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Wednesday 21 September 2022
Niagara Falls Man Going to Prison for Possession of Child Pornography and Cutting Off His Ankle MonitorRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Carl Anthony, 69, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography and conversion of government property, was sentenced to serve nine years in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in December 2018, and January 2019, Anthony secretly video-recorded a 12-year-old girl changing and showering in a bathroom. In July 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Anthony's Niagara Falls residence. The two videos were found on a hard drive that was seized during the execution of the search warrant. As a result, in December 2019, Anthony was arrested and charged by criminal complaint, and released on conditions, including the condition that Anthony participate in a home detention program monitored by GPS. In April 2020, Anthony requested to go to the hospital, claiming to possibly have contracted COVID-19, which was approved by his Pretrial Services Officer. After arriving at the hospital, however, Anthony cut his ankle monitor, left the monitor in a mailbox, and fled. On April 14, 2020, Anthony was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in San Diego, California.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; and the Town of Niagara Police Department, under the direction of Chief H. James Suitor.
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New York Woman Sentenced to 15 Months for Bribery Offenses for Illicit Massage ParlorsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Flushing, NY woman was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for making bribe payments to protect her illicit massage parlors in Cary and Wilmington from law enforcement scrutiny in 2020 and 2021. On March 31, 2022, Xiang Yue Jin pled guilty to the charge. She was also fined $50,000 and ordered to forfeit $90,000.
According to court documents, in August 2020, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into illicit massage parlors in Durham, Raleigh, and Wilmington, where clients could obtain sexual services. A source arranged a meeting at which Jin met an HSI agent who was serving in an undercover capacity by posing as a corrupt federal agent. Jin, who owned two illicit massage parlors – one in Cary and one in Wilmington – arranged to pay the undercover agent $2,000 each month to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. From August 2020 until June 2021, Jin paid a total of $18,000 in bribes to the undercover agent. Jin also asked the undercover agent to perform “checks” at competing businesses to scare away customers and possibly allow her to purchase additional parlors at a reduced price, and even asked the undercover agent to invest in additional parlors with her. In April and May 2021, investigators conducted surveillance at Jin’s parlors and initiated traffic stops with clients seen entering and leaving the businesses and nearly every customer admitted to receiving sexual services from the masseuses employed by Jin. On June 16, 2021, with the assistance of numerous law enforcement agencies, HSI led a coordinated takedown across four different federal districts that included the execution of search warrants at eight different massage parlors, multiple residences, and the arrest of six individuals. The takedown included two illicit massage parlors (Cary and Wilmington) owned and operated by Jin, and a Cary apartment Jin leased.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and other state and local investigators.. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00266-BO.
New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York woman pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2022 in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking five kilograms of fentanyl.
Shanese DeJesus, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more fentanyl. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2022. DeJesus was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 5, 2022.
“Lives of real people in our communities are being destroyed by opioids on a daily basis. These are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. Ms. DeJesus trafficked five kilograms of fentanyl, a drug that kills more Americans each year than any other,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We will continue to prosecute anyone who jeopardizes the wellbeing of residents of our Commonwealth by distributing deadly drugs.”
“The state of Massachusetts is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of Massachusetts need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA will aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Ms. DeJesus who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
In October 2021, DeJesus drove from the New York City area to a hotel parking lot in Andover to deliver approximately five kilograms of fentanyl to a cooperating source. Upon arriving in the parking lot, DeJesus retrieved a shopping bag from her trunk and entered the source’s vehicle. Inside the shopping bag were two UPS boxes that were addressed to DeJesus’ home in Brooklyn, N.Y. and contained a total of five kilograms of fentanyl.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine up to $10 million. 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; DEA SAC Boyle; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Colonel Nathan Noyes, Director of the New Hampshire State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
New York Man Sentenced to 20 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Walik Skeete, age 46, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced on September 20, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 20 months’ imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the charge stems from an incident in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police stopped Skeete’s vehicle in Susquehanna County for vehicle code violations and subsequently located a loaded Beretta 9mm pistol in Skeete’s vehicle. Skeete has a prior felony conviction and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the 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.
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Nebraska City Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Tabitha Standley, age 34 of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to 120 months in prison following her plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On October 18, 2021, Standley was arrested at the Horseshoe Casino on an unrelated felony warrant. Officers performed a probable cause search of the Standley’s vehicle and located over 300 grams of methamphetamine which Standley had intended to distribute.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
Moses Lake Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $50,000 in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Dondre Charles Jackson, age 29, of Moses Lake, Washington, pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $49,999 in COVID-19 relief funds. This case is part of the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force launched by the U.S. Attorney’s Office earlier this year. District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Thomas’ guilty plea, and set sentencing for January 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in Spokane, Washington.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided forgivable loans to eligible small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses.
According to the plea agreement and information disclosed in court proceedings, Jackson fraudulently obtained two PPP loans totaling $49,999 for his purported catering and food service business, and submitted fraudulent tax documentation in support of his application. According to the plea agreement and other information disclosed during court proceedings, Jackson’s business was fictitious, the documentation he provided was false and fraudulent, and he was therefore not eligible for any PPP funding.
“COVID-19 relief programs quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, which meant that some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We created the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our communities that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud and bring much-needed accountability to these programs. The Strike Force works to ensure that limited resources are used to protect our local small businesses and the critical jobs and services that they provide for the community.”
In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, and others. Cases investigated and prosecuted by the Strike Force have resulted in numerous indictments, criminal prosecutions, and other penalties.
“I commend the stellar investigative work on these cases performed by the Strike Force and especially in this case by SBA OIG and the Secret Service,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to strengthen our communities by protecting our small and local businesses.”
“In addition to the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General and other Task Force partners, Greg Ligouri, Resident Agent in Charge of the Spokane Office of the U.S. Secret Service, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Moses Lake Police Department for their collaboration in this investigation. RAIC Ligouri went on to say that communities are safer and better served when law enforcement agencies are able to marshal resources as was done in this case.”
The case was investigated by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, and in particular by the SBA OIG and U.S. Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Minden Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Stewart Jerome Messerschmidt, age 60, of Minden, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to two months in prison followed by five years of Supervised Release following his plea to a charge of bank fraud.
Messerschmidt made false statements to Shelby County State Bank (SCSB) regarding collateral for his farm loans. During 2017 and 2018, Messerschmidt also provided false information on applications for Marketing Assistance Loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Messerschmidt’s 2018 farm production. The fraud was discovered during an investigation by SCSB and FSA which showed that Messerschmidt had overstated the grain he produced, had claimed grain belonging to other producers, and falsified the number of cattle he owned.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kymoni Davis, also known as “Money,” 33, of Redford, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis admitted to possessing a Ruger & Co., model P95 DC, 9mm pistol on January 1, 2020. Davis had been ejected from a New Year’s Eve party at the Kulture Hookah Bar in Huntington on December 31, 2019. Sometime after midnight, Davis returned to the bar and fired the pistol through the front door, injuring seven individuals. Davis then fled the scene.
The shooting was captured on surveillance video, which along with statements from witnesses helped to identify Davis. Spent casings at the scene collected by law enforcement officers were later matched with a firearm seized by Charleston Police officers in an unrelated investigation. Davis was arrested in the Detroit area several months later and returned to West Virginia.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Davis knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for uttering and publishing in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Circuit Court on March 26, 2018, false pretenses with intent to defraud in Kent County, Michigan, Circuit Court on May 24, 2018, and delivering a check without account in Wayne County, Michigan, Circuit Court on January 25, 2019.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
“This conviction shows that this office will not tolerate this type of violence around Huntington or any other part of this district,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department for their investigative work and Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey for prosecuting the case.”
“Protecting the public is ATF’s top priority,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of ATF’s Louisville Division. “Working with local police to provide federal resources, like the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, is one of the ways we accomplish our mission. This case demonstrates how violent offenders are removed from the street when they use firearms to commit violent crimes. I commend Huntington Police Department, ATF’s Charleston Field Office, and the prosecution team for their work to bring justice to the victims in this case.”
“The Huntington Police Department, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF and the Cabell County Prosecutor’s Office worked tirelessly to apprehend and prosecute Kymoni Davis,” said Huntington Police Chief Karl Colder. “I am thankful for the partnerships we have with these agencies that lead to such successful outcomes and protect Huntington from this type of gun violence and violent individuals. I also want to thank each of the individual detectives, agents and prosecutors who devote so much time and effort into these violent cases. We will continue working with the Cabell County Prosecutor’s Office to pursue state charges, which will include several violent felonies related to the events of that evening.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.
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. 3:20-cr-18.
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Mexican Drug Trafficker Extradited to the United States on Federal ViolationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Mexican national with dual citizenship has been extradited from Mexico to the United States to face drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Nazario Cavazos-DeLuna, 59, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 14, 2010, and charged with continuing a criminal enterprise; conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, or ecstasy; conspiracy to commit money laundering; using or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Cavazos-DeLuna is a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States, receiving his naturalization in October 1995. Cavazos-DeLuna was arrested in Mexico pursuant to a provisional arrest request by the United States and subsequently, extradited to the United States on Sep. 20, 2022. He appeared in federal court in Plano, Texas on Sep. 21, 2022, for an initial appearance and arraignment and was ordered to be detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, Cavazos-DeLuna is the long-term leader of a large-scale, international organization importing large quantities of multiple types of drugs into the United States from Mexico. The drugs include methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. He was headquartered in the United States but fled to Mexico where he was captured and extradited.
If convicted, Cavazos-DeLuna faces 10 years to life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Cavazos to the United States. Special thanks to the Government of Mexico for their help in the capture and extradition of Cavazos-DeLuna.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Antonio M. Brown, 38, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to 151 months in
prison for distribution of methamphetamine on Monday, September 19, 2022. Following his release
from federal prison, Brown must complete five years of supervised release.
The offense occurred in early February 2021, while Brown was on supervised release for federal
firearms offenses. A federal grand jury indicted Brown on September 21, 2021, for one count of
distribution of a controlled substance. Brown was indicted for distributing crystal methamphetamine
in Sauget, Ill., but evidence showed that Brown was also selling the drug in bulk from his
residence in south St. Louis, Missouri. Children were present in the home while drug transactions
occurred. Based upon evidence of drug dealing activity at his residence, federal agents applied for
and executed a search warrant of Brown’s home. Brown pled guilty on April 14, 2022.“Crystal methamphetamine is dangerous in any amount, no matter where it comes from,” said United
States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “With the assistance of our state and local partners, federal
law enforcement officials will track drug dealers across state lines and hold them accountable for
their crimes. Repeat offenders, like this defendant, who endanger the public are deserving of the
significant sentences they receive.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States
Attorney John Trippi prosecuted the case.
This case 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. Ad itional
information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.Men Who Stole Pistol from Seller in Parking Lot Sentenced to 18+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Two defendants who stole guns from a man in an Arlington parking lot have been sentenced to a combined 18 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Cuedell Javon Henry, 20, and Tyrique Raashad Wesley, 25, were charged via criminal complaint in July 2021. They both subsequently pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. Mr. Wesley was sentenced in May 2022 to 105 months in federal prison; Mr. Henry was sentenced Wednesday to 120 months in federal prison, to run consecutive a 180 month sentence handed down by the state.
“It is legal for hobbyists to sell off a few guns, but we urge them to exercise caution when doing so. Criminals – particularly those legally barred from possessing firearms – will often stop at nothing, including violence, to get their hands on guns,” said U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham.
“Stolen firearms are generally taken by offenders for further criminal use and pose a significant threat to our communities. ATF will continue to work with Arlington Police Department and other partners to investigate and disrupt these crimes,” said ATF Dallas Acting Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2021, Mr. Henry and Mr. Wesley contacted a man who advertised two 9mm pistols for sale on texasguntrader.com, claiming they wanted to purchase the guns. The three men agreed to meet in a parking lot in Arlington.
Once there, the defendants asked if they could examine the firearms. After emptying the chamber of ammunition, the man obliged.
Mr. Henry loaded one of the pistols and pointed it at the victim; meanwhile Mr. Wesley – a convicted felon who was not legally allowed to possess firearms – tucked the other pistol into his waistband. Armed with the two guns, the pair fled the scene in a 2013 Dodge Charger. The seller gave chase, and was able to take down the car’s license plate.
Based on the victim’s descriptions of Mr. Henry’s tattoos, law enforcement identified him. A review of his Instagram account showed him posing with multiple firearms, including a pistol similar to the one that had been stolen.
Law enforcement then located his Dodge Charger at a townhome in Arlington. There, they observed Mr. Henry and Mr. Wesley load a black bag into the vehicle and drive away.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Mr. Wesley, who was driving the vehicle, initially managed to evade them. They found the vehicle abandoned, with the front doors open, a short while later. Eventually, officers located and arrested Mr. Wesley, who gave chase on foot, and Mr. Henry.
Agents found on of the stolen guns inside the Dodge Charger, and another inside the townhome.
In plea papers, both men admitted to possessing the weapons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and the Arlington Police Department’s Gun Crime Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Doug Allen and Alex Lewis prosecuted the case.
Man charged with coercion of a minor in Las CrucesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Shah Mahmood Selab made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor. Selab, 35, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the complaint, on Aug. 12, Selab allegedly approached a 12-year-old boy at Youngs Park in Las Cruces near a local middle school. The victim was sitting on a bench when Selab began asking the victim personal questions, and then invited the victim to sit with him on another bench in the shade. After moving to the other bench, Selab allegedly used his cellphone to show the victim photos and videos that were sexual in nature. Selab allegedly touched the victim inappropriately.
The victim attempted to walk away, but Selab allegedly followed him and punched him in the face multiple times. Selab allegedly asked the victim to get into his vehicle and offered the victim $20 to allow Selab to touch him.
The victim attempted to call 911 and retreated to the restrooms where he closed himself in a stall. The complaint alleges that Selab followed the victim into the restrooms and pulled him from the stall. Selab allegedly locked the restroom door to prevent the victim from leaving, began kissing the victim’s face, and put a $20 bill in the victim’s hand. Selab also allegedly attempted to force the victim to touch Selab.
After another person arrived at the restroom and knocked at the door, the victim escaped from Selab.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Selab faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Maria McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Luzerne County Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dario George, age 31, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking offenses.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges George with four counts of distribution of fentanyl and/or cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The offenses occurred between November 23, 2021 and May 19, 2022, in Luzerne County.
The charges against George resulted from an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Under federal law, George faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Local smuggler sentenced after high-speed ride left six hospitalizedRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 30-year-old Brownsville man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of transporting undocumented aliens within the United States for private financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Manuel Hernandez Jr. pleaded guilty April 13.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Hernandez to serve 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how surveillance video caught Hernandez racing past Garden Park Elementary at 96 mph in a red Chevy Tahoe just 30 minutes before school release.
Seconds later, additional surveillance video shows Hernandez crashing into another vehicle while Hernandez was seen fleeing on foot. The court heard additional testimony regarding the life threatening injuries the other driver sustained - a punctured lung, a damaged vocal cord, severe head trauma, four broken ribs, a broken clavicle, a broken scapula and broken teeth. The government also presented evidence detailing three separate occasions Hernandez admitted to smuggling illegal aliens. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Hernandez will be responsible for paying restitution.
The investigation began after law enforcement saw several individuals circumventing a port of entry and entering a nearby Chevrolet Tahoe. Hernandez was driving the vehicle when it departed from the area at nearly 100 m.p.h.
Hernandez was captured on surveillance video racing past an elementary school and crashing into another vehicle which resulted in the hospitalization of six people. He fled from the scene, but authorities later located him and took him into custody.
Hernandez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol and the Brownsville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Eyes prosecuted the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Leonard C. Woodrum, Jr., 57, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 21, 2022, in federal court in Lincoln. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Woodrum, Jr. to 240 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Woodrum faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison due to a prior conviction for distribution of a controlled substance in Lancaster County District Court. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $16,865 related to the offense. After serving his sentence, Woodrum, Jr. will be placed on supervised release for 10 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On July 9, 2021, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Woodrum Jr. for a traffic violation in Lancaster County. While completing the traffic stop, the trooper did a K9 sniff of Woodrum’s vehicle, and the dog indicated to the presence of narcotics. The vehicle was searched. Methamphetamine was found in the trunk. A lab determined that there was a total of 1,437 grams of methamphetamine mixture seized from the vehicle. Some of that methamphetamine was tested for purity, and the lab determined that it contained at least 730 grams of actual methamphetamine. Cocaine, LSD, MDMA, numerous self-seal baggies, and several scales were also found in the vehicle. A total of $16,865 in cash was seized from Woodrum’s vehicle and his person.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln / Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Las Vegas Man Indicted for Carjacking and Firearm Offenses After Shooting at Police and A Civilian During FlightRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach for two carjackings involving separate victims. The defendant shot at both the victim and police during the second incident.
Justin Venegas (40) is charged by indictment with two counts of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. A jury trial has been scheduled for November 14, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro.
According to allegations made in the indictment, on August 11, 2022, Venegas carjacked an individual who was in a Chevrolet Avalanche. Later, he attempted to carjack a second victim who was in a Toyota Highlander. He shot at and struck the second carjacking victim using a handgun with an obliterated serial number. Venegas is a convicted felon, and he is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for each count of carjacking is 15 years in prison; the statutory maximum penalty for brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence is life in prison; and the statutory maximum penalty for felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Relief Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces Levelle Joseph Harris (36, Kissimmee) has entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with 14 counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Harris had been indicted on June 7, 2022.
According to the court records, between May 27, 2020, and June 2, 2021, Harris applied for 14 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act using false information. As part of Harris’s scheme to defraud, he electronically submitted applications for the PPP loans over the internet, made false representations on his PPP applications, and received proceeds from the loans through wire transfers over the internet. Harris also provided fake supporting documentation for his loan applications. Once his fraudulent applications were approved, he received over $1 million in internet wire transfers that were supposed to be used to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills. Instead, Harris used the money for his personal expenses.
This case is being prosecuted as part the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Justice Department Secures Settlements with CarMax, Axis Analytics, Capital One Bank and Walmart for Posting Discriminatory Job Advertisements on College Recruiting PlatformsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that it entered into another four settlements to resolve claims that companies discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by posting job opportunities with unlawful citizenship status restrictions on college job recruiting platforms. These four agreements add to the department’s recent settlements with 16 other companies to resolve similar claims in June 2022, bringing the total civil penalty amount for all 20 employers to over $1.1 million.
“With these four new settlements, the department has now held 20 companies accountable this year for hiring discrimination against students based on their citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to enforcing the law to ensure that job seekers — including lawful permanent residents, U.S. nationals, asylees and refugees — are not unlawfully excluded from job opportunities for which they are qualified.”
The department’s involvement in these matters began after a Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) student, who was a lawful permanent resident at the time, filed a discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. The student’s complaint alleged that Capital One Bank restricted a paid internship opportunity only to U.S. citizens when it posted the job on a Georgia Tech job recruitment platform. During its investigation, the department learned about dozens of other facially discriminatory advertisements employers posted on Georgia Tech’s job recruiting platform as well as other platforms operated by colleges across the United States. The department proceeded to open investigations of the 20 employers with which it has already settled, and continues to investigate additional employers.
The department’s investigation found that each of the four companies posted at least one job announcement excluding non-U.S. citizens on an online job recruitment platform operated by Georgia Tech. Three of the companies — CarMax, Axis Analytics and Capital One Bank — also posted discriminatory advertisements on other college job platforms. The department determined that the advertisements deterred qualified students from applying for jobs because of their citizenship status, and in many cases the citizenship status restrictions also blocked students from applying or even meeting with company recruiters.
The new settlements require the four companies — CarMax, Axis Analytics LLC (aka Axis Group), Capital One Bank and Walmart — to pay a total of $331,520 in civil penalties, depending on the number of discriminatory advertisements they posted. CarMax will pay $186,480; Axis Analytics will pay $53,872; Capital One Bank will pay $49,728; and Walmart will pay $41,440. In addition to paying civil penalties, the four employers must also require their recruiting staff to undergo training on their obligations under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision and to refrain from including specific citizenship or immigration status designations in their campus job postings unless the restrictions are required by law. They will also ensure that their other recruiting practices and policies comply with the INA’s anti-discrimination provision.
The INA generally prohibits employers and recruiters from limiting jobs based on citizenship or immigration status unless required by a law, regulation, executive order or government contract. The INA protects U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, refugees, asylees, and recent lawful permanent residents from citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing and recruitment or referral for a fee.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. IER’s website has more information on how employers can avoid discriminating based on citizenship status when hiring and recruiting. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
Justice Department Announces More Than $246 Million in Grants for Tribal NationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will award more than $246 million in grants to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to improve public safety and serve crime victims. The announcement coincides with the 17th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation, which is being held from Sept. 21st to 23rd in Anchorage, Alaska.
“Each year, this event serves as a necessary reminder of the violence perpetrated against women in Tribal communities across the country, as well as an important opportunity to confront this public safety crisis with the urgency it demands,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department remains committed to honoring our nation-to-nation partnerships and to making Tribal communities safer.”
The purpose of this event is to solicit recommendations from Tribal leaders on administering Tribal funds and programs and enhancing the safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women from domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, and sex trafficking, along with strengthening the federal response to these crimes. The annual consultation, convened by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), is required by law to address the federal administration of Tribal grant funds and programs established under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and its subsequent reauthorizations. In addition to addressing violent crimes that disproportionately harm women and girls, the consultation will also focus on ways to improve access to local, regional, state, and federal crime information databases and criminal justice information systems.
More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have suffered some form of violence in their lifetime. This equates to nearly three million people who have experienced stalking, sexual violence or physical violence by intimate partners.
“With this 17th annual consultation, the first to be held in Alaska, the Department of Justice honors our special government-to-government relationship with Native leaders,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “We also renew our commitment to listen to these leaders, the ones who know best how to make their communities safer. Together, we can make significant progress toward ending violence against women.”
“Ensuring access to justice for all is at the core of the Justice Department’s mission and is the key objective of multiple efforts across the Department,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Although we have made progress in addressing domestic and sexual violence against people in Native communities, we know there is more work to be done and we are committed to doing it.”
The Tribal grant awards are designed to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, improve the handling of child abuse cases, combat domestic and sexual violence, support Tribal youth programs, and fund an array of services for American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims. The awards are administered through OVW, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).
“Every day, these funds help Tribal governments, coalitions, advocates, and service providers meet survivors’ needs – and that is vital, due to the epidemic levels of violence that Indigenous communities face,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “Tribes know best what interventions will bring justice for survivors. We are honored to support Tribal communities as they implement strategies that align with community values and practices. Tribal grantees have told us that this funding changed the care they can provide and made a profound difference in survivors’ lives.”
OVW will award $28.04 million to 30 grantees under its Tribal Governments Program, which enhances Tribes’ ability to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking against Indian women, support survivor safety, and develop education and prevention strategies. To facilitate the development and operation of nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, $6.38 million will be awarded to 19 grantees through the Tribal Coalitions Program.
OVW will also award seven grants totaling $3.67 million under the Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program, which supports projects to create, maintain, and expand services for sexual assault survivors provided by Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofits within Tribal lands. Finally, under the Tribal Jurisdiction Program, four grants totaling $1.53 million will be awarded to Tribal governments to provide support and technical assistance in planning and implementing changes in their criminal justice systems to exercise special criminal jurisdiction and for expenses incurred in exercising the jurisdiction.
OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has awarded more than $116 million through the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) to support the provision of services for crime victims in Tribal communities. Of special note is that FY 2022 TVSSA funding can now be used to help missing or murdered indigenous persons (MMIP) by providing services to the family members of MMIP victims; generating awareness of MMIP among community members in general as well as individual MMIP cases; and collaborating with Tribal, federal, and state and local officials to respond to MMIP cases. Another $2.95 million was awarded through OVC’s Project Beacon: Increasing Access to Services for Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Victims of Human Trafficking Program, created to increase the quantity and quality of victim-centered services available to assist Tribal victims of human trafficking in urban areas.
The Department also funded more than $6 million through OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking to help tribes comply with federal law on sex offender registration and notification. Once the awards are made, information about the grantees selected under each solicitation can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.
“It is through collaborations such as this that the Department of Justice is able to fully engage and connect with our Tribal partners, hearing directly from Tribal professionals about their challenges and the resources that would best help them meet those challenges,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “It’s a privilege to work hand-in-hand with Tribal leaders to strengthen public safety, improve victim services and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts.”
More than $82.2 million was awarded under the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, or CTAS, a streamlined application which helps tribes apply for Tribal-specific grant programs that enhance law enforcement and Tribal justice practices, expand victim services and support prevention and intervention. CTAS grants are administered by OJP ($54.49 million) and the COPS Office ($27.72 million).
“The COPS Office values our partnership with Tribal law enforcement and is pleased to announce these critical public safety grants,” said Acting Director Robert Chapman of the COPS Office. “Law enforcement across the country is experiencing challenges, and those challenges are particularly compounded for Tribal law enforcement. The awards announced today will help with recruitment and retention of law enforcement positions, and ensure those officers have the training and equipment needed to protect and serve their respective communities.”
Under CTAS, the COPS Office awarded $27.72 million through awards to 47 Tribes to expand the implementation of community policing and meet the most serious needs of law enforcement in Tribal nations through a broadened comprehensive program. The funding can be used to hire or re-hire full-time career law enforcement officers and village public safety officers as well as to procure basic equipment, technology, and training to assist in the initiation or enhancement of Tribal community policing efforts.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Stealing Unemployment Insurance Benefits While IncarceratedRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Illinois man was sentenced to 39 months in prison for using other individuals’ personal identification information to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits while he was incarcerated, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Devontae Stokes, 28, of Country Club Hills, Illinois, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with conspiring to commit wire fraud. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence by videoconference on Sept. 19, 2022.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers). The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (FPUC) that provided an additional weekly benefit to those eligible for PUA and regular unemployment insurance benefits.
Between August 2020 and November 2020, Stokes was incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, a federal correctional institutional with an adjacent satellite camp located in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Stokes and his conspirators obtained personal identification information (PII), including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to other individuals without those individuals’ knowledge and consent. Stokes and his conspirators then used the PII to make fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits applications and obtained more than $140,000 in benefits.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Stokes to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $143,290 and forfeiture in the amount of $143,290.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, in New York; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Reinhold in Newark; and special agents of the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dale Forrester, Cybercrime Investigations Division, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: K. Anthony Thomas Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Idaho white supremacist who assaulted a Black man pleads guilty to hate crime and false statement chargeRead the Press Release
Seattle – An Idaho man pleaded guilty today to hate crime and false statement charges in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Jason Stanley, 46, pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime for his participation in the assault of T.S., a Black man, which occurred because of the man’s actual and perceived race at a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, on Dec. 8, 2018. Three other white supremacists earlier pled guilty for their roles in this assault.
“The defendant, a known white supremacist, singled out and attacked a Black man because of his race - violent, hate-driven conduct that has no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The convictions that we have secured in this case make clear that the Department of Justice will continue to use every resource at its disposal to fight white supremacist violence.”
“The defendants in this case came to Washington state to commemorate their hateful embrace of white supremacy,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington. “But they did not find the welcoming environment they expected. The victim in this case, and those who defended him from the assault, demonstrated one of our core values in Western Washington: hate has no place here. We will continue our work to prosecute those who engage in hate and bias crimes, and to ensure the civil rights of all members of our community. This work is one of the top priorities for the Justice Department, my office, and our law enforcement partners.”
“Mr. Stanley and the other subjects in this case attacked and injured the victim based on his race,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard A. Collodi of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Until all citizens in Washington state feel safe from threats and violence based on their race, ethnicity, gender, or beliefs, the FBI will continue our commitment to investigating federal hate crimes and protecting civil rights.”
In his plea agreement, Stanley admitted that, at the time of the assault, he was a member of a white supremacist group. On Dec. 8, 2018, Stanley entered a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, with others, including members of two related white supremacist groups. Stanley wore clothing and patches indicating his group membership and repeatedly gave “Nazi salutes” inside the bar. While at the bar, Stanley and others assaulted T.S, a Black man who was serving as the disc jockey at the bar. Stanley believed that T.S. was being disrespectful to the members of the white supremacist groups after T.S. objected to group members manipulating his DJ equipment without his permission. Stanley and others punched, kicked, and stomped on T.S., and called T.S. racial slurs. As a result of the assault, T.S. suffered bodily injuries. Two bystanders attempted to intervene to help T.S. and stop the assault. Both bystanders were assaulted by members of the white supremacist groups, and both sustained injuries.
In addition to the hate crime charge, Stanley pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents about the circumstances surrounding the assault. Specifically, Stanley falsely claimed to the agents that he was not even present in the state of Washington during the weekend of the assault. This statement was false, in that Stanley knew he had traveled to Washington to attend a gathering of white supremacists, and while he was there, he participated in the assault of T.S. at the Lynwood bar. Stanley made this false statement to the FBI because he wanted to cover up his involvement in the assault of T.S.
Stanley is scheduled for sentencing on January 6, 2023. The hate crime charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Stanley was charged in an indictment that was unsealed on Dec. 18, 2020. The seven-count indictment also charged three other men, each aiding and abetting one another, with punching and kicking T.S. while making derogatory comments about his actual and perceived race. The indictment further charged Stanley and the three other men with assaulting two men who intervened to protect T.S. during the attack, as well as with making false statements to the FBI during the course of their investigation. The three other men charged in this case, Jason DeSimas, Randy Smith, and Daniel Dorson, have each pleaded guilty in this matter.
The FBI investigated this case with the support of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca S. Cohen for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
Idaho White Supremacist Who Assaulted a Black Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime and False Statement ChargeRead the Press Release
An Idaho man pleaded guilty today to hate crime and false statement charges in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Jason Stanley, 46, pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime for his participation in the assault of T.S., a Black man, which occurred because of the man’s actual and perceived race at a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, on Dec. 8, 2018. Three other white supremacists earlier pled guilty for their roles in this assault.
“The defendant, a known white supremacist, singled out and attacked a Black man because of his race – violent, hate-driven conduct that has no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The convictions that we have secured in this case make clear that the Department of Justice will continue to use every resource at its disposal to fight white supremacist violence.”
“The defendants in this case came to Washington state to commemorate their hateful embrace of white supremacy,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington. “But they did not find the welcoming environment they expected. The victim in this case, and those who defended him from the assault, demonstrated one of our core values in Western Washington: hate has no place here. We will continue our work to prosecute those who engage in hate and bias crimes, and to ensure the civil rights of all members of our community. This work is one of the top priorities for the Justice Department, my office and our law enforcement partners.”
“Mr. Stanley and the other subjects in this case attacked and injured the victim based on his race,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard A. Collodi of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Until all citizens in Washington state feel safe from threats and violence based on their race, ethnicity, gender or beliefs, the FBI will continue our commitment to investigating federal hate crimes and protecting civil rights.”
In his plea agreement, Stanley admitted that, at the time of the assault, he was a member of a white supremacist group. On Dec. 8, 2018, Stanley entered a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, with others, including members of two related white supremacist groups. Stanley wore clothing and patches indicating his group membership and repeatedly gave “Nazi salutes” inside the bar. While at the bar, Stanley and others assaulted T.S, a Black man who was serving as the disc jockey at the bar. Stanley believed that T.S. was being disrespectful to the members of the white supremacist groups after T.S. objected to group members manipulating his DJ equipment without his permission. Stanley and others punched, kicked, and stomped on T.S., and called T.S. racial slurs. As a result of the assault, T.S. suffered bodily injuries. Two bystanders attempted to intervene to help T.S. and stop the assault. Both bystanders were assaulted by members of the white supremacist groups, and both sustained injuries.
In addition to the hate crime charge, Stanley pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents about the circumstances surrounding the assault. Specifically, Stanley falsely claimed to the agents that he was not even present in the state of Washington during the weekend of the assault. This statement was false, in that Stanley knew he had traveled to Washington to attend a gathering of white supremacists, and while he was there, he participated in the assault of T.S. at the Lynwood bar. Stanley made this false statement to the FBI because he wanted to cover up his involvement in the assault of T.S.
Stanley will be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2023. The hate crime charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Stanley was charged in an indictment that was unsealed on Dec. 18, 2020. The seven-count indictment also charged three other men, each aiding and abetting one another, with punching and kicking T.S. while making derogatory comments about his actual and perceived race. The indictment further charged Stanley and the three other men with assaulting two men who intervened to protect T.S. during the attack, as well as with making false statements to the FBI during the course of their investigation. The three other men charged in this case, Jason DeSimas, Randy Smith, and Daniel Dorson, have each pleaded guilty in this matter.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Brown for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with the support of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca S. Cohen for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Terrance Eric Foster, 45, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 15, 2022, law enforcement officers encountered Foster in a vehicle parked off of Morrow Road in Huntington. Foster was wearing an empty gun holster on his hip. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Smith & Wesson, 38 Special caliber revolver in the glove compartment. Foster admitted to possessing the firearm, which was later found to have been stolen.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Foster knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior convictions for domestic violence on a family or household member in Belmont County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas on February 20, 2004, and for domestic violence on a family or household member in Belmont County, Ohio, Northern Division Court on October 9, 2002.
Foster is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-133.
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Howell Township Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Subscribing to False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man who ran an illegal gambling business was sentenced to 18 months in prison for filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Steven Bryce, 52, of Howell Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to Count Five of an indictment charging him with subscribing to a false tax return. U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi imposed the sentence on Sept. 20, 2022, in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2013, Bryce operated an illegal gambling business. On July 14, 2014, Bryce filed with the IRS U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for the calendar year 2013 on behalf of himself and his spouse, which falsely stated that they had total income of $112,899. The 2013 tax return was not true and correct: Bryce received significant income from his gambling business, and, as a result, had income substantially in excess of the amount he reported. As part of his plea agreement, Bryce agreed to pay full restitution of $338,885 to the IRS for tax losses resulting from false tax returns filed by Bryce for calendar years 2011 to 2016.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Bryce to one year of supervised release, a $50,000 fine, and ordered to pay $338,885 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara F. Merin and J Fortier Imbert of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Edward C. Bertuccio Hamilton, New Jersey
Holland Woman Charged with Obtaining Millions in Fraudulent Tax Refund Scheme and Laundering MoneyRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – Teresia M. Jones, 34, of Holland, Ohio, was arraigned today in front of Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay in Toledo, Ohio, after she was charged in a 17-count indictment with one count of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds, two counts of aggravated identity theft and twelve counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, beginning in January 2020, Jones is accused of defrauding the IRS through a wide-ranging tax refund scheme by submitting false and fraudulent tax filings using stolen identities and claiming millions of dollars in improper tax refunds.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Jones laundered the stolen tax funds by purchasing a 2022 Cadillac Escalade for over $150,000, real property for over $850,000 and wedding planning services for $65,000, among other transactions. The indictment also identifies for forfeiture the Cadillac Escalade, a 2022 Dodge Ram truck, two parcels of real property and approximately $320,000 seized from bank accounts.
Jones pleaded not guilty to all counts during the arraignment and was released on bond.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigations (CI) and the United States Secret Service (USSS). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Robert Patton.
Harrisburg Woman Charged with Failing to Collect and Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dary T. Son, age 36, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information yesterday with failing to collect and pay over employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that from June 2015 through August 2019, Son, the owner of Pennsylvania-based temporary staffing company DS Agency, failed to collect and pay on behalf of her employees approximately $591,822.99 in taxes owed to the IRS.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty for this offense under federal law is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine of up to $10,000. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Guilty Verdict in Trial of Florida Man Who Ditched Drugs Out of a Car Window During a High-Speed Chase from Georgia to AlabamaRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Florida man was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday afternoon on all counts of a three-count indictment charging him with the armed distribution of methamphetamine and heroin.
Constantine Varsamas Varazo, II, 31, of Pensacola, Florida, was convicted of one count possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 20. The verdict was reached following a two-day trial that began on Sept. 19 before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. Varazo faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. Co-defendants Robert Louis Perkins, 38, and Taylor F. Perkins, 33, both of Pensacola, previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 18 and Aug. 16, respectively, to possession with intent to distribute heroin. They each face a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing for the defendants is scheduled for Dec. 13.
“The defendant did everything he could to evade justice by dumping multiple bags of dangerous controlled substances and a weapon out of a car window as his co-defendant attempted to flee law enforcement at high speeds; thankfully no one was injured as a result of the defendants’ reckless decisions,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to acknowledge the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit, the Quitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Eufala Police Department for preventing greater harm to citizens and ultimately stopping some of the most addictive and deadly drugs from hitting the streets.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop on the night of March 15, 2020, on a car driven by defendant Robert Perkins; defendant Taylor Perkins was in the passenger seat and Varazo was seated in the back. The traffic stop started on Highway 82 at mile post 17 in Randolph County, Georgia; Perkins initially began to slow down, but increased his speed to over 140 miles per hour. As the vehicle was fleeing, the deputy radioed for assistance as objects were being thrown out of the window of Perkins’ car by Varazo. The chase continued through Quitman County, Georgia, and then into Eufaula, Alabama, where a Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy, with assistance from Eufaula PD, conducted a PIT maneuver, blocking Perkins’ car from escape.
Law enforcement, K-9 Officer Nitro and a citizen ultimately located three bags thrown from the car which contained quantities of suspected ecstasy and marijuana. The suspected ecstasy later tested positive for 4.5 grams of methamphetamine. A fourth bag contained a handgun, 190.47 grams of methamphetamine distributed in seven bags, 27 grams of heroin, a set of scales and Varazo’s cell phone. Varazo paid the Perkins to transport him from Florida to Cordele, Georgia, to purchase drugs.
The case was investigated by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit with assistance from the Eufala, Alabama, Police Department, Quitman County Sheriff’s Office and DEA.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Chief Shanelle Booker is prosecuting the case.
Grand Jury Returns 17-Count Indictment Charging Gerald Brevard III with Murder, Multiple Counts of Assault, and Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was returned today charging Gerald Brevard III with a total of 17 charges, including first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, mayhem while armed, and multiple firearm offenses in the March 2022 attacks on three homeless men in Washington, D.C.
The indictment further alleges that the attacks were bias-related hate crimes on account of the victims' perceived or actual homelessness.
The indictment, returned by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to the indictment, between March 3 and March 9, 2022, Brevard, 31, attacked three men in Washington, D.C. As alleged in the indictment, on March 3, 2022, he assaulted the first victim with a firearm with the intent to kill him. On March 8, 2022, again, while armed with a firearm, Brevard assaulted the second victim with intent to kill him, the indictment alleges. Moreover, the indictment alleges the second victim suffered serious and permanent bodily injury. Finally, according to the indictment, on March 9, 2022, Brevard shot and stabbed Morgan Holmes, 54, resulting in his death. Brevard is to be arraigned on the charges on Oct. 18, 2022, at a hearing before the Honorable Robert Okun.
As a result of the grand jury alleging the murder and assaults were bias-related hate crimes, the defendant may face up to 1 ½ times the maximum term of imprisonment for the murder and assaults if found guilty at trial. In addition, the indictment charges Brevard with “aggravating circumstances,” finding that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. If aggravating circumstances are found by a jury at trial, Brevard faces a maximum of life imprisonment without the possibility of release on the murder charge.
Brevard was arrested on March 15, 2022, in Washington, D.C., following a joint investigation of MPD, the New York City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into the series of shootings targeting homeless men in Washington, D.C. and New York between March 3-12, 2022, that were preliminarily linked by firearms evidence. He has been detained here ever since. The indictment only charges offenses committed in Washington, D.C.
An indictment is merely a formal allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, MPD Chief Robert Contee III, and Special Agent in Charge Patterson commended the efforts of those who have investigated the case from the MPD, ATF, and the New York City Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of the many other agencies that have provided assistance.
They commended the work of those who are handling the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez, Paralegal Specialists Sharon Newman and Lashone Samuels, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, and Litigation Technology Specialist Paul Howell. Finally, they acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Sarah C. Santiago, who are investigating and prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for His Role in Identity Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Georgia man was sentenced in Nevada yesterday to 18 months in prison for participating in an identity theft conspiracy.
Melvin Orellana of Rome, Georgia, was a computer support employee for a company that provided tax software to return preparation businesses throughout the United States. King Isaac Umoren operated Universal Tax Services (UTS), a Las Vegas-based tax preparation firm that used the tax software from Orellana’s company. From approximately May 2016 through Nov. 2017, Orellana conspired with Umoren to steal and transfer taxpayer and personal identifying information from the tax software business. Umoren sought this taxpayer information to falsely inflate UTS’s client base in an effort to fraudulently sell UTS to an unsuspecting buyer. In exchange for the stolen taxpayer data, Umoren agreed to pay Orellana $20,000 after UTS was sold. In Aug. 2017, Orellana provided to Umoren taxpayer data for approximately 12,000 taxpayers whose returns were prepared by businesses using the tax software. In Nov. 2017, Umoren used this taxpayer data to fraudulently sell UTS for $6.7 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon for the U.S. District Court of Nevada ordered Orellana to serve three years of supervised release.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
IRS Criminal-Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Patrick Burns of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Distributing Large Quantities of Drugs in 2010 CaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A man who has been on the run from authorities since 2013 for his role in distributing kilograms of cocaine in Southwest Georgia has pleaded guilty in federal court for his crimes.
Juan Tello, 34, of Monterrey, Mexico, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Sept. 20. Tello faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Tello’s sentencing is expected to occur within 90 days.
“After nearly a decade on the run—and thanks to a U.S. Marshal’s fugitive operation that brought him into custody—Tello is being held accountable for his role in the distribution of many kilograms of controlled substances in Southwest Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to commend our law enforcement partners at every level for their collaboration in this case, and helping us bring a wanted fugitive to justice.”
“This case is a shining example of how DEA and its law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to pursue the far stretching tentacles of drug traffickers who seek to run from justice,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Now that this defendant has been apprehended, he will ultimately spend well-deserved time in prison.”
“Although this cocaine trafficker eluded authorities for years, we are reminded that there is no expiration date on justice. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DEA, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service for their partnership and for seeing this case through,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
According to court documents, a 2010 wiretap investigation of Tello and other named and unnamed co-conspirators into the distribution of cocaine resulted in a controlled buy in Albany on Aug. 8, 2010; agents observed individuals negotiating the price of cocaine and providing a sample eight-ball to a cooperating individual (CI). During later recorded calls between Tello and the CI, Tello stated that he had one kilogram of cocaine ready for immediate delivery and could have another three kilograms within a few days. In additional recorded meetings, Tello complained to the CI that his unnamed co-conspirators had been robbed of approximately ten kilograms of cocaine. A few months after the Aug. 2010 meeting, agents learned co-conspirators were responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in Georgia and to whom. Agents also learned that a co-conspirator arranged for others to commit an armed assault on another co-conspirator transporting eight kilograms of cocaine. Tello was released on bond in Jan. 2013, and failed to appear at court proceedings. In 2022, he was arrested in Texas resulting from a fugitive investigation undertaken by the United States Marshal Service (USMS). Tello is being held accountable for distributing between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case.
Four Former Georgia Correctional Officers Sentenced for Assaults on Inmate and Cover-UpRead the Press Release
Four former supervisory and deputy correctional officers at the Valdosta State Prison in Valdosta, Georgia, were sentenced today in federal court in the Middle District of Georgia for their roles in orchestrating, administering and then seeking to conceal the beating of a handcuffed inmate in their custody. Lieutenant Geary Staten, 31, Sergeant Patrick Sharpe, 30, and Deputy Correctional Officers Brian Ford, 25, and Jamal Scott, 35, were each sentenced to periods of incarceration for their respective roles in the incident. Sharpe was also sentenced for beating a different inmate during a separate incident.
“These officers’ efforts to organize, execute, and then cover up a retaliatory assault on a handcuffed, compliant inmate are an egregious abuse of power,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These sentences make clear that no one is above the law, and that when officers violate the civil rights of people under their supervision – through violence or obstruction – they will be held accountable.”
“This case serves as a reminder that individuals — no matter their status — will be held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary of the Middle District of Georgia. “When sworn officers do violence against inmates, they damage society’s trust in law enforcement and tarnish the reputation of the many worthy individuals who accept the dangerous responsibility of policing our prisons.”
“By violating their oaths, these officers betrayed everyone in law enforcement who works the dangerous jobs behind prison walls,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley for the FBI Atlanta Field Division. “These sentences should serve as a warning the FBI will always pursue charges against anyone who takes an oath but then lowers themselves to the same level as the criminals they are sworn to protect.”
According to court documents and statements made during the sentencing hearings, on Dec. 29, 2018, Sharpe, while on duty, instructed his subordinate officers – Ford and Scott – to assault a handcuffed inmate in retaliation for an earlier altercation between that inmate and a female officer at the prison. Specifically, Sharpe, along with Ford, Scott and several other correctional officers, escorted the handcuffed inmate to an outdoor area on the grounds of the prison for the purpose of assaulting him. Scott and Ford, carrying out a directive from Sharpe, took the inmate to the ground and struck him multiple times in the body. The inmate was handcuffed and compliant at the time of the assault. Following the assault, Staten, who was aware that officers had used unlawful force on the inmate, then took steps to conceal the offense, instead of reporting or otherwise notifying law enforcement. Specifically, Staten expressly directed the involved officers not to write any report regarding the unlawful use of force, and failed to write such a report himself, despite knowing such a report was required.
Sharpe was also sentenced in connection with a second incident, involving the beating of a different inmate that took place several months earlier. Specifically, on Sept. 24, 2018, while on duty as a correctional officer, Sharpe assaulted a handcuffed inmate in retaliation for an earlier interaction between the inmate and a different female officer. While escorting the inmate across the prison grounds, Sharpe wrapped a pair of handcuffs around his fist and punched the inmate three times – twice to the inmate’s face and once to the back of his head. As a result of the assault, the inmate briefly lost consciousness and suffered lacerations to his face and head. The inmate was restrained and compliant at the time of the assault.
At the sentencing hearing, the government noted the substantial assistance provided by Ford and Scott during the investigation, and requested that they receive a lesser sentence as a result of their notable willingness to take responsibility for their conduct and provide honest and helpful information concerning the incident. Federal District Court Judge Hugh Lawson sentenced Sharpe to 48 months in prison; Staten to 14 months in prison; Scott to 12 months in prison; and Ford to 12 months and a day in prison for their respective roles in the offense(s).
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Leary and Special Agent in Charge Farley made the announcement.
The FBI and a local task-force-officer partner investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Nicole Raspa of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Four Former Georgia Correctional Officers Sentenced for Assaults on Inmate and Cover-UpRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Four former supervisory and deputy correctional officers at Valdosta State Prison in Valdosta were sentenced today in federal court in the Middle District of Georgia for their roles in orchestrating, administering and then seeking to conceal the beating of a handcuffed inmate in their custody. Lieutenant Geary Staten, 31, Sergeant Patrick Sharpe, 30, and Deputy Correctional Officers Brian Ford, 25, and Jamal Scott, 35, were each sentenced to periods of incarceration for their respective roles in the incident. Sharpe was also sentenced for beating a different inmate during a separate incident. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley for the FBI Atlanta Field Division made the announcement.
“This case serves as a reminder that individuals — no matter their status — will be held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Leary. “When sworn officers do violence against inmates, they damage society’s trust in law enforcement and tarnish the reputation of the many worthy individuals who accept the dangerous responsibility of policing our prisons.”
“These officers’ efforts to organize, execute, and then cover up a retaliatory assault on a handcuffed, compliant inmate are an egregious abuse of power,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “These sentences make clear that no one is above the law, and that when officers violate the civil rights of people under their supervision – through violence or obstruction – they will be held accountable.”
“By violating their oaths, these officers betrayed everyone in law enforcement who works the dangerous jobs behind prison walls,” said Special Agent in Charge Farley. “These sentences should serve as a warning the FBI will always pursue charges against anyone who takes an oath but then lowers themselves to the same level as the criminals they are sworn to protect.”
According to court documents and statements made during the sentencing hearings, on Dec. 29, 2018, Sgt. Sharpe, while on duty, instructed his subordinate officers – Ford and Scott – to assault a handcuffed inmate in retaliation for an earlier altercation between that inmate and a female officer at the prison. Specifically, Sharpe, along with Ford, Scott and several other correctional officers, escorted the handcuffed inmate to an outdoor area on the grounds of the prison for the purpose of assaulting him. Scott and Ford, carrying out a directive from Sharpe, took the inmate to the ground and struck him multiple times in the body. The inmate was handcuffed and compliant at the time of the assault. Following the assault, Lt. Staten, who was aware that officers had used unlawful force on the inmate, then took steps to conceal the offense, instead of reporting or otherwise notifying law enforcement. Specifically, Staten expressly directed the involved officers not to write any report regarding the unlawful use of force, and failed to write such a report himself, despite knowing such a report was required.
Patrick Sharpe was also sentenced in connection with a second incident, involving the beating of a different inmate that took place several months earlier. Specifically, on Sept. 24, 2018, while on duty as a correctional officer, Sharpe assaulted a handcuffed inmate in retaliation for an earlier interaction between the inmate and a different female officer. While escorting the inmate across the prison grounds, Sharpe wrapped a pair of handcuffs around his fist and punched the inmate three times – twice to the inmate’s face and once to the back of his head. As a result of the assault, the inmate briefly lost consciousness and suffered lacerations to his face and head. The inmate was restrained and compliant at the time of the assault.
At the sentencing hearing, the government noted the substantial assistance provided by Ford and Scott during the investigation, and requested that they receive a lesser sentence as a result of their notable willingness to take responsibility for their conduct and provide honest and helpful information concerning the incident. Federal District Court Judge Hugh Lawson sentenced Patrick Sharpe to 48 months in prison; Geary Staten to 14 months in prison; Jamal Scott to 12 months and a day in prison; and Brian Ford to 12 months and a day in prison for their respective roles in the offense(s).
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Nicole Raspa of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Former manager of Prairie View Federal Credit Union indicted on embezzlement chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Prairie View woman has been indicted on charges of embezzlement from elderly customers, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gloria Jean Hall She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 pm.
A federal grand jury returned the four-count indictment Sept. 15.
The charges allege Hall was the manager at Prairie View Federal Credit Union from February 2000 to August 2020. Beginning in 2010, she allegedly embezzled approximately $211,563 from elderly account holder funds. She created loans totaling nearly $791,000, withdrew the loans and cashed $76,772 in numerous unauthorized checks from accounts at the credit union for her own personal use and benefit, according to the indictment.
Hall allegedly fraudulently formed 58 nominee loans by creating fake share loans in the names of relatives and friends. She transferred money across the loans to make payments among them, according to the charges. She also allegedly created fake monthly loan statements and moved funds mainly from elderly credit union members into the accounts of her relatives and friends.
Hall is charged with three counts of embezzlement by a credit union employee and one count of making false entries in the financial records of the credit union.
If convicted, Hall faces up to 30 years in prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
The credit union existed for approximately 85 years. It was one of the oldest continually operational federal credit unions established by a historically black college and university in the United States until its failure and merger with the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union in early 2022.
The FBI – Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quincy L. Ollison is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Spring Lake Public Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over Half a Million Dollars from TownRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – The former finance director and accounting technician for the Town of Spring Lake, Gay Cameron Tucker, pled guilty today to embezzling over $500,000 from the Town of Spring Lake between 2016 and 2021.
“Public officials are entrusted to protect public funds,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant breached the public’s trust by using public funds intended for her local community to pay her own personal expenses. Public corruption is a crime that affects all of us and undermines our public institutions. Our office will continue partnering with law enforcement to investigate allegations of public corruption in any form.”
Tucker, 64, of Fayetteville, wrote checks from the Town’s bank accounts for her personal use, forging the signatures of other town officials, including the mayor and town manager. These forged checks were made payable to herself, used to cover her personal expenses, and deposited into bank accounts she controlled.
Tucker pled guilty to one count of Embezzlement from a Local Government Receiving Federal Funds, and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft. Tucker faces up to 12 years in prison.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Gilmore and Karen Haughton are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No 5:22-CR-00118.
Former Postal Employee Sentenced to 13 Months in Prison for Fraud in Connection with Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was sentenced to 13 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Khaori Monroe, 29, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud. Judge Neals imposed the sentence by videoconference on Sept. 20, 2022.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Monroe was employed as a mail carrier with the USPS. From July 2020 through October 2020, Monroe and others stole credit/debit cards containing unemployment insurance benefits from a location in New Jersey. Monroe and others then activated the cards and used the cards to obtain more than $40,000.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced Monroe to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $53,321.05 and forfeiture in the amount of $24,924.16.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone in Manhattan; and postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Khari O. Moore Esq., Newark, New Jersey
Former Craighead County Clerk Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Former Craighead County Clerk Jacob Kade Holliday was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison today for taking more than $1.5 million in county money for his personal use. Holliday, 34, of Jonesboro, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge James M. Moody, Jr., who also imposed three years of supervised release after Holliday completes his prison term.
In June 2020, Craighead County officials reported that a theft had occurred from the Craighead County Clerk’s office. The bank that managed the Clerk’s office account had flagged suspicious activity, and auditors concluded that approximately $1,579,057.03 was missing and had been moved to Holliday’s personal banking accounts.
Law enforcement interviewed Holliday, who admitted to taking the money to fund his businesses: Holliday Development and Management, LLC, and Total Healthcare, LLC, both of which operated restaurants and coffee shops in Jonesboro. Holliday told investigators he planned to pay the money back, but once the COVID-19 pandemic caused most of his businesses to close, he could not replace the money.
Holliday was indicted in December 2020, when a grand jury charged him with 11 counts of wire fraud for each withdrawal he made from the county account. He pleaded guilty in February of this year and acknowledged that his method was to make a transfer from the county account to one of his personal accounts and then get a cashier’s check from his personal account for the same amount. He pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the indictment, which charged him with wire fraud for his first fraudulent transfer of $101,782.97 on January 29, 2020. In his plea agreement, Holliday agreed to pay $1,579,057.03 in restitution to Craighead County.
Holliday is currently serving a 120-month sentence in a state case for forgery, and Judge Moody ordered that his federal sentence will not begin until the state sentence is completed. The FBI, Arkansas State Police, and Craighead County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Allison W. Bragg prosecuted the case.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Former Airman sentenced to five years in prison for child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Nicholas Anthony Bianco was sentenced on Sept. 20 to five years in prison. Bianco, 38, pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to distribution of child pornography.
In September 2019 and March 2020, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) received notifications from KIK, a social media platform, of a user sending suspected child pornography through the app. The user account was associated with Bianco, who was a Technical Sergeant with the United States Air Force at the time of his arrest on Oct. 15, 2020. On May 8, 2020, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) executed a search warrant on Bianco’s residence in Alamogordo, New Mexico, seizing multiple digital items including an iPhone. A forensic analysis of the phone revealed child exploitation material.
In his plea, Bianco admitted that he used the phone and the KIK app to send two videos that he knew were child pornography. Bianco acknowledged that the victim in one of the videos was one to three years of age.
Upon his release from prison, Bianco will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
HSI investigated this case with assistance from NMSP and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The ICAC Task Force Program is a nation-wide network of task forces including over 90 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in New Mexico dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to Internet crimes against children.
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Florida Man Convicted in Business Email Compromise and Money Laundering Scheme Targeting Hedge FundRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict against MUSTAPHA RAJI for his participation in a $1.7 million business email compromise and money-laundering scheme that targeted a Manhattan hedge fund. RAJI was convicted on four counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, receipt of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. RAJI was convicted after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman which lasted approximately one week. RAJI was previously arrested on December 20, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Email scams that target businesses in this District will not be tolerated. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to zealously prosecute online scammers abroad, and the U.S.-based money launderers they work with, to protect American businesses.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
RAJI participated in an international fraud ring that conducted phishing and other email fraud campaigns. One of those campaigns involved the July 2018 compromise of the business email account of a hedge fund founder in New York. That compromise resulted in the fraudulent diversion of a $1.7 million wire transfer from the hedge fund to a corporate bank account used to facilitate the scheme. RAJI was a registered officer of the company that received the stolen funds, he fabricated documents to cover up the fraudulent transfer of funds from the hedge fund, and he directed a co-conspirator to launder the stolen funds to other co-conspirators domestically and overseas. RAJI took a $50,000 cut for his participation in the scheme.
* * *
RAJI, 52, of Hollywood, Florida, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
RAJI is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Furman on January 11, 2023, at 3:15 p.m.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine Ghosh, Jilan Kamal, Dina McLeod, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- September 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2022 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Sheamiah Krystin Atkins. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Atkins, 40, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted the victim with a firearm with intent to do bodily harm on Aug. 21, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-318
Tristan Barlow; Zachary Caughron; Natalie Foutch; Richard Markham; Kolby Milford; Christopher Ruff; and Jacob Shoate. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 2-7). Barlow, 30; Caughron, 30; Foutch, 20; Markham, 35; Milford, 27; Ruff, 30; and Shoate, 21, all of Tulsa, allegedly conspired together to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute clonazolam. Each defendant is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Tonkin and Niko A. Boulieris are prosecuting the case. Find the initial press release announcing charges here. 22-CR-317
Jared Matthew Barnett. Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident in Indian Country (Count 1); Driving Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Substance in Indian Country (Counts 2,3). On Aug.24, 2022, Barnett, 27, of Glenpool, is alleged to have caused an accident while driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance other than alcohol, failed to render reasonable assistance to the victim, and failed to remain at the scene of the accident. On Aug. 25, 2022, Barnett was involved in a single-vehicle accident and was allegedly found to be driving while under the influence of an intoxicating substance other than alcohol. The FBI and Glenpool Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-332
David Cortez-Gomez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cortez-Gomez, 26, a Mexican nation, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Oct. 4, 2017, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-319
Waylon Cody Johnson. Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Robbery in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Simple Assault (Misdemeanor). On Aug. 21, 2022, Johnson, 32, of Bixby, allegedly robbed a Subway restaurant using a replica firearm and threatened violence against an employee who was younger than 16-years-old. The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-320
Gustavo Martinez-Cruz. Reentry of a Removed Alien. Martinez-Cruz, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on July 24, 2012, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-330
Justin Eli Muncy. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion; Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion (superseding). Muncy, 46, of Lawton, allegedly attempted to coerce an individual he believed to be a minor into engaging in sexual activity from Jan. 27, 2022, to April 14, 2022. Instead, he was messaging an undercover agent. Muncy committed the alleged crime while he was a registered sex offender. In this superseding indictment he is further charged with coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity using electronic means from Oct. 10, 2021, to on April 14, 2022. He is further charged with having the minor engage in sexual acts for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the acts; receipt and distribution of child pornography; and with tampering with a witness who was scheduled to testify in court proceedings. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-187
Andrew Don Rector. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country. From May 3, 2022, to May 4, 2022, Rector, 32, of Keifer, is alleged to have kidnapped, strangled and sexually assaulted the victim. The FBI and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Cymetra M. Williams are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-331
Bobby Jean Shanks II. Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of an Incapable Victim in Indian Country (superseding). From December 2006 to Dec. 11, 2010, Shanks, 44, of Inola, is alleged to have knowingly engaged in and caused sexual contact with a child. He is further charged with sexually abusing the child when she was between 12 and 16 years old. Finally, between September 2015 and August 2017, he allegedly sexually abused a victim who was physically incapable of declining participation in and communicating unwillingness to engage in those sexual acts. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-110
Michael Wayne Tiffany; James Allen Quapaw. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Counts 1,4); Sale and Disposal of a Firearm to a Prohibited Person (Count 2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 3,8); Possessing and Selling Stolen Firearms (Count 5); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 6); Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 7) (third superseding). Quapaw, 41, of Miami, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger .270 caliber rifle and four rounds of ammunition from Dec. 30, 2021, to Jan. 4, 2022. Quapaw is also charged with selling the firearm and ammunition to Tiffany, 37, of Miami, who is a prohibited person. From Dec. 30, 2021, to Jan. 4, 2022, Tiffany allegedly possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Tiffany is further charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger .270 caliber rifle, a Remington .243 caliber rifle and eight rounds of ammunition on Jan. 5, 2022. Tiffany and Quapaw are both charged with aiding and abetting each other to possess and sell the Ruger .270 caliber rifle, Remington .243 caliber rifle and eight rounds of ammunition on Jan. 5, 2022. Tiffany is also charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 16, 2022, and for possessing a firearm during the crime. Additionally, Quapaw is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John E. Brasher and Thomas E. Buscemi are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-222
Johnny Lee Summers. Production of Child Pornography; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country (superseding). Summers, 22, of Cushing, is charged with three counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. He is further charged with using electronic communications to coerce the minor to engage in sexual activity. He is also charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with the minor between the ages of 12 and 16 from February 2021 to January 2022. Finally, he is charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with the minor when the victim was between the ages of 12 and 16 from February 2021 to January 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria G. Luster and Chantelle D. Dial are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-165
Kahlyah Ashlynn White. Child Abuse in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country. White, 21, of Bartlesville, is charged with abusing three children under the age of 18 and neglecting to protect the children from exposure to illegal activity. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Tonkin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-329
Erie Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Kenneth L. Blanks, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Blanks received and possessed computer images and movies depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Jan. 30, 2023, at 1:00 pm. The law provides for a total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Blanks on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Blanks.
Erie Felon Sentenced for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to time served on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Elias Dominique Raggs, 29, who has been incarcerated since his arrest on February 16, 2021.
According to information presented to the court, on or January 12, 2021, Raggs possessed a firearm while being a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul. S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Raggs.
Erie Felon Illegally Possessed a FirearmRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
William Anthony Eldridge, 58, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about May 18, 2020, Eldridge possessed a firearm while being a convicted felon.
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.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Jan. 30, 2023, at 1:45 pm. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Erie Police Department and the Erie Law Enforcement Crime Task Force-Gun Working Group conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Eldridge. The Erie Law Enforcement Crime Task Force-Gun Working Group is a multi-agency taskforce consisting of federal, state, county and local law enforcement partners and agencies that formed in 2015 to combat gun violence in the Erie area.
El Paso Woman Charged with Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
EL PASO – An El Paso woman was arrested this week at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry on criminal charges related to her alleged assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
According to court documents, Shailene Ashanty Gutierrez, 19, entered the U.S. from the Republic of Mexico at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. Gutierrez was a passenger in a vehicle where a small quantity of marijuana and empty rifle magazines were located. The vehicle was sent to secondary inspection and Gutierrez was detained pending further investigation. While detained, Gutierrez became aggressive and kicked and caused injury to two Customs and Border Protection officers.
Gutierrez is charged by federal criminal complaint with one count of assault on a federal law enforcement officer. If convicted, Gutierrez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Gutierrez is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday, September 22, at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Miguel Torres.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Frank Burrola, El Paso Division made the announcement.
HSI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley M. Serwatka is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Echo Park Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Charges for Attempting to Sexually Traffic Two Children and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Echo Park man has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges for using an online messenger app to attempt to sexually traffic two children – ages 7 and 9 – and for distributing sexually explicit images of children, the Justice Department announced today.
Francisco Anthony Dorame, 41, a.k.a. “dadboss99,” a.k.a. “SEXYCONN,” is charged in an information with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child under 14 years old and one count of distribution of child pornography. He has agreed to plead guilty to the charges.
Dorame is expected to appear Thursday for his arraignment in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint in this matter on August 23.
According to his plea agreement filed Tuesday, in May 2022, Dorame used Kik Messenger, a social media messaging platform, to knowingly attempt to traffic two minor children – ages 7 years old and 9 years old. During a Kik conversation, Dorame made two payments, totaling $100, to a person who had access to the victims. Among other things, Dorame requested photographs of the victims, expressed his desire to “play with them right away” upon meeting up, and set a specific date, time, and location for the meeting.
Dorame further admitted in his plea agreement that in April 2022 he used Kik to distribute sexually explicit images of children between the ages of 4 years old and 6 years old.
Once Dorame enters a guilty plea to the criminal charges, he will face a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu and Scott M. Lara of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Any member of the public who has information related to this matter is encouraged to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Drug traffickers sent to prison for transporting narcotics in car batteriesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Five members of a drug trafficking organization have received significant sentences their convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Felipe De Jesus Garcia, 31, Laredo, pleaded guilty Feb. 3, while Manuel Orozco-Ambriz, 48, also of Laredo, and Mexican national Erick Cuellar-Rodriguez, 31, each pleaded guilty Sept. 9, 2021. Cesar Juarez-Romero, 24, and Jose De Jesus Morales, 37, both Mexican nationals with no legal presence in the United States, pleaded guilty Oct. 4 and Dec. 10, 2021, respectively.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed a 360-month term imprisonment for Orozco-Ambriz for the drug trafficking conviction as well as another 24 months for violating the terms of his supervised releases for a prior conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently for a total 30-year-prison term. The court ordered Cuellar-Rodriguez to serve 210 months in prison, while De Jesus Garcia and Juarez-Romero received 51 and 108 months in prison, respectively. Judge Saldana will sentence De Jesus Morales at a later date.
In handing down the sentences, the court noted the significant quantity of illegal drugs coming across the border and acknowledged the significant threat to the public and the court’s role in deterring others who would engage in similar conduct.
In 2018, law enforcement initiated an investigation into a drug distribution network that was responsible for transporting narcotics concealed within car batteries from Mexico into the United States.
Orozco-Ambriz and Cuellar-Rodriguez coordinated the transportation and delivery of multiple car batteries containing meth across the border into Laredo. Law enforcement had identified Juarez-Romero, De Jesus Morales and De Jesus Garcia as they delivered the drug laden items.
As a result of the investigation, authorities seized approximately 44 kilograms of pure meth and one kilogram of heroin.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Protection conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Fox Hound with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and La Salle County Sheriff’s Office. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted the case.
Drug trafficker sentenced to 10 months in prisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Andy Cordova was sentenced on Sept. 20 to 10 months in prison. Cordova, 33, of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on March 2 to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
On July 5, 2020, Cordova was detained by Ohkay Owingeh Casino and Hotel security personnel on suspicion of possessing or distributing drugs on the premises. Cordova was arrested for drug trafficking after law enforcement executed a search warrant for his hotel room and discovered 16.96 grams of heroin.
Upon his release from prison, Cordova will be required to successfully complete treatment at the Santa Fe Recovery Center. Cordova also will be subject to three years of supervised release, to include outpatient mental health counseling.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.
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Doctor and Office Manager Convicted for Health Care Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania man and woman today for a scheme to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for the referral of prescription medications.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven J. Valentino, 65, of Haverford, and Michele Miller, 53, of Swarthmore, a doctor and his office manager, respectively, participated in an incentivized prescribing scheme involving injured federal workers and Medicare beneficiaries. Valentino and Miller received kickbacks for referring, ordering, and arranging for medications – including expensive compound medications – to be filled by a Houston pharmacy. Between May 2013 and July 2017, the pharmacy billed the Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) and Medicare approximately $2.5 million and was paid approximately $1.1 million for prescriptions referred, ordered, and arranged by Valentino and Miller in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks.
Valentino and Miller were both convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and each was also convicted of two counts of receiving health care kickbacks. They are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 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; Special Agent in Charge Syreeta Scott of the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Jeff Krafels of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) Mid Atlantic Area Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Region made the announcement.
DOL-OIG, USPS-OIG, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Acting Assistant Chief Debra Jaroslawicz and Trial Attorney Kelly M. Lyons of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 16 strike forces operating in 27 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Dedham Veterinarian Agrees to Pay $15,000 Settlement to Resolve Allegations of Inadequate Recordkeeping of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dedham veterinarian has agreed to resolve allegations that he maintained inadequate records of controlled substances, improperly stored controlled substances at his office and residence, ordered controlled substances without a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, and failed to report he was on probation on his DEA registration forms.
Wilbur M. Salter, II D.V.M., a veterinarian who practices at Animed Pet Hospital in Dedham, has agreed to pay $15,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the civil remedies provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA was enacted to prevent the diversion or misuse of controlled substances and requires complete and accurate recordkeeping by medical professionals—including veterinarians—and others involved in the distribution and administration of controlled substances.
According to the settlement agreement, Dr. Salter admitted that he did not furnish required records with respect to Euthanasia Solution, Ketamine, Diazepam 5mg, Hydrocodone liquid, and Diazepam 1mg in connection with a 2019 DEA audit of controlled substances at his practice. As a result, the investigators found CSA violations with respect to these controlled substances. Dr. Salter also admitted that he stored controlled substances at his residence, but did not register his residence with the DEA; improperly stored Tramadol, a controlled substance, in an unlocked cabinet; ordered a schedule IV controlled substance after he no longer held a DEA registration; and did not report that the Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine had placed him on probation on his subsequent DEA registration forms, as required.
“It is essential that all prescribers—including veterinarians—keep accurate records of controlled substances so that we can identify and prevent any diversion, especially in the midst of a rampant and destructive opioid epidemic,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We will enforce compliance of these important safeguards.”
“The DEA is committed to ensuring that all registrants are in compliance with the required regulations, which are enforceable through the Controlled Substances Act,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, Boston Division. “Failure to do so increases the potential for diversion and jeopardizes public health and public safety. DEA pledges to work with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure these rules and regulations are followed.”
During the investigation, Dr. Salter surrendered his DEA registration number and, as part of the settlement, agreed that he would not seek a new DEA registration number.
U.S Attorney Rollins and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head of Rollins’ Civil Division handled the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Craig Parham, 41, has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for drug
trafficking. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.According to information presented in court, from September 2017 through March of 2020, Craig
Parham and his co-conspirators formed a group named the Smokey City Bullies or SCB. This group
distributed illegal narcotics in the North Memphis (Smokey City) area of Memphis, TN. Most of these
individuals displayed their affiliation to the Smokey City Bullies through their Facebook accounts.Furthermore, these Facebook accounts depicted these individuals displaying SCB memorabilia, inside
of locations where controlled purchases during this investigation have been made, and in front of
other locations where state search warrants have been previously executed. They also posted
photographs of themselves displaying drugs, guns, and cash.The SCBs primarily sold illegal narcotics out of two residences in Smokey City. The first residence
was a duplex on North Dunlap St., Memphis, TN. The second residence was located on Keel Avenue,
Memphis, TN. Members of the Smokey City Bullies worked rotating shifts to sell illegal narcotics
to customers at those houses. These residences were around the corner from one another, and their
backyards were adjacent.This long-term investigation involved confidential informants, undercover buys, undercover
surveillance, and Facebook search warrants. Craig Parham participated in the following controlled
buys: On December 19, 2019, Parham possessed in his waistband a revolver when he sold approximately
54 grams of a cocaine base to an undercover ATF agent. On March 4, 2020, Parham sold approximately
28 grams of a cocaine base and 14
grams of powder cocaine to an undercover ATF agent inside on Dunlap, Memphis, TN.Craig Parham pled guilty on May 3, 2022.
On September 15, 2022, U.S. Senior Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Parham to 15 years
imprisonment to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal
system.Assistant United States Attorneys P. Neal Oldham and Wendy K. Cornejo prosecuted this case on
behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Micah Moore, 31, of Indianapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a machinegun and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on July 17, 2022, Moore was in possession of three auto sears as well as multiple live rounds of ammunition. Auto sears are conversion devices designed and intended to convert semiautomatic rifles into fully automatic machineguns. Such devices qualify as machineguns, which are prohibited under federal law. Moore also has three prior felony convictions in state court, including one conviction for robbery and another for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Moore is federally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of these convictions.
Moore made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Massa who is prosecuting the 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.