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Wednesday 16 November 2022
Convicted Felon Sentenced Federally for Firearm ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ERNEST DUNN, age 32 of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on November 10, 2022 for a violation the Federal Gun Control Act. He was convicted of a single count indictment charging him with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, DUNN was in the driver seat of a parked car in an area that had recently been the location of a drive by shooting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was conducting surveillance and observed suspicious activity of individuals near the car. When agents approached, they asked DUNN to exit the car and observed two semi-automatic handguns at his feet. DUNN was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior convictions for armed robbery and purse snatching in Orleans Parish.
DUNN was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.
Columbia County drug dealer sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine distribution.
Bobby Lewis Sturkey, 51, of Harlem, Ga., was sentenced to 120 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Sturkey to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Meth is a deadly, dangerous and highly addictive drug that increasingly is present in fatal overdoses,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Bobby Sturkey helped fuel this epidemic and the violent crime it supports, and he is being held accountable.”
According to court documents and testimony, Sturkey’s illegal activities came to the attention of law enforcement authorities in early 2020. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives served a search warrant on Sturkey’s rural home in January 2021, finding high-grade methamphetamine and firearms in the residence. Sturkey has previous felony convictions involving methamphetamine, along with felony convictions for armed robbery and burglary.
“It’s never a matter of ‘if’ a drug dealer will get caught, but rather ‘when,’ said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “And when that time comes, they’ll face severe consequences as is the case for this defendant whose lengthy sentence behind bars is indicative of the damage he caused individuals and the community by dealing dangerous drugs like ‘meth.’”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson.
Chinese government intelligence officer sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage crimes, attempting to steal trade secrets from Cincinnati companyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the United States to stand trial was sentenced today in federal court in Cincinnati.
Yanjun Xu was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of China.
“This case sends a clear message: we will hold accountable anyone attempting to steal American trade secrets,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Xu conspired to steal American science and technology. Thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, GE Aviation, and our trial team, he’ll spend decades in federal prison.”
“The historic sentencing of a Chinese government official for committing espionage against the U.S. is a significant achievement and also should serve as a warning to foreign governments that the U.S. will not tolerate this type of illegal activity,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who attempt to steal the sophisticated technologies of U.S. companies, our military, and our government.”
On Nov. 5, 2021, a federal jury in Cincinnati convicted Xu on all counts: conspiracy to commit economic espionage, conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, attempted economic espionage and attempted trade secret theft.
Xu was a career intelligence officer, beginning in 2003 and rising to the rank of deputy division director at the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), the intelligence and security agency for China.
According to court documents and trial testimony, beginning in at least December 2013, Xu targeted specific companies in the United States and abroad that are recognized as leaders in the field of aviation.
Xu used aliases, front companies and universities to deceive aviation employees and solicit information. He identified individuals who worked for the companies and recruited them to travel to China, often initially under the guise that they were traveling to give a presentation at a university. Xu and others paid the individuals stipends on top of covering travel costs.
The scheme was executed with full coordination between the MSS and China’s aviation entities. Xu worked with others in the MSS to hack or copy computers in hotel rooms while the aviation employees – his “guests” – were taken to dinner by the MSS.
Xu also openly talked about efforts to obtain U.S. military information in addition to commercial aviation trade secrets.
Attempted GE Aviation trade secret theft
Xu attempted to steal technology related to GE Aviation’s exclusive composite aircraft engine fan module – which no other company in the world has been able to duplicate – to benefit the Chinese state.
In March 2017, a GE Aviation employee in Cincinnati was solicited to give a report at a university in China. The employee traveled to China two months later to present at the university and was introduced to Xu. Xu and others paid the employee’s travel expenses and a stipend.
After the trip to China, the FBI took over communications with Xu, posing as the employee.
In January 2018, Xu requested “system specification, design process” information from the employee and – with the cooperation of GE Aviation, who was working with the FBI – the employee emailed a two-page document from the company that included a label that warned about the disclosure of proprietary information.
In February 2018, Xu began discussing with the employee the possibility of meeting in Europe during one of the employee’s business trips and asked the employee to send a copy of the file directory for his company-issued computer.
Xu traveled to Belgium with cash and pictures of the employee on April 1, 2018. He was scheduled to meet with the employee and was arrested at that time.
The Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs secured Xu’s extradition to the United States, with valuable assistance provided by the government of Belgium, as well as the Belgian Federal Police.
Handling of MSS spy in Chicago
In September 2022, a federal jury in Chicago convicted an individual (Ji Chaoqun) for working on behalf of the MSS under the direction of Xu.
Xu served as Ji’s MSS handler while Ji, a Chinese citizen, lived and studied in Chicago. Xu officially registered Ji as a formal MSS overseas agent in January 2014 and directed Ji to collect biographical information on people to potentially recruit to work with them.
Xu provided Ji with the names of at least nine individuals in America to attempt to recruit. Ji obtained and provided Xu with more detailed background reports on the individuals. Ji also received training on how to speak to the FBI if approached at his school.
In May 2016, Ji joined the U.S. Army through a program that allowed legal aliens with vital skills like Chinese fluency. Ji told Xu and the MSS that he had successfully infiltrated the U.S. military as an MSS officer. His plan was to obtain citizenship quickly and obtain a top-secret security clearance.
Ji reported to an undercover FBI agent that he had access to all military bases with his military ID and volunteered, without prompting, to take pictures of aircraft carriers for the MSS.
The crimes committed by Ji were done on behalf of the MSS, through Xu Yanjun.
“Xu’s handling and placement of a spy within the United States to obtain information regarding aviation technology and employees is yet another facet of Xu’s egregious crimes towards the United States and further justifies the significant sentence of imprisonment he received today,” added U.S. Attorney Parker.
The MSS hacking of a French aerospace manufacturer
The evidence at trial showed Xu recruited insiders within a French aircraft engine manufacturer’s facility in China who were willing to spy on Xu’s behalf. Xu and his assets targeted a French employee of the company that often traveled to the facility in China for work. In 2013, Xu directed one of his assets within the company to plant malware on the French employee’s work computer, with the ultimate goal of being able to infiltrate the company’s network in France. The evidence at trial also showed Xu’s integral role in the installation of the malware, his instructions to destroy the malware, and Xu’s monitoring of the success and cover-up of the operation.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter, and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie from the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section represented the United States in this case.
U.S. Attorney Parker commended the integral cooperation of GE Aviation throughout the investigation and subsequent prosecution, as well as the DOJ Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Illinois and the District of Arizona.
# # #
Chinese Government Intelligence Officer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Espionage Crimes, Attempting to Steal Trade Secrets from Cincinnati CompanyRead the Press Release
The first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the United States to stand trial was sentenced today in federal court in Cincinnati.
Yanjun Xu, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“As proven at trial, the defendant, a Chinese government intelligence officer, used a range of techniques to attempt to steal technology and proprietary information from companies based in both the U.S. and abroad,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness of those crimes and the Justice Department’s determination to investigate and prosecute efforts by the Chinese government, or any foreign power, to threaten our economic and national security.”
“This case sends a clear message: we will hold accountable anyone attempting to steal American trade secrets,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “Xu conspired to steal American science and technology. Thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, GE Aviation and our trial team, he’ll spend decades in federal prison.”
“This case is just the latest example of the Chinese government’s continued attacks on American economic security – and, by extension, our national security,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The Chinese government tasked an officer of its spy service to steal U.S. trade secrets so it could advance its own commercial and military aviation efforts, at the expense of an American company. This brazen action shows that the Chinese government will stop at nothing to put our companies out of business to the detriment of U.S. workers. As long as the Chinese government continues to break our laws and threaten American industry and institutions, the FBI will work with its partners across the globe to bring those responsible to justice.”
On Nov. 5, 2021, a federal jury in Cincinnati convicted Xu on all counts: conspiracy to commit economic espionage, conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, attempted economic espionage and attempted trade secret theft.
Xu was a career intelligence officer, beginning in 2003 and rising to the rank of deputy division director at the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), the intelligence and security agency for China.
According to court documents and trial testimony, beginning in at least December 2013, Xu targeted specific companies in the United States and abroad that are recognized as leaders in the field of aviation.
Xu used aliases, front companies and universities to deceive aviation employees and solicit information. He identified individuals who worked for the companies and recruited them to travel to China, often initially under the guise that they were traveling to give a presentation at a university. Xu and others paid the individuals stipends on top of covering travel costs.
The scheme was executed with full coordination between the MSS and China’s aviation entities. Xu worked with others in the MSS to hack or copy computers in hotel rooms while the aviation employees – his “guests” – were taken to dinner by the MSS.
Xu also openly talked about efforts to obtain U.S. military information in addition to commercial aviation trade secrets.
Attempted GE Aviation trade secret theft
Xu attempted to steal technology related to GE Aviation’s exclusive composite aircraft engine fan module – which no other company in the world has been able to duplicate – to benefit the Chinese state.
In March 2017, a GE Aviation employee in Cincinnati was solicited to give a report at a university in China. The employee traveled to China two months later to present at the university and was introduced to Xu. Xu and others paid the employee’s travel expenses and a stipend.
After the trip to China, the FBI took over communications with Xu, posing as the employee.
In January 2018, Xu requested “system specification, design process” information from the employee and – with the cooperation of GE Aviation, who was working with the FBI – the employee emailed a two-page document from the company that included a label that warned about the disclosure of proprietary information.
In February 2018, Xu began discussing with the employee the possibility of meeting in Europe during one of the employee’s business trips and asked the employee to send a copy of the file directory for his company-issued computer.
Xu traveled to Belgium with cash and pictures of the employee on April 1, 2018. He was scheduled to meet with the employee and was arrested at that time.
The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs secured Xu’s extradition to the United States, with valuable assistance provided by the government of Belgium, as well as the Belgian Federal Police.
Handling of MSS spy in Chicago
In September 2022, a federal jury in Chicago convicted an individual (Ji Chaoqun) for working on behalf of the MSS under the direction of Xu.
Xu served as Ji’s MSS handler while Ji, a Chinese citizen, lived and studied in Chicago. Xu officially registered Ji as a formal MSS overseas agent in January 2014 and directed Ji to collect biographical information on people to potentially recruit to work with them.
Xu provided Ji with the names of at least nine individuals in America to attempt to recruit. Ji obtained and provided Xu with more detailed background reports on the individuals. Ji also received training on how to speak to the FBI if approached at his school.
In May 2016, Ji joined the U.S. Army through a program that allowed legal aliens with vital skills like Chinese fluency. Ji told Xu and the MSS that he had successfully infiltrated the U.S. military as an MSS officer. His plan was to obtain citizenship quickly and obtain a top-secret security clearance.
Ji reported to an undercover FBI agent that he had access to all military bases with his military ID and volunteered, without prompting, to take pictures of aircraft carriers for the MSS.
The crimes committed by Ji were done on behalf of the MSS, through Xu Yanjun.
“Xu’s handling and placement of a spy within the United States to obtain information regarding aviation technology and employees is yet another facet of Xu’s egregious crimes towards the United States and further justifies the significant sentence of imprisonment he received today,” said U.S. Attorney Parker.
The MSS hacking of a French aerospace manufacturer
The evidence at trial showed Xu recruited insiders within a French aircraft engine manufacturer’s facility in China who were willing to spy on Xu’s behalf. Xu and his assets targeted a French employee of the company that often traveled to the facility in China for work. In 2013, Xu directed one of his assets within the company to plant malware on the French employee’s work computer, with the ultimate goal of being able to infiltrate the company’s network in France. The evidence at trial also showed Xu’s integral role in the installation of the malware, his instructions to destroy the malware, and Xu’s monitoring of the success and cover-up of the operation.
The FBI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of Illinois and the District of Arizona provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Mangan and Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Matthew J. McKenzie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section represented the United States in this case.
Cambodian Officials and Six Co-conspirators Indicted for Taking Part in Primate Smuggling SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI — Members of an international primate smuggling ring have been charged with multiple felonies for their role in bringing wild long-tailed macaques into the United States.
The eight-count indictment charges two officials of the Cambodian Forestry Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the owner/founder of a major primate supply organization and its general manager; and four of its employees with smuggling and conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act. The defendants facing these felony charges are:
- Omaliss Keo, 58, of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Director General of the Cambodian Forestry Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Masphal Kry, 46, of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Deputy Director of the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity for the Cambodian Forestry Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- James Man Sang Lau, 64, of Hong Kong, Founder/Owner Vanny Resources Holdings, Ltd., and Vanny Bio Research (Cambodia) Corporation Ltd.
- Dickson Lau, 29, of Hong Kong, General Manager Vanny Resources Holdings Ltd.
- Sunny Chan, a resident of Hong Kong, Deputy General Manager (Operations) at Vanny Group
- Raphael Cheung Man, 71, of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Public Relations and Export Manager for Vanny Bio Research (Cambodia) Corporation Ltd.
- Sarah Yeung, a Hong Kong resident and Finance Officer of Vanny Group
- Hing Ip Chung, 61, of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, General Manager of Vanny Bio Research (Cambodia) Corporation Ltd.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 5 years in prison on the charge of conspiracy in count 1 and up to 20 years imprisonment on each of the smuggling charges in counts 2 through 8. There also are potential fines with respect to each count of up to $250,000 or twice the financial gain to the defendants.
Kry was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, which resulted in the unsealing of the indictment.
According to allegations of the indictment, long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), sometimes known as crab-eating macaques, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and require special permits in order to be imported into the U.S. Such documents enable the Convention parties to monitor the effects of the volume and type of trade to ensure trade is legal and not detrimental to the survival of listed species. The long-tailed macaque has been regulated under CITES since 1977. The provisions of CITES are implemented in the U.S. through the Endangered Species Act (ESA). CITES permits are individually numbered and include detailed information about the shipment, including a source code, which advises whether the animal was bred in captivity or taken from the wild.
The indictment further alleges that James Lau and Dickson Lau, operating from Hong Kong, owned and managed a series of related corporations that conspired with black market collectors and corrupt officials in Cambodia to acquire wild-caught macaques and launder them through the Cambodian entities for export to the U.S. and elsewhere, falsely labelled as captive bred.
In order to make up for a shortage of suitable monkeys at the putative breeding facilities in Cambodia, the co-conspirators enlisted the assistance of the CITES authority in Cambodia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to deliver wild-caught macaques taken from national parks and protected areas in Cambodia. These macaques were taken to breeding facilities and provided false CITES export permits. A collection quota of 3,000 “unofficial” monkeys was allowed for which MAFF officials received cash payments.
The conspiracy charge of the indictment lists 31 representative “overt acts” undertaken by one or more of the co-conspirators in their efforts to carry out their criminal enterprise. These include meetings, financial transactions, shipments of hundreds of macaques—wild caught mixed in with captive bred—to locations in Florida and Texas under false documents. Wild long-tailed macaques also were said to have been delivered by defendant Kry and other employees of MAFF to a facility in Pursat, Cambodia.
Between December 2017 and September 2022, Kry is alleged to have taken part in conversations regarding the pricing for wild macaques to be captured and delivered to monkey breeding facilities operated by the co-conspirators. Kry, who participated personally in delivering these “unofficial” macaques to the facilities, including Vanny Bio Research (Cambodia) Corporation Ltd., also was provided payments for the illegal monkeys from the co-conspirators.
“The macaque is already recognized as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “The practice of illegally taking them from their habitat to end up in a lab is something we need to stop. Greed should never come before responsible conservation. Cases like this put us in a position where we can make a difference.”
Tracking and bringing those responsible for illegal import to justice is the first step in making that difference.
“Masphal KRY, a government official for the Cambodian Forestry Administration, will face justice in America as he was arrested today for his role in an alleged conspiracy to unlawfully import contrary to United States law and is purported to be involved in the importation of non-human primates, specifically long-tail macaques from Southeast Asia into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, N.J., Field Office. “HSI will continue to investigate customs violations impacting the United States and will partner with its federal partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Internal Revenue Service by leveraging all of our authorities to stop people and organizations from violating our laws—regardless of where they reside in the world.”
Investigations like these take a collaborative effort over a significant time period to yield results.
“Wild populations of long-tailed macaques, as well as the health and well-being of the American public, are put at risk when these animals are removed from their natural habitat and illegally sold in the United States and elsewhere," said Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director, Office of Law Enforcement. "The Service spearheaded this complex, multi-year investigation that exposes the large-scale illegal laundering of wild long-tailed macaques for use in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. We led multiple U.S. federal agencies to provide a one-government approach to end the wholesale poaching of long tailed macaques from the wild and shut down this criminal organization."
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Director Edward J. Grace, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Atlanta, and Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark, N.J., Field Office, made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement; HSI, Newark, N.J., Field Office; HSI, Miami Field Office; and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Watts-FitzGerald and Emily Stone are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If you have any information regarding this investigation, or other wildlife crimes, you may contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-9453. Locally, environmental crimes, including wildlife violations and environmental justice matters may be reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 305-961-9001 or [email protected] .
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov,
California Drug Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Kilogram Quantities of Methamphetamine in Natchez, MississippiRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A Victorville, California man and his wife were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, III, for their participation in an interstate drug trafficking operation distributing kilogram quantities of illegal drugs in the Natchez, MS area from 2016 through 2018, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Thomas Jerome Mitchell, 37, and Justine Chambers, 32, were indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Mitchell was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison and Chambers was sentenced to 38 months.
According to court documents, Mitchell and Chambers conspired with Wesley Bell, of Natchez, Jimmie Lee Swearengen, Jr., of Mesquite, TX, and Arthur Wilson, of Moreno Valley, CA, to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in the Natchez area. Swearengen was separately sentenced today to 90 months in prison for his participation in drug trafficking operations in the Natchez area. Arthur Wilson was convicted by a federal trial jury in August 2022 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering, for his operation of a separate drug trafficking organization in the Natchez area. Wilson is scheduled for sentencing on January 11, 2023. Bell is currently awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
This OCDETF case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force in Atlanta, GA, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Pearl Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark prosecuted these cases.
Butte County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Julius Rucks, 41, of Butte County, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of distributing fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2018, Jan. 10, 2019, and April 3, 2019, Rucks sold a total of 1,000 counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets that were found to contain fentanyl to an undercover agent.
Rucks is set to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Rucks faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.
Burke County, Ga., man awaits sentencing after admitting he coerced a child into producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Burke County man faces decades in prison after admitting he coerced a child to produce sexually explicit images.
Keyshawn Omar Cooper, 20, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Cooper to a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, along with payment of restitution and substantial financial penalties, followed by a minimum of five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender after completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Keyshawn Cooper’s crime represents the nightmare scenario for parents whose children connect over the internet with predatory strangers,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to the vigilance of one of those parents and diligent law enforcement partners, Cooper will be held accountable for his reprehensible activities.”
As described in court, Cooper admitted that around May 9, 2021, he communicated via an internet application with a child in Missouri, and persuaded the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating visual depictions that the victim then sent to Cooper. The child’s mother discovered the activity and reported it to police in Cape Girardeau, Mo., who enlisted the assistance of the FBI in identifying and locating Cooper.
The investigation determined that the child and Cooper met online while playing a video game.
“The FBI has unfortunately seen an increasing amount of sextortion crimes across the country over the past year and we want this plea to send a message that we make crimes targeting children a top priority”, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Let this be a reminder to parents and caregivers, people can pretend to be anyone online, and you need to remain vigilant with monitoring your child’s online activity and educating them about the risks of communicating with strangers.”
The case was investigated by the Cape Girardeau, Mo., Police Department and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Bronx Gang Member Charged with 2013 MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging LAMAR WILLIAMS with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder with a firearm. The charges relate to WILLIAMS’ murder of Rasheed Barton on August 11, 2013, in the Bronx, New York.
WILLIAMS was arrested today and presented before Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant shot and murdered Rasheed Barton as part of the defendant’s gang membership and crack cocaine dealing. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who commit these horrific acts of violence.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Today’s charges highlight what the NYPD and our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District can accomplish when we focus on the relatively few people responsible for much of the crime and violence in New York City. Together, we remain committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who partake in any form of gang activity, from drug distribution to murder. Make no mistake: Severe consequences await anyone who dares to jeopardize the safety of our neighborhoods.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal Court:[1]
From at least 2013 to 2022, LAMAR WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Little Black,” a/k/a “Chase Money Marz,” was a member of the Mac Ballers, which is a set of the national Bloods gang. The Mac Ballers operated primarily in the northeast United States, including in the Bronx, and in jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York.
Members of the Mac Ballers committed acts of violence, including murder, to protect and expand the gang’s territory, to retaliate against rival gang members, to keep victims and potential victims in fear of the gang, and to otherwise promote the gang’s reputation. They also distributed controlled substances in order to enrich themselves. Mac Ballers members promoted and celebrated the gang’s criminal conduct — including acts of violence, drug distribution, and firearm usage — on social media.
On August 11, 2013, WILLIAMS shot and killed Rasheed Barton in the vicinity of East 174th Street and Bronx River Avenue in the Bronx, New York. WILLIAMS murdered Barton in connection with WILLIAMS’ membership in the Mac Ballers gang and his conspiring to sell crack cocaine.
* * *
WILLIAMS, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; and one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Andrews and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Bristow Man Convicted of 2018 Murder in JenksRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Bristow man Wednesday for murdering a former girlfriend’s new dating partner in 2018, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Justin Dale Little, 29, was found guilty of first degree murder in Indian Country.
On April 22, 2018, at noon, victim Jonathon Weatherford was found deceased on the train tracks in Jenks, Oklahoma, with a single gunshot wound to his back. A passerby called 911, and the Jenks Police Department responded to the scene.
During the investigation, officers interviewed Weatherford’s girlfriend and asked if she knew of anyone who would want to harm the victim. She responded that Little was only individual she believed was “crazy enough” and had “enough motive” to commit the murder. The woman reported that she and Little dated in high school and had a child together, and after the relationship ended, Little would often harass the woman and her dating partners. She recalled that Little had appeared at a boyfriend’s house at 4 am after tracking her phone, cut break lines, distributed suggestive photographs of the woman, poured water into her vehicle’s gas tank, and admitted at one point that he had contemplated shooting the woman and a boyfriend.
In the weeks prior to the crime, the woman said she had agreed to marry Little, only so their child could receive National Guard benefits. Little was the service member. The woman told Little that she planned to continue dating Weatherford and that he would be in her life for a long time. She then told Little that if anything ever happened to Weatherford, she would suspect Little.
Officers also located surveillance video that placed the defendant at the crime scene in Jenks. The video revealed that Little watched the victim leave the girlfriend’s apartment around 11:40 am the day of the crime and walk toward his family’s home. Little’s pickup truck could be seen driving around the train tracks, following the victim for several minutes, then parking nearby. Footage further showed a man, identified as Weatherford, walking along the train tracks followed by a figure dressed in dark clothes. The victim and the figure eventually walked out of the view of the cameras. Shortly after, the figure ran back into the camera’s view and away from the scene of the crime. Footage then showed Little’s truck pull away from its parking spot near the crime scene and drive off.
Investigators pulled cell phone data, call logs, and PikePass records that helped confirm that it was Little seen in the surveillance video.
They further recovered a .300 Winchester Magnum Caliber Remington rifle with a scope and bipod from Little’s residence. Little purchased the rifle approximately a month before the murder. The medical examiner’s report revealed that Weatherford died from a gunshot wound to the back. The bullet had traveled through Weatherford’s backpack, a leather card holder full of several pages of playing cards and into the victim. The bullet broke multiple ribs before coming to rest just below his front chest. The rifle and bullet were sent to the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, for ballistics comparison. A firearms expert determined the bullet was a .30 caliber round fired from a barrel rifled with six grooves with a right twist, which was consistent with the high powered rifle recovered from Little’s residence. Due to the damage to the bullet, the firearms expert was unable to determine if the bullet definitively came from Little’s rifle.
Previously, a Tulsa County jury also found Little guilty of the first degree murder of the victim, but his conviction was vacated following the Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v Oklahoma. The case was then prosecuted in federal court.
The FBI, Jenks Police Department, and Bristow Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Buscemi and Victor A.S. Regal are prosecuting the case.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to robbing a TD Bank branch in Boston.
Coleman Nee, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani who scheduled sentencing for March 9, 2023. Nee was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021.
On the afternoon of April 26, 2021, Nee entered a TD Bank branch in Boston, showed a teller what appeared to be a firearm and threatened to kill a teller and a bank customer before robbing the bank of $990. Within approximately 20 minutes of the robbery, Nee was apprehended by law enforcement due to a GPS tracker attached to one of the stolen bill packets.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Chief Kenneth Green made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Boston Man Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston on sex trafficking offenses, including allegedly trafficking a minor he met on social media.
Jimall Dawn Brown, 33, was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; one count of using a facility of interstate commerce to induce a minor to engage in prostitution; and one count of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution. Brown was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sex trafficking of a minor on Oct. 26, 2022. He has remained in custody since his arrest on Oct. 27, 2022.
According to the charging documents, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex acts. It is alleged that Brown first met the victim, who was living outside Massachusetts, on social media and induced and coerced her to fly to Boston, with promises of a “better lifestyle.” Brown posted advertisements of the victim online and arranged “dates” for the victim to have sex in exchange for money. Brown allegedly set the pricing for the commercial sex acts she engaged in, for which he collected all of the funds.
In March 2022, Brown allegedly coerced the victim, who was still a minor at the time, to fly to Georgia, where he arranged for her to engage in commercial sex, for which he collected all of the funds. In April 2022, Brown allegedly took the victim to Nevada, again arranging for her to engage in commercial sex and keeping all of the funds.
According to the charging document, local law enforcement in Massachusetts met with the victim at which time she alleged that Brown told her she would have a better life if she came to Boston to “be with him,” however once she did so, Brown prevented her from leaving. Specifically, it is alleged that when the victim would attempt to leave Brown, he would threaten her or beat her up. For example, as stated in court documents, if she told him she wanted to go home, he would put his hands on her, slap her and yell at her. On multiple occasions, Brown allegedly hit the victim, choked her and physically restrained her.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this alleged crime should contact [email protected]. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources.
The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The sex trafficking statute also imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for offenses committed by means of force, threats of force, fraud or coercion. The charge of using a facility of interstate commerce to induce a minor to engage in prostitution provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Arlington and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of Rollins’ Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Auburn Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Auburn man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for child pornography offenses.
Jesse Laino, 26, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 88 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On April 6, 2022, Laino pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
In May 2019, Laino utilized the Kik platform to upload and distribute two images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During a search of Laino’s residence in June 2020, two phones and one laptop seized were found to contain CSAM. Laino also used a cloud storage service to store and share links to images and videos of CSAM as well as to using a social media application to connect with other users for the purpose of obtaining and distributing the images. Social media records revealed that from about January 2019 to July 2020, Laino participated in hundreds of chats and distributed over 1,700 images of CSAM, including images of infants and toddlers being sexually abused.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Auburn Police Chief Andrew J. Sluckis, Jr.; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Tuesday 15 November 2022
Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm Used in Fatal Nicholas County ShootingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Melanie Clodfelter, 41, of Summersville, pleaded guilty today to making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm. Clodfelter admitted to purchasing a semi-automatic firearm that was subsequently used to kill a Nicholas County deputy sheriff in June 2022.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 17, 2021, Clodfelter bought a Radical Firearms, model RF-15, multi-caliber rifle in Nicholas County. Clodfelter admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 for the purchase. Clodfelter falsely certified that she was the buyer of the firearm when she knew she was purchasing it for Richie Holcomb. Clodfelter admitted to giving Holcomb the firearm on the day of the purchase. Clodfelter further admitted that Holcomb gave her the money to buy the firearm and that she knew Holcomb was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Holcomb was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Webster County Circuit Court on July 30, 2014.
On June 3, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the Birch River area and encountered Holcomb and another individual. During the encounter, Holcomb fatally shot Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas Edward Baker III with the semi-automatic rifle purchased and provided by Clodfelter. Corporal Joshua Ellison was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Holcomb was fatally shot.
“It is a crime to certify that you are buying a firearm for yourself when you are purchasing it for someone else, regardless of the circumstances,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Straw purchasers illegally put firearms in the wrong hands. In this case, the firearm was given to a dangerous felon and that led to tragic consequences.”
Clodfelter is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which assisted the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the West Virginia State Police in response to the shooting of the two deputies.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Negar M. Kordestani and Alex Hamner have 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. 2:22-cr-135.
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Waterford Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bradley Boisen, age 26, of Waterford, New York, pled guilty today to the attempted sex trafficking of a child.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Boisen admitted that on April 21, 2021, he arranged to pay $60 to another person in order to have sex with a 14-year-old child.
Boisen’s sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2023 in Syracuse before Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue.
Boisen faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,0000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. As a result of his conviction, Boisen will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police and the Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by the United States Attorney’s offices and marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
Wake County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Dale Ingold, 67, of Raleigh, North Carolina was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possessing child pornography. He admitted that he had been accessing child pornography since 1989, which was substantiated by Homeland Security’s location of 67,581 images and 1,505 videos files on his digital devices. Ingold pleaded guilty on December 13, 2021, to Possession of Child Pornography.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Ingold was discovered accessing child pornography while at work. His employer reported the activity to the Cary Police Department. Ingold denied accessing child pornography to both his employer and to law enforcement, however, he was immediately fired from his job. When agents with Homeland Security went to Ingold’s residence and asked to speak to him, he admitted to his longstanding efforts to possess child pornography. Furthermore, he allowed law enforcement to collect digital devices from his home that were later analyzed and found to have the large cache of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan presided over the sentencing. Cary Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-00130-FL.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Present Child Protection Award to the Brevard County Sheriff’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge John Condon, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David Walker announce that the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has been presented with a Child Protection Award for its role in investigating more than 100 cases that have resulted in successful federal prosecutions of child exploitation offenses, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.
For approximately 15 years, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with either Homeland Security Investigations or the FBI by providing Task Force Officers and other investigators to work on child exploitation cases. The investigators from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office have served as the lead case agents, undercover officers, and forensic examiners on more than 100 child exploitation cases that have been successfully prosecuted in federal court.
“Protecting our children from those who would seek to do them harm is a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “For 15 years we have had an excellent partner in the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. The investigators with the Sheriff’s Office are skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed to using their lawful authority to protect children from sexual exploitation. It is an incredible achievement for one office to have successfully worked on over 100 successful federal prosecutions. Those prosecutions have served to protect children in Brevard County and across the United States. We look forward to many more successes working together with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office on these important cases.”
“It takes an incredible team to protect our children from predators who seek to steal their innocence and destroy their futures,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “Our partnership with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office makes Project Safe Childhood a stronger program. The investigators with Brevard County are passionate and skilled professionals who work side-by-side with our special agents to protect our children from sexual exploitation.”
“We value our partnership with Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the knowledge and commitment the investigators bring to the table in these difficult investigations,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI welcomes a continued partnership in successfully deterring individuals and criminal networks exploiting children.”
Some significant cases investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office include:
- United States v. Roberto Oquendo and Rose Litzky – In September 2016, Oquendo was the subject of a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a tip that Oquendo was in possession of child pornography. During an ensuing interview, Oquendo admitted that for several years, he had used a cellphone to search for and view child pornography. He also disclosed that while residing in Brevard County, he used a cellphone to take explicit pictures of two female children under his custody for his sexual gratification. Computer media seized from Oquendo’s residence was found to contain thousands of images and videos of the two minor victims (toddlers at the time), as well as images of other children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The evidence further showed that Oquendo used a social media application to engage in live chats with Litzky, during which Litzky engaged two female children in sexually explicit conduct for Oquendo’s viewing and sexual gratification. Oquendo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography. On August 26, 2019, he was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison. After trial, a federal jury found Litzky guilty of conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. On February 6, 2020, she was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
- United States v. Michael Glascock – An undercover agent responded to an online advertisement which Glascock had posted on Craigslist and engaged in communications with Glascock. In these communications, Glascock described his sexual abuse of a three-year-old victim and offered to allow the undercover agent to engage in sexual activity with the minor victim. After Glascock agreed to meet the undercover agent, agents went to Glascock’s home on Merritt Island, where they met Glascock and located the minor victim. Glascock admitted to sexually abusing and producing child sex abuse images of the minor victim. Glascock pleaded guilty to attempted sexual enticement of a minor and production of child sex abuse images. On February 6, 2015, he was sentenced to life in federal prison.
- United States v. Matthew Howard – Howard created a sexually explicit advertisement on Craigslist that made reference to a minor female. An undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl engaged Howard in online communications. During the online communications, Howard told the “minor” that he wanted to engage with her in sexual conduct. Howard then traveled to Rockledge to meet the “minor” for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, at which time he was arrested. After trial, a federal jury found Howard guilty of attempted sexual enticement of a minor. On September 10, 2014, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
These cases were 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Present Child Protection Award to the Seminole County Sheriff’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg and FBI Special Agent in Charge David Walker announce that the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has been presented with a Child Protection Award for its role in investigating more than 100 cases that have resulted in successful federal prosecutions of child exploitation offenses as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.
For more than 10 years, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the FBI by providing Task Force Officers and other investigators to work on child exploitation cases. The investigators from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office have served as the lead case agents, undercover officers, and forensic examiners on over 100 child exploitation cases that have been successfully prosecuted in federal court.
“Protecting our children from those who would seek to do them harm is a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said United States Attorney Handberg. “For over 10 years, we have had an excellent partner in the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The investigators with the Sheriff’s Office are skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed to using their lawful authority to protect children from sexual exploitation. It is an incredible achievement for one office to have successfully worked on over 100 successful federal prosecutions. Those prosecutions have served to protect children in Seminole County and across the United States. We look forward to many more successes working together with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on these important cases.”
“We recognize the value of working alongside Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in recovering child exploitation victims,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI appreciates our partnership with Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and looks forward to many more years of working together to identify, locate, and recover the innocent victims.”
Some significant cases investigated by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office include:
- United States v. Jonathan and Sarah Aldeta – Jonathan Adleta conspired with his ex-wife, Sarah Adleta, to transport a three-year-old child with the intent of sexually abusing the child. In December 2012, Sarah Adleta flew with the child from Orlando to Oklahoma, where Jonathan Adleta lived. Jonathan Adleta sexually abused the child during the child’s week-long stay at his home. Both before and after the trip, Sarah Adleta also sexually abused the child and sent pictures of the abuse to Jonathan Adleta and others. Sarah Adleta pleaded guilty to producing child sex abuse material. On October 28, 2013, she was sentenced to 54 years in federal prison. After trial, Jonathan Adleta was found guilty of conspiring to transport and transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in sexual activity. On June 6, 2014, he was sentenced to life in federal prison.
- United States v. George Adrien Brooks – In September 2015, Brooks initiated online communications with the purported father of a 10-year-old boy about engaging the child in sexual conduct. He then traveled to Seminole County to engage in sexual activity with the child. At that time, Brooks was placed under arrest by an FBI agent who had been communicating with the Brooks in an undercover capacity. During trial, the government presented the above evidence, as well as evidence that 44 years ago Brooks had sexually abused another minor. After trial, the jury found Brooks guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct. On June 27, 2016, he was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
- United States v. Lewis Chadwick Walker –Walker spent time in state prison from 2011 to 2013 for possession of child sex abuse material. Following his release from state prison in 2013, he was placed on 20 years of sex offender probation. In 2017, he violated the terms of his probation and was ordered not to access the internet. Walker continued to access the internet and conducted searches for images of child sex abuse material. He then took screenshots of the images of child sex abuse and emailed those to himself. Walker pleaded guilty to transporting child sex abuse material. On February 23, 2022, he was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
These cases were 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney form new partnershipRead the Press Release
Pictured from L-R: Matt Harvey, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney; Adam Ward, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia, and Jefferson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld, Northern District of West VirginiaCHARLES TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — A new partnership between state and federal prosecutors has been formed to enhance public safety in the Eastern Panhandle.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld and Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey announced today that an assistant state prosecutor will be cross-designated and authorized to handle cases in federal court.
Adam Ward, one of the most experienced lawyers on Harvey’s staff, has been selected for the position of Special Assistant United States Attorney and will begin his new role this week.
“We are excited to have Adam Ward on our team,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “He will handle a variety of drug and violent crime cases, with a priority being placed on fentanyl trafficking and firearms offenses.”
According to Ihlenfeld, Ward is the first of several new prosecutors that will be added to his Martinsburg office over the next few months.
“The continued growth of the Eastern Panhandle plus our proximity to the D.C. metro area makes its necessary for federal resources to be added in order to more effectively combat crime,” said Ihlenfeld.
“I am pleased to see Adam receive this designation,” said Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Harvey. “He will continue to work on my staff in addition to handling federal offenses. Adam is a skilled prosecutor, and his new role will help to enhance the coordination between my office and that of the U.S. Attorney.”
Ward has been a prosecutor for a decade and presently handles a busy felony docket that includes cases of homicide, sexual assault, and arson. He previously worked for the Louisa County (VA) Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and is an honors graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law.
U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee Statement on Active Shooter HoaxRead the Press Release
Hoax threats disrupt school, waste law enforcement resources, and put first responders in unnecessary danger while causing emotional distress to entire communities, including students, school personnel, and parents. It's also a serious federal crime. Those who post or send these threats can receive time in federal prison and could also face state or local charges.
Maine is the latest state to fall victim to a wave of “swatting” incidents, with multiple communities today feeling the fear that has been shared by so many across the country. Every report of an active shooter is taken seriously by law enforcement at all levels. Today was no different, and I commend the local, state, and federal law enforcement for their swift action and coordinated response.
We know all too well that school shootings happen. From Columbine, to Sandy Hook, to Parkland, to Uvalde, to far too many others, past tragedies are engrained in our collective memories. We know that a similar tragedy could happen anywhere – even here in Maine. An unfortunate consequence of hoaxes like today’s is that false reports can make people question the validity of future threats. It is vital that we all remain vigilant. If you see or hear something, notify authorities to give them the opportunity to investigate but avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumors which can spread misinformation and cause panic.
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Two Men Charged with Dealing Fentanyl-Laced Heroin at Veterans Affairs Hospital in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two men have been arrested on federal drug charges for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced heroin at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago.
RICHARD A. HUSBAND, 73, of Chicago, is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl-laced heroin, and WAYNE TOWNSEND, 71, of Chicago, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, specifically a quantity of fentanyl-laced heroin. Criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuse Husband and Townsend of dealing and possessing fentanyl-laced heroin at the VA facility last summer.
Husband and Townsend were arrested Monday. The federal investigation remains ongoing.
The complaints and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Chief Timothy Jantz of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Rothblatt represents the government.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges against Husband and Townsend are each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Trumbull Felon Admits Possessing Firearms, Including Ghost Guns, and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that JACK JAKUPS, 39, of Trumbull, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jakups’ criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics possession, burglary, robbery, larceny and escape offenses. In January 2019, Jakups was released from prison to Connecticut’s Special Parole program. On November 30, 2021, Jakups’ parole officer, with the assistance of ATF, conducted a search of Jakups’ residence and seized a Diamondback 9mm handgun, a Ruger 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, a privately made Glock-19-style firearm, a privately made AR-15-style firearm, and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2023, at which time Jakups faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Jakups has been detained in state custody since November 30, 2021.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.
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.
Tioga County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph Swansbrough, age 33, of Willseyville, New York, pled guilty today to attempted enticement and coercion of a minor, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Swansbrough admitted that, between September and October 2021, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer posing as a 10-year-old child in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. Swansbrough also admitted that, on October 12, 2021, he traveled from his home in Tioga County to a prearranged meeting location in Broome County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 10-year-old child. Swansbrough was arrested upon arrival at the location and was found in possession of candy he had promised to bring to the child.
The charge against Swansbrough carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. As a result of his conviction in this matter, Swansbrough will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Swansbrough’s sentencing is currently scheduled for March 22, 2023, in Syracuse before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey J. L. Brown, Jessica N. Carbone, and Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeremy Crumbley, also known as “Memphis,” 30, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2018, Crumbley sold over 9 grams of fentanyl for $1,150 to a confidential informant in a Kanawha City alley in Charleston.
Co-defendant Kaleb Wuopio, 27, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on September 14, 2021.
Crumbley is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman and Negar M. Kordestani are prosecuting 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. 2:20-cr-115.
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Ten Charged with Crack Cocaine Distribution in Mount VernonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Glenn Scott, Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”), and Terrance Raynor, Acting Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety (“WCDPS”), announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment and a Complaint charging 10 defendants with narcotics distribution and firearm offenses in and around Westchester County, New York. The defendants, ESTEBAN MORALES, TRAVIS SWAIN, BOBBY BROWN, ISHMAEL MORALES, JONATHAN LONG, SR., DAYSHAWN RIVERS, SHANNA LEWIS, DWAYNE HUDSON, SHONTEEA WALKER, and MICHAEL VEGA will be presented in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants trafficked crack cocaine, an addicting and potentially deadly product that devastates communities throughout the Southern District of New York, and used firearms to protect their operation. Thanks to the FBI, the DEA, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the defendants are in custody and facing federal criminal charges.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: "These small groups of drug dealers are contributing to the spike in violent crime across our communities. The work being done by the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners is vital to stopping the vicious cycle of shootings, robberies, and illicit drug sales. We are determined to bring these criminals to justice and make Mount Vernon a safer place."
DEA Special Agent-in Charge Frank A Tarentino III said: “This investigation has shut down a violent drug trafficking organization based in Mount Vernon, New York. Drugs and guns cause irreparable damage in our communities, and law enforcement is committed to keeping the public safe and healthy.”
MVPD Commissioner Glenn Scott said: “The Mount Vernon Police Department is dedicated to solving violent crime and removing guns and drugs from our city streets. This operation is an example of what we can accomplish when we utilize all of our law enforcement partners. We thank our partner agencies in this operation, FBI Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Probation, and the Westchester County Police Department, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make Mount Vernon safer.”
WCDPS Acting Commissioner Terrance Raynor said: “Joint investigations with federal and local partners are one of the most effective tools we can use to take illegal weapons and narcotics off our streets. I applaud the officers and agents involved in this case for the difficult and dangerous work that led to these indictments and arrests. By sharing resources and working collaboratively, we can make Mount Vernon and Westchester safer for all.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment and the Complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]
From at least January 2022 until November 2022, ESTEBAN MORALES, TRAVIS SWAIN, BOBBY BROWN, ISHMAEL MORALES, JONATHAN LONG, SR., DAYSHAWN RIVERS, SHANNA LEWIS, DWAYNE HUDSON, and SHONTEEA WALKER conspired to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine. In or about November 2022, MICHAEL VEGA possessed with intent to distribute over 1,500 grams of crack cocaine. In addition, on occasions between March 2022 and June 2022, ESTEBAN MORALES, BOBBY BROWN, ISHMAEL MORALES, and DAYSHAWN RIVERS each possessed a firearm in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy.
* * *
A chart containing the names and ages of the defendants who were charged today, the charges, and the minimum and maximum penalties they face is attached.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the MVPD, the DEA, and the WCDPS. The Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force comprises Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Westchester County DPS, Westchester County DAs Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland County DA’s Office, New York City PD, Yonkers PD, Mount Vernon PD, Peekskill PD, Greenburgh PD, New Rochelle PD, White Plains PD, Clarkstown PD, and Ramapo PD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo, Qais Ghafary, and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant
Age
Charges
Minimum and Maximum Penalties
ESTEBAN MORALES
22
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of five years in prison (to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed); five years supervised release; $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss; $100 special assessment
ISHMAEL MORALES
22
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of five years in prison (to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed); five years supervised release; $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss; $100 special assessment
TRAVIS SWAIN
29
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; five years supervised release; $10,000,000 fine; $100 special assessment
BOBBY BROWN
45
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of five years in prison (to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed); five years supervised release; $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss; $100 special assessment
JONATHAN LONG, SR.
53
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; five years supervised release; $10,000,000 fine; $100 special assessment
DAYSHAWN RVERS
32
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of five years in prison (to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed); five years supervised release; $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss; $100 special assessment
SHANNA LEWIS
31
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; five years supervised release; $10,000,000 fine; $100 special assessment
DWAYNE HUDSON
38
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Controlled Substance Offense
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of five years in prison (to run consecutively to any other prison term imposed); five years supervised release; $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss; $100 special assessment
SHONTEEA WALKER
22
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; five years supervised release; $10,000,000 fine; $100 special assessment
MICHAEL VEGA
36
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
Life in prison; mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; five years supervised release; $10,000,000 fine; $100 special assessment
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and Complaint constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Tattoo Shop Owner Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Methamphetamine on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason Keith Arnold, 46, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin and methamphetamine on the dark web, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Arnold, along with co-defendants David White, 50, and Alicia McCoy, 31, both of Chandler, operated the vendor accounts “TheSickness” and “SicknessVersion2” on Dream Marketplace. Dream Marketplace was a website on an encrypted part of the internet known as the “dark web” because it is only accessible via sophisticated encryption technology and is not visible to normal search engines such as Google. The encrypted nature of Dream Marketplace provided individuals such as Arnold—who previously owned tattoo parlors in Arizona—with relative anonymity to sell narcotics and other illegal goods and services over the internet.
Through his dark web accounts, Arnold and his co-conspirators conducted thousands of transactions for illegal drugs, including “pure gun powder heroin” and “uncut” methamphetamine. The conspirators used the U.S. Postal Service and other shippers to send these drugs from Chandler to customers throughout the country in packages purporting to contain candy. Arnold and his co-conspirators accepted payment for these narcotics in cryptocurrency, and accounts associated with the conspiracy grossed more than $350,000 during the time that “TheSickness” and “SicknessVersion2” were operational.
On Feb. 17, 2022, White was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Charges against McCoy are pending. The charges are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Story County Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – On Thursday, November 10, 2022, Halston Ray Van Westen, age 22, of Story City, was sentenced to five years in prison following his plea to a charge of Possession of Child Pornography. Van Westen must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on or about October 8, 2021, Van Westen knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography, including 390 images and 290 videos. Van Westen knew that the depictions were of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, the depictions included minors who had not attained the age of 12 years of age, and the visual depictions had been shipped in interstate or foreign commerce by any means including by computer. Van Westen used his cellphone to commit the crime.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Story County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Iowa Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Stearns County Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Leading a Meth Trafficking Conspiracy While IncarceratedRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Stearns County man was sentenced to 262 months followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while incarcerated, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the evidence presented at his trial, in spring 2019, Robert Edward Maloney, Jr., 39, while incarcerated in a Minnesota state prison, coordinated with others outside the prison to sell methamphetamine. While Maloney was incarcerated, he communicated with his co-conspirators via jail calls. Law enforcement agents obtained recordings of Maloney’s jail calls, which revealed Maloney’s direction and coordination, including arranging meetings and discussing methamphetamine prices and quantities. Maloney also obstructed justice by threatening a witness.
Maloney was sentenced yesterday before Senior Judge David S. Doty. On April 8, 2022, after a four-day jury trial, Maloney was found guilty of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Joseph S. Teirab.
Sending meth-laced mail into federal detention center lands Corpus woman in prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 54-year-old woman residing in Corpus Christi has been ordered to federal prison for mailing meth-laced papers disguised as mail to the Coastal Bend Detention Center (CBDC), announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gail Hostetter pleaded guilty July 21 to knowingly and intentionally possessing and attempting to provide meth to an inmate.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Hostetter to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.
On Jan. 29, 2021, Hostetter mailed a letter purporting to be from a local law firm to an inmate at CBDC. However, facility staff intercepted it and sent it for testing. The mail tested positive for meth. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Hostetter’s residence where they found additional empty envelopes pre-addressed from various local law firms.
The investigation revealed the inmate devised the plan and recruited Hostetter among others to mail meth-laced papers into the detention center. The scheme involved creating envelopes designed to look like legal mail.
At the time of her plea, Hostetter admitted to mailing meth into a jail facility on at least one other occasion.
She has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, The GEO Group, Drug Enforcement Administration, Corpus Christi Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Prisons and FBI Miami Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Christopher Marin prosecuted the case.
Second U.S. Attorney Workshop to Combat Hate Crimes Focuses on LBGTQ+ CommunityRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha on Tuesday held the second in a series of “United Against Hate Workshops” to increase awareness of hate crimes and hate incidents in Rhode Island, and how to report them. More than seventy attendees attended the workshop that focused on identifying and reporting hate crimes and incidents in the LBGTQ+ community.
In June, several dozen members of the Rhode Island faith-based community attended a similar workshop aimed at improving law enforcement training, the reporting of hate crimes and incidents, and community outreach.
The workshops, part of the Department of Justice’s “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Hate Crimes” program, continue efforts to: (1) improve reporting of hate crimes by teaching community members how to identify, report, and help prevent those hate crimes; (2) build trust between law enforcement and communities; and (3) create and strengthen alliances to combat hate between the United States Attorney’s Office; federal, state, and local law enforcement partners; and community organizations.
“The enforcement and defense of civil rights- for every American- is at the core of the Justice Department’s mission,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “And carrying out that mission is about more than just bringing cases. It’s about building partnerships, spreading knowledge, and deepening connections between communities and their law enforcement partners. That is exactly what we are striving to do with our United Against Hate initiative, and I am proud that our office has the chance to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in this effort.”
Tuesday’s workshop, held at New England Institute of Technology, included remarks by United States Attorney Cunha and presentations by and discussions with Assistant United States Attorney Kevin L. Hubbard of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division and FBI Special Agent Pepper Daigler, who, among other matters, investigates allegations of civil rights violations.
Among those in attendance were LBGTQ+ community leaders and members; state, local, university and college law enforcement agencies; health care providers and related service providers; child, parent, and family support service providers and organizations; students; and domestic violence service providers.
United States Attorney Cunha urges individuals who believe they are victims of a hate crime or incident, or may have witnessed one, to contact their local or state law enforcement agency, the FBI, or the United States Attorney’s Office.
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Saugerties Woman Sentenced to 72 Months' Imprisonment for Attempted Arson of NYPD Van Occupied by Four Police OfficersRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Samantha Shader was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 72 months’ imprisonment for using an improvised incendiary device, commonly known as a “Molotov cocktail,” in an attempt to set fire to a New York City Police Department (NYPD) van occupied by four police officers in Brooklyn on the night of May 29, 2020. Shader pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2022.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the sentence.
“The constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest is a core democratic value. Over the course of this nation’s history, protests have led to significant positive changes. But, throwing a potentially lethal device at an NYPD van occupied by four officers during a protest was an unacceptable and dangerous act, which put the officers and others present at risk,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is committed to holding accountable those who, like this defendant, commit crimes that endanger the community and the lives of the dedicated officers of the NYPD.”
“Today, Ms. Shader learned the consequences for choosing to engage in violent criminal actions. Malicious actors who wish to bring mayhem to our community - and those who dutifully serve to protect it - will be held accountable for their behavior by the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“A violent criminal who crossed a line that is critical to a lawful, civil society has been appropriately held to account,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that no one may ever commit a despicable act of vandalism, especially one that endangers the lives of police officers – whose mission is to ensure people’s right to demonstrate peacefully. I commend the NYPD officers who arrested her for this criminal act, and I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District for taking the safety of all New Yorkers – including the police who serve them – seriously.”
On May 29, 2020, Shader traveled from her residence in Saugerties, New York to Brooklyn to participate in a march planned to protest the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Before traveling to Brooklyn, Shader invited co-conspirator Timothy Amerman to “go down to the City to cause some hell,” and after he declined, procured from him numerous glass bottles that Amerman believed Shader would use as projectiles against police and counter-protesters.
On the night of May 29, 2020, amid a large protest march near the Brooklyn Museum, a witness used his phone to record a video of Shader lighting the wick of a Molotov cocktail and throwing it at a marked NYPD van occupied by four police officers who were assigned to crowd control during the protests. As she threw the Molotov cocktail, Shader called out to the protesters around the van to “GET OUT THE MOTHERF---ING WAY!” The Molotov cocktail struck the NYPD van, shattering two of its windows, but did not break and ignite. The police officers exited their vehicle and apprehended Shader, who resisted arrest by biting one of the police officers on the leg.
Following Shader’s arrest, the FBI identified Saugerties, New York resident Amerman as the man who had provided glass bottles to Shader and arrested him on July 3, 2020. Amerman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit civil disorder on March 26, 2021, and is awaiting sentencing. He faces a maximum term of 60 months’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Jonathan Algor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
SAMANTHA SHADER
Age: 29
Saugerties, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-202 (DLI)
TIMOTHY AMERMAN
Age: 31
Saugerties, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-126 (DLI)
San Diego Resident Sentenced to 15 Years for His Role in Fatal Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Sean Van Demark (619) 546-7657
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY—November 15, 2022
SAN DIEGO—Drug dealer Saul Caro was sentenced in federal court today to 15 years in prison for providing the fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a 35-year-old business owner who lived in downtown San Diego.
Caro pleaded guilty on June 1, 2022, admitting that he sold powdered fentanyl to a man identified in court records as M.S. on April 11, 2021. The victim overdosed in his apartment and was found two days later.
While investigating his death, federal agents posed as the victim and texted Caro, requesting drugs. They set up a meeting time near a restaurant on July 22, 2021. Caro was arrested there. Officers found a plastic bindle containing a white powdery substance with a green tint that fell out of his left pants leg. It tested positive for fentanyl.
During a subsequent search of Caro’s residence, a loaded, unregistered, semi-automatic privately manufactured firearm with no serial number, or “ghost gun,” was located along with more ammunition, more drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
According to the government’s sentencing memo, the defendant communicated with the victim via text not only about getting the drugs, but also about the strength of the drug or its authenticity. For example, on April 12, 2020, the victim texted Caro about the potency of some drugs he had received.
M.S.: OK lemme know when here
M.S.: Lotttttt stronger! … def need to warn ppl
Caro: I did
M.S.: Yeah thanks otherwise would been bad news for me lol
On November 6, 2020, M.S. informed Caro that the drugs he received were altered in some way.
M.S.: Man, so the shit has real stuff in it no doubt. But they cut it with something that makes ur heart slam like nothing I’ve ever felt. Was worried for a few mins. Heart pounds like a sledgehammer jack hammering out of my chest… ugh why the hell did they have to put that shit in here and ruin it!
M.S.: Literally hands shaking like a leaf it’s crazy
Caro: He told me to be careful cuz its strong
M.S.: Lol yeah
Caro: My bads
“The defendant chose to disregard the significant risk associated with selling fentanyl and other drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “His choices had severe consequences for a family that lost a beloved son and brother. The driving factor for all of us in law enforcement is the human toll that fentanyl is taking. We see the grief and destruction in person every day. We will continue to seek justice for every victim.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case.
“There is no place to hide,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe. “The DEA and its partners will continue to track down, arrest, and prosecute those who are driving addiction.”
“Today’s sentencing serves not only as a testament to HSI’s commitment to bring to justice those responsible for another overdose death but should also serve as a reminder to people; abusing drugs these days will likely kill you, said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The men and women of HSI, alongside our partnered law enforcement agencies, will stop at nothing to pursue those that deal deadly drugs in our communities.”
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
DEFENDANT Case Number 21-CR-3100-GPC
Saul Caro Age: 33 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl – Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
AGENCY
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego Police Department
State of California Department of Health Care Services
Raleigh Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Stephan Grimes, 48, of Raleigh was sentenced today to 236 months in prison for production of child pornography. Grimes pleaded guilty to the charge on September 14, 2021.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in October 2018, the Cary Police Department was investigating a peer-to-peer child pornography distribution on the BitTorrent filesharing network. They identified an IP address from which they were able to download a torrent file containing a large amount of child pornography. Internet service provider records identified the IP address as belonging to the Raleigh home of Stephan Grimes.
Homeland Security agents, Wake County Sheriff’s deputies, and U.S. Marshals executed a search warrant at Grimes’ home on February 20, 2019. Grimes was interviewed and admitted to downloading child pornography. An on-site forensic review of a computer also revealed multiple images depicting a young girl sitting on a couch in the home as Grimes placed a sex toy on her genitals. Grimes identified the girl by name and initially claimed that she was 18. Agents noted wall-mounted surveillance cameras in the living room and in the bedroom that appeared to have been used to produce the images. Agents seized a computer, hard drives, and a USB drive.
Officers interviewed the subject of the photographs, and she described to officers how Grimes made sexual advances that eventually resulted in them having sex when she was 17. Grimes took sexual photos and recordings despite her being a minor and told her that she could make money through pornography once she was 18.
A full forensic examination of Grimes’ electronic devices uncovered 437 images and 5 videos of child pornography. While many files appeared to have been collected from the internet, the great majority were of the then-minor victim. Two long videos depicting the sexual abuse of the victim were filmed in December 2018 and January 2019, using the dual wall-mounted cameras in Grimes’ home.
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 Department of Homeland Security and Wake County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00019-FL.
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Prison sentences for drug trafficker, two ex-prison guards wrap up meth-distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: A South Georgia man who participated in a widespread drug-trafficking conspiracy and two state prison guards who smuggled drugs behind bars are among the final defendants sentenced to federal prison as a major meth-distribution prosecution comes to a close.
Alexander Reyes Tyson, 45, of Douglas, Ga., was sentenced to 28 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine; Idalis Qua Dazia Harrell, 26, of Douglas, a former guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana; and Jessica Azaelae Burnett, a/k/a “The Madam,” 43, of Douglas, formerly a senior guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“When the citizens of Coffee County sought relief from rising violent crime and illegal drug activity in their community, our local, state and federal law enforcement partners responded to identify and shut down these gang-driven drug traffickers,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “This operation sends a resounding message that we will be relentless in our efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Tyson, Harrell and Burnett are among 48 individuals who were indicted in January 2021 in USA v. McMillan et. al, dubbed Operation Sandy Bottom, an investigation into an extensive drug trafficking conspiracy centered in a Douglas, Ga., area known as “the bottoms.” The lead defendant, Jackie Kayaskia McMillan, 41, is serving a nearly 40-year sentence in federal prison for leading the conspiracy from inside Dooly State Prison, where he was serving a life sentence for murder. His girlfriend, Christina Veronda Alexander 42, of Hazlehurst, Ga., is serving a sentence of nearly 24 years in federal prison for serving as McMillan’s primary contact outside of prison, facilitating deliveries of methamphetamine from Mexico and distributing it to street-level dealers in Coffee, Bacon, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Wheeler counties, along with other parts of Georgia.
The investigation began in 2018 when the Coffee County Drug Unit enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force in the Douglas-area drug trafficking conspiracy. The traffickers, coordinated by a subset of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, controlled multiple “trap houses” to store and distribute illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamine.
Investigators infiltrated the operation, intercepting multiple kilograms of drugs and nearly two dozen illegally possessed firearms, along with seven vehicles and more than $12,000 in cash identified as drug-trafficking proceeds. They also identified and charged state prison guards who smuggled drugs and cell phones into prisons.
The cases against all 48 defendants are complete, with most serving sentences of up to 200 months in prison after pleading guilty. The final defendant, Amos Tyrone Brantley III, 40, of Ambrose, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Marijuana.
“It is impossible to overstate the enormity of this investigation and the incredible multi-agency teamwork involved to procure the arrests, convictions, and sentences of such a large operation,” said Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten. “Make no mistake: This investigation was a major blow to drug traffickers targeting our area and our penal institutions. We are particularly saddened when those who have sworn to uphold the law become the ones subverting it, but we will not think twice to hold them accountable.”
“The sentencing of these individuals ends an exhaustive investigation and proves that the FBI and our partners will spare no resource when it comes to ending an epidemic in our society that fuels violent crime and kills our citizens,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We want to thank our partners in the Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force who relentlessly work along our side to dismantle these organized, violent criminal enterprises.”
The 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.
It was investigated by the FBI and the FBI Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office; the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office; the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office; the Blackshear Police Department; the Nicholls Police Department; the Douglas Police Department; the Alma Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Swainsboro Police Department; and the Coffee County Department of Family and Children Services.
The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank M. Pennington II.
Previously convicted man from Shiprock sentenced to eight months for escaping custodyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Thomas Navaho, 29, of Shiprock New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to eight months in prison. Navaho pleaded guilty on June 13 to escape from custody.
On March 28, 2019, Navaho was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a man on the Navajo Nation. On Oct. 20, 2021, Navaho was placed at the Dismas Charities Diersen Residential Reentry Center (Diersen RRC) in Albuquerque to serve the last six months of his custodial sentence.
In his plea agreement, Navaho admitted that on March 15, he packed his belongings and left Diersen RRC without permission. U.S. Marshals arrested Navaho on April 1.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.
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Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Lionel Vallo, 39, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and failure to update his sex offender registration. Vallo will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, Vallo, who previously was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country in 2003, failed to update his sex offender registration after moving to a new address in Albuquerque. Vallo also failed to update his quarterly registration on July 1, 2020.
On July 26 in Albuquerque, members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) Task Force initiated a traffic stop on Vallo, who was subject to an arrest warrant for absconding from supervised release. Vallo did not stop immediately, and once stopped, initially was non-compliant with commands to exit the vehicle. After Vallo eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody, SWIFT members located loaded firearms in the vehicle.
On August 1, 2020, Vallo was arrested for and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he was on pretrial conditions of release at the time of the July 26 arrest. As a previously convicted felon, Vallo cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Vallo faces up to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and 10 years for failing to update his sex offender registration.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Pike County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Distribution in the Natchez, Mississippi AreaRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A Pike County man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III, to 87 months in federal prison for participation in an interstate drug trafficking operation distributing kilogram quantities of illegal drugs in the Natchez area from 2016 through 2018, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Denonta Thadison, 41, of McComb, was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Thadison’s sentence includes a penalty for recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person while fleeing from a law enforcement officer. His sentence also includes a penalty for committing the federal offense while he was under a criminal justice sentence for a state drug crime. Court records reflect that Thadison has prior convictions in Lincoln County Circuit Court for possession of cocaine, and in Pike County Circuit Court for possession of cocaine and sale of cocaine.
According to court documents, Thadison conspired with Kevin Singleton, of Natchez, and Sammy Davis Wright, of Woodville. Singleton, as head of the interstate drug trafficking organization, received a 35-year prison sentence in September 2021. Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2022.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
This OCDETF case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force in Atlanta, GA, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Pearl Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark prosecuted these cases.
Philadelphia man charged with having large amount of methamphetamine near universityRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Philadelphia man was charged today with having a large amount of methamphetamine near Wheeling University, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
James R. Stewart, 36, was indicted today on one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of More of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” It is alleged that Stewart had more than 50 grams of methamphetamine near the university in November 2022 in Ohio County.
Stewart faces at least five years and up to 80 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Orange County Man and Sacramento Man Sentenced to Prison for Participating in Massive Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two California men today received prison sentences of up to 11 years for participating in an extensive multimillion-dollar conspiracy – much of it committed by Nigerian nationals – that perpetrated a wide variety of frauds, including business email compromise (BEC) fraud, romance scams, elder fraud and fraud using malware.
George Ugochukwu Egwumba, 47, of Cypress, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner to 132 months in federal prison.
At a separate hearing today, Judge Klausner sentenced Princewell Arinze Duru, 33, of Sacramento, to 81 months in federal prison.
At the conclusion of a seven-day trial, a federal jury on June 15 found each defendant guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Egwumba was found guilty of one count of aggravated identity theft. Duru was found guilty of one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.
Members of the conspiracy – many of whom were based in Nigeria – used middlemen to connect with their fellow co-conspirators located in the United States. The U.S.-based middlemen assisted in receiving and laundering the proceeds of the frauds either through U.S. bank accounts, money transmitting services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or cryptocurrency.
In exchange, the middlemen and those who assisted with the laundering of illicit proceeds received a percentage of the fraudulently obtained funds.
At the center of the conspiracy were Valentine Iro, 34, of Carson; Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 41, of Gardena – both Nigerian citizens – and Chuks Eroha, 42, who is believed to have fled to Nigeria in 2017, shortly after the FBI executed a search warrant in this case. This trio of middlemen connected the fraudsters with the money launderers, sometimes with other middlemen in between, and often reused the same bank accounts for laundering funds.
Egwumba acted as another middleman, receiving bank account information from Iro and Eroha to pass to other fraudsters, and worked to commit fraud himself by using malware and other cybercrime tools. Egwumba exchanged chat messages with Iro and Eroha, in which he asked for and received bank account information that could be used to receive stolen money.
LokiBot and NanoCore remote access trojan malware and other cybercrime tools were found on Egwumba’s computers, along with messages in which he discussed using these tools to attempt to commit fraud.
Duru helped Igbokwe and others in receiving and laundering the fraudulently obtained money, both by opening fraudulent business bank accounts and using money transmitting services and cryptocurrency wallets.
Duru registered a fraudulent business in Sacramento County and then used that company to open two business bank accounts at different banks. Duru gave the bank account information to Igbokwe so it could be used to receive fraud proceeds. One victim was deceived into depositing approximately $25,600 into one of Duru’s business bank accounts.
The conspiracy involved the laundering of at least $6 million in fraudulently obtained funds and the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million.
Iro and Igbokwe have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in this case. On November 4, Judge Klausner sentenced Igbokwe to 78 months in prison and ordered him to pay $ 920,422 in restitution. The sentencing hearing for Iro, the case’s lead defendant, is scheduled for January 31, 2023.
The indictment in this matter charged 80 defendants. So far, prosecutors have secured 19 guilty pleas in this case. Additional defendants have been arrested in Nigeria, and others are believed to be at large.
The FBI investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Sue J. Bai of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Nigerian National Ordered to Pay Restitution for Role in Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – John Nassy, 29, a Nigerian national living in Dumfries, Virginia, was sentenced to five years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, and ordered to pay $148,000 in restitution for receipt of stolen money in connection with a scheme that defrauded at least 200 victims, many of whom are elderly, of at least $2.5 million. Nassy has already paid $40,000 of the restitution he owes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nassy participated in the scheme from June 2018 until at least May 2019 while living in Huntington. The scheme targeted individuals through dating websites and other social media platforms. Scheme participants created false personas to contact victims and induce them into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship or business relationship. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas.
Nassy admitted that he let victims transfer at least $148,000 to his bank accounts that he knew was from unlawful activity. Nassy further admitted that after the victims’ funds were deposited in his accounts, he kept some of the money for himself and forwarded some of the money to his co-conspirators via the Zelle digital payments network. Nassy also transferred money to bank accounts located in Nigeria.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson prosecuted the case.
The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
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. 3:21-cr-68.
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New Haven Cocaine Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE L. GERENA, 33, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force executed a federal search warrant on a suspicious package that had been sent through the U.S. Mail from New Haven to an address in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The package contained $102,450 in cash. The investigation revealed that Gerena was the leader of an extensive drug trafficking organization and supervised the receipt of numerous parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico, the resale of the cocaine to others, and the shipment of narcotics proceeds to Puerto Rico. Gerena was responsible for trafficking more than 100 kilograms of cocaine.
During the investigation, the organization regularly received cocaine shipments at 365 Poplar Street, 206 Exchange Street and other addresses in New Haven. In August 2021, investigators intercepted two parcels, each containing a kilogram of cocaine, that had been sent through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to 365 Poplar Street and 206 Exchange Street. Gerena was arrested on August 10, 2021, after investigators made a controlled delivery of a parcel containing a kilogram of cocaine to 365 Poplar Street.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2023, at which time Gerena faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Gerena has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
New Castle Man Charged with Attempted Possession of CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A New Castle man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced.
The one-count Indictment, returned on Nov. 1 and unsealed yesterday following his arrest, named Brandon Leroy McConnell, 34, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about May 14, 2021, McConnell did knowingly attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. McConnell was the intended recipient of a United States Postal Service parcel that contained this controlled substance.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000. or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Minneapolis Woman Indicted for Orchestrating Multimillion-Dollar Accounts Receivable Factoring Scheme, PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a Minneapolis woman for orchestrating an accounts receivable factoring fraud scheme and a PPP loan fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Khemwattie Singh, 52, was the chief executive officer of Global Medical Services, a Minnesota-based healthcare solutions company. Between June and October 2018, Singh and others entered into factoring contracts with MD Capital Solutions, a Florida-based investment company, to purchase the accounts receivable of Global Medical Services and Minnesota International Medicine for more than $2.6 million. Factoring is a form of short-term financing in which a business sells its accounts receivable to a third-party at a discount.
According to court documents, Singh defrauded MD Capital Solutions by failing to pay over the receivables as they were collected and falsely represented to MD Capital Solutions that no funds had been received. Instead, Singh pocketed the money, wiring more than $5 million overseas to bank accounts in Morocco and shell companies she controlled.
According to court documents, in September 2019, MD Capital Solutions sued Global Medical Services in state court in Minnesota and Florida. By the end of 2019, Global Medical Services shut down and no longer had any employees on its payroll. In April 2020, Singh submitted a false and misleading application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds in the name of Global Medical Services seeking approximately $383,408. Despite the fact that Global Medical Services was not operational, Singh falsely stated on the application that the average monthly payroll was $153,363 and that the company had approximately 40 employees. As a result of Singh’s material falsehoods and omissions, she received approximately $296,800 in PPP funds. Singh transferred $116,600 to her personal bank account and used the funds to pay for personal expenses, including a home loan and credit card payments.
Singh is charged with seven counts of wire fraud. She made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court yesterday before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Middletown Physician’s Assistant Sentenced to 25 Years for Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JONATHAN WEISS, a/k/a “Ian_Jameson,” was sentenced to 25 years in prison by United States District Judge Philip M. Halpern for his enticement of seven minors to engage in sexual activity. The sentencing today followed WEISS’s guilty plea on December 9, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Weiss’s crimes are the nightmare of every parent. Weiss created a false online identity, portraying himself as a young teen, and used this false identity to exploit minors for his own sexual gratification. As today’s sentencing underscores, we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who seek to hide behind the wall of the Internet to sexually exploit children.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
In September 2019, WEISS communicated online via Snapchat with a 13-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) and directed Victim-1 to take and send sexually explicit photographs of Victim-1 to WEISS. WEISS utilized the Snapchat screen name “Ian_Jameson” and posed as a minor. WEISS told Victim-1 that if she did not send more nude pictures to WEISS, he would send the pictures she had already sent to others. In response to the threats to send her pictures to others, Victim-1 “blocked” “Ian_Jameson” on Snapchat. Shortly thereafter, people began telling her that they had received her nude images.
WEISS engaged in the same type of activity with six other minors: a 13-year-old minor (“Victim-2”) in August 2019, a 13-year-old minor (“Victim-3”) in May 2020, a 14-year-old minor (“Victim-4”) in June 2018, a 16-year-old minor (“Victim-5”) in February 2020, a 13-year-old minor in February 2019 (“Victim-6”), and a 14-year-old minor (“Victim-7”) in June 2019.
At the sentencing today, Judge Halpern underscored that there was “no excuse” for the defendant’s “despicable conduct.”
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In addition to the prison term, Judge Halpern sentenced WEISS, 32, of Middletown, New York, to 25 years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in Orange Park, Florida, the Orange County Child Advocacy Center, and the Longview Texas Police Department in Longview, Texas, in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
Michigan Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Michigan man was charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device. The charges were set forth in an Indictment that was unsealed today.
The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison of the Eastern District of Michigan, and James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit, Michigan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The indictment alleges that between 2011 and October 2017, Aws Mohammed Naser, 34, formerly of Westland, Michigan, attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel (including himself) and services, knowing that ISIS was a designated terrorist organization and that ISIS engages in terrorism. In addition, Naser is charged with being a felon in possession of a destructive device in October 2017.
Naser faces up to twenty years in prison for attempting to support ISIS and up to fifteen years in prison for possessing the destructive device.
Naser will be arraigned on the indictment at the federal courthouse in Detroit today at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
"Terrorism poses significant threats to people living in our District and around the world,” U.S. Attorney Ison stated. “We will aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to aid terrorists.”
“Today’s indictment serves to remind others what can happen if they attempt to provide assistance to a foreign terrorist organization,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will make every effort to protect Americans at home and abroad and to bring other like-minded criminals to justice.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin for the Eastern District of Michigan is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Michigan Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A Michigan man was charged, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Michigan, with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device.
According to the indictment, Aws Mohammed Naser, 34, formerly of Westland, attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel (including himself) and services, knowing that ISIS was a designated terrorist organization, and that ISIS engages in terrorism. In addition, Naser is charged with being a felon in possession of a destructive device in October 2017.
Naser will be arraigned on the indictment at the federal courthouse in Detroit today at 1:00 p.m. ET. If convicted, Naser faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison for the attempted material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a destructive device.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan and Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of FBI Detroit Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin for the Eastern District of Michigan is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Merrimack Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Leith Sukkar, 22, of Merrimack, pleaded guilty in federal court to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and making false statements during the acquisition of firearms, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to statements made in court, between September 2021 to May 3, 2022, Sukkar purchased 22 firearms from four federally licensed dealers in New Hampshire. Sukkar falsely represented that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms when, in fact, he was purchasing the firearms for other people. On May 3, 2022, Sukkar made a false statement during the purchase of a Glock model 29, 10mm pistol and a Glock model 43, 9mm pistol from Shooter’s Outpost, a federally licensed firearms dealer, located in Hooksett, New Hampshire. Similarly, on April 27, 2022, Sukkar made a false statement during the purchase of a Taurus model G2S, 9mm pistol, from Shooter’s Outpost. Other evidence obtained during the investigation showed that he was charging $900 for firearms and accepted drugs as payment for at least one firearm. Sukkar does not have a license to sell or deal in firearms.
Sukkar is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2023.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manchester Police Department Special Investigations Unit, and the New Hampshire State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Walsh.
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Mercer County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Bobby Glen Trent, 37, of Princeton, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 24, 2019, Trent got into an argument with a Highland Avenue resident while walking past the man’s house. Trent admitted that he approached the man, pointed a Diamondback Arms, Model DB9, 9mm pistol at the man and threatened to shoot him. When the man called 911, Trent hid the firearm in some bushes down the street. Law enforcement officers arrived, arrested Trent, and found the hidden firearm.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Trent knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony convictions for grand larceny and conspiracy in Cabell County Circuit Court on March 4, 2011.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Princeton Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber 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. 1:21-cr-138.
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Mercer County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Jermaine Antwon Jones, 34, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 11, 2022, Jones sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Bluefield. Jones admitted to selling the fentanyl as well as quantities of fentanyl and cocaine to the same confidential informant on two other occasions in Mercer County around the same time period.
On January 19, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ residence and found approximately 15 grams of fentanyl and 7.94 grams of cocaine. Jones admitted that he planned to distribute the controlled substances.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting 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. 1:22-cr-200.
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Maryland man and West Virginia woman charged with fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG WEST VIRGINIA – A Maryland man and a West Virginia woman are charged with working together to sell fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine for nearly two years in the Eastern Panhandle, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Glenn Caj’mere Civo Watlington, of Parkville, Maryland, was indicted today on one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base, Heroin, and Fentanyl,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl Mixture,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Heroin Mixture,” three counts of “Distribution of Fentanyl,” one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.” Watlington, also known as “Chris,” 28, is accused of selling fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base from August 2020 to July 2022 in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties and elsewhere. Watlington, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, is also accused of having a 9mm pistol in August 2021.
Stephanie Ann Hall, of Oak Hill, West Virginia, was indicted today on one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base, Heroin, and Fentanyl” and one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl.” Hall, 43, is accused of working with Watlington to sell fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base.
Watlington and Hall each face up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million for the conspiracy charge. Hall also faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million for the distribution charge. Watlington also faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison for the 40 grams or more of fentanyl charge, and up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million for each of the remaining drug charges. He faces up to 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge, Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.