunswick, Georgia, the indictment in USA v. Alvarez et. al, dubbed Operation Ghost Busted, charges 76 defendants with involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and alprazolam in the greater Glynn County area. The primary conspiracy charge in the indictment carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release following any prison term.
Read more about the case here.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Federal Law Enforcement Partners Commemorate National Human Trafficking Awareness Day--January 11, 2023Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Today, federal law enforcement partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, FBI Portland Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Field Office join to commemorate National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and reaffirm their commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking devastates families and communities and preys on the most vulnerable members of our society. As a federal prosecutor, I’ve seen the extraordinary suffering survivors have endured and the incredible strength, courage, and resolve they demonstrate as they rebuild their lives. Today is a day we honor these survivors,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“Due to the I-5 corridor, human trafficking remains a huge problem throughout the state of Oregon and sadly, our Violent Crime Squad and Child Exploitation Task Force have some of the busiest investigators in the FBI's Portland office. Traffickers often lure vulnerable victims with promises of a better life and then use violence and manipulation as a means to control,” said, Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, is working every day to protect those victims who are being exploited from further abuse. Help us help them. If you have information about human trafficking or child exploitation, please contact law enforcement immediately.”
“Our nation is one that places a high value on opportunity, and through our many partnerships we can ensure that those opportunities are not poisoned by criminals who utilize slavery as cruel means to a harmful end,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI continues to fight human trafficking regardless of the form it takes, and will use our expertise in investigating transnational crime to prevent the exploitation of people through forced labor, domestic servitude, or sex trafficking.”
Human trafficking, sometimes referred to as trafficking in persons or modern slavery, is a serious federal crime involving the exploitation of individuals for labor, services, or commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion. This coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.
Victims of human trafficking can be anyone regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, education level, or citizenship status. Although there is no defining characteristic that all human trafficking victims share, traffickers around the world frequently prey on individuals who are poor, vulnerable, living in unsafe or unstable environments, or are in search of a better life.
In the U.S., trafficking victims can be American or foreign citizens. Some of the most vulnerable populations for trafficking in the U.S. include American Indian and Alaska Native communities, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, undocumented migrants, runaway and homeless youth, temporary guest-workers, and low-income individuals.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is committed to continuing its victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to detecting hidden human trafficking crimes, holding perpetrators accountable, and helping to restore the lives of survivors, while strengthening strategic anti-trafficking partnerships.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking or may have information about a trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888 or visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733.
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. To learn more, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/12/30/a-proclamation-on-national-human-trafficking-prevention-month-2023/.
Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a two-day trial, Gary Crawford, 32, has been found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on October 27, 2021, it was reported that a male on Porter Street and Ioka Avenue was armed with a machete. Memphis Police Officers responded to the 700 block of Porter and spoke with a complainant who advised that a man named Gary from the neighborhood threatened her with a machete and left it on her porch. Officers recovered the machete.
While still on the scene, officers responded to another call that a man fitting the same description began firing shots in the area. Crawford was found sitting on a couch on the porch of a home on Ioka Avenue. After noticing the officers, Crawford stood up and began waving a firearm and yelling at the officers. He was ordered to drop the weapon but did not comply and a standoff began. A short time later, the firearm fell from his lap, he stood up, walked off the porch, and undressed in the front yard before officers rushed and took him into custody. A Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol was recovered where Crawford was sitting.
As a result of his felony convictions, Crawford is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Sentencing is set on April 7, 2023, before United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays.
This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and the Memphis Police Department. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Regina Thompson and Stephen Hall, who prosecuted this case, as well as the 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.
Federal Jury Finds Cherokee, N.C. Man Guilty of Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury in Asheville has convicted Tarrell Leshaun Williams, 42, of Cherokee, N.C., of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Asheville Post of Duty, Jerin Falcon, Deputy Associate Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Division of Drug Enforcement, and Chief David Zack of the Asheville Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence and witness testimony, on February 11, 2022, law enforcement officers attempting to serve Williams with a federal arrest warrant located the defendant at an apartment complex in Asheville. According to trial evidence, prior to effectuating the arrest warrant, law enforcement observed Williams placing an item – later identified as a Taurus 9mm firearm – in the trunk of his vehicle. Williams was arrested shortly thereafter. Williams has prior felony criminal convictions and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Williams remains in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA’s Asheville Post of Duty, the BIA, and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives for their substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pritchard and Alexis Solheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuting the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Hopkins County Man on Multiple Counts of Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned a five-count indictment today charging a Hopkins County man with producing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Steven Ray Buchanan, 45, of Madisonville, Kentucky, was charged with four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Owensboro. Buchanan faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 140 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel King and A. Spencer McKiness.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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FBI Task Force Investigation Results in One of the Largest-Ever Drug Seizures in Yakima County, WashingtonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, conducted a comprehensive federal investigation concerning drug trafficking within the City of Yakima. The investigation culminated with the execution of multiple federal search warrants in Yakima County.
According to law enforcement sources, on December 28, 2022 the FBI Task Force seized more than approximately 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills and more than 42 pounds of methamphetamine. The FBI and its local partners also seized a loaded Beretta pistol and approximately $152,000 in U.S. Currency, including approximately $100,000 that was buried outside the residence. In connection with the seizure, Eliseo Equihua-Zamora was indicted on January 10, 2023, with Possession with Intent to Distribute Over 50 Grams of Actual (pure) Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute over 400 grams of Fentanyl, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Equihua-Zamora is presumed innocent until proven guilty and is facing charges in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the joint efforts of law enforcement for removing such a large quantity of illegal narcotics from the community. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “Illegal narcotics, and fentanyl in particular, have become a scourge across the United States. I’m grateful to the FBI and our critical task force partners for working together to combat this dangerous poison. Without their combined efforts, more than 100,000 deadly fentanyl-laced pills and more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine would not have been removed from the community. As a result, our neighborhoods and communities are safer and stronger.”
“Every time the FBI and our partners seize these dangerous and highly potent drugs, we are also removing from the community hundreds of thousands of opportunities for someone, perhaps even an unknowing young person, to make one bad choice and become addicted or overdose,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “As the drug landscape changes in our country, and fentanyl is hiding in unknown quantities amongst other drugs or being represented as another drug entirely, it is critical that law enforcement disrupt the flow of this poison into Washington state.”
“The recent successful results of an investigation by the FBI Task Force highlights the importance of federal and local agencies working together for public safety,” stated Yakima County Sheriff Robert Udell. He continued, “The investigation seized a significant quantity of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Yakima area, and these possibly fatal illegal drugs were removed from our community. I am pleased with the results of the FBI Task Force, and our deputies look forward to working together with the Task Force to achieve further success in removing illegal drugs from our community.”
This ongoing case is being investigated by the FBI Task Force, which members include the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Department of Corrections, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Border Patrol. The FBI Task Force was assisted by the Moxee Police Department and the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon.
An indictment and a complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
1:23-CR-2004-SAB
El Paso Man Sentenced to 12 Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for charges related to receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Peter Sebastian Felix, 29, had been exchanging sexually explicit images with a minor. Felix was in a rock band and used his popularity to gain the trust of underage girls. Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered a USB drive containing several video files of the minor engaging in sexual acts. Agents also searched an external hard drive, revealing approximately 50 files containing suspected child sexual exploitation material, one of the files depicting a minor between eight and 10 years old.
Felix pleaded guilty in June 2022 to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of prepubescent child pornography. A restitution hearing is scheduled for March.
“Protecting children, who are among the most vulnerable victims in this country, will always be a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “We and our partners are always here to identify these predators, put an end to their harmful behavior, and bring them to justice.”
“Justice has been served. However, no sentence is lengthy enough to penalize predators for the lifetime of pain and suffering the innocent children whom they’ve victimized will suffer,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division. “HSI continues to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest and prosecute child predators in our shared mission to protect children and prosecute perpetrators whose behavior has no place in our society.”
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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East Windsor Man Admits Recording His Sexual Abuse of MinorRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK ROMAN, 54, of East Windsor, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to production and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement began investigating Roman after Yahoo! reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Roman’s email account was transmitting images of child sexual abuse. Investigators determined that Roman’s email account also contained voyeuristic images and videos of naked children that appeared to be homemade.
On November 2, 2021, the Connecticut State Police and East Windsor Police Department executed a state search warrant at Roman’s residence and seized Roman’s iPhone, laptop and computer storage devices. Analysis of the seized revealed more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, including images and videos of Roman sexually abusing a girl who was between the ages of six and eight. The seized images also included numerous voyeuristic videos that Roman secretly took of the minor victim, another minor female who was between the ages of two and four, and adult victims.
Roman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on April 5.
Roman has been detained since his arrest on November 29, 2021.
This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the East Windsor Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 104 Months for Possessing a Firearm with an Automatic SwitchRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An East St. Louis man received a prison sentence of 104 months on Tuesday in a U.S. District Court after admitting to possession of a firearm with a high-capacity magazine that operated as a machine gun as well as a 50-round drum magazine.
Derron Smith-Johnson, 28, pled guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Possession of a Machine Gun due to the firearm having an automatic switch.
According to court documents, the Public Safety Enforcement Group in East St. Louis was investigating three shootings and a homicide used with the same gun based on lab analysis in February 2022. The crimes happened within a one-week time frame and involved a silver GMC Acadia.
Video footage led PSEG to identify Smith-Johnson during the investigation, and agents visited an apartment he was known to occasionally stay at in Belleville, Illinois. Shortly after arriving, Smith-Johnson was taken into custody, and the homeowner consented to a search of the premises.
Stowed away in an air return vent was a Glock 23 40 caliber pistol with an automatic rifle switch loaded with an extended magazine containing 23 live rounds. Agents also recovered a 50-round drum magazine loaded with 50 live rounds of 40 caliber ammunition, as well as 43 rounds of 357 SIG ammunition in a bedroom dresser. A lab determined Smith-Johnson’s fingerprints to be on the Glock 23 pistol, which was later confirmed to be linked through ballistics comparisons to the three shootings and homicide under investigation by PSEG.
“Ballistic evidence can confirm if the same gun is used in multiple instances, and the recovered firearm was used in a week-long, violent crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The Public Safety Enforcement Group is working day in and day out to improve protections for the East St. Louis community, and I applaud their efforts.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to those that commit crimes of violence and illegally possess and use machine gun conversion devices (commonly referred to as switches), we are tired of it,” said Fred Winston, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. “This investigation utilized the very best combination of crime gun intelligence through ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and collaborative law enforcement partnerships to identify shooters in efforts to make our streets safer.”
In addition to the 104-month prison sentence, Smith-Johnson also received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $200 fine and $200 in special assessments.
The ATF led the investigation with assistance from PSEG and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns prosecuted the case.
East Providence Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Applying for COVID-Relief Business LoansRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An East Providence man who submitted eight fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $375,000 in COVID-19 relief business loans guaranteed by the federal Small Business Administration has been sentenced to four years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Kevin Mancieri, 49, submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications to secure the loans, complete with fabricated bank records and tax forms. In addition to submitting two fraudulent applications in his own name, Mancieri prepared fraudulent applications in the names of four other individuals that he was associated with. Additionally, Mancieri used a stolen identity and submitted a fraudulent PPP application in that person’s name as well, seeking an additional $60,710 in loans.
According to information presented to the court, Mancieri submitted fraudulent PPP applications seeking a total of $375,928, resulting in a loss of $152,246. Of that amount, Mancieri personally obtained $92,438.
Mancieri pleaded guilty on August 15, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Mancieri was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to forty-eight months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, Mancieri was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $152,246.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Criminal Investigation.
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Douglas County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Manufacturing Illegal Short-Barreled Rifle and Selling DrugsRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Douglas County, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for manufacturing and selling an illegal short-barreled rife and selling several ounces of methamphetamine.
Gregory Wayne Ferguson, 46, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 4 years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in January 2021, law enforcement learned that Ferguson had claimed to manufacture “ghost guns,” do-it-yourself firearms made from readily-available materials and components untraceable by law enforcement. Ferguson further claimed to have manufactured a short-barreled rifle that could be made into a fully-automatic weapon. In late January 2021, Ferguson test-fired the unmarked, short-barreled rifle with a prospective buyer and then sold it for $1,500. One week later, Ferguson sold 110 grams of methamphetamine to the same individual.
On March 15, 2021, Ferguson was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing a firearm made in violation of the National Firearms Act and distributing methamphetamine. Ferguson was arrested the next day. On September 21, 2022, he pleaded guilty to both charges.
Today’s sentencing resolves Ferguson’s federal criminal case and is expected to resolve several pending felony cases in Douglas County Circuit Court.
This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, in partnership with Chief Deputy District Attorney Allison Eichmann of the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
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.
Formed in October 1989, the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team is a special investigative unit formed to combat illegal narcotics activity in Douglas County. DINT member agencies include Douglas County, including the Douglas County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices, the Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Police, and Roseburg Police Department.
Del Rio Teen Mentor and School Tutor Sentenced to 18 Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man was sentenced Monday to 220 months in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, Oscar Barrera Jr., 29, mentored at-risk teens, worked as a tutor in the Del Rio school system and served as a youth counselor at church retreats. On June 17, 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents conducted a search warrant on Barrera’s residence and confiscated his cell phone, which had more than 1,100 images and nearly 700 videos of child sexual abuse material.
“It’s unsettling when you learn that someone working so closely with our children and in our communities can possess such predatory tendencies,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to our federal agency partners like Homeland Security Investigations, we are able to ensure these sexual abusers can no longer prey on our children.”
“The heavy sentence imposed on Mr. Barrera sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who exploit children in any way,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the HSI San Antonio Division. “HSI agents make it a top priority to protect children from victimization by working to investigate predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and ensure they are held accountable for their heinous actions. HSI will continue to dedicate our resources to identify these individuals and bring them to justice.”
On April 4, 2022, Barrera pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley and Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Covington Man Sentenced for Possessing Thirty-Three Firearms in Violation of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL MALONE, age 38, a resident of Covington, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 10, 2023 in the United States District Court in connection with his plea of guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
United States District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced MALONE to 82 months of imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons. Following his term of imprisonment, MALONE will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years. The court did not impose a fine, but imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
On the night of February 3, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., St. Tammany Parish deputies were on patrol on Highway 434 in Lacombe when they observed MALONE’s silver Toyota Highlander, parked in front of the 434 Mini Storage. Deputies observed an individual inside of the vehicle. Concerned that a burglary could have been in progress, the deputies approached MALONE’s vehicle.
Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies spoke with MALONE’s girlfriend, who told the deputies that MALONE was inside of his storage unit. The deputies observed that a number of miscellaneous items were located outside of the unit, but that the unit’s door was closed. MALONE was not visible to the deputies. As the deputies continued to approach the unit, they heard the sound of a gun being racked. Upon opening the door to the storage unit, the deputies observed MALONE in possession of a firearm. Deputies located 33 firearms inside of the unit. Deputies detained MALONE. MALONE admitted to being on probation at the time of his arrest and being a convicted felon with two convictions for possession of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (ecstasy), simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and two counts of simple burglary.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Covington Man Sentenced for Possessing Thirty-Three Firearms in Violation of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL MALONE, age 38, a resident of Covington, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 10, 2023 in the United States District Court in connection with his plea of guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
United States District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced MALONE to 82 months of imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons. Following his term of imprisonment, MALONE will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years. The court did not impose a fine, but imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
On the night of February 3, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., St. Tammany Parish deputies were on patrol on Highway 434 in Lacombe when they observed MALONE’s silver Toyota Highlander, parked in front of the 434 Mini Storage. Deputies observed an individual inside of the vehicle. Concerned that a burglary could have been in progress, the deputies approached MALONE’s vehicle.
Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies spoke with MALONE’s girlfriend, who told the deputies that MALONE was inside of his storage unit. The deputies observed that a number of miscellaneous items were located outside of the unit, but that the unit’s door was closed. MALONE was not visible to the deputies. As the deputies continued to approach the unit, they heard the sound of a gun being racked. Upon opening the door to the storage unit, the deputies observed MALONE in possession of a firearm. Deputies located 33 firearms inside of the unit. Deputies detained MALONE. It was determined that MALONE was on probation at the time of his arrest and being a convicted felon with two convictions for possession of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (ecstasy), simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and two counts of simple burglary.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 41 Months Prison for Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Shawn Michael Palacios Rosario, age 41, from Guam, was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment by the District Court of Guam. Rosario was convicted of two counts of Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and mandatory $200 special assessment fee.
On February 7, 2022, Guam Police Department officers saw a motorcycle being driven at a high rate of speed in Dededo, Guam. The motorcycle was not displaying a license plate. The rider continued speeding, attempting to evade police, before crashing into a parked vehicle. The rider was identified as Rosario. Officers discovered that he possessed a .380 caliber pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Rosario was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction in the District Court of Guam.
On May 17, 2022, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force served an outstanding arrest warrant on Rosario at a residence in Dededo. Federal law enforcement discovered that Rosario had a pouch next to him that contained a .40 caliber pistol and four rounds of ammunition. They also found a pipe, syringe, and hypodermic needle, in addition to three grams of methamphetamine. Under federal law, drug users are also prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“Rosario’s possession of even a single round of ammunition would have resulted in similar consequences,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Felons and firearms are a dangerous combination for our communities. We will continue to work closely with our partners to hold these criminals accountable.”
“We commend the Guam Police Department officers and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force for their work getting this felon off the streets,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “Felons cannot possess firearms or ammunition, and Mr. Rosario compounded it by possessing illegal narcotics. Hopefully this sentence will give him time to reflect on his actions and change his ways.”
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 works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Guam Police Department conducted the investigation that resulted in the indictment. The investigation was also facilitated by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Colchester Man Charged in Connection with Swanton Drug-Related HomicideRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney’s Office stated Dominique Troupe, 36, of Colchester, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in connection with a Second Superseding Indictment in which Troupe and others are charged with gun and drug crimes. Troupe is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, one count of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to the drug conspiracy, one count of conspiring to commit a robbery of drugs and money by threat of force, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
According to court documents, the first three counts against Troupe relate to the February 2, 2022 shooting death of Elijah Oliver in Swanton, Vermont. In its motion seeking Troupe’s detention, the United States asserts that Troupe was a primary source of supply for crack cocaine being sold out of a residence on River Street in Swanton, and that Oliver was a rival Swanton drug dealer. According to the detention motion, to protect their crack cocaine distribution operation, Troupe and others implemented a plan to carry out an armed robbery of Oliver, seeking to steal drugs and money, and during the attempted robbery Oliver was shot and killed.Troupe has been in federal custody since his September 7, 2022 arrest for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base. In today’s hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Troupe to remain detained during the pendency of the prosecution. Troupe and his co-defendants will have until March 20 to file pre-trial motions.
If Troupe is convicted of all charges, he will face a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life; any sentence would be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the indictment is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case has been investigated by the Vermont State Police, in coordination with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Franklin County Sheriff Department, and the Swanton Police Department.
The Assistant United States Attorney handling the prosecution is Michael Drescher. Troupe is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. of Burlington.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psnChild Predator to Serve 20 Years in Prison, Pay $100K to VictimsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced last week to serve 20 years in prison and pay $100,000 in restitution for the sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Tanner Real, 22, extorted 10 minor victims into producing sexually explicit material for him. In addition to his prison sentence, Real was sentenced to 20 years of supervised release.
“The sexual exploitation of children is a horrendous crime,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to do everything in our power to obtain justice for these victims.”
“Every day, all across this country and here in our region, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to rescue vulnerable children from the criminals who are engaged in these terrible crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. “Thankfully, with this sentencing, this individual will now be behind bars for a very long time.”
The Boerne Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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California-Based Company, Company President Plead Guilty in Scheme to Violate the Export Control ActRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Tao Jiang, the president and owner of Broad Tech System, Inc., a California-based electronics distribution company, today admitted to a federal judge in Providence that he and his company participated in a conspiracy to conceal information from the U.S. Department of Commerce and from U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of a scheme to illegally export chemicals manufactured and/or distributed by a Rhode Island-based company to a technology company in China with ties to the Chinese military, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Tao Jiang, aka Jason Jiang, 53, of Riverside, CA, and Broad Tech Systems, Inc., pleaded guilty as charged by way of indictment to conspiracy, violation of the Export Control Act, and money laundering conspiracy.
Jiang and Broad Tech System admitted that they conspired together and with Bohr Winn-Shih, an engineer employed at Broad Tech System, to order the chemicals Photoresist and HPRD (Developer) from a North Kingstown-based manufacturer, then knowingly submitted false and misleading documentation to the U.S. Government and to shipping companies in an effort to have those products illegally shipped to a company in China, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act.
The intended recipient of the shipment, a state-owned Chinese entity in Nanjing, China, mainly engages in the manufacturing of electronic components and the research, development and production of core chips and key components in China’s military strategic early warning systems, air defense systems, airborne fire control systems, manned space systems, and other national large-scale projects. Photoresist and HPRD are essential to the chip manufacturing process.
The Chinese company is on a U.S. government list of businesses that are not permitted to receive products manufactured in the United States.
In October 2018, the Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center alerted the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) of an intended export of 58 gallons of Photoresist to the China-based company. The product was returned to the manufacturer. Several days after the shipment was halted, the Rhode Island manufacturer received a call from Jiang, acting on behalf of Broad Tech System, seeking to purchase 94 gallons of Photoresist, and asking that it be shipped to a different China-based company. The manufacturer communicated to DOC agents that they found this to be suspicious because they had not done business with Broad Tech in the past; the quantity of Photoresist ordered was unusually significant; and the request came just days after the first shipment had been recalled. It was determined by DOC agents that Jiang, Shih and Broad Tech concealed the intended recipient, and that the shipment’s final destination was actually the Nanjing-based company controlled by the Chinese government.
According to information presented to the court, on January 29, 2019, Broad Tech received a wire transfer of $65,984 to its bank account within the United States, representing payment for the 58 gallons of Photoresist. It was determined that the wire transfer originated from an account controlled by the Nanjing, China-based company.
Jiang and Broad Tech System are scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2023. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Bohr Winn-Shih, 65, of Ontario, CA, pleaded guilty on May 11, 2021. Winn-Shih was sentenced on August 3, 2021, to one year of probation.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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California Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH – A Redlands, California man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. The Honorable Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
According to court documents, on January 22, 2022, a trooper with the Arkansas State Police stopped Pedro Armando Nava, Jr., age 34, for operating a vehicle with an expired registration sticker on the license plate. The stop occurred on Interstate 40 in Crawford County, Arkansas. Upon making contact with the two occupants of the vehicle, the trooper detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
The trooper spoke with the occupants of the vehicle separately and obtained conflicting information regarding their travels.
After Nava admitted to having a marijuana joint in the vehicle, a search was conducted. The search resulted in troopers locating and seizing one (1) marijuana joint and four (4) suitcases containing eight (8) packages of narcotics.
All eight (8) packages were sent to the Drug Enforcement Adminiatration (DEA) crime lab for further testing. The DEA crime lab found the following substances and amounts: 7,451 grams of heroin and 3,016.3 grams of cocaine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Arkansas State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still prosecuted the case.
California Man Gets 8-Year Prison Term for Transporting Kilos of Meth to Western PARead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Stockton, California has been sentenced in federal court to 100 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Jose Villalobos, age 41.
According to information presented to the court, Villalobos transported between five and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine between methamphetamine suppliers in California that was then sent to methamphetamine distributors located in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
California Man Convicted of Bismarck Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on January 11, 2023, following a 2-day trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict on a charge of Bank Robbery against Robert Andrew Wolter, age 38, from San Jose, California, who robbed the Expressway Avenue Branch of U.S. Bank in Bismarck, ND. U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor presided over the trial.
On January 15, 2019, shortly after 9:00 a.m., a man wearing a disguise, including a mask, wig, and hat entered the U.S. Bank Branch on Expressway Avenue in Bismarck, ND, and announced that this was a bank robbery and directed bank personnel to place money into a bag. After obtaining money from the employees, the man fled the bank.
Three weeks later, on February 5, 2019, Robert Andrew Wolter was at the Newark, New Jersey airport, intending to fly to Ghana, Africa. During an outbound examination conducted by Customs and Border Protection, Wolter underdeclared the amount of currency that he had in his possession. While Wolter was in custody in New Jersey, further investigation in San Jose, California, led to the discovery of evidence related to the Bismarck U.S. Bank robbery.
Wolter was indicted on the bank robbery charge in North Dakota on April 3, 2019.
The charge of bank robbery carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing of Wolter will be scheduled at a later date.
"The arrest and conviction of this bank robber is a product of cross-country cooperation," US Attorney Mac Schneider said. "I congratulate our federal and local law enforcement partners and our trial team for successfully administering justice in this case."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bismarck Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection (New Jersey), and the San Jose Police Department (California), and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Hagler and Jonathan O’Konek
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Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL NASTU, 63, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 18 month of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2021, Nastu, using the Kik social media application, initiated a chat with an FBI Online Covert Employee (“OCE”) who was posing as a 14-year-old girl from Connecticut. Between March 31 and June 25, 2021, Nastu sent the OCE sexually explicit messages and several pictures and videos of male genitalia, and he attempted to entice the OCE to send him child pornography in return. Although they had multiple text exchanges about meeting in person, Nastu never travelled to meet the OCE.
Nastu was arrested on June 30, 2021. On September 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty to attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor.
Nastu, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 13.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Nancy V. Gifford through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Boston Man Sentenced for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for using others’ identities to fraudulently obtain over $65,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.
Wilson Radhames Peguero Brea, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 28 months in prison and one year of supervised release. In October 2022, Peguero pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Peguero used the name and Social Security number of two U.S. citizens to fraudulently apply for and obtain PUA benefits. Peguero also applied for and received additional PUA benefits using his own name but fraudulently representing that he was a U.S. citizen. With respect to the applications, Peguero also submitted fraudulent documents, such as a fake U.S. permanent resident card and a fraudulently obtained driver’s license.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Big Timber felon sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegal possession of firearmsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Big Timber man with a felony record was sentenced today to 46 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to illegally possessing three loaded firearms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
James Edward Dempster, 43, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2014, Dempster was convicted in U.S. District Court of a felony drug crime and prohibited from possessing firearms. In November 2021, a Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop in Big Timber of a truck that was pulling a trailer without taillights. Dempster was the driver. The deputy noticed the muzzle of a hunting rifle sticking out near the floorboard, ran Dempster’s information and confirmed that Dempster was on federal probation. During search of the truck, law enforcement recovered three loaded firearms—two rifles and a semi-automatic pistol. Law enforcement further learned that the pistol and one of the rifles were owned by Dempster’s father and that Dempster took them with out permission.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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