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13 October 2022
Arkansas Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Larry Arthur King, 39, of Texarkana, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 19, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop along U.S. Route 119 in South Charleston of a vehicle in which King was a passenger. King admitted to possessing approximately 690 grams of methamphetamine found in his backpack, and that he intended to distribute that methamphetamine. Later that day, officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston hotel room where King was staying. King admitted to possessing approximately 446 grams of methamphetamine, more than 160 grams of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine, and two pistols found during the search.
King has a long criminal history among four states that includes 17 criminal convictions. Five of those prior convictions were for felony offenses, including controlled substances crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-121.
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Allen Park Man Convicted of Fentanyl/Heroin Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
DETROIT - An Allen Park man was convicted today by a federal jury in Port Huron on charges of possessing fentanyl and heroin with the intent to distribute them, maintaining a drug premises, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining Ison in the announcement was Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Found guilty was Robert Cortez Burrell, 52. The five-day trial was conducted before United States District Judge Robert H. Cleland. The jury deliberated less than an hour before returning their verdicts. Brown faces at least ten years in prison, up to life, when he is sentenced, likely early next year.
According to the evidence presented at trial, DEA agents began investigating Burrell in the fall of 2020. During their investigation, they learned he was storing and manufacturing drugs using two houses in Lincoln Park and his personal residence in Allen Park, as well as distributing fentanyl and heroin in Michigan and Ohio. On December 10, 2020, DEA agents executed warrants at the three houses, resulting in the discovery of more than 800 grams of fentanyl; over 300 grams of heroin (some of which was a fentanyl/heroin mix); cutting and narcotics packaging materials; a Sterling semi-automatic pistol; 15 rounds of .25 Auto ammunition; a half-kilo press with heroin residue; a grinder with fentanyl residue; another grinder with heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl residue; and approximately $15,000 in cash.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, and two milligrams is typically considered a potentially lethal dose. So, Burrell had, conservatively, about 400,000 lethal doses of the drug. According to the CDC, in the twelve-month period ending December 2020, more than 92,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses. Products - Vital Statistics Rapid Release - Provisional Drug Overdose Data (cdc.gov). 75% of U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid.
“Our office will vigorously pursue opioid traffickers who inject poisons like fentanyl and heroin into our community and we will do all we can to stop them from continuing to destroy the lives of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who suffer from substance addiction” said Ison.
This investigation was led by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration assigned to the Detroit Field Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jihan Williams and John O’Brien.
20-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 40-Years of Imprisonment for Armed Robberies, Carjackings, and Four MurdersRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On October 12, 2022, U.S. District Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa sentenced Nycole Amaury Rosario-Sánchez to 40 years in prison for committing three robberies and two carjackings during which four victims were murdered.
“This defendant, who senselessly killed victims just to rob them, has today been brought to justice through the imposition of a significant sentence,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that those who threaten our communities with acts of violence face the consequences of their actions.”
When he pled guilty on May 27, 2022, Rosario-Sánchez admitted that on January 4, 2018, he robbed Pizzería de Fernan in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, and wounded an employee and a client. Defendant Rosario-Sánchez also recognized that on January 11, 2018, during the robbery of the food business El Invader on Highway #1 in San Juan, PR, he shot and killed an employee. His plea included the confession to his participation in the January 13, 2018 carjacking of an all-terrain motorcycle at a Puma station in Santurce where he shot the driver, who died from the injuries.
The criminal conduct for which he was sentenced also included the January 14, 2018, robbery of a food business called Tripletas Mixtas Ruiz in Cidra, PR, during which several employees were shot and where one employee died. On that same day, the defendant and others carjacked a 2010 Toyota Tacoma and shot the driver, who also died from the gunshot wounds. Rosario-Sánchez was a minor when he committed these heinous crimes, and he was aided and abetted by others. However, in accordance with Department of Justice procedures, he was prosecuted as an adult.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried prosecuted the case. The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau conducted the investigation and supported the prosecution.
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12 October 2022
Zuni man charged with murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Brian Wallace made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 11 on a criminal complaint charging him with murder in Indian Country. Wallace, 44, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Oct. 13.
According to the complaint, Wallace allegedly killed a victim, identified as John Doe, and buried him at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo on an unknown date. The victim was an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Wallace faces up to life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Phoenix Field Office and Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Woodville Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Two Woodville men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in Wilkinson County, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Warren Jerome Goss, Jr. a/k/a “Jay,” 25, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Michael Jackson a/k/a “Bear,” 45, was sentenced on May 3, 2022, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Both men were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Natchez, Mississippi.
According to court documents, an investigation into a drug distribution operation revealed Goss and Jackson conspired to and did distribute methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride in Woodville. Between October, 2019, and June, 2020, undercover ATF agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine hydrochloride from Goss and Jackson.
Goss and Jackson were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 26, 2021. Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway.
Wilmington Felon Receives Six Years in Prison for Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for illegal firearm possession. On June 24, 2022, Quemar Deshawn Wooten, age 35, pleaded guilty to the Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in February of 2021, members of the Wilmington Police Department received several complaints regarding narcotics sales and people with firearms on the porch of a residence on Meares Street. Officers conducted surveillance on the residence over several days and it was apparent that drug transactions were being conducted. On February 27, 2021, officers approached the residence and made contact with Michael Hines, Quemar Wooten, and another individual on the front porch. During their investigation, officers located a stolen firearm in Wooten’s waistband and another firearm underneath a sweatshirt belonging to Hines.
Hines pleaded guilty to firearms charges on August 12, 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, the Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover Sheriff’s Department investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. 7:22-cr-00055-FL.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice Announce Results in Continued Efforts to Protect Older Adults from Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and the U.S. Department of Justice, announced the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from financial fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department, and their law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims.
“We will continue to prioritize prosecution of fraudsters who prey upon the finances of older adults,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “These despicable scams often exploit the trust and love of our seniors and deprive them of their hard-earned savings and security. We will work to hold those who commit these crimes accountable and to return ill-gotten gains to victims of fraud.”
“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion of our efforts builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”
During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.
Over the past year, the Department pursued numerous cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as a grandchild or other family member, or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. At the recent sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice are working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.
For example, in 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted Edwin Agbi, of Indiana, for defrauding senior victims as part of a broad, international scheme. Agbi worked with an international group of scammers to create fake profiles on OurTime, an online dating service designed for adults over 50. The scammers were able to deceive several senior victims, making them believe that they were in genuine romantic relationships with the fake personas. Eventually, the scammers asked the victims for money, explaining that they needed funds for various reasons, including taxes and travel expenses. The victims sometimes sent the requested money. Agbi received money from the victims and passed it along to his co-conspirators.
Agbi was charged with various federal fraud and money laundering offenses. On March 2, 2022, he was found guilty following a three-day federal jury trial. On August 25, 2022, he was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $95,500 in restitution to his victims. Agbi was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Miller and MaryAnn T. Mindrum.
Also in 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted five people who organized a nation-wide “Grandparent Scam.” From at least April 2020 and continuing through January 2021, Jasaun Pope, Darlens Renard, Princess Elizer, Jennifer Glemeau, and Kareem Brown exploited the elderly and their relationships with their relatives for personal financial gain. This sophisticated criminal network, through extortion and fraud, induced elderly Americans across the United States to pay tens of thousands of dollars to help their grandchild or other close family relative in a “Grandparent Scam.”
Unidentified members of the conspiracy made scam telephone calls to elderly victims in Indiana and nationwide claiming that their grandchild or other relative had an urgent legal or medical problem and needed money immediately. The caller, who often claimed to be an attorney, police officer, or other authority figure, told the victims to send an overnight delivery of cash to help the purported relative in need—typically between $5,000 and $15,000—to a delivery address used by the conspiracy. Once they received the money, the conspirators divided the criminal proceeds amongst themselves.
All five members of the conspiracy have signed agreements to plead guilty for their roles in the offense. On August 23, 2022, Jasaun Pope was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $554,574.02 in restitution to the victims. The four other members of the conspiracy are awaiting sentencing. This fraud conspiracy is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys MaryAnn T. Mindrum and Nicholas J. Linder.
The Department of Justice also highlighted its successes in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams. In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 160,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $62 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million because of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana has also been committed to taking assets from criminals and returning them to victims. Thus far in 2022, the office’s Asset Recovery Unit has divested criminals of $732,609 worth of assets that are the fruits of their crimes. The office has collected $2,631.606 in criminal debts, including restitution owed to victims and fines owed to the court, and $1,950,427 in civil debts recovered for victims of crime and the United States.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.
Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), community organizations, and law enforcement partners in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. According to OVW, domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels and occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. It can also happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating or share a child.
Speaking this morning in Asheville at Helpmate’s Inc.’s annual domestic violence awareness event, U.S. Attorney King addressed an audience of more than 300 service providers and victim advocates, business leaders, community members, and law enforcement partners about the pervasiveness of domestic violence, and expressed her gratitude to the individuals and organizations that offer services, critical care, and protection to victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
“We have a shared responsibility to combat all forms of domestic violence and use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that victims and survivors have a viable path to safety and justice,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms laws, and enhancing victims’ and survivors’ access to justice by providing much-needed federal resources to organizations that work with individuals and families who have experienced domestic abuse.”
Today, U.S. Attorney King also announced the allocation of more than $2.8 million in federal grants to Safe Alliance, Inc. and Safelight, Inc., two non-profit organizations in the Western District of North Carolina. The federal grants will be used to fund existing projects and new initiatives developed to prevent domestic violence and to support victims and survivors who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault.
“The deployment of much-needed resources through federal grants is critical in our mission to support community organizations that combat domestic violence and assist victims, survivors, and their families as they recover and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The grant awards will be used to improve access to legal services, expand economic support for survivors in underserved communities, and provide training and technical assistance for professionals who work with survivors every day.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911
You can also find local help here or by calling the national hotline:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Advocates are available 24/7
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
Two More Defendants from New Orleans Plead Guilty in Staged Automobile Collision SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that HERBERT ALLEN (“ALLEN”), age 37, and DION RIDLEY (“RIDLEY”), age 23, agreed to plead guilty to count one (1) of their indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In pleading guilty, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; and a fine up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 41.
As part of their plea, the defendants admitted to conspiring to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged automobile collision. In the scheme, ALLEN falsely claimed that he was the driver of a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on June 28, 2017. RIDLEY, a passenger in the car, falsely claimed that ALLEN was driving the car when they were struck by a tractor-trailer. In fact, the government’s evidence showed that the defendants conspired with Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), and others to intentionally collide ALLEN’s 2007 Chevrolet Impala with a tractor-trailer in the area of Tchoupitoulas Street and Calliope Street in New Orleans. Both defendants lied in civil depositions, falsely claiming that ALLEN was driving the car that collided with the tractor-trailer, when in fact Hickman was driving the car and intentionally hit the tractor-trailer. Both defendants hoped that, through their false statements, they would secure lucrative monetary settlements from the owner, driver, and insurer of the tractor-trailer.
Sentencing is set for both defendants on February 15, 2023, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long; Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On September 27, 2022, Eric Christopher Segundo-Antone, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 33 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Segundo-Antone previously pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Sometime between June 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, Segundo-Antone, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, engaged in a sexual act with the victim, who was 14 years old at the time. The offense occurred on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation in the village of Topawa.
The Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances M. Kreamer Hope, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00796-TUC-JCH-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-175_Segundo-Antone
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three More Face Charges in Teen’s Fentanyl Overdose Death in Jefferson CountyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three more people have been indicted in connection with the fatal fentanyl overdose of a 19-year-old in Jefferson County, Missouri, including those accused of supplying the man who gave drugs to the victim.
William Edward Martin, 22, of St. Louis County, appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to five felonies: conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl with a resulting death, distribution of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The death resulting charge carries a potential penalty of 20 years to life in prison, and the fentanyl conspiracy charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Martin was originally charged by complaint in July. Steven “Lemon” Littler, 33, Jacqueline Williamson, 33, and Tanisha Payne, 22, were added in an October 5 indictment.
Williamson also pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Littler pleaded not guilty October 6. Payne is expected to turn herself in Thursday.
“Hard work by federal and local investigators resulted in charges not only against the person who provided a fatal dose of fentanyl to the victim, but those higher up in the chain of supply,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming. “These charges won’t bring this young girl back, but will provide some accountability for a heinous crime and hopefully serve as a warning to those who sell this potentially fatal drug.”
Littler and Williamson also face the death resulting and conspiracy charges. Williamson also faces charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Payne was indicted on the conspiracy charge and a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Charging documents say Martin sold fentanyl to the teen in a Walgreens parking lot in Arnold on June 23. Surveillance video shows the woman getting into a BMW with Martin. Martin then dragged the teen out of the BMW and put her in the backseat of her vehicle, where she was found dead the next morning.
Motions seeking to have Littler and Williamson held in jail until trial say they supplied Martin with fentanyl on multiple occasions, including the fentanyl that killed the teen. Their distribution of fentanyl “presents a lethal threat to those purchasing drugs,” a motion says. Williamson had a firearm on July 11, when law enforcement arrived at her home, and was using drugs, a motion says. Drugs were also being prepared for sale in her home, the motion says.
Both were also caught after their arrest with more suspected fentanyl hidden on their person, according to court documents and statements. Williamson failed to tell deputy U.S. Marshals after her arrest about the drugs, which were found at the federal courthouse. Suspected narcotics were found on Littler prior to his entry into jail.
"Overdose deaths are the tragic consequence of someone's greed and lack of regard for human life," said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Davis, head of DEA’s St. Louis Division. "With drug overdose deaths at historic highs, DEA will work relentlessly to destroy the criminal networks pouring dangerous drugs into our communities, so that they can longer cause harm to families."
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arnold Police Department, The U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Louis County Police Department.
Taunton Man Detained in Rhode Island on Federal Enticement, Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Taunton, MA, man has been ordered detained in federal custody on charges that he allegedly traveled to Rhode Island to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor, and that he received and possessed child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in court documents that Paul Fredericks, 36, after engaging in more than two weeks of online conversations with a person he believed to be the father of nearly a nine-year-old girl, arranged to meet with the father and, later, with then his prepubescent daughter with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The person Fredericks was communicating with was, in fact, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Fredericks and the “father” of the young girl agreed to meet in a Providence parking lot on October 5. At that meeting, Fredericks allegedly discussed with the “father” ways he could prepare his daughter for sex, and suggested that they meet five days later to engage in sexual activity. Prior to the conclusion of the that meeting, Fredericks was arrested by members of the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Fredericks was found to be carrying a condom and lubricant in a vest pocket.
A brief forensic audit of Fredericks cell phone at the time of his arrest allegedly revealed evidence that Fredericks had received and stored images of child pornography on his phone.
Fredericks is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor; interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; receipt of child pornography; and possession of child pornography. He was ordered to remain in federal custody following a preliminary and detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Providence on Tuesday.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
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St. Paul Felon Indicted for Federal Firearm ViolationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a St. Paul man for possession of a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents on July 23, 2021, Ember Shawndale White, 22, was found in possession of a Beretta APX 9x19mm pistol. Because White has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey, Hennepin, and Dakota Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
White is charged with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sells Man Sentenced to 110 Months for RobberyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Glenn Frank, 33, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on October 5, 2022, by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Frank previously pleaded guilty to Robbery.
On August 20, 2018, Frank, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, assaulted a taxicab driver by striking him repeatedly in the head with a firearm and then robbed him. The offense occurred on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation in the village of San Xavier.
The Tohono O’odham Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances M. Kreamer Hope, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-1904-TUC-RM-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-176_Frank
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.San Antonio Pair Plead Guilty to SIM Swap SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and computer fraud for a scheme utilizing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swapping. SIM Swapping is an increasingly common method of fraud in which a victim’s cell phone carrier is compromised to re-assign a phone number from one SIM card to another. This allows bad actors to intercept phone and text communications and use them to compromise the phone owner’s other accounts.
According to court documents, Andrew Percy Trujillo, 22, along with his co-defendant Zena Elisa Dounson, 34, of San Antonio, devised a scheme to SIM swap mobile customers’ phones at a local AT&T store. Dounson was employed at the store and allowed Trujillo to add himself as an authorized user to multiple victims’ AT&T accounts where Trujillo then ported a victim’s SIM card credentials to his own devices’ SIM cards. This caused calls and texts to the victims’ phone numbers to be sent to devices controlled by Trujillo rather than the rightful owners. Co-conspirators were able to access the victims’ various cryptocurrency accounts and transfer out at least $250,000 worth of cryptocurrency.
Trujillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse as well as wire fraud. Dounson previously pleaded guilty to the same offense on September 27, 2022. The co-defendants are currently set for sentencing on January 5, 2023. Both defendants face up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Michael Galdo are prosecuting the case.
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Salem County Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Salem County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Rickie Wayne Patton, 43, of Pennsville, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 10, 2020, a task force officer with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force identified an IP Address that was sharing suspected child sexual abuse materials over a peer-to-peer file sharing network. From Feb. 10, 2020, to March 15, 2020, the officer downloaded several video files containing images of child sexual abuse from a computer at the same IP Address, which was then traced to Patton’s residence. Law enforcement officer executed a search warrant on May 19, 2020, and found laptop computers and digital storage media belonging to Patton. Forensic examination later confirmed those devices contained images of child sexual abuse. Patton admitted to possessing those devices and knowing they contained child sexual abuse materials during his guilty plea.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Patton to 10 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI, Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency - Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Pennsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Spillman, and the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden.
Sacaton Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On September 29, 2022, Ronald Lee Juan, Jr., 27, of Sacaton, Arizona, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to 204 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Between September 22, 2017, and September 21, 2018, Juan engaged in sexual contact with the victim on multiple occasions. Juan pleaded guilty on June 9, 2022, to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00885-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-177_Juan# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Retired St. Louis Priest Admits Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –A retired St. Louis priest pleaded guilty to federal charges Wednesday and admitted possessing thousands of images containing child pornography.
James T. Beighlie, 72, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp. In his plea agreement, Beighlie admitted that on May 17, 2021, while he was working at the Congregation of the Mission in St. Louis, colleagues found compromising images of Beighlie on a church printer.
The church launched an internal investigation that included a review of four desktop computer towers, a laptop and a smartphone used by Beighlie. When a private IT support company found what appeared to be videos of minors engaging in sex acts, an attorney for the church contacted the FBI.
About 6,000 images of child sexual abuse material were found on one computer, including about 3,000 images containing child pornography and 2,992 images of child erotica, Beighlie’s plea says. There were also two PowerPoint presentations created by Beighlie that linked to thousands of the images. Another computer had 236 images and 40 videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Beighlie is scheduled to be sentenced January 10.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Pushmataha County Resident Sentenced to 140 Months in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Leroy Earls, age 36, of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 140 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for three counts of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Each count is ordered to run concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendant was previously convicted by a federal jury. At the trial, the evidence proved Earls sexually abused the victim, who could not legally consent to sexual activity.
In addition to the 140 months of incarceration within the Bureau of Prisons, Earls must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison, he cannot live with or be alone with a minor without prior approval, he must submit to a sex offender or mental health treatment program as recommended, including polygraphs to make sure he is in compliance, and he must submit to a search of his person, home, or computer.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant exploited and sexually assaulted the victim whom he knew to be mentally and emotionally challenged,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Earls’ callous acts warrant the punishment imposed by the Court.”
“David Earls’ crimes were predatory and there is no question the sentencing is just,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate the most egregious crimes in Indian Country and provide justice for the victims.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Earls will report to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Attempted Coercion of a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal child exploitation laws United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Thomas A. Yocum, Jr., 34, of the City’s Summer Hill neighborhood, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from on or about Sept. 13, 2022, until on or about Sept. 18, 2022, Thomas A. Yocum, Jr. is alleged to have used cellular telephone networks and the internet to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18, to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
The law provides for a minimum total sentence of 10 years in prison, up to a term of life, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pinellas Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Cocaine at Local Gentleman’s ClubRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Leon Erick Williams (41, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing cocaine. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 7, 2022, Williams sold cocaine to undercover police officers at a Gentleman’s Club in Pinellas Park. The following day, Williams coordinated another cocaine deal with undercover officers via text message. On February 10, 2022, Williams sold an additional quantity of cocaine to the undercover officers in the Gentleman’s Club’s restroom.
This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Pinedale woman pleads guilty to manslaughter and assault for fatal crashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Betrina Grey pleaded guilty on Oct. 11 to involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Grey, 31, of Pinedale, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Oct. 14, 2017, Grey was driving while intoxicated when she lost control of her vehicle on State Road 118 near the Fort Wingate Army Depot turnoff on the Navajo Nation. As the vehicle rolled, two passengers, identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, were ejected from the vehicle. John Doe 1 died on the scene, while John Doe 2 suffered a significant brain injury and was airlifted to a hospital for emergency care. Both victims were enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.
In her plea agreement, Grey acknowledged that her blood alcohol content, measured after the incident, was .16. Grey faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Paw Paw Man Pleads Guilty to Arson, Admits Setting Fire at Kalamazoo Planned ParenthoodRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that Joshua Brereton of Paw Paw, Michigan pled guilty to one count of arson, admitting to United States Magistrate Judge Ray Kent that he maliciously set fire to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
“This fire was a senseless act of political violence,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. He continued: “In our democracy, resorting to violence is never an acceptable means to address policy disputes. Moreover, Brereton’s actions could have injured innocent citizens and first responders. Today’s guilty plea is an important step to ensure the safety of our community.”
“Arson is a heinous act of violence, and has a severe impact on the community,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, “Combined resources and expertise through our state and local partnerships allowed for a quick resolve of this violent act.”
As part of his guilty plea, Brereton admitted that, on July 31, 2022, he went to Walmart in Paw Paw, where he purchased Citronella tiki torch fuel, a Duraflame fire starter log, a utility lighter, and a black baseball hat. Then, dressed in a camouflage jacket, the black hat, and hiking shoes, Brereton admitted breaching Planned Parenthood’s security fence and setting fires near the front entrance of the building as well as at the southwest corner of the building. Finally, he admitted igniting the Duraflame starter log and throwing it onto the roof of the building to start a third fire before he fled the scene.
Brereton’s plea agreement provided the court with insight into the crime’s motivation. In the agreement, Brereton admitted posting a video – entitled “The Line Between Good and Evil” – to his YouTube channel. In it, he referred to abortion as genocide. Brereton admitted posting similar anti-abortion articles and items on his Facebook page.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. before United States District Judge Paul L. Maloney. At sentencing, Brereton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, with a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and will be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his crime. The plea agreement estimates the amount of restitution Brereton will be ordered to pay to be in excess of $20,000 in addition to all other penalties.
Brereton’s guilty plea followed a joint investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Carowan.
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Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Marcus Lombardo, age 38, of Hannibal, NY, pled guilty today to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Lombardo admitted that on February 18, 2021, during a visit at his home from his United States Probation Officer, Lombardo possessed at least 180 image and video files of child pornography on an SD card found inside a cell phone that he was prohibited from possessing under the conditions of his supervised release.
Lombardo was on federal supervision following a 2012 federal conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography and commission of a felony offense while on pretrial release. He was sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment in 2019 for violating the conditions of his release on a prior occasion and was sentenced to 16-month term in 2021 for the violation that occurred on February 18, 2021.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2023, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Lombardo faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the United States Probation Office and the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Steve E. Eggiman, 62, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Eggiman to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Eggiman will begin a five-year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Buescher ordered Eggiman to pay $9,000 in restitution and a $5,000 JVTA special assessment.
On November 23, 2020, Yahoo! Inc., an Electronic Service Provider, identified at least one image of child pornography that was transported through Yahoo! email servers. Yahoo! captured the Internet Protocol (IP) address that was used by the account user to transport the child pornography. Law enforcement obtained information related to the IP address, which ultimately identified Eggiman as the subscriber and that he resided in Omaha.
Members of the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force executed a federal search warrant of Eggiman’s residence. The FBI seized Eggiman’s digital devices. Eggiman gave a voluntary statement to law enforcement during which he admitted to transporting and possessing child pornography. A forensic review of Eggiman’s digital devices found 71 images and 3 videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Offense that Caused OverdosesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Darnell L. Polite, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Polite to 180 months’ imprisonment. Following his release, Polite will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On April 8, 2021, Omaha Police Officers responded to an apartment in Omaha for a drug overdose. On arrival, officers observed three parties in the living room unresponsive and being treated by Omaha Fire Department Medics. Omaha Fire Department was able to administer Narcan to two of the victims who then became conscious. A third victim was taken to the hospital and revived.
The victims identified Polite’s apartment as where they bought the illegal drugs. A state of Nebraska court authorized search warrant was obtained. During the search, officers located 3.38 pounds of marijuana, 10.23 ounces of methamphetamine, 23 grams of suspected fentanyl, and a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun later verified to have been stolen out of Carter Lake. Also, in the apartment was $2,300, multiple clear baggies, and digital scales.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Ohio Man Admits to Making a Bomb and Driving it to Carroll County, Maryland with the Intent to Kill His Romantic RivalRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Clayton Alexander McCoy, age 32, of Chesterland, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to transporting explosives with intent to injure and to possession of an unregistered firearm/explosive device, in connection with an explosion at a home in Carroll County, Maryland. A resident of the home was the boyfriend of a woman in whom McCoy had a romantic interest.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci; Carroll County Sheriff James T. DeWees; and Carroll County State’s Attorney Allan Culver.
According to his guilty plea, McCoy built an explosive bomb in his home in Ohio, then drove the bomb to Victim 1’s home in Carroll County, Maryland, intending to kill the victim. McCoy knew the victim and a woman, who was Victim 1’s girlfriend, for a number of years through a live action role-playing battle game/social club. In October 2020 McCoy expressed romantic feelings for the woman, who informed McCoy that she was in a relationship with Victim 1 and did not share McCoy’s romantic feelings.
Following his rejection by Victim 1’s girlfriend, McCoy devised a plan to build and deliver a bomb to Victim 1’s house with the intent to kill Victim 1 in order to remove him as a romantic rival. McCoy researched the materials and plans for making the victim operated pipe bomb. McCoy traveled to multiple stores and purchased a variety of substances to make explosive powder, as well as other components to manufacture the bomb. To avoid detection by law enforcement, McCoy purchased single items from multiple stores and paid for the materials in cash. McCoy made shrapnel for the inside of the bomb by using an angle grinder saw to cut scrap metal into small, triangular pieces. McCoy inserted the homemade shrapnel and bb’s, into the metal pipe, to increase the deadliness of the pipe bomb when it exploded. McCoy placed the homemade bomb into a white gift box, tied a red ribbon around the box, and armed the firing mechanism so that the bomb would explode when the gift box was opened. Additionally, McCoy placed the gift box containing the bomb into a larger cardboard box with a shipping label that had no return address. Prior to delivering the bomb, McCoy made a prototype and tested the bomb in his yard to ensure that it would detonate.
On October 30, 2020, McCoy placed the homemade bomb in the back of a pickup truck and drove approximately seven hours from Ohio to Victim 1’s residence. McCoy placed the bomb on Victim 1’s front porch just prior to 8:30 a.m., where Victim 1’s grandfather saw the package and brought the package inside the home. Victim 1’s grandfather put the package on the kitchen counter, where it remained until Victim 1’s return. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Victim 1 returned home and saw the cardboard box that was addressed to him. He opened the cardboard box and observed a smaller white box with a red ribbon inside. The victim texted his girlfriend to ask her if she had sent him a present, then took both boxes into his bedroom to open his “gift” in private. As the victim opened the gift box, the bomb detonated. Victim 1 heard a whistling or hissing sound followed by an explosion. The victim was struck in the front of his body by shrapnel and sustained injuries to his chest, legs, and front of his body. He was transported to the hospital where he was treated for injuries caused by the shrapnel and explosion.
The victim was released from the hospital on November 17, 2020. Victim 1 had to use a walker for two weeks following the explosion and underwent multiple surgeries to remove shrapnel from his body, and another surgery on his hand. Multiple pieces of shrapnel remain inside Victim 1’s body. The explosion at Victim 1’s residence caused an estimated $46,690 of damage to the dwelling and contents. The house was uninhabitable until March 2021 and Victim 1 and his grandparents were forced to move out of their home and to live elsewhere while the house was under repairs. The insurance company suffered a loss of $70,061.26 as a direct result of the explosion.
On March 10, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at McCoy’s residence in Chesterland, Ohio and seized items McCoy used to create the bomb, including the explosive powder. McCoy initially admitted knowing Victim 1 but denied knowing where Victim 1 resided in October 2020. McCoy claimed to have heard about the bombing of Victim 1 through mutual friends but denied having any role in the bombing. During the interview, McCoy named another individual from the role-playing group who McCoy claimed did not like Victim 1. After law enforcement showed McCoy maps of his movements on the day of the bombing that documented McCoy’s travel from Ohio to Victim 1’s residence and then back to Ohio, McCoy admitted that he made and delivered the bomb.
McCoy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for transporting explosives with intent to injure and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm/explosive device. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet scheduled sentencing.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, and the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Nigerian National Found Guilty of Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal jury today convicted Blessing Adeleke, 31, of Nigeria, of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and 16 counts of bank fraud for his role in a conspiracy to obtain stolen financial information, make fraudulent and unauthorized purchases of retail goods and gift cards and steal funds from victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere.
Between January 2014 through October 2016, Adeleke served as an administrator for an online marketplace, Shad0w.info, where compromised data, such as credit numbers and personally identifiable information (PII), were sold.
As part of the conspiracy, Adeleke and others obtained stolen credit card information and purchased items, such as retail goods and gift cards for themselves. Adeleke shared this stolen credit card information with others, including co-defendant Kylie Ann Harlow.
Court documents state that Adeleke and Harlow shipped retail goods purchased with the stolen financial information to Harlow and others and, in some instances, returned the goods and gift cards to retail stores to obtain cash. Adeleke and Harlow eventually forwarded the fraudulently obtained goods, gift cards and cash to other members of the conspiracy for their personal enrichment.
Adeleke gained access to at least one bank account belonging to a victim in Pepper Pike, Ohio, from which he sent 16 fraudulent checks.
Kylie Ann Harlow previously pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and was sentenced in June 2021.
Adeleke is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian S. Deckert and Daniel J. Riedl .
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support and assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Ghana. The U.S. Department of Justice thanks its Ghanian partners, specifically the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, for supporting this extradition. The FBI Legal Attaché in Accra and the U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant support and assistance to Adeleke’s extradition.
Nevada woman sentenced to eight years in prison for transporting minor to Montana for prostitutionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Nevada woman who admitted to bringing a minor girl to Billings for prostitution was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Ashley Michael Stella, 29, of Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters also ordered $2,500 restitution.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 21, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a call of possible commercial sex activity at a Billings motel and knocked on the door of the suspect room. Stella, another individual and a 16-year-old girl, identified as Jane Doe 1, emerged. Jane Doe 1, from Nevada, indicated in interviews that she had met Stella in December 2020. Stella informed Jane Doe 1that she worked in commercial sex. Jane Doe 1 told law enforcement that she and Stella traveled to Montana in April from Nevada and that both had engaged in commercial sex. Stella told law enforcement she had met Jane Doe 1 in the fall of 2020 and learned her true age later that year. Stella also told investigators that the two had traveled from Nevada to Montana for the purpose of commercial sex and that she had asked Jane Doe 1 if she wanted to go on the trip.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Department of Justice’s Criminal Investigation Division, FBI and Billings Police Department.
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Missoula man admits trafficking fentanyl in community after overdose deathRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man admitted on Tuesday to fentanyl trafficking charges after law enforcement responded to a reported drug overdose death in Missoula County earlier this year, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jacob Eugene Odman, 39, pleaded guilty on Oct. 11 to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. Odman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. Sentencing was set for Feb. 2, 2023. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other sentencing factors. Odman was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Feb. 18, law enforcement responded to a residence in Missoula County for a reported drug overdose death and found an individual, identified as John Doe, deceased. Doe’s father reported that Doe had left the previous evening about 7:30 p.m., returned at about 9 p.m. and then went to bed. Doe’s father found Doe unresponsive in bed that morning. Next to Doe was a small blue pill engraved with “M30.” Lab testing determined the pill contained fentanyl. A toxicology report confirmed that Doe had fentanyl and a fentanyl metabolite in his blood when he died. Doe’s cell phone had an incoming call from Odman at 7:24 p.m. on Feb. 17. Drug Enforcement Administration officers located Odman at his residence. Odman confirmed Doe and another individual, identified as John Doe 2, were there the previous night. Officers found four bottles containing 409 blue pills labeled “M30” in Odman’s residence. Lab tests determined the pills contained fentanyl.
The government further alleged Doe 2 confirmed he was at Odman’s residence with Doe the previous evening. Doe 2 advised that on Feb. 18, he spoke with Odman, who said that Doe was dead. On Feb. 21, Odman told Doe 2 that he gave Doe pills the night before he died.
In addition, on Feb. 14, Idaho State Police stopped an individual, searched his vehicle and found more than 300 fentanyl pills hidden in containers designed to look like soda cans. The individual admitted to buying fentanyl in Spokane, Washington, and traveling back to Montana several times. The investigation determined that Odman and the individual were texting regularly during the Feb. 14 trip and that Odman advised he would pay the individual for a product and requested updates on his travel. The individual told Odman, “Idaho is searching my car.” Odman responded, “Oh no.” The individual then said, “It’s in cans.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
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Mississippi Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Client ReturnsRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A McComb woman pled guilty today to preparing false tax returns for her clients, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
According to court documents and facts revealed at her plea hearing, Elizabeth Stephens, 41, worked at a McComb tax return preparation business. Between 2014 and 2017, Stephens prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including false W-2 information and Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business Forms. These false expenses and altered W-2s reduced taxable income and maximized the Earned Income Credit, increasing the total refund amount.
Stephens is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Mineral County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Robert Simone, III, of Keyser, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Simone, 34, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Crystal Methamphetamine, also known as “Ice.” Simone admitted to working with another to sell 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” in Mineral County and elsewhere from December 2020 to January 2021.
Simone faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $10 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Michigan Man Arrested on Complaint Alleging He Deliberately Set 25 Commercial Trucks Ablaze in Eight Different States over 2 YearsRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A Michigan man appeared in court today after being arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging he deliberately set 25 fires on trailers belonging to a major commercial trucking company in eight different states over a span of more than two years.
Viorel Pricop, 64, of Allen Park, Michigan, was arrested Tuesday morning and made his initial appearance today in United States District Court in Detroit, where a detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
Pricop is charged with one count of arson of property in interstate commerce, a crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, 25 semi-truck trailers owned by Swift Transportation, a Phoenix-based commercial trucking company, were set ablaze from June 2020 to September 2022. In each of the incidents, the Swift-owned truck was parked or stopped at a fuel station or rest area when a fire occurred in or on the trailer portion of the vehicle, mainly on or near the trailer tires.
These incidents occurred at locations spanning from Barstow, California to McCalla, Alabama, with most incidents occurring along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40. Law enforcement has learned of six fires in California, three fires in Arizona, nine fires in New Mexico, three fires in Texas, and one fire each in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama.
Swift hired fire investigation consultants to assist with fire scene examinations. A pattern also began to develop when multiple reports noted substantially similar methods of lighting the trailers on fire, including where on the vehicles the fires began, and the fact the fires occurred late at night.
An investigation of cell phone towers near the fires revealed that a specific GPS navigation device installed in a commercial truck was present at the fires. Law enforcement determined that this device was installed on a vehicle owned and operated by Pricop, the affidavit states. Law enforcement then identified the cellphone subscribed to Pricop and, through historical cellular data analysis and ping warrants, learned that the phone was present in the general area of 24 of the 25 fires, the affidavit alleges.
On September 16, search warrants were executed on Pricop’s vehicle and residence, yielding additional evidence on his alleged involvement in this series of arsons. Numerous logbooks, bills of lading, shipping receipts, and other record keeping documents were obtained in both paper and digital form from Pricop’s vehicles and residence. Many of these documents were found to contain location information, such as cargo pickup and delivery dates, which coincided with locations where fires in this series occurred, according to the affidavit.
Further record checks for Pricop revealed that he was convicted in 2018 in the Eastern District of Michigan for transportation of stolen goods. Swift cooperated in the investigation and prosecution of that case. Pricop was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and was given credit for time served. His term of supervised release ended in June 2019, about one year before the arsons in this case began, the affidavit states.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney John A. Balla of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Using a Social Security Number Belonging to Another PersonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ, age 33, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on October 11, 2022 for illegally using a social security number belonging to another individual, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to serve one year of probation.
According to documents filed in federal court, JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ used the social security number of another individual to secure employment and orientation training with a local company.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced Roberto Garcia-Gutierrez, 32, of Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Garcia-Gutierrez to imprisonment for 135 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Garcia-Gutierrez will be deported by U.S. immigration authorities when he completes his sentence to imprisonment.
In May 2021, Garcia-Gutierrez became involved in a drug conspiracy distributing methamphetamine in Omaha. A confidential source (CS) working for the Drug Enforcement Administration arranged the purchase of methamphetamine from co-defendant Roberto Balbuena-Ignacio. On May 20, 2021, the CS met with co-defendant Cash C. Cosgriff, and successfully purchased approximately a pound of methamphetamine. The CS also conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine on at least three other occasions from other members of the drug conspiracy.
On August 2, 2021, Garcia-Gutierrez was arrested after leaving a residence located in the 19th blook of South 10th Street, in Omaha. DEA and OPD investigators recovered approximately 56.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 kilograms of cocaine from that residence.
This case was investigated primarily by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Omaha Police Department.
Martinsburg woman guilty of a firearms straw purchaseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Rachel Lee Flynn, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Flynn, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of “False Statements During Purchase of a Firearm.” Flynn admitted to falsifying paperwork to purchase a firearm, stating the 9mm pistol was for her when, in fact, was meant for someone else. The crime took place in March 2022 in Morgan County.
Flynn faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Marlborough Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 13 ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Marlborough man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with filming his sexual abuse of two children and surreptitiously producing or attempting to produce child pornography involving 11 others over a span of years.
Philip Raymond, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 60 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 30, 2022, Raymond pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of children, and attempt. Raymond was arrested and charged in October 2020 and has remained in federal custody since.
“Over the course of eight years, Mr. Raymond exploited 13 young, defenseless children known to him. He grossly took advantage of the trust placed in him by his victims and their families to inflict indescribable trauma and suffering. Mr. Raymond’s reprehensible conduct is a parent’s worst nightmare. He is a predatory danger to society who will now spend 60 years behind bars where he can no longer harm children,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Although nothing can erase the indescribable trauma and pain inflicted upon the victims and their families, we hope this sentence will bring accountability to the defendant and acknowledge both the bravery of children who are able to come forward and my office’s dedication to fighting for victims whose trauma often stays with them for years. We will prosecute those who seek to sexualize and exploit our children to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today’s sentence is a victory for the many victims whose lives and dignity were destroyed by Raymond through his sickening behavior over many years,” said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI New England is grateful for the crucial support of the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, the District Attorney for Middlesex, the Massachusetts State Police and the Marlborough Police Department in this case. Without their tireless efforts it’s likely Raymond would have continued damaging the lives of countless children for years to come.”
Between 2004 and 2012, Raymond produced or attempted to produce child pornography involving 13 different children who were friends of his own child and entrusted in his care. A search of Raymond’s home in 2019 resulted in the seizure of various digital devices containing evidence that Raymond had filmed his sexual abuse of two of those children. The digital evidence also showed that Raymond had set up a recording device in his own child’s room and in his home’s bathroom to attempt to record imagery of children in the nude. In total, Raymond recorded 13 different children. According to court records, Raymond is also facing charges in Middlesex Superior Court for child rape as well as possession of other child pornography discovered during the search of his residence.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; HSI SAC Millhollin; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Marlborough Police Chief David Giorgi made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Man who rammed his truck into FBI signage entrance pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Waller County man has admitted to willfully injuring or committing depredation against property of the United States by ramming his truck and trailer into the signage entrance of the FBI, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
On May 11, Jesus Jaimes Merlan approached the Houston FBI visitor security facility in a truck. Upon his arrival, he sat in his vehicle, smoked a cigarette and stared forward. At that time, he requested to speak to an agent.
Security advised him that he would have to return in the morning. Merlan responded by yelling he could not wait. He then backed his truck up and rammed it forward into the FBI signage.
Authorities took him into custody immediately and conducted an interview. At that time, he appeared to be in mental distress. He said he rammed the signage because he felt as if he was not getting any help. Merlan also made several incoherent remarks about individuals chasing or stalking him, wishing to do him harm and/or take his belongings.
As part of his plea, Merlan admitted he purposefully caused damage in order to speak to someone at the FBI.
The labor costs estimated to repair the gate and signage is over $35,000.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal will impose sentencing Feb. 9, 2023. At that time, Merlan faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Federal Protection Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI, Houston Police Department and General Services Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto is prosecuting the case.
Man Indicted on Federal Illegal Fishing ChargeRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Charles Hopkins with conspiracy to sell shovelnose sturgeon and their roe that were taken in violation of Kentucky law.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Assistant Director Edward Grace of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Charles Hopkins, 51, of Smithland, Kentucky was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. The indictment alleges that in spring 2016, 2017, and 2018, Charles Hopkins, working with others, transported and sold shovelnose sturgeon and their roe in interstate commerce, knowing that the fish were taken in violation of and in an unlawful manner under the laws and regulations of Kentucky.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Hopkins faces up to 5 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Madison Sewell.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Malden Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with illegally possessing a firearm.
Herby Paul, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2023. Paul was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 26, 2022.
On Nov. 24, 2021, Paul was pulled over by law enforcement while driving on interstate 95 in Canton. Paul provided law enforcement with a false name and was asked to exit the vehicle. He then fled on foot, jumped over a guardrail, ran down an embankment and attempted to scale a fence. Paul was quickly apprehended on scene and a subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9mm handgun loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
At the time of the offense, Paul was on probation for a 2020 state conviction of possessing a firearm without a license and resisting arrest, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
At the time of this offense, the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provided for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Louisiana Felon Sentenced for East Texas Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, man has been sentenced for a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Marland Gibson, 53, was found guilty at trial on April 27, 2022, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison on Oct. 12, 2022, by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker.
According to information presented in court, on March 20, 2021, Gibson was stopped for speeding on Interstate-20 in Gregg County. During the traffic stop, it was determined Gibson had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in Marion County, Indiana on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Gibson was arrested on the warrant and a search of the vehicle revealed not only a handgun hidden in a compartment behind the vehicle’s dashboard, but a suitcase in the rear of the vehicle containing another firearm and multiple rounds of assorted ammunition.
Further investigation revealed Gibson is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Gibson was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 17, 2021.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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Loudonville Man Pleads Guilty in Capital Region Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jesus Baez, age 32, of Loudonville, New York, pled guilty today to a cocaine distribution conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Ketty Larco-Ward, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Baez admitted that between June 2021 and December 2021, in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, he and three co-conspirators obtained cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico and distributed it in the Capital Region. The cocaine was shipped via U.S. mail in one-kilogram bricks, and transported to a stash house maintained by Baez on Fifth Avenue in Troy, New York, where the cocaine was processed for distribution.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 8, 2023 in front of Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Baez faces a minimum of 5 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. Baez also agreed to forfeit $5,000 seized from his residence as proceeds of the drug conspiracy.
Baez’s plea resolves the charges against him in an indictment unsealed in September. The following three individuals were also charged for their role in the conspiracy:
- Jan Lopez-Colon, 28, of Troy,
- Ilvin Batista-Figueroa, 31, of Albany, and
- Sam Calderon, 20, of Troy.
Calderon previously pled guilty before Judge Sharpe. The charges against codefendants Lopez-Colon and Batista-Figueroa remain pending. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the USPIS and its Capital Region Task Force, led by the USPIS and including the Albany Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schenectady Police Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark.
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Pills Produced Using Multiple Pill Press MachinesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to distributing counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, made using multiple pill press machines.
Miguel Angel Fajardo, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 14, 2023. Fajardo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 25, 2022 and subsequently charged by an Information on July 1, 2022.
During a search of Fajardo’s apartment on March 25, 2022, approximately 7.3 kilograms worth of fentanyl pills, an industrial pill press and “M” and “30” pill stamps consistent with markings on pharmaceutical-grade Oxycodone pills were seized. Pill stamps are commonly used to make counterfeit pills appear to be legitimate pharmaceutical-grade pills. Also inside Fajardo’s apartment, approximately 1.4 kilograms of fentanyl powder, two individual finger presses, 50 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition concealed in a microwave, four kilograms of cutting agent and two air purifying respirators – which are commonly used when working with fentanyl powder were also found. Additionally, two one-kilogram pill press machines and another large pill press in the landing outside the apartment were found.
“The opioid crisis remains a clear and present danger to our community, claiming over two thousand lives in Massachusetts in 2021 alone,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Fajardo possessed a staggering quantity of fentanyl – almost nine kilograms – and a clandestine laboratory outfitted with all the tools and materials necessary to press fentanyl into counterfeit pills. By seizing nearly 48,000 such pills along with the tools we believe Mr. Fajardo used to make them, our law enforcement partners likely saved countless lives.”
“The state of Massachusetts continues to face a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division. “Those responsible for distributing this lethal drug within fake prescriptions pills and contributing to the loss of life for those battling addiction need to be held responsible for their actions. In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic, DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this poison in our communities.”
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of $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 and Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes and Evan D. Panich of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Meet with Fellow G7 Enforcement Partners on Competition in Digital MarketsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina M. Khan participated in a G7 Joint Competition Policy Makers & Enforcers Summit (Summit) today as part of the 2022 G7 Digital and Technology Track. The Summit, hosted by the German Bundeskartellamt and Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, explored how G7 governments are approaching competition policy and enforcement in digital markets.
The Summit offered a unique opportunity for competition officials to discuss common areas of interest and consider areas for increased cooperation and coordination to support competitive digital markets. The participating delegates were from G7 competition authorities and economic ministries in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the United States, plus the European Commission.
“Meeting with our like-minded G7 colleagues presents an excellent opportunity to take stock of our common experiences in confronting anticompetitive conduct in digital markets,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. “Germany has ably guided the G7 in this area, following the path set by France and the U.K.”
“Today’s summit was a valuable opportunity to exchange insights with our colleagues from around the world,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “This international cooperation is especially crucial as enforcers navigate the global challenges posed by dominant digital platforms and work to promote fair competition and the many benefits it delivers.”
In preparation for the Summit, the participating agencies contributed to the “Compendium of Approaches to Improving Competition in Digital Markets,” with highlights from G7 competition authority’s work on digital markets, and the Policy Makers Inventory of legislative approaches to competition in digital markets within the G7 was also presented.
Justice Department Finds Alabama’s Foster Care System Violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by Discriminating Against Students with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today notified the state of Alabama of its findings that the state illegally discriminates against children in foster care with emotional and behavioral disabilities. The department concluded that Alabama has relegated hundreds of students with disabilities to segregated and inferior educational programs in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department’s findings follow an investigation into allegations that the state denies children in foster care equal opportunity to basic educational services on the basis of disability.
“Students with disabilities in Alabama’s foster care system are among the most vulnerable in the state’s care, and they deserve better than placement in segregated and inferior schools,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will defend every child’s right to equal educational opportunities in schools where they can be supported and challenged.”
Alabama is charged with providing educational services for children in its foster care system, including when the state places those children in psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). Children in foster care who are placed in Alabama’s PRTFs are often automatically enrolled in segregated on-site schools without an appropriate educational assessment and regardless of their academic abilities. These unnecessary placements, which can extend for long periods of time, sever children’s ties to their home schools, teachers, social activities and peers. The department concluded that, in most cases, these children could be appropriately served in general education settings where they would receive the many documented academic and social benefits of inclusion.
The department’s investigation found a lack of appropriate oversight and monitoring by the state of education services provided to students in PRTFs. Among other concerns, the state does not require that PRTFs consider whether the students could be served in age-appropriate community educational settings. Instead, the state permits the facilities to automatically enroll these students in the school located on the PRTF campuses. In these highly-segregated placements, they often lack access to grade-appropriate curricula, adequate instruction, facilities such as libraries, science labs and gyms and activities such as sports and extracurriculars.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Educational Opportunities Section with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama conducted this investigation. The full findings letter can be found below.
Enforcement of Title II of the ADA, and the integration mandate of Olmstead v. L.C., is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
Justice Department Files Complaint to Stop California Firm from Making and Selling Adulterated and Misbranded Food ProductsRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint to stop a food manufacturer in Antioch, California, from making and selling adulterated and misbranded noodle products, the Justice Department announced today.
In a civil complaint for permanent injunction filed on Oct. 12, the United States alleges that Cuong T. Do, through his business, Cali Rice Valley Inc., violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by failing to follow preventive controls requirements and causing uncooked and ready-to-eat wheat and rice noodles to become adulterated or misbranded.
“Food manufacturers must ensure the safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with FDA and take action against food manufacturers that operate under insanitary conditions.”
“The FDA plays a vital role in safeguarding the U.S. food supply and helping to ensure that our food is not contaminated before it reaches consumers,” said Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D. “We take our responsibility seriously and will continue to protect consumers by taking action against those who threaten the safety and quality of the products we regulate.”
The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that FDA investigators visited Do’s Cali Rice Valley facility in 2021 and 2022 and found insanitary conditions, such as insects on ingredients, ingredient bags with holes, rainwater leaking into ingredient storage rooms, utensils and equipment that were not sanitized, and poor employee practices. The complaint alleges that such conditions can create an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria. The complaint also alleges that FDA’s inspections identified violations of preventive controls requirements intended to provide assurance that significant food safety hazards will be controlled and the food manufactured by the facility will not be adulterated or misbranded.
The complaint further alleges that tests from environmental samples taken at Do’s facility detected the bacteria Listeria innocua (L. innocua) in and around food preparation areas. According to the complaint, the presence of L. innocua indicates environmental conditions that also could support the growth of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono). Food contaminated with L. mono can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting in healthy adults. For vulnerable consumers — including pregnant women, the elderly and the immune-compromised — L. mono can cause more serious effects, such as stillbirths, miscarriages and death.
The complaint also alleges that the firm’s products are misbranded because they fail to declare the presence of the allergens wheat and egg, among other violations.
According to the complaint, Do sells his noodles throughout the Bay Area. The government’s lawsuit seeks an injunction that would require Do and Cali Rice Valley to make sanitation improvements and comply with federal food safety requirements before making or distributing any more noodle products.
Trial Attorney David Crockett of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is handling the case with the assistance of Senior Counsel Claudia Zuckerman of the FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Justice Department Announces New Reporting Procedures for Environmental ViolationsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office has implemented new public reporting procedures for environmental violations and issues relating to environmental justice. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
The Office is implementing this public reporting procedure under the Department of Justice’s
Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy, available at
/media/1221596/dl?inline. This Strategy seeks to provide “timely and effective remedies for systemic environmental violations and contaminations and for injury to natural resources in underserved communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened, including low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal and Indigenous communities.”“Working with the EPA and our other federal partners to ensure safe living and working conditions for our entire community is a priority in the Western District of Tennessee. Notifying the U.S.
Attorney’s Office about environmental justice concerns helps us protect the community from harmful violations of federal health and safety law,” said United States Attorney Ritz. “We hope that concerned individuals, organizations, andcommunity groups in this district will work with us to address and fix environmental injuries to public health or the environment, or injuries to natural resources. Together, we will work to reduce public health and environmental harms caused by violations of our federal laws and regulations—especially to underserved communities that often suffer from a disproportionate share of adverse health effects.”The United States Attorney’s Office has included an environmental justice program update on its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/environmental-justice. This
update includes recommendations for how to contact various federal agencies regarding a variety of environmental concerns, as well as phone numbers and links to submit online complaints to a diverse group of federal agencies.
In addition to the federal agencies identified on the Office’s website, United States Attorney Ritz encourages residents to contact the United States Attorney’s Office at 901- 544-4231 or by email
[email protected] when also contacting local, state, or federal agency hotlines or websites to report environmental, health and safety concerns. Consistent with the Department’s comprehensive strategy, the United States Attorney also designated an Environmental Justice
Coordinator for the district to coordinate its environmental justice efforts. When contacting the
Office, please ask to speak with the Environmental Justice Coordinator.
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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or [email protected]. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.Jail assault results in sentences for Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos gang membersRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Four men have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of assault with a dangerous weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gilbert Arevalo, 26, Laredo, pleaded guilty Feb. 28, while Antonio Cristian-Martinez, 22, McAllen, Orlando Flores-Duke, 27, an undocumented alien residing in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and Jamie Pecina, 25, Laredo, pleaded guilty March 28.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed a 120-month term of imprisonment for Arevalo for the assault. He had already received 87 months for an unrelated case. The sentence imposed today was ordered to be served consecutively to 60 out of the 87 months in the unrelated case for a total 180-month-term of imprisonment.
Cristian-Martinez, Flores-Duke and Pecina were previously sentenced to total prison terms of 97, 161 and 141 months.
At the hearing today, the court heard from the victim’s family who described the lasting and damaging impact the group had on not just the victim, but the entire family. At the hearing, the family said their lives have been changed forever as a result of the assault. Judge Saldana noted the violent nature of the offense and the general lack of care or regard for the life of the victim. In handing down the sentence, Judge Saldana noted the egregiousness of the offense and lack of humanity. Judge Saldana said she will never forget the harm the caused to the victim and family.
The four men were in custody awaiting their sentences for various charges at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo.
On Nov. 10, 2021, Arevalo, Pecina and Flores-Duke had a verbal altercation with a fellow inmate. Shortly after, Cristian-Martinez joined argument and they attacked the victim with punches and kicks to the head and body.
The group left the victim severely injured and unconscious on the ground. As a result of the attack, the victim is now in a vegetative state and requires around-the-clock medical care.
All four will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Anthony G. Brown and AUSA Matthew Isaac prosecuted the case.
Investiture Ceremony for United States Attorney William S. ThompsonRead the Press Release
Investiture Ceremony for United States Attorney William S. Thompson
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The investiture ceremony for William S. Thompson, United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 2 p.m. Thompson will be joined by United States Senator Joseph Manchin III, members of the federal judiciary, distinguished guests, and family to celebrate his appointment. He will also express his visions and goals for the Southern District of West Virginia and stress the importance of serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.
This is the formal, public swearing-in ceremony for Thompson, who was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed Thompson by voice vote on October 5, 2021.
WHAT: Investiture Ceremony for William S. Thompson as United States Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia
WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Seventh Floor Ceremonial Courtroom, Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, 300 Virginia Street, East, Charleston
NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (Such as a driver’s license) and valid media credentials. Media may begin arriving at 1 p.m. and must have cameras set by 1:30 p.m. Media should RSVP to [email protected].
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.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Akale Jamel Green, 54, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2020, Green sold approximately 1.42 grams of heroin to a confidential informant while parked at a Hurricane shopping plaza. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the controlled substance contained heroin and fentanyl.
Green further admitted to aiding and abetting the sale of approximately 1 gram of heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Hurricane residence on June 9, 2020, and to selling approximately 1.33 grams of heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington on June 23, 2020. On July 22, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Doulton Avenue residence in Huntington and found a quantity of a heroin and fentanyl mixture and digital scales. Green admitted to possessing the heroin and fentanyl mixture and that he intended to distribute it.
Green is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the DEA and the West Virginia State Police Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans 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-100.
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