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Wednesday 16 November 2022
San Felipe man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of a minorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Kyle Aguilar pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country. Aguilar, 40, of San Felipe, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, between Oct. 2, 2016, and Feb. 13, 2017, Aguilar engaged in abusive sexual contact with a victim who was between 12 and 16 years old. The abuse occurred on the San Felipe Pueblo.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Aguilar faces up to four years in prison, and he must register as a sex offender.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Brittany DuChaussee are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Saco Woman Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Saco woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to committing bankruptcy fraud, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, in April 2020, Christina Q. Shea, 45, initiated a fraudulent bankruptcy proceeding and submitted filings to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland containing numerous false statements. Shea filed the fraudulent bankruptcy using the name and identifying information of another person, falsely representing as her own the other person’s name, Social Security number, employment information, and a fake email address she created. Shea also forged the other person’s name on a money order she submitted to the Bankruptcy Court and later posed as the person while taking an online credit counseling course.
Shea faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Rochester Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 25, 2022, Marcus Anthony Jackson, 49, was in possession of a Taurus G2C 9MM pistol. Officers with the Rochester Police Department executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence in Rochester. At the beginning of the search, Jackson indicated there were no firearms present. However, as an officer began to search above the kitchen cabinets, Jackson informed the officer that he had a gun above the refrigerator. Because he has multiple prior felony convictions in Olmsted, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Jackson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Jackson pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Joan N. Erickson to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rochester Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
Restaurant Owners Plead Guilty to Harboring Undocumented WorkersRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ge Tang (41, St. Augustine) and Yanshen Huang (36, St. Johns) have pleaded guilty to harboring undocumented aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. As part of their plea agreements, Tang and Huang have agreed to forfeit to the United States a residence in St. Augustine and a residence in St. Johns, which were used to house undocumented aliens, along with a 2021 Toyota Sienna van that was used to transport the aliens between the residences and the restaurants and $35,720 in cash.
Their sentencing hearings have been scheduled for January 24, 2023.
According to their plea agreements, Tang and Huang owned and operated Tanks Sushi Bistro Seafood & Steaks in St. Augustine and Tanks Sushi Bistro in Ponte Vedra. At the restaurants, they employed aliens who were unlawfully present in the United States and who were not legally authorized to work in the United States. Contrary to federal law, Tang and Huang did not require the workers to provide documents to establish that they could legally work in the United States.
Tang and Huang also owned two residences, each of which was near one of the restaurants, at which they provided housing to the undocumented workers. They also provided the workers with transportation between the houses and the restaurants at the beginning and end of each workday.
Tang and Huang paid the workers in cash, did not withhold taxes and other payments from the workers’ wages, and did not pay the employer’s portion of these taxes to government authorities. They also did not report the workers to state revenue authorities as required under Florida law to ensure the collection of the proper amount of unemployment compensation tax.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling forfeiture of the residences, van, and cash.
Pulaski County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.— A Somerset, Ky., man, Mark A. Bauer, 35, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to Bauer’s plea agreement, he developed a relationship with multiple suppliers of methamphetamine, and he regularly obtained multi-ounce quantities for the purpose of distributing it to others in the area. On January 5, 2020, law enforcement served an arrest warrant on Bauer, finding multiple bags of methamphetamine on his person.
Bauer pleaded guilty in July 2022.
Under federal law, Bauer must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Chief William Hunt, Somerset Police Department; and Sheriff Greg Speck, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, Somerset Police Department, and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble.
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Pike County Man Charged with Possession of Fentanyl at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation AreaRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Stephen M. Smith, age 42, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was charged on November 9, 2022, by criminal information with possession of fentanyl at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on August 29, 2022, Smith was stopped in his vehicle by Park Rangers at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and was found to be illegally in possession of packets of fentanyl.
The charge against Smith resulted from an investigation conducted by Park Rangers from the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
Under federal law, the maximum penalty for possession of controlled substances on federal property is up to one year in prison. The charge also carries a minimum fine of $1000. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Pharmacist Charged with Illegally Distributing Prescription Cough Syrup and Earning Millions in ProfitsRead the Press Release
Detroit, MI – A licensed pharmacist was charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and illegally dispensing prescription cough syrup worth millions of dollars in an indictment unsealed today, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Lynda M. Burdelik, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office.
Zaman Alshafey, 35, of Dearborn, Michigan, was the owner and operator of Med Pro Pharmacy in Livonia, Michigan. Alshafey is charged with distributing misbranded drugs as the promethazine cough syrup was not safe for use except under the supervision of a practitioner licensed by law to administer the drug. Dispensing of promethazine cough syrup without valid prescriptions caused the drugs to become misbranded.
According to the Indictment, from January 2018 to March 2021, Alshafey ordered more than 300,000 pint-sized bottles of promethazine cough syrup from various wholesale distributors who operate outside the State of Michigan. Alshafey then sold the cough syrup to drug dealers without a valid prescription from a licensed practitioner, and he failed to disclose this to the wholesalers. Alshafey paid the wholesalers via wire transfers from funds derived from the unlawful dispensing of the cough syrup.
“A pharmacist violates the public’s trust by unlawfully dispensing any drug. We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners, to identify and target those in the medical community who illegally dispense prescription drugs onto the street.” Ison said.
“Selling misbranded prescription drugs puts all consumers’ health at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Lynda M. Burdelik, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who jeopardize the public’s health.”
This case was investigated by special agents with the Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Regina R. McCullough.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Peoria Leader of Extensive Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Christopher R. Williams, Jr., also known as “Black”, 31, of the 2100 block of West Starr Street, was sentenced last week to a total of 360 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
During a two-day sentencing hearing held on November 7th and 8th before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Williams was a large-scale dealer of ice methamphetamine throughout the greater Peoria area. Evidence established that Williams was a top-tier, primary source for other wholesale drug dealers in central Illinois whose extensive customer base included Peoria, Tazewell, Fulton, and Henry counties. Judge Shadid also heard evidence that Williams was the source of a supply of narcotics responsible for the overdose deaths of three individuals in Peoria and Tazewell Counties.
At the hearing, Judge Shadid found Williams sought and carried firearms during the course of his drug conspiracy and, further, used threats of violence to collect drug monies. Judge Shadid further determined Williams did not sell drugs to support a substance abuse habit but, rather, for his own financial gain. In total, Williams was held responsible for trafficking over 48 kilograms of ice methamphetamine from November 2018 up to his arrest on August 11, 2021. Judge Shadid commented that Williams controlled a network of drug dealers and that he contributed to the harm, destruction, and drug-related deaths in the community, noting the evidence showed some of the ice methamphetamine Williams dealt was laced with deadly fentanyl.
“Thanks to the steady efforts of all law enforcement involved, Williams can no longer prey on and profit from the addictions of others,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge. “Methamphetamine is highly addictive and leaves a path of destruction. Many of those working under Williams lost their jobs, families, homes, and a significant portion of their life thanks to their entangled addiction with ice methamphetamine; meanwhile, Williams was profiting mightily. Our commitment to disrupting those at the top, like Williams, will continue.”
“One of our area’s most prolific drug dealers has been stopped due to the dedication and efforts not only of the Pekin Police Department but also our partnerships with all the agencies involved,” said Pekin Police Department Chief John Dossey. “Williams inexcusably preyed on our vulnerable for his own personal gain. We are grateful for the solid work and team effort that resulted in a high-level dealer trafficking in dangerous and sometimes deadly drugs receiving a substantial prison sentence.”
Williams was indicted in July 2021 and entered a guilty plea in May 2022. Count 1 charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. Counts 2 and 3 each charged distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), and Count 4 charged distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual).
The statutory penalties for Counts 1 and 4 were 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by five-year to life terms of supervised release. The penalties for Counts 2 and 3 were five to 40 years imprisonment, followed by four-year to life terms of supervised release.
Williams has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in August 2021.
The extensive investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Springfield Resident Office, with critical efforts provided by Pekin Police Department and Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group (PMEG). Also assisting in the investigation were the Peoria Police Department, Illinois State Police, Blackhawk Area Task Force, and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution, with assistance from the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case against Williams is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Unlawfully Transporting AliensRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Juan Francisco Izalde-Bautista, age 34, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, pled guilty and was sentenced today to 6 months in prison for unlawfully transporting two Mexican citizens who were illegally present in the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Acting Chief Patrol Agent Keith Hoops, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
Izalde-Bautista admitted that on October 2, 2022, he drove from Hershey to Potsdam, New York, to pick up two citizens of Mexico who had recently illegally crossed the international border from Canada into the United States. Izalde-Bautista also admitted that he planned to drive the two Mexican nationals to Hershey.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.
Passaic County Man Admits Distributing Fentanyl that Led to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted distributing fentanyl that caused the death of another person, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Wyzier Peterson, 25, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of distribution of fentanyl relating to the overdose death of an individual.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On June 30, 2019, Peterson sold heroin and fentanyl, which was later ingested by the victim, resulting in the victim’s death.
The count of distribution of fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2023.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; officers of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; officers of the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora; detectives of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnick; and detectives of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia Valdes, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. She also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office and the Belleville and Livingston police departments for their assistance with the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jacobe Hollingsworth, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hollingsworth to 74 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On January 13, 2022, police and probation officers went to Hollingsworth’s Omaha residence and located approximately 50 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a digital drug scale, approximately 141 grams of marijuana, two handguns, and a drum magazine designed to hold approximately 50 rounds of ammunition. Hollingsworth attempted to flee, but officers stopped him. Officers also located approximately $6,671 in United States currency which Hollingsworth agreed to forfeit.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department and is part of the Safe Streets Task Force. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Newport News Man Sentenced for Possessing AR-15 and Other Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison for possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of a cocaine-distribution operation.
According to court documents, since at least March 2021, Dillard Jamar Booker, 46, engaged in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cocaine in the city of Newport News. After conducting a series of controlled narcotics purchases during which Booker sold cocaine to a confidential source, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant for Booker’s residence. Multiple firearms were recovered from the residence, to include a reportedly stolen AR-15 style rifle, along with almost 15 grams of crack cocaine and evidence that Booker was manufacturing and distributing cocaine.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and, Christopher Amon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Homer prosecuted 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. 4:22-cr-34.
New York Veterinarian and Racehorse Trainers Sentenced to Prison in Federal Doping CaseRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendants LOUIS GRASSO, RICHARD BANCA, and RENE ALLARD were sentenced to 50 months in prison, 30 months in prison, and 27 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in distributing adulterated and misbranded drugs in service of a racehorse doping scheme. Each defendant previously pled guilty to felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges. U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel imposed the sentences in Manhattan federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Illegally doping racehorses is animal abuse in the service of greed. Such corruption threatens the health of racehorses and undermines the integrity of the sport. Today, three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in perpetuating, and profiting from, the mistreatment of animals. The sentences each defendant received appropriately reflects the seriousness of these offenses in the eyes of the law.”
According to the statements in the Superseding Indictment, charging instruments, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:
The charges in the Grasso case arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, distributors of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading PED prohibitions and deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the United States, all to the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. GRASSO, a veterinarian, not only accepted payment in exchange for prescriptions for powerful and medically unnecessary PEDs, but he also created, distributed, and administered custom-made PEDs that were all misbranded and adulterated substances designed solely to improve racehorse performance. Through this fraudulent scheme, GRASSO helped corrupt trainers collect over $47 million in ill-gotten purse winnings. As standardbred racehorse trainers, BANCA and ALLARD purchased and administered adulterated and misbranded drugs to racehorses under their control, and as a result of their crimes, their horses earned approximately $16 million and $25 million in purse winnings, respectively. BANCA and ALLARD stood to profit from the success of racehorses under their control by earning a share of their horses’ winnings and by improving their horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under their control.
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In addition to their prison terms, LOUIS GRASSO, 65, of Pine Bush, New York, was sentenced to two years’ supervised release. RICHARD BANCA, 47, of Middletown, New York, and RENE ALLARD, 35, of Canada, were each sentenced to one year of supervised release. LOUIS GRASSO was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,656,576.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New York Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and its support of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Mr. Williams also thanked the Food and Drug Administration for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution.
Mission man sent to prison for hiding kilos of heroin in floorboardsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old man residing in Mission has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with the intent to distribute nine kilograms of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gerardo Torres pleaded guilty April 5.
Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Torres to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.
On Sept.10, 2021, Torres arrived at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint while driving a white Nissan Sentra. At that time, authorities believed he was carrying illegal narcotics and referred him to secondary inspection.
They noticed tool marks on his passenger seat rails. Law enforcement moved the front passenger seat further back and found white overspray on the wires beneath the seat. They lifted the carpet off the floorboard, found a trap door with four vacuum-sealed bundles wrapped in clear cellophane within the compartment.
Authorities continued to search the driver’s side floorboard which revealed another trap door. Five bundles were beneath the second door with four wrapped in black electrical tape and one vacuum-sealed in clear cellophane. Both rear floorboards also had trap doors but were empty.
The nine bundles were later determined to be 9.086 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $545,160.
Torres will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Parker Gochenour and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree Murder and Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence that Causes Death was sentenced on November 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Casey Lynn Crow Ghost, age 44, was sentenced to life in federal prison on both charges, ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and ordered to forfeit his ownership of a handgun used in the crimes.
Crow Ghost was indicted for First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence that Causes Death by a federal grand jury in January of 2021. He was convicted by a jury on all charges on August 11, 2022.
The convictions stem from the December 12, 2020, shooting death of Crow Ghost's romantic partner in McLaughlin on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim's body was discovered on December 15, 2020, and an autopsy determined she died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Crow Ghost was interviewed by law enforcement and claimed that the shooting was both an accident and a result of self-defense. Evidence gathered by law enforcement showed Crow Ghost murdered the victim with a handgun and did so with premeditation.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Crow Ghost was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Children and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and one count of Witness Tampering was sentenced on November 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Jerome Moses Goodhouse, Jr., age 31, was sentenced to life in federal prison on both counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, 20 years in federal prison for Witness Tampering, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Goodhouse was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Witness Tampering by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He was convicted by a jury on all charges on August 24, 2022.
In 2017, Goodhouse sexually abused two minor children in McLaughlin on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. After abusing one minor, he threatened her and told her to remain quiet about what he did to her.
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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron J. Cook and Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Goodhouse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Straw Purchases of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to violate the federal firearms laws.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Malachi Martins, aka “Steve,” 28, to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Martins pleaded guilty on May 26, 2022.
According to court records, from October 2019 through January 2020, Martins purchased at least seven firearms from licensed dealers in Kittery and Gray using a straw purchaser. Martins, a known drug trafficker, paid for the firearms with drug proceeds and paid the coconspirator by forgiving his drug debt. He then distributed the firearms in Massachusetts.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who can lawfully purchase firearms but who then provides them to another person who is legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, therefore allowing the prohibited person to illegally obtain firearms and avoid the national background check system. Martins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two previous convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
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. To learn more information about Project Safe Neighborhood, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
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Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Threatening Port OfficialsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On November 2, 2022, John Milton Lee, 63, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 33 months in prison. On May 16, 2022, Lee was convicted by a federal jury of Smuggling Goods from the United States and Impeding and Threatening a Federal Officer.
On November 1, 2019, Lee disrupted operations at the Lukeville Port-of-Entry in an hour-long armed standoff where he repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill five United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers with a FN High Power 88 semi-automatic 9 mm handgun tucked into his coat. Lee also had a fully loaded AR-15 assault rifle within arm’s reach, as well as three fully loaded 30-round high-capacity AR-15 magazines in his pocket during the armed standoff. As Lee made repeated threats to shoot the officers, the officers could see the defendant’s hand and wrist muscles moving on the firearm hidden in his coat. The officers did not use lethal force and instead spent nearly an hour trying to de-escalate the dangerous situation and negotiated with Lee to try to get him to surrender – to no avail.
This armed standoff had a significant impact on the lives of Lee’s victims. One officer testified that, since that potentially deadly day, he has worn his body armor every day at work – even in the stifling heat of the Arizona summer – because he realized “what could have been lost” and that “any border inspection could erupt into a dangerous situation.”
The officers were finally able to gain control over Lee after they tased him when it became clear that he would not surrender on his own accord. At sentencing, Judge Soto told Lee that he was lucky to be alive and that the officers were particularly patient and had shown great restraint .
After Lee was arrested, a search of his vehicle revealed an additional six firearms including a Tavor Model SAR .223 caliber firearm; a HK 91 .308 caliber rifle; a .22 caliber rifle; two .45 caliber firearms; and a .44 Mag caliber firearm. All of the firearms were fully loaded with a round in the chamber and ready to fire. Also discovered were 1,962 rounds of ammunition. Lee had more firepower in his vehicle than all the officers on scene combined.
Homeland Security Investigations, Sells, conducted the investigation in this case, with the assistance of CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Martinez and Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-2946-TUC-JAS-LAB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-210_Lee# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Man Convicted for Health Care Fraud and Prescription Drug Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a California man yesterday for his role in an approximately $723,000 health care fraud and prescription drug diversion scheme involving two Southern California pharmacies.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Shahriar “Michael” Kalantari, 55, of Beverly Hills, generated false prescriptions as part of a health care fraud and unlicensed wholesale distribution scheme occurring in 2016 and 2017. Kalantari’s co-conspirators obtained beneficiary information, which Kalantari then used to write or cause to be written false and fraudulent prescriptions for expensive prescription medication, including drugs used to treat HIV. Kalantari’s co-conspirator then submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid of California through her two pharmacies for the drugs, which were never dispensed to the beneficiaries but, rather, provided to co-conspirators to sell on the black market.
Kalantari was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each of the health care fraud conspiracy and health care fraud counts, and a maximum penalty of five years for the unlicensed distribution counts. 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 Martin Estrada for the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Los Angeles Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The California Department of Justice provided valuable assistance.
Assistant Chief Alexis Gregorian and Trial Attorneys Justin Givens and Alex Michael of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Man Charged with Selling Migratory BirdsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A Cuban citizen living in Madison, Wisconsin is charged with 3 counts of violating the Migratory Bird Trafficking Act in an indictment returned on October 12, 2022, by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison. The indictment is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Jorge Luis Iglesias, 60, made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison yesterday and was detained in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow, November 17, at 9:00 a.m.
The indictment charges Iglesias with 3 counts of selling migratory birds, specifically Yellow-faced Grassquits, in violation of federal law. The indictment alleges that he sold the birds on April 21, May 5, and December 29, 2020.
If convicted, Iglesias faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Livingston man admits illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Livingston man today admitted to illegally possessing a firearm while using drugs after law enforcement seized firearms, ammunition and drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine in his residence, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Daniel Joseph Colvin, 35, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearm. Colvin faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Judge Watters set sentencing for March 30, 2023. Colvin was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the spring of 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives received information that Colvin was in possession of firearms and was heavily using meth and fentanyl. Agents executed a search warrant on Colvin’s residence and seized firearms and ammunition belonging to Colvin and also located numerous items of drug paraphernalia that tested positive for meth. Witnesses told law enforcement that Colvin would buy and use fentanyl and was using meth.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the ATF and Park County Sheriff’s 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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Kissimmee Felon Found Guilty After Stockpiling Firearms and Ammunition in His ResidenceRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Daniel Stephen King (28, Kissimmee) guilty of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. King faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on April 23, 2022, the Osceola County Sherriff’s Office was called to King’s residence due to a domestic disturbance. When the deputies arrived, a resident of the house frantically ran out with her four-year old daughter. The deputies were informed that King had a large number of firearms and ammunition in the house and that King had strapped on a bullet proof vest. At the time, King was a convicted felon who was on probation and prohibited from possessing guns or ammunition. The deputies surrounded the house, and after about two hours, they were able to persuade King to come out and surrender. A warrant was obtained to search the residence and nine firearms were recovered, including three rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a ballistic vest. A rifle safe, multiple gun lockboxes, magazines, and an ammunition can were also recovered from inside of the house.
King will have to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition which were part of the offense.
This case was investigated by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Gardella.
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.
Kansas Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Benton, Illinois – Luis Alberto Dejesus-Merced, 46, of Junction City, Kansas, was sentenced to 384
months imprisonment on Thursday, November 10, 2022.According to court documents and statements presented at the hearing, Dejesus-Merced was a family
friend and the godfather of the 10-year-old victim. Dejesus-Merced sexually assaulted the victim in
Georgia and attempted to transport the child to Dejesus-Merced’s residence in Junction City, Kansas
with the intent to engage in further sex acts. However, while in route, an Illinois State Police
trooper conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle driven by Dejesus-Merced. The trooper noted that
Dejesus- Merced appeared “extremely nervous” and a record check revealed he was a registered sex
offender. Due to the trooper’s concerns related to Dejesus-Merced’s history and behavior, the
trooper conducted a further investigation. A search of Dejesus-Merced’s vehicle revealed cellphones
containing child pornography. The child also disclosed the abuse at the hands of Dejesus-Merced.In imposing the 32-year sentence, the sentencing judge observed that “this fact situation is
probably as bad as I’ve ever seen” and told Dejesus-Merced that “you are definitely a danger to
society.”“This is truly despicable conduct,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The 32-year
sentence will provide just punishment for this defendant but cannot restore this child’s lost
innocence. We are profoundly grateful for the vigilance and professionalism exhibited by our law
enforcement partners in this case, and in particular by the Illinois State Police trooper who
conducted the traffic stop and saved this child from further abuse at the hands of this defendant.”“Due to the keen eye of our law enforcement partners and the dedication of our special agents, a
predator has now been removed from the streets where he victimized children.” said Special Agent in
Charge R. Sean Fitzgerald of the Chicago Division of Homeland Security Investigations. “This is
yet another testament to the importance of maintaining strong partnerships with local and state law
enforcement agencies.”“The ISP trooper's vigilance and further investigation into this incident likely prevented further
victimization and countless other crimes all as a result of a simple traffic stop," said Illinois
State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “While human trafficking and its peripheral crimes are
often difficult to spot, ISP is motivated by arrests such as this and committed to further training
its troopers in the detection of these heinous crimes."
The Illinois State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department conducted the investigation in this case which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Karelia S. Rajagopal.Justice Department Launches Disability Rights Investigation into Missouri’s Use of Skilled Nursing FacilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened an investigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into whether the State of Missouri unnecessarily institutionalizes adults with serious mental illness in skilled nursing facilities. The department will investigate whether these individuals could be served in the community with services such as supported housing, assertive community treatment, crisis services and peer support services, and whether the State’s use of guardianship for people with serious mental illness contributes to unnecessary placements in nursing facilities. Guardianship is a process in which a court appoints someone to make certain decisions for a person, often including decisions about where to live.
Prior to the announcement, the department informed state officials of the investigation.
“People with disabilities have too often been unlawfully isolated in institutions and stripped of their autonomy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to defend the rights of individuals with mental health disabilities to access the community-based services they need and to participate fully in community life.”
The Justice Department has not reached any conclusions regarding the subject matter under investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via email at [email protected] or through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal, available at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Olmstead enforcement is available on its website at https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/.
Justice Department Announces Director of the Office of Environmental JusticeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the appointment of Cynthia M. Ferguson as the Director of the Office of Environmental Justice, where she will lead efforts to engage all Justice Department bureaus, components and offices in the collective pursuit of environmental justice.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the first-ever Office of Environmental Justice last May along with a series of measures as part of a comprehensive enforcement strategy to secure environmental justice for all Americans.
“Communities of color, indigenous communities and low-income communities often bear the brunt of the harm caused by environmental crime, pollution and climate change,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Cynthia Ferguson has demonstrated the exact kind of dedication and vision that we need to address these longstanding inequities and I look forward to her leadership of this new office.”
“Cynthia Ferguson’s more than two decades of service to the Environment and Natural Resources Division and the cause of justice make her especially prepared to take on this role,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Cynthia will play a critical role in the department’s efforts to hear and to address the concerns of American communities who have borne a disproportionate burden from pollution for far too long.”
The department also announced that Deputy Chief Daria Neal will serve as the Civil Rights Division Liaison to the Office of Environmental Justice. Ms. Neal joined the Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section in 2010 as a Deputy Chief of the Section. Her work includes enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and she has been integral to supporting federal agencies’ civil rights enforcement and compliance efforts to advance environmental justice in areas ranging from environmental protection, transportation, health, and housing. She also leads the Title VI/Environmental Justice Committee of the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council.
Ms. Ferguson has served as the Acting Director of the Office of Environmental Justice housed within the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice since May 2022.
Ms. Ferguson began her career in 2000 as an Honors Attorney in the Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section and has handled a variety of challenging matters. In 2012, she was selected to take on the new senior level position as the Division’s Senior Litigation Counsel for Environmental Justice.
Ms. Ferguson has worked to ensure that environmental justice principles are integrated into the Division’s affirmative and defensive work. She leads the Division’s Environmental Justice Workgroup and the Division’s overall environmental justice strategic planning efforts. She also serves as the Department’s designated Environmental Justice Officer on the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council chaired by the Council on Environmental Quality and established by Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, in 2021. She helped lead the Division’s effort to develop the Department’s Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy, in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other client agencies, as directed by Executive Order 14008.
Ms. Ferguson earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie‐Mellon University and a law degree from the Chicago‐Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology.
Jonesboro Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Jonesboro man has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for his involvement in multiple crimes including a methamphetamine conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Eiichi Moore, 44, this morning in Little Rock. In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Miller sentenced Moore to five years of supervised release.
From April 2019 to January 2020, Moore and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Jonesboro area. Moore provided methamphetamine to other dealers who distributed it at Moore’s direction. Law enforcement conducted several controlled purchases of methamphetamine in which Moore typically sold a pound of methamphetamine for $7,000.
After several of these controlled drug purchases, on January 15, 2020, FBI went to arrest Moore, who fired shots at federal agents during his arrest. After Moore was taken into custody, he was found to be in possession of two semi-automatic pistols and a semi-automatic shotgun. He was charged later that month and pleaded guilty in May 2021.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect the public,” stated United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. “This defendant brazenly shot at the agents who came to arrest him for the crimes he committed. This 20-year sentence should clearly convey to anyone who would harm law enforcement officers that these violent acts will be met with a long prison term.”
“Today’s federal court sentence puts an end to Eiichi Moore’s well-documented criminal history in northeast Arkansas,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson. “Mr. Moore’s crimes not only preyed upon Jonesboro citizens but also endangered federal agents when he shot at an FBI SWAT team during a lawful arrest operation in January 2020. Mr. Moore’s period of incarceration should give pause to anyone attempting to peddle narcotics in our Arkansas communities or threaten federal law enforcement officers.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Jonesboro Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Second Judicial Drug Task Force, and Craighead County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin O’Leary and Bart Dickinson.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Iowa Construction Firm Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
The owner of a Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, construction firm pleaded guilty today to tax evasion for evading payment of his company’s employment taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Alexander, 62, of Sioux City, owned K&L Construction, Inc., a landscaping and construction company. As the sole shareholder and president of K&L Construction, Alexander was responsible for filing quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying over to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from employees’ wages. From the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2017, K&L Construction paid approximately $3.8 million in wages to its employees and withheld approximately $1 million in payroll taxes, but the company did not pay over any of these withholdings to the IRS.
During IRS collection proceedings, Alexander accepted responsibility for paying K&L Construction’s outstanding tax balance. Alexander, however, submitted a false form to the IRS that concealed some of his assets. As part of his plea agreement, Alexander admitted that he submitted the false form for the purpose of concealing assets and evading payment of K&L Construction’s outstanding payroll tax liability.
Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons of the Northern District of Iowa and trial attorney Meredith Havekost of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Inmate at United States Penitentiary at Canaan Charged with Assault on Another InmateRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jordan Anderson, age 27, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 15, 2022, by a federal grand jury for assaulting another inmate and possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on May 10, 2022, Anderson assaulted another inmate with a sharpened piece of metal commonly known as a “shank.”
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Indictment Charges 3 New Haven Men with Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DONELL ALLICK, JR., also known as “D-Nice,” 23; SAMUEL DOUGLAS, also known as “Blamm,” 24; and JOURDIN SENIOR, also known as “G,” 30, all of New Haven, have been charged with federal narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
A seven-count indictment was returned by a grand jury in Hartford on November 2, 2022, and the three defendants were arrested on November 10, 2022.
As alleged in an indictment and statements made in court, between April and October 2022, Allick, Douglas and Senior conspired with one another, and with others, to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine in the New Haven area. In June 2022, Douglas was arrested on state charges after he was found in possession of narcotics while on state probation. In September and October 2022, law enforcement made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Allick and Senior. On October 24, 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a residence shared by Allick and Senior and seized three handguns, extended magazines, and quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, some of which was packaged for street-level distribution. A related search of Allick’s car, which had been observed in suspected drug transactions, resulted in the seizure of another handgun, a 33-round extended magazine, and quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine.
The indictment charges Allick, Douglas and Senior with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), and Allick and Senior with additional counts related to the distribution of narcotics. These offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. The indictment also charges Allick with unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.
Allick, Douglas and Senior are currently detained.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); the New Haven Police Department; and the Hamden Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens.
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.
Indiana Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Fraud CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Stefanie Marie Wells, 37, of of Jasonville, Indiana, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, for bank fraud and aggravated identify theft. Wells was also ordered to pay $10,100 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 19, 2020, Wells wrote a $2,700 check from a stolen checkbook and cashed it at a bank in Mount Hope by presenting a stolen driver’s license. Wells admitted to obtaining the stolen license and checkbook on or some time prior to October 19, 2020.
Wells cashed three additional checks totaling $7,400 from the stolen checkbook on October 19, 2020. Wells used the same stolen driver’s license to cash the stolen checks at banks in Beaver and Beckley, and a different stolen driver’s license to cash the third stolen check at a Montgomery bank.
Wells further admitted to several unsuccessful attempts at fraud. On October 20, 2020, Wells attempted to cash a $2,650 check from the stolen checkbook at a Charleston bank while using one of the stolen driver’s licenses. On November 23, 2020, Wells attempted to cash a $2,300 stolen check at a Beckley bank, and then attempted to withdraw $2,500 by presenting a stolen driver’s license at a Summersville bank. Each of these attempts was unsuccessful.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Park Police, the Beckley Police Department, and the Summersville Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-191.
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Hattiesburg Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 60 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, beginning in October 2020, and continuing to December 9, 2020, Maketia Dozier, 35, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Hattiesburg area. During the course of the conspiracy, Dozier was found to be responsible for the distribution of 18 pounds of methamphetamine.
In addition to the prison sentence, Dozier was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Don’t Tell On Me Bro,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Don’t Tell On Me Bro” is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Hattiesburg Police Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Hastings Man Sentenced for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Robert Williams, 52, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 144 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. After he completes his prison sentence, Williams will also serve eight years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On July 9, 2020, Investigators utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine from Williams. The buy fell through; however, investigators obtained a search warrant for Williams’s apartment. Inside investigators located approximately 269 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in 27 different baggies. The drugs were sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab where an analyst confirmed that one of the bags was confirmed to be 66 grams of pure methamphetamine. Officers also located marijuana and a large number of pills as well as other items used to ingest and distribute narcotics.
This case was investigated by the Hastings Police Department and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hammond Tax Preparer Sentenced to Probation and One Year of Home Confinement for Filing False IRS Returns and Making False Statements to IRS and to Department of EducationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KENISHA R. CALLAHAN, age 45, and a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was sentenced on November 9, 2022 to five (5) years of probation and one year of home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle after CALLAHAN had pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return, one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and one count of making a false statement to the Department of Education, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to court records, count one alleges that CALLAHAN, the owner of Callahan Tax Service, prepared and filed a false 2015 U.S. Individual Tax Return Form 1040, wherein she underreported her earned income for the alleged time period. Count two charges that in 2015, CALLAHAN aided in the preparation and filing of a client’s tax return that falsely stated to the IRS that the client owned a business, and that the client had a business loss for the 2014 tax year. Count three alleges that CALLAHAN committed financial aid fraud by falsely reporting the amount of income that she earned in 2015 to the Department of Education while applying for student loan forgiveness.
In addition to the sentence, CALLAHAN was ordered to repay the IRS the amount of $353,834 and $191,738 to the Department of Education as mandatory restitution.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Department of Education for their handling of the matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
Havelock Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Fentanyl Dealer Sententenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Kenneth Dewayne Whitehead, 43, of Havelock, North Carolina was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Following his release, he will face 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on April 14, 2022, Whitehead pleaded guilty to one count of distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
In January 2021, members of the Havelock Police Department received information that Whitehead was distributing methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in the Havelock area.
From January to June 2021, investigators conducted several controlled purchases of narcotics from Whitehead in Havelock.
For example, on January 29, 2021, Whitehead sold 13.48 grams of crystal methamphetamine with a purity of 97% to a confidential informant. On February 8, 2021, Whitehead sold 3.26 grams of fentanyl. On May 19, 2021, Whitehead sold 57.76 grams of crystal methamphetamine with a purity of 100%. Additional controlled purchases were also conducted.
In total, Whitehead was found responsible for 17.5 grams of heroin, 20.795 grams of fentanyl, 30.7 grams of methamphetamine, and 155.39 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Havelock Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Lemmon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 4:21-cr-00059-FL.
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Grand Jury - November 2022Read the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 14 unsealed Indictments charging 16 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Jimmy L. Aaron, age 48, of Omaha, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 23, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, not less than ten years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jacqueline R. Brandt, age 43, of Minden, Iowa, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Counts I-III charge Brandt with bank fraud beginning on or about January 6, 2022 and continuing to on or about July 5, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
There is also an allegation to forfeit $116,240 in United States currency and property seized on or about July 5, 2022.
* Aaron Jason Burkholder, age 46, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with escape from custody on or about June 28, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Joshua Thomas Alan Casiano, age 35, is charged with possession of stolen firearms beginning on or about April 13, 2021 and continuing through May 4, 2021. The penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Alonzo Chich-Perez, age 20, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about April 12, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jonathan Cortez Moreno, age 37, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction on or about October 14, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Miguel Alcangel Fonseca Maradiaga a/k/a Miguel M. Fonseca, age 35, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after having been convicted of a felony on or about September 16, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Erika Lopez-Garcia, age 27, and Gabriel Rubio-Quevedo, age 25, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Lopez-Garcia and Rubio-Quevedo with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about April 1, 2022 and continuing to on or about August 31, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Lopez-Garcia with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 31, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Eleuterio Meza-Navarro, age 35, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction on or about November 7, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Monica Morales, age 31, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Morales with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about September 14, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Morales with possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime on or about September 14, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Rico, age 25, of Lamont, California, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on or about July 20, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Juan Vargas Lopez, age 33, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation on or about October 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Oscar A. Villa, age 36, and Johana Madrid, age 28, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Villa and Madrid with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) beginning on or about unknown date and continuing to on or about August 17, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Villa and Madrid with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 17, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Clifford Wright, III, age 33, is charged with felon in possession of a firearm beginning on or about November 2, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Gloucester County Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Trafficking and Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man with five prior felony convictions was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for unlawfully possessing and conspiring to sell multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Dylan Ianncelli, 29, of Pitman, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to make false statements in obtaining firearms and to illegally engage in the business of dealing in firearms, as well as one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Judge Rodriguez imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ianncelli and his conspirator, Jessy Hill, agreed to purchase firearms in Georgia and transport them for resale in New Jersey. On Aug. 12, 2021, Hill purchased 11 firearms from a licensed dealer in Georgia. Hill falsely indicated during the purchase that she was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearms even though she was purchasing the firearms for others. Ianncelli and Hill drove a car containing the firearms from Georgia to Mantua, New Jersey, where the car was stopped by law enforcement officers the following morning. Officers recovered from the car the 11 firearms purchased by Hill the prior day, as well as ammunition and a 12th firearm with a defaced serial number that Hill purchased a week earlier.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Rodriguez sentenced Ianncelli to three years of supervised release.
Hill previously pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan R. Miller, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police, the Mantua Township Police Department, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance on this investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Gilbert Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Dealing in Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Chris Oliver, 24, of Gilbert, Arizona, was sentenced on October 17, 2022, by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 33 months in prison. Oliver previously pleaded guilty to Dealing in Firearms Without a License.
Oliver was indicted for conspiracy to purchase firearms from Arizona gun stores using false statements in order to resell those firearms for profit. Oliver and his co-defendants, Dion Delpino, 24, of Gilbert, Arizona, Michael Troy Kelly, Jr., 24, of Tempe, Arizona, and Eric Roy Rathbun, II, 24, of Chandler, Arizona, were also charged with 76 instances of making a false statement during the purchase of firearms. All of Oliver’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to making false statements and are pending sentencing.
From July 2019 through November 2020, Oliver and his co-conspirators purchased at least 123 firearms for the purpose of selling them for a profit. Oliver then resold those firearms, mostly handguns, for a profit. Thirty of those handguns were recovered by law enforcement: 28 in or around Oakland, California, and two in the Phoenix metro area. Many of these firearms were recovered from prohibited possessors—persons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Six were recovered in six separate homicide investigations, including one incident in which Stockton (California) Police Officer Jimmy Arty Inn was murdered while responding to a domestic violence call. Oliver was a manager of this criminal enterprise: he directed his co-conspirators to purchase weapons on his behalf. Oliver, Kelly, and Delpino were first indicted in August 2021; additional counts against Oliver and Rathbun were added in May 2022.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, many stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, and Scottsdale Police Departments, as well as Homeland Security Investigations and the Commercial Narcotics Interdiction Unit of the Phoenix Police Department, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00600-DLR-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-209_Oliver, et al# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Georgia Man Who Supplied Bridgeport Gang Members with Firearms Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STEPHFAN SANDERSON, also known as “Birdy” and “Beans, 24, of Covington, Georgia, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to a firearms trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. From at least 2017 until his arrest on November 12, 2020, Sanderson, who formerly resided in Bridgeport, procured at least 25 firearms in Georgia and Alabama and distributed them to individuals he had reason to know would commit felonies with those firearms, including members of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”) and Original North End (“O.N.E.”) street gangs in Bridgeport. Some of the firearms he trafficked were capable of firing multiple bullets with the single pull of the trigger.
Sanderson pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage in the unlicensed dealing of firearms, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing is not scheduled.
Sanderson has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Stratford and Naugatuck Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick and Karen L. Peck.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fulton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Secretly Recording Teen VictimsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Mo., man who secretly recorded two teenage victims has been sentenced in federal court for attempting to produce child pornography.
Craig Michael Glover, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, Nov. 15, to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 19, 2022, Glover pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to produce child pornography. Glover admitted that he secretly placed a hidden camera in the bedroom of a victim, identified in court documents as FV1. Glover also admitted that he placed a hidden camera in a bathroom to capture video of a second victim, identified in court documents as FV2.
According to the plea agreement, FV1 discovered the camera, which was designed to look like a USB phone charger, a few days after Glover had been alone in her home. She was plugging in a Christmas tree on Jan. 2, 2021, when she discovered a brown cord plugged into the wall. She followed the extension cord and found the camera attached with tape to a shelving unit in her room. On the same day, FV1 and her mother took the camera, which had a 32GB micro SD card installed in the device, to the Jefferson City Police Department. An FBI special agent reviewed the video files stored on the SD card, which revealed multiple videos of FV1 completely nude or partially nude in her bedroom. Another recording stored on the SD card showed Glover placing the camera.
A Jefferson City police detective interviewed Glover, who admitted this was the second time he had installed a camera in FV1’s bedroom. Glover admitted that he also had installed a hidden camera when FV1 was a minor.
Investigators examined Glover’s iPhone and found multiple images of FV1 at various stages of undress. The computer forensic examiner also found images of another victim. The images, which were still shots taken from video from a hidden camera, depicted FV2 in various stages of undress in the bathroom. FV2 told investigators the images were recorded at her 17th birthday party, which Glover had attended.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Franklin County Man Sentenced to 10 Years Federal Prison for Drug-Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John E. Evans, 55, of Eastpoint, Florida, was sentenced on Monday to ten years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes are deserving of significant prison sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This career criminal has demonstrated his unwillingness to abide by the law, committing repeated drug crimes. Given the outstanding work of our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, he will no longer be distributing drugs in our community.”
Court documents reflect that Evans conspired to distribute approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine along with other federal defendants. On September 28, 2021, and October 9, 2021, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office made controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Evans.
"We are thankful for the partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office,” said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith. “This kind of sentence sends a clear message that the sale of meth in our community will not be tolerated."
Evans qualified as a Career Offender and had an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence based on his prior criminal history. Evans had previously been to prison on multiple occasions, primarily for drug-trafficking offenses and had ten prior convictions involving the sale of a controlled substance.
“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and destructive substance. This sentence highlights our commitment to ensuring that those who bring this poison into our communities are brought to justice,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The DEA Miami Field Division remains steadfast in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the safety and health of our Florida communities.”
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violation for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A jury in the District of Columbia found former D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer Andra Vance, 48, guilty today of a civil rights violation for his unlawful beating of an unarmed transit rider with a metal baton without legal justification on Feb. 16, 2018.
In 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a two-count indictment alleging that Vance violated the civil rights of a victim identified in court documents as “D.C.” D.C.’s civil rights by striking and then choking D.C. with a metal baton. Vance was found guilty of one count of deprivation of rights involving the beating and acquitted of the second charge alleging the choking.
During the week-long trial, the government introduced evidence that the victim, D.C., attempted to use an invalid Metro card to board a train at the Anacostia Metro station. When the card was confiscated by Metro Transit personnel, D.C. became angry. As D.C. complained to Vance, Vance used his metal baton to hit D.C. in the head. As D.C. fled, Vance chased D.C. from the Metro station and continued striking D.C. in the head and neck area. D.C. fell to the ground and Vance climbed on top of D.C., put the metal baton to his neck, and pressed down as D.C. bled onto the sidewalk below. A fellow officer helped to handcuff D.C. and was present when medical personnel responded to treat D.C. for his injuries. At least one fellow officer who witnessed the assault testified that D.C. was not a threat to Vance or anyone else at the Anacostia Metro station.
“People in the District of Columbia have the right to be free from excessive force at the hands of law enforcement, and that includes transit officers working for the D.C. Metro,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of our community members.”
“As members of law enforcement, it is our sworn duty to uphold the law,” said Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “A crime like this betrays that duty and the badge with which the defendant was entrusted. When officers violate the civil rights of District citizens through unreasonable and unjustified violence, we will hold them accountable.”
“Our commitment to transparency is key in our efforts to support and build trust with the communities we serve,” said Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department. “We value our partner agencies and appreciate the opportunity to hold this former officer accountable for his actions.”
Sentencing has been set for March 10, 2023. Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Anzallo made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gauri Gopal for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Former SunMark Community Bank Loan Officer Pleads Guilty in Asset Misapplication SchemeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former bank loan officer entered a guilty plea in federal court yesterday in an asset misapplication scheme involving $1.2 million dollars.
Mitchell Fowler, 35, of Hawkinsville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication by a bank employee and one count of embezzlement by a bank employee before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on Nov. 15. Fowler faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2023.
According to court documents, Fowler was a loan officer at SunMark Community Bank in Bonaire, Georgia, where he handled most of the bank’s construction loans and therefore had the ability to transfer funds between customer accounts. Around Nov. 2019, Fowler began to take funds from customers’ accounts without their authorization and used those funds to pay on and fund loans for other customers. The unauthorized withdrawals and transfers made from these accounts ranged from $1,250 to $100,000 per transaction. None of these withdrawals or transfers were authorized by the customers from whom the funds were taken.
The issue came to SunMark’s attention on Feb. 16, 2021, when a customer called regarding $400,000 that was missing from their account. The bank discovered that Fowler had electronically transferred the money to another customer’s account over the course of a week. As SunMark dug deeper, they discovered Fowler had transferred money out of other accounts without authorization. SunMark calculated the loss to be $1,129,000. SunMark was able to recoup most of the money through their own prevention and mitigation efforts. The remaining $273,173.71 that they were not able to recoup was repaid by Fowler.
“Although all of the embezzled funds were recovered, it does not reduce the fact that this former bank employee was playing Russian roulette with other people’s money, putting their hard-earned savings in jeopardy and a community bank at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Fraud of any kind is a serious crime that our office will not ignore. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these corporate fraudsters accountable.”
“Banks are institutions that people trust with their life savings, and Fowler tarnished that trust by violating his position and greedily misusing customers money,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Fortunately, an observant customer noticed missing funds and notified the bank, saving further loss to the bank and other customers. Thanks to our partnership with the Perry Police Department, Fowler will pay significantly for his crimes.”
The case was investigated by the Perry Police Department and FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the government.
Former Metro Transit Police Officer Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violation for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A jury in the District of Columbia found former D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer Andra Vance, 48, guilty today of a civil rights violation for his unlawful beating of an unarmed transit rider with a metal baton without legal justification on Feb. 16, 2018.
In 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a two-count indictment alleging that Vance violated the civil rights of a victim identified in court documents as “D.C.” by striking and then choking D.C. with a metal baton. Vance was found guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of one count of deprivation of rights involving the beating and acquitted of the second charge alleging the choking.
During the week-long trial, the government introduced evidence that the victim, D.C., attempted to use an invalid Metro card to board a train at the Anacostia Metro station. When the card was confiscated by Metro Transit personnel, D.C. became angry. As D.C. complained to Vance, Vance used his metal baton to hit D.C. in the head. As D.C. fled, Vance chased D.C. from the Metro station and continued striking D.C. in the head and neck area. D.C. fell to the ground and Vance climbed on top of D.C., put the metal baton to his neck, and pressed down as D.C. bled onto the sidewalk below. A fellow officer helped to handcuff D.C. and was present when medical personnel responded to treat D.C. for his injuries. At least one fellow officer who witnessed the assault testified that D.C. was not a threat to Vance or anyone else at the Anacostia Metro station.
“People in the District of Columbia have the right to be free from excessive force at the hands of law enforcement, and that includes transit officers working for the D.C. Metro,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of our community members.”
“As members of law enforcement, it is our sworn duty to uphold the law,” said Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “A crime like this betrays that duty and the badge with which the defendant was entrusted. When officers violate the civil rights of District citizens through unreasonable and unjustified violence, we will hold them accountable.”
“Our commitment to transparency is key in our efforts to support and build trust with the communities we serve,” said Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department. “We value our partner agencies and appreciate the opportunity to hold this former officer accountable for his actions.”
Sentencing has been set for March 10, 2023. Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Graves, and Chief Anzallo made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gauri Gopal for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Former Carpenters’ Benefit Plan Administrator Sentenced to Six Months’ Home Confinement, Three Years’ Probation for Embezzling $140,000Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former administrative manager of a carpenters’ union pension fund was sentenced today to six months of home confinement and three years of probation for embezzling approximately $140,000 and making false statements on a required report to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
George R. Laufenberg, 72, of Wall Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin R. McNulty to two counts of an indictment charging him with embezzling approximately $140,000 in pension benefits and making false statements to the DOL. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Laufenberg was the administrative manager of the Northeast Carpenters Pension Fund, which was subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Laufenberg was a fiduciary and participant in the pension fund. He admitted stealing $140,000 that was paid to him under a deferred compensation agreement to which he was not entitled. Laufenberg also admitted that he made false statements in a form required under ERISA that he filed to the Department of Labor on behalf of the pension fund.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty fined Laufenberg $20,000 and debarred him from any future association with a union or benefit plan.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the DOL Employee Benefit Security Administration, under the supervision of Thomas Licetti, Regional Director; special agents of the DOL Office of the Inspector General, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone; and agents of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, under the supervision of Inspector General John Gay, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall R. Randolph of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Multiple Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment today charging a local man with multiple business robberies.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court records, Samuel Harding, 49, of Louisville, was charged with five counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and five counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendant is currently in custody on state charges and will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted of a business robbery, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a business robbery, he faces a minimum sentence of 7 years and maximum sentence of life in prison to run consecutively with all other sentences. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Louisville Metro Police Department and the Shively Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Evansville Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Justin Owens, 63, of Evansville, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, in October 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Owens was distributing child sexual abuse material using Instagram Direct. On May 11, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Owens’ Evansville residence to locate additional evidence of Owens’ distribution of child sexual abuse material. During the search of the residence, a 12-gauge shotgun and assorted ammunition was recovered. Owens said the shotgun was his and further stated that he possessed a loaded .22 caliber handgun and ammunition inside a camper that was located on the property. Officers additionally seized more ammunition and 18 loaded .223 magazines for an AR15 style rifle inside a safe in a detached garage.
Owens is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms due to a 1999 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, felony conviction for child molestation. Based on this prior conviction for an offense involving the sexual abuse of a minor, Owens was subject to an enhanced penalty under U.S. law for the distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI investigated the case and the Evansville Police Department provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Owens be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison. Owens must also register as sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.
In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Evansville Drug Dealer Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing in MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Gene Goodwin, 32, of Evansville, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on October 29, 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Goodwin had two active felony arrest warrants from Vanderburgh County and was possibly staying at a residence on Delmar Avenue in Evansville. After arriving at the residence, officers heard someone running inside toward the back of the residence. Officers responded to the back yard and did not see anyone but noticed the back door and gate to the fence was open. Although it had been raining all day and evening, a police K9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances at a dry blanket in the yard. Under the blanket, officers discovered two plastic bags containing approximately 261 grams of methamphetamine.
Officers confirmed that Goodwin was staying at the residence with his sister where he also stored all his belongings. A search warrant was obtained, and officers seized an additional .2 grams of methamphetamine, two digital scales, and $19,920 in U.S. currency.
Goodwin was charged with dealing methamphetamine in Vanderburgh County and was arrested on March 9, 2021. DNA samples collected from the plastic bags matched Goodwin’s DNA. In his federal plea agreement, Goodwin admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in the community and agreed to forfeiture of the $19,920 in seized currency as proceeds of drug trafficking.
Goodwin is currently serving a 27-year sentence imposed in Vanderburgh County for an unrelated armed robbery.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, made the announcement.
DEA and the Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Goodwin be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley who prosecuted this case.
Dion Oliver Convicted of Charges Related to the Shooting of a Wilmington 6-Year-Old Boy and the Death of Newark WomanRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Defendant Dion Oliver was convicted of Stalking, Kidnapping Resulting in Death, and Conspiracy after a 7-day federal trial. As a result of the conviction, Defendant Oliver is facing a sentence of mandatory life in prison.
According to evidence and witness testimony, the Defendant worked with at least five coconspirators, Ryan Bacon, Donte Sykes, Teres Tinnin, Maurice Cooper, and Michael Pritchett, to search for a man, listed in the Indictment as M.S., in an attempt to kill him. On June 6, 2017, in furtherance of their continuing pursuit of M.S., Oliver and his confederates s kidnapped M.S.’s girlfriend, Keyonna Perkins, and used her to find M.S. Perkins was held at gunpoint by Oliver. She was then forced into the trunk of her car. After locating M.S., Oliver and his coconspirators fired multiple shots at M.S., but failed to hit him. Following that shooting, Perkins was forced into the trunk of a second car and driven by co-conspirators to Elkton, Maryland where she was murdered.
Oliver continued his pursuit of M.S. after the first failed shooting. He located M.S. at Probation & Parole Offices in New Castle. Oliver, working with Pritchett, waited for M.S. to leave Probation & Parole. They followed M.S. into Wilmington until M.S. got out of his car. Pritchett then drove alongside M.S., while Oliver reached out the front passenger window of Pritchett’s truck and fired multiple shots at M.S. The gunfire missed M.S., but one of the bullets ripped through a passing SUV and struck a six-year-old boy in the head, causing the child severe and permanent injuries.
“The defendants’ June 6 crime spree unfolded across multiple police jurisdictions and two separate states. Driven by the singular purpose of killing M.S., defendants displayed utter disregard for the lives of innocents who crossed their paths. As a result, Keyonna Perkins lost her life, a six-year-old boy was permanently injured, and their families will never be the same. The investigation required careful and ongoing collaboration between numerous law enforcement agencies, and we thank all federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who came together to help hold the defendants accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss.
“These men displayed a total disregard for human life,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “In an act of retribution, they not only kidnapped and killed a woman, they opened fire in the middle of a busy street, when kids were getting out of school; forever changing the life of one six-year-old boy as he was shot while riding in the backseat of his mom’s car. Rest assured, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who seek to terrorize our communities and hurt innocent people.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe, Eli H. Klein, and Jesse S. Wenger prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, with assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, Delaware State Police, and the Elkton Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-75.
Danville Man Sentenced for Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville man, who along with his uncle distributed narcotics in the greater Danville-area, was sentenced last week to 156 months in federal prison.
Kunta Daniels, 43, pled guilty in October 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
In October 2021, Kunta Daniels’ uncle, Joe Ali Daniels, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for distributing cocaine and methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between November 2019 and March 2020, Kunta Daniels lived at the Colonial Court apartments in Danville while also renting a second apartment in the complex on the floor above his residence as a “stash house” for the sole purpose of storing drugs for later distribution.
Law enforcement conducted a search of the stash house in March 2020 and found food saver bags, digital scales, heroin, cocaine, cutting agents, multiple firearms, body armor, and approximately $10,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Danville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Barish Swartz and Coleman Adams prosecuted the case for the United States.
Dallas Attorney and Members of Accounting Firm Charged with Promoting Illegal Tax ShelterRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas today charging a Texas lawyer and three co-conspirators with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, helping their clients file false tax returns, and conspiracy to defraud the United States, all based on an illegal tax shelter they promoted and helped implement. Joseph Garza, of Dallas, was previously charged on Oct. 18. The superseding indictment adds charges against three tax professionals, Kevin McDonnell, James Richardson and Craig Fenton.
According to the original indictment, from approximately 2012 to 2021 Garza promoted a tax shelter that allowed high-income clients to claim fraudulent tax deductions that reduced the taxes they owed to the IRS. Garza and his co-conspirators allegedly directed the clients to transfer funds into shell companies, then returned this money to the clients, untaxed, for their personal use. To conceal the circular flow of funds, Garza and the co-conspirators allegedly commissioned fictitious business valuation reports, created invoices for fake business expenses, and drafted sham contractual agreements.
The superseding indictment alleges that Garza directed clients to use hand-picked CPAs and other tax professionals, including McDonnell, Richardson and Fenton. McDonnell and Richardson, both CPAs, allegedly owned and operated McDonnell Richardson, P.C., an accounting, tax preparation, and legal services business located in Waxahachie. McDonnell allegedly is also a licensed attorney. Fenton allegedly was employed as a tax manager at McDonnell Richardson.
McDonnell, Richardson and Fenton allegedly helped Garza run the illegal tax shelter by preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns for the high-income clients and the shell companies, among other entities. The scheme allegedly allowed clients to conceal $1 billion from the IRS and caused a total tax loss exceeding $200 million.
McDonnell, Richardson and Fenton will all make their initial appearances at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. If convicted, all four men face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, and five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Renee Hunter, Katherine Miller and Marty Basu and trial attorney Robert A. Kemins of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.