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17 November 2022
Readout of Justice Department Leadership Visit to Miami Mental Health Court and Diversion SystemRead the Press Release
Yesterday, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta and Director Karhlton F. Moore of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) met with judicial leaders and criminal justice professionals in Miami to discuss responses to mental health issues in the justice system. Associate Attorney General Gupta and Director Moore heard from Judge Steven Leifman of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit about the Criminal Mental Health Project, a program he created in 2000 to divert people with mental illnesses away from jail and into community-based treatment. The presentations included judges, prosecutors, public defenders, peer recovery specialists and representatives from local police departments discussing the success of the program. Thousands of people have been kept out of jail under the Miami model, and only a fraction of graduates re-offend. Estimates suggest that nationwide about 15% of men and more than 30% of women in jails have a serious mental illness, compared to about 4% of people in the general population.
BJA Director Moore and the BJA leadership team provided an overview of the BJA Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which has awarded 679 state, local and Tribal grants to support responses to people with mental illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Two years ago, BJA also launched Connect and Protect, designed to strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health agencies. Miami-Dade County is a national Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Site and is recognized as a model for its approach to diverting people with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Raleigh County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Brenda Crewey, 49, of Harper, was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 21, 2020, Crewey sold approximately four grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at her residence. Crewey admitted that she had been consistently selling methamphetamine and heroin over the previous year.
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 Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit for conducting the investigation. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alex Hamner and Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-42.
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Recent SentencingsRead the Press Release
Child Pornography and Child Sex Crimes
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced TAYLON JEFFERY BAIN, age 36, of Richey, Montana, for the commission of a felony by a registered sex offender, to 168 months’ imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release and payment of a $100 special assessment. The crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office in Montana, and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case.
Case No. 22-cr-00009-ABJUnited States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced ANDREW RAY OLDMAN, age 21, of Riverton, Wyoming, for abusive sexual contact, to 15 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release and payment of a $131.00 for restitution, and a $100 special assessment. The crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 22-cr-00067-ABJ
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced WOLFE JONTAYLOR WILLOW, age 37, of Crowheart, Wyoming, for failure to register as a sex offender, to 24 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Willow is required to register due to criminal history dating back to 2011. The crime was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 22-cr-00137-ABJ
Drug/Firearm Offenses
Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced TROY MICHAEL PAINTER, age 26, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Painter was sentenced to 44 months in prison with three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. The crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom. Case No. 22-cr-00105-SWS
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced CODY JAMES COKER, age 23, of Casper, Wyoming, for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, to 36 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Coker pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested for possessing the firearm after three instances of calling 911 while hallucinating due to methamphetamine use. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 21-cr-00420
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced ALSIAH E. SPIKES, age 30, of Peoria, Illinois, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, to 70 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. On August 11, 2020, Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Dellos pulled over Alsiah Spikes on I-80 driving east just outside of Cheyenne. During the stop, Trooper Dellos discovered five handguns purchased by another person but paid for by Spikes. The case was referred to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) special agents who discovered that Spikes was prohibited from possessing firearms. Spikes was later arrested in Indiana with another handgun and charged there with unlawful possession of a firearm. The crime was investigated by ATF with assistance from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood. Case No. 21-00008-ABJ
Environmental/Wildlife Offenses
United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JOSHUAL ANDERS RAE, age 38, of Bozeman, Montana, for the unlawful transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition of illegally possessed wildlife, to 60 days in prison with five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Rae was observed by United States Forest Service law enforcement collecting shed elk antlers in a long-standing wildlife closure area and processing them with a saw. The crime was investigated by the United States Forest Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson. Case No. 22-00041-ABJ
Financial Crimes
United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced KADE CASPER-NIXON, age 28, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, to 57 months in prison with four years of supervised release. Casper-Nixon was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $55,851.97 and a $200 special assessment. The defendant plead guilty to bank fraud and conspiracy for depositing fraudulent checks at financial institutions in Wyoming. The crime was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom. Case No. 22-00041-ABJ
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Previously Convicted Armed Robber Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Omaree Shay Roby, 25, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on September 27, 2020, officers with the Evansville Police Department responded to a residence on East Indiana Street regarding a robbery complaint. The adult female victim, told officers that she had been approached by a man, later identified as Roby, as she sat inside her car while parked on her driveway. When Roby demanded that the victim relinquish her vehicle, the victim refused, and Roby pointed a pistol in the air and fired a shot. At that point, the victim exited her vehicle, and Roby entered the driver’s seat and drove away. While at the scene, officers located one spent .40 caliber shell casing on the victim’s driveway.
Vigo County Sheriff deputies subsequently located Roby traveling northbound through Vigo County in the stolen vehicle, and pursued Roby into Vermillion County. When law enforcement officers deployed stop sticks in Clinton, Indiana, Roby drove through the stop sticks and fired shots at the officers from the stolen vehicle. Roby ultimately came to a stop near State Road 63 and U.S. Highway 36. As he exited the vehicle, Roby raised a firearm at the officers, who returned fire and struck Roby. Roby was transported to the hospital and survived. Upon searching the stolen vehicle, officers recovered a .40 caliber pistol.
Roby had been previously convicted of two counts of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, in July 2015.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Chief Billy Bolin, Evansville Police Department, made the announcement.
The Evansville Police Department, Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police investigated the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Vermillion County Prosecutor’s Office provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Roby be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Portland Woman Faces Federal Charges for Role in Local Fraud RingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging a local woman for her alleged role in a fraud ring that used the stolen identities of multiple victims in the Portland area to open bank accounts and credit cards, purchase vehicles, and produce false documents.
Mary Phoenix Nguyen, 40, of Oregon City, Oregon, has been charged with aggravated identity theft; social security fraud; illegally possessing device-making equipment; producing, using, or trafficking a counterfeit access device; making illegal transactions with an access device; and possessing fifteen or more unauthorized access devices.
According to court documents, in April 2022, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating Nguyen and others in the Portland and Vancouver, Washington areas for their roles in a coordinated fraud ring targeting individuals in the Portland Metropolitan Area, Texas, Florida, and elsewhere. Nguyen and her associates used stolen identities and personal information to obtain credit cards, unlawfully access victims’ bank accounts, apply for multiple vehicle loans, rent at least six apartments and other residences, and fraudulently produce various personal and financial documents including social security cards, driver’s licenses, vehicle titles, and vehicle bills of sale.
From at least February 2021 to October 2022, Nguyen and her associates are believed to have cost victims more than $120,000 and fraudulently obtained vehicles with a total estimated value of more than $150,000.
On October 18, 2022, Nguyen was arrested at her Oregon City residence. She made her initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and detained pending further court proceedings. A four-day jury trial is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2023.
Illegally possessing device-marking equipment and making illegal transactions with an access device are punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison. Producing, using, or trafficking a counterfeit access device is punishable by up 10 years. Social security fraud is punishable by up to five years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum of two years in prison per count of conviction consecutive to any other carceral sentence imposed.
This case was investigated by HSI and the Portland Police Bureau with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Sowray is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Political Consultant Convicted for Scheme Involving Illegal Foreign Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential CampaignRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted a political consultant for his role in funneling illegal foreign campaign contributions from a Russian foreign national to a 2016 presidential campaign.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jessie R. Benton, 45, of The Woodlands, Texas, schemed with another political advisor to funnel political contributions to a 2016 presidential campaign from a Russian foreign national seeking to support, meet, and take a picture with the presidential candidate. Benton arranged for the Russian foreign national – whose nationality Benton concealed from the campaign and the candidate – to attend a political fundraising event for the campaign and to take a picture with the candidate.
As such attendance and engagement required a contribution, Benton caused the Russian foreign national to wire $100,000 to Benton’s political consulting firm for purposes of making an illegal foreign contribution to the campaign. To disguise the scheme, Benton created a fake invoice, which falsely identified the funds as payment for consulting services. Benton acted as a straw donor and contributed $25,000 of the Russian foreign national’s money to the campaign, falsely identified himself as the contributor, and pocketed the remaining $75,000. Because Benton falsely claimed to have given the contribution himself, the relevant campaign entities unwittingly filed reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that inaccurately reported Benton – instead of the Russian foreign national – as the source of the funds.
Benton was convicted of conspiring to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national, effecting a conduit contribution, and causing false records to be filed with the FEC. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2023, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the top count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California, U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia, and Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Diego Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Rebecca G. Ross and Michelle K. Parikh of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Wasserman for the Southern District of California, while serving in her capacity as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, are prosecuting the case.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Years-Long Sexual Abuse of Eight-Year-Old Victim, Including Manufacturing PornographyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Herbert Smith, 33, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 45 years in prison and lifetime supervised release by United States District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for his extended sexual abuse of a child who was just eight years old when Smith began molesting her. Smith must also register as a convicted child sex offender under state law.
In June 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to seven counts of manufacturing child pornography. The charges stemmed from an investigation which exposed the defendant’s sexual abuse of this child victim when Philadelphia Police served an arrest warrant for Smith for his sexual assault of a different nine-year-old victim. When police arrested the defendant, officers discovered him lying in bed with the eight-year-old victim. Police seized Smith’s electronic equipment, and the subsequent forensic analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed hundreds of images of Smith’s horrific sexual assaults against the eight-year-old child over a period of more than two years, including rape and other sexual abuse of the child after she was given medication to make her sleep. Smith recorded his abuse of the child victim, saved the images and videos on his electronic equipment, and in some cases, uploaded the images to his online storage account.
Smith was taken into custody by Philadelphia Police in August 2019. He has been detained in federal custody since he was indicted federally in September 2019.
“Smith is a predator of young children and has been for years,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “This sentence sends a strong message that victimization of our most vulnerable will be severely punished. Thank you to all of our agency partners who remain determined to identify, prosecute and convict child predators like this defendant.”
“Herbert Smith admitted to unimaginably abhorrent behavior,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “He sexually assaulted multiple children and perpetuated that trauma by recording and reliving it. The harm he has done is vast and this sentence is richly deserved. Locking up depraved predators like Smith is one of the most important things that the FBI and our partners can do to help protect kids, the most vulnerable members of our community.”
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 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 better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.
Perryville Man Sentenced to Serve 87 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – The United States Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Jonathan D. Drury, 37, of Perryville, Missouri, has been sentenced to serve 87 months in federal prison for the offense of possession of child pornography.
Drury appeared for his sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Drury’s residence in June 2021 after developing probable cause that he was obtaining videos containing child pornography over the internet. Drury’s cell phone was seized, which was found to contain numerous videos depicting young children being sexually abused. At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Drury admitted that he downloaded the videos from various websites.
After serving his 87-month sentence, Drury will be placed on supervised release for life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution.
Perry Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drug-Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Beyah Islam “Bear” Basha, 44, of Perry, Florida, was sentenced to thirty years in federal prison after being convicted following a jury trial on August 23, 2022, on charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes are deserving of significant prison sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This career criminal has demonstrated his unwillingness to abide by the law, committing repeated drug crimes. Given the outstanding work of our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, he will no longer be distributing drugs in our community.”
Evidence introduced at trial demonstrated that Basha was distributing methamphetamine from his home in Perry, Florida, while Basha was on house arrest for state charges including possession of cocaine with intent to sell/deliver. Multiple witnesses testified that they had purchased methamphetamine from Basha at his home, citing his then state court restrictions. The Perry Police Department and Taylor County Sheriff’s Office made three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Basha at or outside his residence. On August 25, 2021, an undercover DEA agent and a confidential source also purchased three ounces of methamphetamine from Basha at his residence.
Basha’s imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release.
“The DEA Miami Field Division remains committed to doing everything we can to prevent drug misuse and poisonings, including working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, to hold those who threaten the safety and health of our Florida communities accountable for their unlawful actions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “I commend the hard work and dedication of these investigators who worked tirelessly to bring Beyah Basha to justice.”
Basha qualified as a Career Offender and had an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence based on his prior criminal history. Basha had been to prison on seven prior occasions, primarily for drug-trafficking offenses. In 2018, Basha finished serving an 84-month federal prison sentence for distribution of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Basha subsequently violated supervised release and served an additional 18-months in federal prison.
“Beyah Basha has been involved in the illicit drug trade in Taylor County and the City of Perry for at least two decades, said Chief Jamie Cruse, Jr., Perry Police Department. “This is not his first conviction for such crimes, having chosen to follow a career as a criminal, participating in the drug trade and committing offenses that are closely associated with the illicit sale of drugs the entire time. Basha’s conviction and incarceration will remove him from a society to which he has distributed dangerous drugs for years. The Perry Police Department is proud to partner with The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other Federal and State partners in a concerted effort to remove this and other dangerous career criminals that continuously spread the poison of dangerous drugs to the youth and other Citizens of North Florida.”
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation named Operation Arrowhead. 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. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF and more information about Operation Arrowhead may be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/georgia-man-arranging-methamphetamine-transactions-within-federal-prison-sentenced-300.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Pawtucket Woman Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor, Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket woman who recorded herself molesting a toddler and sent the video to her then boyfriend was sentenced today to fifteen years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Samantha York, 34, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022, to sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, in December 2016, following the arrest of York’s then boyfriend, John Q. Adams, 33, of Foster, in an unrelated investigation, law enforcement allegedly discovered a video on Adams’ cell phone of an adult molesting a toddler. Adam’s allegedly told investigators that his then girlfriend, Samantha York, provided him with the video to satisfy his sexual desire for young girls.
Upon further investigation, law enforcement identified the child whose face was clearly visible; determined that York, who was a caregiver for the child, was the person shown in the video molesting the child; that she recorded her actions; and that she sent the video to Adams. Adams later sent the video to another individual.
York was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 180 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release.
Adams is awaiting trial on unrelated charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Woonsocket Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.
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Passaic County Man Admits Possessing Fentanyl and Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted illegally possessing fentanyl for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jessie Mayfield, 59, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 24, 2021, Mayfield possessed a quantity of fentanyl that was packaged for distribution, with the intent to sell it. He also possessed a Ruger .22 caliber pistol, along with a box containing 95 .22 caliber long rifle cartridges.
The narcotics offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1 million. The count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. Each firearm count carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the members of the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan R. Miller, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the National Security Unit.
POSTPONED – Hate-Free Vermont Forum in St. Albans Co-Hosted by U.S. Attorney, Vermont Attorney General, and Rutland Area NAACPRead the Press Release
UPDATE: The Hate-Free Vermont Forum scheduled for tonight, 11/17, from 5:30-7:30PM has been postponed. The Forum to be held in St. Albans will be rescheduled for a later date, and the details of the event will be announced by press release. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Osceola Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding the Social Security Disability ProgramRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – John Dale Parmer, age 59, of Osceola, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for Social Security Fraud - Concealment. Parmer pleaded guilty on June 21, 2022. Following completion of his prison term, Parmer will be on supervised release for three years. Parmer was ordered to pay $234,552 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
In 2006, Parmer began to receive Social Security disability benefits due to becoming nearly blind. By at least 2013, Parmer’s vision had markedly improved. Since 2013 Parmer consistently worked for several employers in Central Iowa, including as a mechanic and truck driver. However, Parmer did not inform the SSA that his vision had improved or that he had returned to work. From at least 2013 and continuing until 2020, Parmer knowingly concealed and failed to disclose to the SSA these events, which affected his right to continue to receive benefits. Parmer did so with the intent to fraudulently secure payment of disability benefits. Parmer also lied about these matters in paperwork he submitted to the SSA. As a result of Parmer’s fraud, he received $234,552 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The SSA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.
One Defendant Sentenced, 2 More Plead Guilty in Large-Scale Sacramento-Area Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One defendant was sentenced and two others pleaded guilty today for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in the Eastern District of California, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On June 3, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a 45-count indictment against 15 individuals for offenses related to a conspiracy to traffic cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Today, Charles Carter, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison for a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. Arlington Caine, 48, of Rio Linda, and Andre Hellams, 40, of North Highlands, each pleaded guilty to two counts of using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, Carter, Hellams, and Caine are among the 15 federal defendants arrested in 2021 for trafficking narcotics as part of a DEA-led multi-agency operation targeting cocaine and heroin traffickers in North Sacramento. Specifically, Carter was intercepted during a 30-day wiretap trafficking kilograms of cocaine, kilograms of heroin, and methamphetamine pills. Carter was also intercepted planning to rob another heroin dealer of 3 kilograms of heroin worth $75,000. Hellams was intercepted on the wiretap arranging to obtain and sell over 630 grams of cocaine. Caine was intercepted on the wiretap arranging to obtain and sell over 40 grams of crack cocaine and over 110 grams of powder cocaine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Aaron D. Pennekamp are prosecuting the case.
Caine and Hellams are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2023 by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. They face a maximum statutory penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentences, 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.
On Sept. 29, 2022, Jason Tolbert, 45, of Sacramento, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
On July 22, 2022, Michael Hampton, 57, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. Hampton is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 8, 2022.
Charges are pending against the following defendants: Tyrone Anderson, 40, of Sacramento; Maurice Bryant, 51, of Antelope; Yovanny Ontiveros, 41, of Sacramento; Alex White, 61, of North Highlands; Steven Hampton, 61, of Sacramento; Wilmer Harden, 52, of Elk Grove; Bobby Conner, 50, of Sacramento; Jerome Adams, 54, of North Highlands; Dwight Haney, 49, of Sacramento; and Mark Martin, 62, of Sacramento. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.
Omaha Woman Sentenced in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Haley Rose Marie Coffman, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 16, 2022, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for her participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Coffman to 170 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On October 6, 2021, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Metro Fugitive Task Force were attempting to locate Coffman, who had an outstanding felony warrant for violating her bond conditions on a charge of possessing methamphetamine in Douglas County court.
Responding to a tip, law enforcement located Coffman at an Omaha area motel. Law enforcement set up surveillance and observed Coffman and two others leaving the hotel and getting into a vehicle, which law enforcement then approached.
The driver of the vehicle then attempted to escape, striking a law enforcement vehicle occupied by a deputy, another vehicle, and the side of the motel before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. The driver then lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a construction site. All parties then fled on foot but were apprehended a short time later.
The vehicle was impounded and inventoried. More than 300 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and hypodermic needles were found in a bag on the floorboard.
Co-defendant Dustin C. Vogel is scheduled for trial on February 7, 2023. Co-defendant Jonathan Miller was sentenced on August 24, 2022, to 205 months for his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy and assaulting an officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. When released, he will serve a three-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Fugitive Task Force.
Norwell Man Indicted for Possessing Fentanyl Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norwell man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for a drug distribution offense involving fentanyl.
Frederick Dechristoforo was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Dechristoforo was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, was detained pending a detention hearing set for Nov. 22, 2022.
According to the indictment, in December 2021, Dechristoforo possessed nearly 100 grams intended for distribution.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, at least 3 years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000,000 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 and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan J. Gotlob of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
North Dakota Man Indicted for AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Bismarck, North Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Martin Tre Black Cloud, age 19, was indicted in September of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 16, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about June 28, 2022, in McIntosh, South Dakota, on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, Black Cloud unlawfully assaulted a person with a knife.
The charge is merely an accusation and Black Cloud is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Black Cloud was released on bond pending trial. A trial date was set for January 17, 2023.
New Indy Agrees to $1.1 Million Penalty and Consent Decree to Resolve Imminent and Substantial EndangermentRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — On November 16, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina approved a consent decree that resolves allegations that Defendant New Indy Containerboard Catawba LLC’s paper and pulp factory was causing an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act through its emissions of elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The consent decree ensures that New Indy will be required to comply with requirements and stop elevated H2S emissions or face additional penalties. The complaint was brought in 2021 by the United States, on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”).
H2S is a flammable, colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs. Exposure to H2S may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause difficulty in breathing for individuals with asthma. Respiratory distress or arrest has been observed in people exposed to very high concentrations of H2S.
Section 303 of the Clean Air Act (“Emergency Powers”) is used when there is evidence that a pollution source is “presenting an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare, or the environment.” Under Section 303, the United States can bring suit to immediately restrain any person causing or contributing to the alleged pollution in order to stop any such emission of air pollutants that are causing or contributing to such pollution.
Under the consent decree, the defendant is required to pay $1,100,000 in civil penalties and comply with operational requirements and emission monitoring and concentration levels that are focused on ensuring that H2S emissions by New Indy remain below levels that may present health impacts. After three sequential years of compliance with the consent decree requirements beginning yesterday, New Indy may seek to terminate the consent decree, but the operational requirements will remain in effect under enforceable permits.
“This is a substantial penalty that represents accountability and corrective justice under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair F. Boroughs. “We are thankful for the great work of the EPA and our state partners and remain committed to protecting our communities through tough enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws.”
“This settlement provides significant environmental benefits to the surrounding communities by ensuring they are protected from pollution from this facility through mandatory long-term improvements designed to ensure cleaner air,” said Larry Starfield, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
“Thanks to EPA’s swift action, the facility has not had an exceedance of the health-based standard for H2S since September 2021 and this settlement ensures that protection will be extended long-term,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman.
This settlement resolves the CAA 303 imminent and substantial endangerment finding. The EPA continues to investigate compliance for other pollutants and, should there be additional noncompliance with the CAA or other environmental laws, it will be addressed under separate action. For more information on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental enforcement efforts, visit: https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15198
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc.
This case was handled by EPA counsel Marirose Pratt; Steven O’Rourke of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Johanna Valenzuela for the District of South Carolina.
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Nashville Trio Facing Federal Human Trafficking & Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal indictment unsealed today charges three Nashville individuals in a sex trafficking and drug distribution conspiracy that operated from a house in Antioch, Tennessee, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Karen (Kay) Bailey, 42, Charles (Chuck) McGlother, 50, and Charles (Ponytail) Sumner, 61, all of Antioch, were indicted Monday and charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and conspiracy to distribute, and distributing, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. The indictment further charges the trio specifically with trafficking three women for sex by force and coercion for the purpose of financial gain. The indictment also charges McGlother with two counts of federal firearms violations, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and for possessing of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Documents filed with the Court allege that the trio has operated a human trafficking operation in the Nashville area for over a decade, and dozens of women are believed to have been recruited under false pretenses and coerced and forced into commercial sex acts. Court documents allege that the conspiracy specifically targeted women who were recovering drug addicts with small children who needed housing. The defendants allowed the women and their children to move into their house, got them addicted to drugs, and then coerced them to perform commercial sex acts when they were unable to pay their rent. The defendants further maintained control over the women by not allowing them to ever take their children out of the house without a chaperone.
Court documents also allege that the defendants provided drugs to the trafficked women to keep them addicted, and sold drugs to commercial sex customers and others outside of the sex trafficking conspiracy. McGlother owned several businesses, including a music studio and a food truck, which were used to sell drugs.
On March 31, 2022, a search warrant was executed on Bluewillow Court in Antioch, where the defendants and some of the trafficked women were residing. Several trafficking victims were found on the premises, and some of those victims were living in makeshift sheds without electricity behind the main house.
Sumner was arrested at his home this morning and will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today. Bailey and McGlother are currently in state custody.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke K. Schiferle is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Mount Airy Man Sentenced to 180 Months of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Mount Airy, North Carolina, resident was sentenced today in federal court in Greensboro for drug and firearms offenses, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
James Robert Brintle, age 26, was sentenced to a 180-month term of imprisonment by United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles. In addition to prison time, Brintle was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. The defendant also forfeited a Ruger .380 pistol, a Japanese military rifle, and a MAS bolt action rifle. He pleaded guilty on July 11, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841, and felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court records, Brintle was stopped by Surry County Sheriff’s deputies on October 10, 2020 while driving without a license and after nearly striking a Surry County detective on Piper Gap Road. During the stop, a K-9 conducted a sniff of Brintle’s truck and made a positive indication for the presence of narcotics. Detectives conducted a search of the truck and uncovered three guns, 29 grams of methamphetamine, and two grams of fentanyl. Brintle admitted to selling approximately one pound of methamphetamine on a daily basis.
Brintle was previously convicted of North Carolina felonies punishable by more than twelve months imprisonment. Brintle was aware that these convictions made it unlawful for him to possess firearms, having received an 8-19 month suspended sentence for obtaining property by false pretenses in the Superior Court of Surry County in 2014 and a 6-17 month suspended sentence for possession of heroin in the Superior Court of Surry Count in 2018.
The investigation was jointly undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank J. Chut Jr.
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More Results Announced in Beckley-to-Philadelphia Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Denise Johnson, 25, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license while Terri Lawhorn, 28, of Fayetteville, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for making false statements in acquisition of firearms. Each admitted to a role in a conspiracy to traffic over 140 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between early 2020 and mid-2021, Johnson recruited various individuals in the Beckley area to buy firearms for co-defendants Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” Derrick Woodard, also known as “D,” Shyheem Woodard-Smith, also known as “Peanut” and “Nut,” and Hassan Abdullah, also known as “San.” Johnson admitted that she knew these recruited straw purchasers would falsely certify on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that they were purchasing the firearms for themselves when they knew they were buying them for Jones, Woodard and the others.
Johnson further admitted to sometimes accompanying the straw purchasers to gun stores within the Southern District of West Virginia to obtain firearms as part of this scheme. Johnson also sometimes helped deliver acquired firearms to Jones, Woodard, and the others.
Lawhorn was among the straw purchasers. Lawhorn admitted to buying a Glock 44 .22-caliber pistol; a Glock 43 9mm pistol; and a Glock 42 .380-caliber pistol for Jones from a gun dealer in Mount Hope on December 23, 2020. Lawhorn further admitted to buying at least three additional firearms as part of the trafficking conspiracy.
Of the over 140 trafficked firearms, approximately 45 have been recovered at crime scenes primarily in Philadelphia and have been connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent offenses.
“This office is determined to stem the violence fueled by the illegal trafficking of firearms,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is to be commended for its investigative work in this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani, who has secured 18 guilty pleas related to this case.”
Woodard, Woodard-Smith and Abdullah previously pleaded guilty to interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license. Lawhorn is among seven co-defendants who have pleaded guilty to making false statements in acquisition of firearms. An additional seven individuals have pleaded guilty to firearms offenses related to the same interstate gun trafficking conspiracy.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearings.
Jones and co-conspirator Shakyrah Ross are scheduled for trial on November 29, 2022. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-46.
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Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
A Joplin, Missouri, woman pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to kidnapping a woman whose body was later found in rural Mayes County, Oklahoma, in 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Breanna Lynn Sloan, 23, admitted that from July 4, 2020, to July 5, 2020, she aided and abetted codefendant Tre Robert Allen Ackerson, 28, of Joplin, to kidnap Osage Nation citizen Jolene Walker Campbell and that Walker Campbell died as a result of the kidnapping.
In her plea agreement, Sloan admitted that she was driving in Joplin, Missouri, when Ackerson pointed to a woman walking and stated that he had robbed her earlier in the evening. Sloan later learned the woman was Jolene Walker Campbell. The two then drove past the victim, and Ackerson exited the vehicle and hid in the woods so the victim couldn’t see him. Sloan then waited for the victim and offered to give her a ride when she reached the vehicle. After the victim got into the front passenger seat, Ackerson emerged from the woods, climbed into the rear seat, told Sloan to drive, and attempted to rob the victim a second time.
Sloan stated in the plea agreement that Walker Campbell had nothing to steal, but Ackerson didn’t want to leave empty handed. The victim, being held against her will, suggested getting money from someone else she knew in Oklahoma City instead. Sloan then drove into Oklahoma and decided to travel toward Inola to visit a friend and purchase marijuana. Instead, Ackerson allegedly directed her to a remote field in Mayes County, Oklahoma. He then told Sloan to stop, put on a pair of gloves, forced the victim out of the car and into a field, and killed her. Afterward, the two returned to Joplin, leaving the victim in the field.
Ackerson, 28, was charged in the indictment with first degree murder in Indian Country, kidnapping resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death in Indian Country, and various witness tampering charges. He is scheduled for trial in January 2023. Also awaiting further court proceedings are Kimberly Grissom, 48, and Jacob Scribner, 35, each charged with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, victim, and informant, and defendant Lane Ryan Bronson, 29, charged with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, victim, and informant and with two counts of tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using and threatening physical force. The four defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In addition to Sloan, five other codefendants have pleaded guilty.
Morgan Lee Bowman, 27, and Chloe Louise Stith, 22, each pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using and threatening physical force. Sara Michelle Humbard, 26, and David William Morris, 34, each pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using the threat of physical force. Megan Louise Detherage, 29, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
The defendants in the case are from the Joplin, Missouri, area.
The FBI led the investigation with the support of the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, and Joplin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and George Jiang are prosecuting the case.
Mission Man Indicted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
Hunter Jacob Peneaux, age 28, was indicted in October of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 10, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on August 11, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota, Peneaux, having been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Peneaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Peneaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for December 20, 2022.
Mission Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Ethan Blue Bird, age 33, was indicted in November of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on November 16, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on August 24, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota, Blue Bird, being an unlawful user of controlled substances, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Blue Bird is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Blue Bird was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Frank Willis, 57 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Willis was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in February 2022, Willis was found to be in possession of a firearm. Willis’ criminal history revealed he has four prior felony convictions, and therefore is prohibited from possessing the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Michigan Personal Injury Attorney Convicted of Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted Michigan attorney Carl L. Collins, III on Nov. 16 of willfully filing five false tax returns for himself and one of his businesses.
Collins was a personal injury lawyer with offices in Southfield, Michigan. He also owned a real estate company, First Third LLC, and two medical-related companies, MedCity Rehabilitation Services LLC and Alpha Living LLC. At trial, the evidence proved Collins did not report substantial income he received from these businesses and deposited into undisclosed Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts (IOLTA), bank accounts to be used by lawyers solely to hold money in trust for clients. As a result, Collins was able to conceal these funds from his tax preparers and the IRS.
Collins was convicted of filing false personal tax returns for 2012, 2015, and 2018, filing a false 2012 amended return, and filing a false 2015 corporate return for Alpha Living. The evidence established that Collins did not report approximately $600,000 in income he earned in 2012. He deposited most of these funds into an undisclosed IOLTA account and concealed the deposits from his tax preparer. On his 2015 personal return, Collins also did not report over $800,000 in income. With respect to his false 2018 personal tax return, Collins omitted approximately $300,000 in income that he deposited into another undisclosed IOLTA account. In all, the evidence showed that Collins did not report over $2.6 million in income.
Collins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kenneth Vert and Jeffrey McLellan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. Law Clerk Evan Mulbry and Paralegal Specialist Eric Mahoney of the Tax Division are assisting with the prosecution.
Michigan Man Sentenced for Scheme to Obtain COVID Relief Funds in a Dozen Different StatesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance and small business loans in 12 different states.
Devin Smith, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Smith was also ordered to pay $269,465 in restitution and forfeiture. On March 29, 2022, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
In March 2020, in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act provided funding to existing state unemployment insurance programs and created a new temporary federal program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The PUA program, which in Massachusetts was administered by the Department of Unemployment Assistance, provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits.
The CARES Act also created a temporary loan program directed at small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The loans were processed by private financial institutions and fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If a business used the loan funds for approved purposes, such as payroll, the loan could be forgiven by the financial institution and paid for by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Between March and September 2020, Smith participated in a scheme to obtain proceeds from fraudulent unemployment and PUA claims submitted in 12 different states, including Massachusetts. Smith used stolen identities, including the identities of Massachusetts residents, to submit fraudulent unemployment and PUA claims resulting in approximately $230,000 in payments. Additionally, Smith submitted multiple PPP loan applications in the names of fictitious businesses resulting in approximately $40,000 in payments.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Service and the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Mexican National Indicted for Growing Marijuana in Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jaime Alejandro Sanchez Robles, 33, of Mexico, charging him with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, and depredation of public lands and resources, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 20, 2022, law enforcement officers went to a marijuana growing operation in a remote area of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest located in Trinity County. At the grow, agents observed that water was actively being diverted from a nearby stream, and they found the remnants of over 1,200 pounds of soluble fertilizer, 20 gallons of liquid fertilizer, over 50 pounds of rodenticide, and at least one dead animal. Law enforcement officers eradicated 1,708 marijuana plants and arrested Sanchez Robles.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Integral Ecology Research Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems, analyzed and documented the environmental damage. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Sanchez Robles faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
McLaughlin Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Patrick Red Legs, age 28, was indicted in October of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on November 16, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Red Legs failed to properly register his current address with authorities on multiple occasions in South Dakota. Red Legs was previously convicted of a sex offense and is required to register his current address.
The charge is merely an accusation and Red Legs is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Red Legs was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Maryland man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Thomas Moore, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Moore, 39, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Moore admitted to working with others to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride from August 2020 to June 2021 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Moore faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Madison Felon Sentenced to 3½ Years for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Raymond Poore, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 42 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Poore pleaded guilty to this charge on August 3, 2022.
Poore was apprehended in possession of a 9 millimeter handgun on November 18, 2021, after Madison Police and Dane County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop a suspected stolen vehicle in which Poore was a passenger. The driver of the vehicle led police on a high-speed chase on the Beltline Highway and into the city of Monona. On Monona streets, the car was still traveling at high speeds and evading police when officers deployed a spike-strip to stop the car. In the course of attempting to avoid the spike-strip, the vehicle lost a tire and became disabled. The driver and Poore abandoned the car and fled in different directions on foot. Monona officers saw Poore run across Broadway Street in Monona holding his hand near his waistband as he ran. Officers pursuing Poore on foot tackled and restrained him. As they rolled him over, they found the loaded 9 mm handgun under his body.
Poore’s criminal history included two prior felony convictions in 2011, one for aggravated battery and the other for burglary while armed with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, Judge Conley took into account that Poore’s earlier convictions were at a very youthful age, but also considered the fact that Poore possessed the firearm while under State supervision for his earlier convictions.
The charge against Poore was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison and Monona Police Departments and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Louisiana Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE - A New Orleans, La., man was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $19,222.00 in restitution to the victims on one count of Wire Fraud. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on November 5, 2020, Wilbert Adam Theodore, III, age 52, was arrested for forgery in connection with his possession of a stolen U-Haul van at a hotel in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was determined that he had been using a stolen identity to rent the hotel room and van. In the hotel room, he was found to be in possession of various items used to conduct check fraud, including: three hundred forged checks, over one hundred forged driver’s licenses with the defendant’s photo, a notebook with a list of real social security numbers, and multiple receipts of wire transfers conduct at Walmart.
A subsequent investigation determined that Theodore was a suspect in an ongoing investigation into fraudulent wire transfers conducted at various Walmart locations in Arkansas and other states. Theodore had been using the forged identification cards and the social security numbers of several stolen identities to pass the checks. On November 3, 2020, video surveillance showed Theodore cashing a check for $600 at a Walmart in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case for the United States.
Lisbon Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Dennis Michael Bousquet, 32, of Lisbon, NH, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release for production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bousquet was observed by an undercover FBI agent in an online chat group devoted to child exploitation, to include the exchange of child sexual abuse material. During a chat with the undercover agent, Bousquet sent several sexually explicit images of a prepubescent child. Upon receiving these images, the FBI submitted emergency legal process to obtain subscriber information related to the target account. A review of this information and the associated IP address logs led federal agents to Bousquet’s residence. During the execution of a federal search warrant, Bousquet admitted to taking the images and disseminating them online. Bousquet further admitted to having engaged in similar conduct with another child several years ago.
“Protecting children from sexual predators is a paramount priority for this office and for our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to ferret out such predatory actions,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The sentence imposed on the defendant demonstrates the grievousness of his criminal conduct. Those who engage in such depraved actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.
“Dennis Bousquet’s actions were atrocious and what he subjected his young victims to will likely have untold ramifications for years. Today’s sentence ensures he will not be able to subject another child to sexual abuse and exploitation for quite some time,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work hard every day to put predators like him who harm children behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police, the Lisbon Police Department, and the Littleton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey A. Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Leader of Local Drug Organization Sentenced to 30 YearsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that a Trent, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments was sentenced on November 14, 2022, by District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Christopher Daniels, 49, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Daniels was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2022. This is Daniels’ third time serving a federal sentence for drug distribution.
Beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about December of 2021, Daniels, along with at least 14 other co-conspirators, knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, to knowingly and intentionally distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, within Sioux Falls and many surrounding small communities. The investigation into this drug trafficking organization shows it was responsible for bringing in more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine to the Sioux Falls area. The direct source of supply for this methamphetamine was located in Arizona, and ultimately, Mexico. Targets in both Arizona and Louisiana have also been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota.
Christopher Daniels led the South Dakota cell of this organization. Daniels obtained multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine from his source in Arizona both through the mail, as well as by vehicle deliveries to South Dakota. Daniels then distributed the methamphetamine to others who resold it. Daniels also directed others in the handling of proceeds from the organization’s drug distribution activities. The funds involved in the money laundering were sent by wire to people associated with the drug source in Arizona.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Moody County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Daniels was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kingsport Man Found to Be A Career Criminal and Sentenced to 264 Months Imprisonment for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On November 17, 2022, Phillip Thomas Green, 36, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 264 months in prison by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
On June 22, 2022, following a 2-day jury trial, a federal jury found Green guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). During the sentencing proceeding, Judge Corker found Green to be an Armed Career Criminal based on his lengthy, criminal history, which subjected Green to a mandatory minimum of 180 months’ imprisonment. After his incarceration, Green will be on supervised release for a period of five years.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Green has ten prior felony convictions, including five felony drug convictions. The evidence further showed that on August 16, 2019, officers with the Kingsport Police Department responded to a disturbance on Park Street in Kingsport. They learned that Green had vandalized a vehicle and then left the scene. The officer also learned that Green had an outstanding arrest warrant. A short time later, the officer responded to a report of a suspicious male on Highland Street, which is near Park Street. The description of the male matched the one given of Green, and the officer responded back to the Park Street location. Green was found in the driveway of the Park Street residence. When confronted by the officer, Green fled the scene on foot. He was apprehended in the backyard of a nearby residence. After being taken into custody, Green was found to have a loaded Taurus, .380 caliber handgun.
“This investigation and prosecution was a part of the Department of Justice’s comprehensive strategy to combat and reduce violence in our local communities by targeting dangerous individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “We will continue to work with our local and federal partners to remove firearms from prohibited individuals.”
“Armed Career Criminals are one of the greatest threats to our communities. These individuals show total disregard of the law by repeatedly committing many of the same offenses, which in many incidents, include violent crime,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”) Special Agent in Charge Mickey French. “The ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate, apprehend, and charge the individuals who knowingly and willingly continue to break the law.”
This case was the result of an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Todd Martin represented the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Kalispell meth trafficker sentenced to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Kalispell man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in Flathead County for about two years after law enforcement found more than a pound of the drug, firearms, and cash belonging to him during a search was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Timothy Leo Vleisides, 64, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 25, 2021, law enforcement in Flathead County searched a storage container and vehicle belonging to Vleisides and recovered 472 grams, or a little more than one pound, of meth, two handguns, and $35,360 in U.S. currency. When confronted, Vleisides admitted he had received meth in the mail every other month for the past two years and that he was cleaning out his storage container so law enforcement would not find anything.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Northwest Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Justice Department and Department of Education Announce a Fairer and More Accessible Bankruptcy Discharge Process for Student Loan BorrowersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, in close coordination with the Department of Education, announced today a new process for handling cases in which individuals seek to discharge their federal student loans in bankruptcy. The new process will help ensure consistent treatment of the discharge of federal student loans, reduce the burden on borrowers of pursuing such proceedings and make it easier to identify cases where discharge is appropriate. The Associate Attorney General distributed guidance outlining the new process to all U.S. Attorneys.
Congress has set a higher bar for discharging student loan debt compared to other debt — borrowers who seek to discharge their loans through bankruptcy must demonstrate that they will suffer “undue hardship” unless the debt is discharged. Although the bankruptcy judge makes the final decision whether to grant a discharge, the new process announced today provides Justice Department attorneys with clear standards for recommending discharge to the judge without unnecessarily burdensome and time-consuming investigations. The new process will also help borrowers who did not think they could get relief through bankruptcy more easily identify whether they meet the criteria to seek a discharge.
“Today’s guidance outlines a better, fairer, more transparent process for student loan borrowers in bankruptcy,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “It will allow Justice Department attorneys to more easily identify cases in which we can recommend discharge of a borrower’s student loans. We are grateful to the Department of Education for its partnership in developing this guidance.”
“Congress may have set a higher bar for granting student loan discharges during bankruptcy, but in practice that bar has become very difficult for deserving borrowers to clear,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. “After decades of inaction in Washington, our Department of Education team was determined to partner with the Justice Department to craft clearer, fairer, and more practical standards to guide recommendations for student debt discharges during bankruptcy proceedings. This guidance is an important step toward helping struggling borrowers, many of whom never completed college or were misled into debt by dishonest schools.”
As part of the undue hardship analysis, courts review the borrower’s past, present and future financial circumstances. The new process will leverage Department of Education data and a new borrower-completed attestation form to assist the government in assessing a borrower’s discharge request. The Justice Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, will review the information provided, apply the factors that courts consider relevant to the undue-hardship inquiry and determine whether to recommend that the bankruptcy judge discharge the borrower’s student loan debt.
The Department of Justice and Department of Education are committed to making this system work for borrowers. Both agencies will continue to monitor how the process plays out on the ground and will assess the effectiveness of this guidance after the first year, and beyond as warranted.
By simplifying the process and establishing clear standards, the agencies hope to significantly reduce the burden on borrowers and government attorneys, provide a clear path for borrowers to seek discharges and add safeguards to promote consistency and predictability.
Justice Department Launches Investigation of Oklahoma’s Mental Health Service System and Oklahoma City’s and Oklahoma Police Department’s Response to Mental Health CrisesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened an investigation into the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD).
The investigation will examine whether Oklahoma fails to provide community-based mental health services to people in Oklahoma County, leading to unnecessary admissions to psychiatric facilities and police contact. The investigation will also examine Oklahoma City’s systems for responding to people experiencing behavioral health crises, including through the 911 call center and OKCPD.
Prior to the announcement, the department informed the offices of Oklahoma’s Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Chief Executive Officer for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, as well as Oklahoma City’s Mayor, City Manager, Municipal Counselor and Chief of Police of the investigation. As part of this investigation, department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with mental health services in Oklahoma County, and Oklahoma City and OKCPD’s response to mental health crises.
“Community-based mental health services, which are proven effective in transforming people’s lives, are critical to preventing a cycle of unnecessary institutionalization and avoidable contacts with law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring appropriate responses to behavioral health crises and protecting the civil rights of people with mental health disabilities.”
This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits disability discrimination by state and local governments. The investigation is also being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C., will conduct this investigation.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via email at [email protected] or through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal, available at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
Additional information about the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division’s enforcement of the ADA’s integration mandate is available here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/rights-persons-disabilities, and information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/conduct-law-enforcement-agencies.
Jury Finds Three Guilty of Trafficking Narcotics Throughout Toledo AreaRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – A federal jury today convicted Antuan Wynn, 47, of Toledo, Ohio, Marquise Figures, 37, of Wayne, Ohio, and Christopher Simpson, 31, of Toledo, Ohio, of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl throughout the Toledo area.
Wynn, Figures and Simpson were convicted of participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and use of a cell phone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary in Toledo.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from December 2019 to November 2021, Wynn, Figures and Simpson were part of a larger drug trafficking organization that possessed and distributed quantities of at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, at least 400 grams of fentanyl and quantities of crack cocaine throughout the Toledo area.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Defendant Wynn supplied co-conspirator Anthony Duff with substantial quantities of cocaine, which Duff then redistributed to other conspiracy members, including Defendant Figures.
In addition, prosecutors presented evidence that Defendant Simpson supplied other members of the conspiracy with quantities of fentanyl intended to be redistributed.
According to court documents, the three defendants used cell phones to communicate and facilitate their drug trafficking activity. In order to conceal their identity from law enforcement, court documents state that the defendants and other co-conspirators obtained cell phones using fictitious names, the names of others or no names at all.
Court documents also showed that the conspirators used various locations around the Toledo area to distribute, store, break down and package narcotics and the proceeds generated from the sale of narcotics.
Wynn, Figures, and Simpson were charged along with 19 other co-conspirators, the rest of whom pleaded guilty to their involvement.
Wynn, Figures, and Simpson will be sentenced at a later date.
This case was investigated by the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Toledo Metro Drug Task Force and the Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force.
The FBI Safe Streets is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department and the Oregon Police Department.
The Toledo Metro Drug Task Force is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department and the Lucas and Wood County Sheriff’s Offices.
This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling, Robert N. Melching and Henry F. DeBaggis.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Burglary and Other Charges for Multiple Domestic Violence Incidents at Same HomeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Devon Kelly, 43, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, and other property-related offenses involving multiple domestic violence incidents against the same victim on March 14, 2022, in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Kelly was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 15, 2022, of second-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of second-degree theft, and two counts of destruction of property following a five-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of March 14, 2022, Kelly drove to his ex-girlfriend’s house in Southeast Washington, stole her front license plate, backed his car into her car, causing damage, and then drove away. Later that day, while his ex-girlfriend was at work, Kelly returned to her home, rammed his car into her garage, entered the garage, and then unsuccessfully tried to force his way into her locked home with a knife. Kelly then stole his ex-girlfriend’s surveillance video camera and drove away.
Two days later, Kelly’s vehicle was found in Alexandria, Virginia, and police officers recovered the missing license plate and surveillance video camera, as well as a shotgun. Kelly was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of a firearm-related felony offense. Kelly was arrested on March 24, 2022.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Horton, Lisa Kreeger-Norman, and Amy Zubrensky; Paralegal Specialists Cynthia Muhammad, Renee Prather, ReShawn Johnson, and Tiffany Jones; Victim/Witness Advocate Roger Dickerson; Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington, LaJune Thames, and Maenylie Watson, and Criminal Investigations Unit Special Agent Nelson Rhone.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Sellinger and Sara Hanson, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County man admits to role in a drug distributing conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Ian Webster Taylor, of Charles Town, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Taylor, also known as “Beans” or “Beanz,” 31, pleaded guilty today to today on one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl.” Taylor admitted to working with others to sell cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl from August 2020 to September 2021 in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties and elsewhere.
Taylor faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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 and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Ipswich Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ipswich man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to distributing and possessing child pornography.
Julien Toulotte, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 8, 2023. Toulotte was arrested and charged on Feb. 18, 2022.
In mid-January 2021, Toulotte began communicating with an undercover agent purporting to be a 15-year-old girl through social media applications. Toulotte sent multiple nude photos of himself and encouraged the purported teenager to send photos of herself in return and asked to meet. In late-January 2021, Toulotte began communicating over the internet with the undercover agent, purporting to be an adult female with whom Toulotte had previously been communicating with on-line and to whom he had previously sent a child sexual abuse material photo (CSAM). In February 2021, Toulotte sent two videos depicting CSAM to the undercover agent purporting to be the adult female. On March 11, 2021, a search of Toulotte’s residences in Ipswich and Boston resulted in the recovery of his electronic devices that contained approximately 385 videos and approximately 320 images depicting CSAM – including child pornography videos of an infant as young as approximately two to four months old and children approximately two to four years of age.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime 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 Investigation, Boston Division; Ipswich Police Chief Paul Nikas; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Lincoln Police Chief A. Kevin Kennedy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Investiture Ceremony Held for United States Attorney Trina A. HigginsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Today, an investiture ceremony was held for the Honorable Trina A. Higgins, the United States Attorney for the District of Utah.
Held at the United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City, Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby administered the formal ceremonial oath of office.
“I am deeply honored to serve in this position and to have the opportunity to continue the important work of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins during the ceremony. “I will work to build confidence in our justice institutions, to protect civil rights, to uphold the Rule of Law, and to protect the citizens of Utah.”
During the ceremony, U.S. Attorney Higgins reinstated her commitment to continue building partnerships with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and community partners to protect our citizens and build public trust.
A career prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Higgins has 27 years legal experience and since 2002, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah, holding several leadership positions, including Senior Litigation Counsel and Violent Crime Section Chief. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, she served as a Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney.
Attended by family, friends, judges, members of the law enforcement, and legal community, U.S. Attorney Higgins is the first woman to be presidentially appointed to the position and sworn into office and is the 38th United States Attorney to serve in the District of Utah. She was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on January 31, 2022 and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 27, 2022. Judge Shelby previously administered the official oath of office on May 4, 2022.
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Indiana Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Possessing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Indiana, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 108 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release on her convictions of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Ruby Gil, age 32.
According to information presented to the court, on or about October 9, 2020, Gil possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl. Further, from on or about April 19, 2019, to on or about July 2021, Gil conspired to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. and Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to prosecution of Gil. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, Southwest Pennsylvania Safe Streets Task Force, Indiana County Drug Task Force, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
In a Landmark Ruling, Mexican Court Upholds U.S. Forfeiture Order Authorizing Seizure of Drug Cartel Leader's Real EstateRead the Press Release
For the first time, a Mexican court has invoked its new civil forfeiture law to authorize the forfeiture of real property located in and around Guadalajara, Mexico pursuant to a request for mutual legal assistance from the United States. The forfeiture represents the United States’ groundbreaking use of Mexico’s new statute to divest drug cartel leader Rafael Caro Quintero of ill-gotten gains. Caro Quintero is indicted in the Eastern District of New York for leading a continuing criminal enterprise and related crimes. He is currently in custody in Mexico and extradition proceedings are ongoing.
The forfeited properties, described in the civil forfeiture order issued by U.S. District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano on April 15, 2021, were purchased by Rafael Caro Quintero with drug proceeds generated by the Caro Quintero drug trafficking organization, an affiliate of the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Anne Milgram, Administrator, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the seizure and forfeiture order of the Mexican Court.
“This forfeiture sends a powerful message to drug kingpins in Mexico and elsewhere that there are no boundaries to prosecuting bad actors and locating their ill-gotten assets wherever they are in the world,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to take the economic gain out of crime through all available resources, including asset forfeiture.”
Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA New York Division Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Strike Force, as well as the DEA Raleigh Resident Office, the DEA Los Angeles Office and the DEA Mexico City Country Office for their assistance with the case.
“For over thirty years, the men and women of the DEA have worked tirelessly to bring Rafael Caro Quintero to justice for his violent and ruthless acts,” said Administrator Milgram. “Today’s order— authorizing the forfeiture of Caro Quintero’s properties in Mexico—demonstrates that DEA agents will follow the evidence wherever it leads to hold drug traffickers fully accountable for their deadly crimes.”
According to the forfeiture complaint, between January 1980 and March 2015, the Caro Quintero drug trafficking organization was involved in the transportation of multi-ton quantities of marijuana, multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico to the United States. As part of its investigation, law enforcement learned that Caro Quintero used proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics to purchase real estate in and around his home area of Guadalajara. Caro Quintero allegedly placed the properties in the names of family members to conceal his ownership of the properties and use of illegal proceeds to purchase them, and to prevent Mexican authorities from seizing them.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Asset Recovery Section and International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan G. King is in charge of the forfeiture action.
The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in this case. The Department also appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by the Mexican authorities.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CV-5748 (ENV)
Human Smuggler Sentenced Following Migrant DeathRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – A Guatemalan national man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for immigration crimes.
According to court documents, Mario Rigoberto Diego-Esteban, aka “Lentes,” 26, was sentenced following his guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry after deportation and one count of transporting undocumented migrants for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
The prosecution stemmed from an investigation into the death of a 21-year-old female Guatemalan national who died while being smuggled by Diego-Esteban and others. The young woman’s body was found on the side of a rural highway outside Odessa, Texas, when Crane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call from a concerned citizen who discovered her remains.
In August 2021, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Special Agents executed a search warrant at two mobile homes in Odessa, at least one of which was being used as a “stash house” to harbor and stage the transportation of undocumented migrants. Agents seized ledgers identifying members of a human smuggling organization and their respective roles. The ledgers identified Diego-Esteban as a person who transported undocumented migrants for the organization.
On December 8, 2021, Diego-Esteban was detained by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers near Odessa and was subsequently interviewed by HSI. Diego-Esteban admitted that he was a member of the human smuggling organization associated with the Odessa stash houses and that he had transported 100 undocumented migrants for the organization, receiving $125 for each illegal alien. Diego-Esteban also recounted transporting a female Guatemalan to the stash house. Diego-Esteban said he was told the female was ill, possibly dehydrated, and described her as having difficulty walking and not being able to remain conscious during transport. The investigation revealed that the Guatemalan female, confirmed to be the young woman whose remains were found near the rural highway outside of Odessa, died upon arriving at the stash house.
“The complete lack of concern for a young woman’s life in this case is appalling and yet smuggling networks like these continue to flourish because it is not about preserving life, but about cold, hard cash,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Along with our partners, both in the United States, and worldwide, we will continue to do all in our power to stop these networks and hold the smugglers accountable.”
“The tragic loss of life in this case is an example of the very real risks people face when they put their lives in the hands of smugglers," said Special Agent in Charge, Francisco B. Burrola, HSI El Paso. "Those responsible for illegally moving people into and through our country place personal profit ahead of public safety. Driven by greed, they have little regard for the health and well-being of their human cargo, which can be a deadly combination.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Harwood prosecuted the case and were assisted by Joint Task Force Alpha Co-Director James Hepburn and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Luis Acosta.
These charges resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is part of the JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Houstonian receives sentence for enticing South Texas minor into commercial sexRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to prison for enticement of a minor online, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Malcolm Lenard Thomas, Houston, pleaded guilty June 21.
Today, U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge ordered Thomas to serve 121 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 15 years of supervised release.
At the time of his plea, he admitted he communicated via Instagram with whom he thought was a 15-year-old female.
He connected with the individual in October 2021. In those conversations, he conveyed his expectations to recruit her to engage in commercial sex in Houston for his own financial benefit, calling it the rules of “the game.”
Through numerous exchanges over social media and other means, he instructed her how to send him money. He then purchased a bus ticket for her to travel to Houston. He made arrangements to pick her up on Oct. 29, 2021. Upon his arrival, law enforcement took him into custody.
In addition to his plea, he also admitted to sending the bus ticket knowing the minor was coming to Houston to engage in commercial sex. He claimed his role would be to provide her with protection.
Thomas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) conducted the investigation.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.
Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack prosecuted the case.
Guatemalan nationals charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliensRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Andres Toj and Hugo Leonel Panjoj-Leon were arraigned in federal court on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Toj, 32, and Panjoj-Leon, 28, both citizens of Guatemala, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaints that preceded the indictment, on Aug. 19, in response to information about possible human smuggling, U.S. Border Patrol agents investigated two rooms at a Las Cruces, New Mexico, hotel. During a search of the rooms, agents located a total of nine undocumented non-citizens. Among them was Toj, who allegedly drove the others to Las Cruces and housed them at the hotel as they awaited transportation to be provided by another person.
On Sept. 7, Border Patrol agents again responded to information regarding possible human smuggling at a hotel in Las Cruces. During a search of three rooms, agents located a total of 12 undocumented non-citizens, including Panjoj-Leon. Like Toj, Panjoj-Leon allegedly transported the others to Las Cruces and housed them at the hotel as they awaited further transportation.
“Transnational criminal organizations thrive when federal law enforcement efforts are siloed and uncoordinated,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “Through partnership, common vision and mutual efforts, Joint Task Force Alpha will bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on those who profit off of the desperation of migrants.”
"These events highlight our commitment to protect our community against the illicit actions of Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said El Paso Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Peter Jaquez. “We could not be as effective as we have been at targeting these individuals without the cooperation of our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, who have assisted us in bringing these ruthless smugglers to justice.”
“Human smugglers conspire to undermine our nation’s immigration laws for their own profit with complete disregard for human life as they treat people like commodities,” said Frank Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “Thanks to the outstanding teamwork between HSI and BP, along with the U.S. Attorney’s office, smugglers will be held accountable for their actions as we work to dismantle the transnational criminal originations that are involved.”
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Toj and Panjoj-Leon face up to 10 years in prison.
These charges resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is part of the JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also part of the Task Force.
U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kristopher D. Jarvis and Matt Ramirez are prosecuting the case.
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Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 17, 2022, Jovante L. Champion (age: 31) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after being convicted at trial of four felony crimes: sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; interstate transportation for prostitution; sex trafficking of a child and by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The evidence at trial proved that Champion was a member of a Milwaukee gang known as “Everything Business,” an offshoot of a violent Chicago-based street gang known as the Black P. Stone Nation. Champion used his position within the gang and false promises of love and financial security to recruit two victims, one when she was 20, and the other after she had just turned 16. Thereafter, Champion used physical force, complex layers of coercion, his possession of a firearm, and the backing of his gang to sell his victims for commercial sex in Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas. Numerous exhibits introduced at trial included Champion’s own words detailing his trafficking crimes. These exhibits included, among other things, text messages and Facebook posts and messages.
At sentencing, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller emphasized the enduring impact of the trauma Champion’s victims experienced, both at the time of the trafficking in 2019, as well as when the victims re-lived those events during trial. Judge Stadtmueller described sex trafficking as a “horrible, pernicious activit[y],” often committed against the most vulnerable in our community, particularly minors. He also commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the local agencies in Wisconsin and Texas, that worked collaboratively to hold Champion accountable.
“The evidence in this case – including his own messages and social media posts – demonstrated that Mr. Champion had no problem abusing and dehumanizing others for his own financial benefit,” stated U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “This office is committed to working with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to support and seek justice for trafficking victims like those upon whom this defendant preyed.”
“Human trafficking is a devastating crime which physically and mentally scars victims for life,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle. “Through the outstanding collaboration of our local, state, and federal partnerships, we will continue to seek justice for all victims and ensure the perpetrators of these crimes face the full consequences of their actions.”
“Human trafficking is a horrific crime, and, with this sentence, the defendant will spend a long time behind bars,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to the outstanding agents and analysts in Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation who worked on this investigation and helped bring the defendant to justice.”
hThe FBI and the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the case with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department and the San Antonio Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Katherine M. Halopka-Ivery prosecuted the case.
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Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, was sentenced on November 7, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Roland Hawk, Jr., age 20, was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hawk was also ordered to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.
Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on August 15, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on May, 28, 2021, in Fort Thompson, wherein Hawk struck a sleeping man several time about the head and face with a pistol. As a result of the assault the victim received a laceration to his head.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.