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Monday 29 August 2022
Roane County Man Sentenced to Life Plus 120 Months for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 24, 2022, the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, sentenced Kent Lowery Booher, 67, of Harriman, Tennessee, to serve life plus 120 months in federal prison on child exploitation charges.
Booher, a disbarred criminal defense attorney and prior sex offender, was found guilty of child exploitation crimes by a federal jury in April 2021 in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b), 2260A, 1591(a)(1), (b)(2), and 2251. Booher will also be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court at a later date.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Booher used a telephone, as well as Facebook and other electronic messaging platforms to communicate with an undercover officer that he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Over a five-day period, Booher engaged in sexually explicit communications with an officer that he believed to be minor. Booher arranged to meet the minor in person, at which time Booher was arrested by agents of the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Harriman Police Department. Additionally, at trial the jury convicted Booher of charges pertaining to the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl from 2012 to 2013.
“The lengthy sentence given by the Judge displays the gravity of crimes committed against children and the punishments those who commit them will face,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
The lead agency in this investigation was the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The Knoxville Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Lenoir City Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Harriman Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Department of Corrections, and U.S. Secret Service, assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and Frank M. Dale, Jr. represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to the Sexual Exploitation of Two Minor Girls to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - Dennis James Harrison, age 40, of Rocky Ridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography, related to the sexual exploitation of two minors who were between the ages of 10 and 12 at the time of the abuse. The guilty plea was entered on Friday, August 26, 2022.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III.
According to his guilty plea, between 2018 and 2021, Harrison sexually exploited two minor girls beginning when the one victim was twelve years old and when another victim was 10 to 11 years old, to produce child pornography. Specifically, from at least September 2020 through August 2021, Harrison engaged in sexual activity with Jane Doe 1, a 12-year-old girl who resided in Pennsylvania. Harrison picked-up Jane Doe 1 from her residence and drove her to various location in Maryland, including Harrison’s residence, where he engaged in illegal sexual activity with Jane Doe 1. Harrison produced images and videos of his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1 and enticed Jane Doe 1 to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Harrison also used a hidden camera and a mobile phone in 2018 to produce a series of images depicting Jane Doe 2, a 10-to-11-year-old girl, nude and partially nude in a bedroom and bathroom in Pennsylvania and in a bathroom in Maryland. The images were taken without the knowledge of Jane Doe 2.
On August 12, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Harrison’s residence and recovered a cellphone used by Harrison to film his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1, as well as several digital devices. A forensic examination of all the devices located files depicting the sexual abuse of children on each one, including depictions of infants and toddlers. In total, over 14,000 files of child pornography were found on Harrison’s devices. On August 12, 2009, Harrison was convicted of possession of child pornography related to the sexual abuse of a minor and was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in the federal case.
As stated in his plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Harrison must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).
Harrison faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years in prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
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 Attorney’s 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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who are prosecuting the federal 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/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Ponca Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steve Russell announced that Timothy S. Daly, 49, of Ponca, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Judge John M. Gerrard for interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Daly was sentenced to 7 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 23, 2021, Daly contacted a phone number appearing on an online advertisement which offered sexual services. An undercover law enforcement officer responded posing as a 15-year-old female. Through text conversation Daly planned a meeting with the 15-year-old-girl to engage in sexual activities not knowing the girl was an undercover officer. On August 26, 2021, Daly traveled to the arranged meeting place. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested by law enforcement. His vehicle was searched and the cash, fast food which had been negotiated as payment for the proposed sex acts were located in his vehicle as well as condoms.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Heroin Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Martise Smith, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin from June of 2019 through December of 2019, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV. Smith is one of seven defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019 the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a heroin trafficking organization operating throughout the greater Pittsburgh area of which Smith was a member. Beginning in July of 2019 and continuing through August of 2019, the FBI initiated a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Smith was intercepted communicating with his codefendants and agreeing to supply them with distribution quantities of heroin. Through extensive physical and electronic surveillance, Smith was observed meeting with his codefendants to sell them the heroin.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of 40 years of imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Smith remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Smith.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Philadelphia Man Guilty of Violating Federal Drug and Gun LawsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, PA, was found guilty after a four-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
John T. Terry, 47, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and cocaine, between March 30, 2018, and April 4, 2018.
Further, Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson found Terry guilty of possessing a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol at the time of his arrest. On June 2, 1998, Terry was convicted in United States District Court for the Eastern District of PA, of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing firearms.
Terry is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2023.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $31,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed on each of the defendants would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendants.
The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police SHIELD Unit, and the Somerset Turnpike Barracks, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Terry.
Pharmacy & Bank Robberies Net Nashville Man Lengthy Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Nashville man convicted of robbing a pharmacy and a bank in 2020, will spend 13 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
David Powell, aka Dawud Powell, 31, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr.
Powell was initially arrested on a criminal complaint on August 25, 2020, and charged with the August 19th robbery of the Walgreens Pharmacy on Nolensville Pike, in which he brandished a handgun and demanded that the pharmacist give him all of the Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Lortab. The pharmacist complied and the robber placed the bottles of drugs in a white bag and fled the store.
The investigation by responding officers and detectives from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department led them to the area of West Valley Drive where they observed an individual exiting a vehicle and carrying a white bag. The individual ignored the officers’ commands to stop, and he fled, jumping a nearby fence. Subsequent investigation by FBI agents identified Powell as the suspect.
At the time of Powell’s arrest, he was in possession of four handguns, additional magazines and marijuana. Two additional firearms were found in the vehicle he was occupying. At the time of his arrest, Powell was on federal supervised release out of the Northern District of Illinois, where he was previously convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Powell was also found to be responsible for the January 3, 2020, robbery of the Fifth-Third Bank on Old Hickory Boulevard, based on a DNA analysis of a pair of discarded pants that were found in the woods while searching for the suspect immediately following the robbery.
In May, Powell pleaded guilty to armed pharmacy robbery; brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and bank robbery.
U.S. Attorney Wildasin commended the FBI and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy, for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case which removes another dangerous offender from the community for an extended period of time.
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Pennsylvania man admits to bank robberyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William J. Birdsall, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Jacqueline Havens, of Boones Mill, Virginia, have admitted to their involvement in a bank robbery, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Birdsall, 50, pleading guilty today to one count of “Bank Robbery.” Birdsall admitted to robbing the Bank of Romney in Hampshire County on September 22, 2021, taking $13,420 in cash.
Havens, 55, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Disposal of Proceeds Stolen from Bank.” Havens admitted to receiving the proceeds from Birdsall’s bank robbery with the intent of hiding it.
Birdsall is facing up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Havens is facing 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 Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Meth from California to DistributeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Rockton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Ryan Schoening, age 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Schoening was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Schoening received over ten pounds of methamphetamine from suppliers located in California between July of 2020 and August of 2021, which he distributed to local customers. Schoening also received over ten pounds of methamphetamine that was transported by vehicle from Houston, Texas by an alternate supplier between November of 2020 and April of 2021, which he also distributed to local customers.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Schoening on January 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Office on Violence Against Women Awards $30.59 Million to Improve Services for Underserved Populations and Provide Culturally Specific ServicesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced today nearly $31 million in upcoming grant awards to improve outreach, services and support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking from underserved communities and culturally specific populations. Specifically, OVW’s Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services and Sexual Assault Services - Culturally Specific Programs will award a combined total of $18,315,762 through 59 grants to promote community-based programs that offer culturally and linguistically specific services. Under the Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations Program, OVW will award $4,499,858 to 10 grantees to provide victim services and deploy outreach strategies tailored to the needs of survivors from underserved populations. OVW’s Disabilities Grant Program will award $4,119,788 for 10 projects to build community-wide capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf individuals. In addition, under the Abuse in Later Life Program, OVW will award $3,650,833 to six grantees to create multidisciplinary partnerships for a comprehensive approach to address elder abuse. OVW Acting Director Allison Randall announced the funding at the 2022 National Conference on Domestic Violence.
“By advancing equity for all, we can promote public safety and increase public trust,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Today’s announcement furthers OVW’s work to implement the Department of Justice’s Equity Action Plan. By increasing grant awards to culturally specific, community-based organizations OVW is helping to reduce violence and advance civil rights.”
“It is imperative that we think about barriers that stand between survivors and their access to justice, safety, and healing – including barriers in our own services and systems – and commit ourselves to breaking down those barriers,” said Acting Director Randall. “At OVW, we are making that commitment by enhancing funding for organizations that are operated by and for communities of color and historically marginalized and underserved populations. In this year’s grant solicitations, we prioritized funding for culturally specific, community-based organizations, Tribal organizations, and population-specific organizations. This is critical, because advocates report that survivors are more likely to seek services from organizations they can trust are familiar with their culture, their language and their background.”
OVW’s Culturally Specific Services Program funds the development of innovative culturally and linguistically specific approaches that offer survivors services they might not be able to find at mainstream organizations. The Disabilities Program funds education, training, services, and capacity building to ensure people with disabilities can safely and fully access resources in their communities for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Through training and services, the Abuse in Later Life Program addresses elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, against victims who are 50 years of age or older.
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.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to 32 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced D’Andra Miller (22, Ocala) to 32 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Miller had pleaded guilty on May 24, 2022.
According to court records, Miller was found with a firearm on two different occasions. DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Miller’s DNA on both of the firearms.
Miller has one prior felony conviction for burglary of a conveyance. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Benjamin Townsel (23, Ocala) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Townsel had pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022.
According to court documents, on three different occasions, Townsel was found with a firearm after officers from the Ocala Police Department conducted traffic stops on vehicles in which Townsel was a passenger. DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Townsel’s DNA on each of the firearms. The traffic stops occurred on August 7, 2020, December 3, 2020, and February 15, 2021, the latter two occurring after Townsel had been released on bond from jail on state charges. The firearm found during the first incident also had an obliterated serial number, in violation of federal law.
Townsel has four prior state felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New York State Parole Absconder Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Tevaughn Johnson (29, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022.
According to court records, in January 2019, Johnson was convicted of attempted robbery in New York. He was released from prison and placed on parole in February 2021. In approximately September 2021 Johnson left New York without the permission of his parole office. A warrant was subsequently issued for Johnson’s arrest for violating the terms of his supervision. Deputy United States Marshals located Johnson in Florida. When they attempted to arrest Johnson, he fled on foot and one of the deputy marshals suffered a significant hand injury during a struggle with Johnson. A firearm was located in the vehicle Johnson had been driving, and DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Johnson’s DNA on the firearm.
Johnson has two prior state felony convictions for robbery and attempted robbery. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Michael P. Felicetta.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining and Selling Three Tom Brady Super Bowl RingsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A New Jersey man was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for posing as a former player for the New England Patriots, which allowed him to purchase family versions of the team’s 2016 Super Bowl championship ring – supposedly as gifts to relatives of quarterback Tom Brady – one of which was sold at auction for more than $337,000.
Scott V. Spina Jr., 25, of Roseland, New Jersey, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who also ordered Spina to pay $63,000 in restitution to the former Patriots player who sold him his Super Bowl ring and other memorabilia.
On February 1, Spina pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The scheme began in 2017, when Spina purchased a Super Bowl LI ring awarded to a Patriots player who subsequently left the team. Spina, who bilked the former player by paying for the ring with at least one bad check, sold the ring soon after for $63,000 to a well-known broker of championship rings.
When Spina obtained the player ring, he also received the information that allowed the former player to purchase Super Bowl rings for family and friends that are slightly smaller than the player rings.
“Spina then called the Ring Company, fraudulently identified himself as [the former player], and started ordering three family and friend Super Bowl LI rings with the name ‘Brady’ engraved on each one, which he falsely represented were gifts for the baby of quarterback Tom Brady,” according to court documents. “The rings were at no time authorized by Tom Brady. Defendant Spina intended to obtain the three rings by fraud and to sell them at a substantial profit.”
Spina entered into an agreement with the Orange County man who purchased the player’s Super Bowl ring to sell him the three family rings that Spina now claimed Brady had given to his nephews. After agreeing to buy the three rings for $81,500 – nearly three times what Spina paid for the rings – the buyer started to believe that Brady did not have nephews, and he tried to withdraw from the deal.
The same day that the buyer tried to back out, and the same day that Spina received the rings in November 2017, Spina immediately sold them to an auction house for $100,000. During an auction in February 2018, one of the family rings was sold for $337,219.
Spina admitted in his plea agreement that he defrauded the Orange County ring broker when he falsely claimed that the rings “were ordered for Tom Brady directly from [the Ring Company] for select family members.” Spina also admitted that he defrauded this victim in relation to three wire transfers for the deposit on the family rings. Spina further admitted he committed identity theft when he posed as the former Patriot to purchase the rings.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik M. Silber of the Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Naples Felon Pleads Guilty to $2.6 Million COVID Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Joseph Tisone (35, Naples) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bank fraud, illegal monetary transaction, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Tisone faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud and bank fraud count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the illegal monetary transaction count, and up to 10 years in federal prison on the possession of ammunition charge.
According to the plea agreement, between March 2020 and April 2021, Tisone, a convicted felon, submitted false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to the Small Business Administration, as well as PPP and MSLP approved lenders. The loan applications contained numerous false representations, including the criminal history, average monthly payroll, number of employees, and gross revenues of the applicant, Tisone.
In support of the fraudulent EIDL, PPP, and MSLP applications, Tisone submitted false and fictitious payroll and tax documents, as well as a fake commercial lease. Further, Tisone fraudulently used the means of identification of individuals who purported to work for Tisone’s companies, including their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (SSN) to submit false and fraudulent payroll and payroll tax documents. Tisone also fraudulently used the means of identification of an individual, including the individual’s name, date of birth, driver license information, and SSN to submit a false and fraudulent EIDL application.
Tisone’s false and fraudulent representations caused the SBA, PPP, and MSLP lenders to approve and fund one MSLP, four EIDL, and five PPP loans, resulting in the deposit of approximately $2,617,447.17 into bank accounts controlled by Tisone. Tisone then unlawfully used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of residences in Naples, Florida, stocks and investment securities, a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, a 4.02 carat engagement ring, and ammunition.
Additionally, on March 20, 2022, while executing a search warrant at Tisone’s residence, FBI and SIGPR agents discovered rounds of assorted ammunition in Tisone’s master bedroom and garage. Specifically, more than 800 rounds of assorted .223/5.56 caliber ammunition and 9mm ammunition was found in his home. Tisone, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
As part of his guilty plea, Tisone agrees to forfeit his interest in a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, two real properties located in Naples, a 4.02 carat solitaire engagement ring, approximately $65,645.69 seized from two bank accounts, and approximately $2,617,447.17, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
The MSLP was designed to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was intended to help companies, that were in sound financial condition prior to the onset of the pandemic, maintain their operations and payroll until conditions normalized.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), the IRS – Criminal Investigation, with the assistance from the Federal Reserve Board – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling and Suzanne Nebesky.
Monessen Felon Charged with Multiple Drug and Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Monessen, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charges of violating federal narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The eight-count Indictment, returned on Aug. 23, 2022, and unsealed today, named Rashawn Ford, age 27, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on or about March 13, 2021, Ford possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of heroin and fentanyl. On March 14, 2021, Ford possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of heroin and fentanyl. Also on March 13, 2021, and March 14, 2021, as well as Aug. 4, 2022, Ford possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On Aug. 4, 2022, Ford possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican National Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Marijuana PossessionRead the Press Release
ALPINE – A Mexican national was sentenced last week to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, on January 28, 2022, a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a traffic stop on a black BMW SUV driven by Efren Derma-Dominguez, 26. After a consensual search of the SUV was conducted, approximately 445.5 pounds of marijuana and 154 grams of methamphetamine were found.
On March 31, 2022, Derma pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Greg Millard; and United States Border Patrol, Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin made the announcement.
The DEA and U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott V. Greenbaum prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Months’ Imprisonment for Illegal Reentry of A Previously Deported PersonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Martin Perez-Amaro, age 33, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Perez-Amaro, who had been deported on two prior occasions, most recently in 2018, unlawfully reentered the country sometime thereafter and was located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in May of 2022. Perez-Amaro did not obtain the required authorization prior to reentering the country. He had pleaded guilty to the offense immediately before sentencing.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
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Meraux Woman Charged with Aiding in Filing False TaxesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CYNTHIA BOWLEY, age 67, of Meraux, was indicted on August 26, 2022 with one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
The indictment alleges that in June 2017, BOWLEY assisted in preparing a false tax return for a taxpayer in which BOWLEY included false business losses and false charitable deductions. The resulting refund was more than $18,000.00 in excess of the amount of the legitimate taxpayer refund.
If convicted, BOWLEY faces a maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is being handled by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Man Sentenced for Neglecting Child with Special NeedsRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man was sentenced in federal court Monday for repeatedly neglecting to adequately care for a child with mental and physical special needs, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced 37-year-old Victor Manuel Castro Huerta to 14 months in prison, after ordering Castro Huerta to receive credit for the 70-months he has served for his state conviction for the crime. The federal sentence will run concurrently with the state of Oklahoma’s 35-year sentence.
The adjustment and federal sentence was pursuant to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the agreement between the parties. The sentence took into consideration the plea agreement in which the United States and the defendant agreed to an 84-month sentence.
In his plea agreement, Castro Huerta admitted that from 2012 to Nov. 29, 2015, he did not provide adequate nurturance, food, hygiene, sanitation, education, supervision and specialty care, and medical and dental care for a child with cerebral palsy. Specifically, Castro Huerta stated that he did not appropriately care for the victim, his step-daughter, nor transport her to required medical appointments.
Castro Huerta was charged with child neglect in federal court on Nov. 2, 2020, in anticipation that his state conviction would be vacated. The state conviction was later vacated by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in April 2021.
On June 29, 2022, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals’ ruling.
The defendant remains in federal custody.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin F. Harrington and Vani Singhal prosecuted the case.
Live Oak Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Stealing Verizon Wireless Cash DepositsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mikah Nathaniel Strickland (27, Live Oak) has pleaded guilty to stealing cash deposits from the mail. Strickland faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, from October 25, 2021, to March 2, 2022, Strickland worked as a city carrier for the Live Oak Post Office. He was assigned to the delivery route that picked up outgoing mail from the Verizon Wireless store located in Live Oak. During this time, the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General had received a complaint that Verizon Wireless cash vault deposits, which were picked up from the Live Oak store and scanned, were missing. After investigating the complaint, agents discovered that Strickland was stealing the deposits, and that he had taken 19 Verizon Wireless deposits totaling more than $23,000. During an interview with agents, Strickland admitted to stealing all 19 of the Verizon Wireless deposits from the store in Live Oak.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kirwinn Mike.
Leader of Nationwide Wire Fraud Scheme that Exploited App-Based Rideshare and Food Delivery Companies Sentenced to Almost Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 29, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Gustavo De Avila Moreira Farinha, the lead defendant in a nationwide wire fraud and identity theft scheme, was sentenced in federal court today to 34 months in prison.
De Avila is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in connection with the scheme, which targeted app-based rideshare and food delivery companies and their customers.
In May 2021, five Brazilian nationals, including De Avila, were charged by criminal complaint and later by indictment with engaging in a nationwide conspiracy to establish fraudulent driver accounts with multiple internet and app-based rideshare and food delivery companies, including by using identities stolen from the very customers of those companies. De Avila’s co-defendant and long-term girlfriend, Tatiane Pereira Arantes, was sentenced earlier this month to more than 2½ years in prison, while De Avila’s other co-defendants—Natalia Magalhaes Rocha, Leonardo Trulsen De Oliveira, and Thassya Rebeca Da Silva Alves—were previously sentenced to 2 years and 4½ months, 2 years and 3 months, and 2 years, respectively.
As set forth in his plea agreement and publicly filed sentencing documents, De Avila admitted that between 2018 and May 2021, he and his co-conspirators, all of whom were Brazilian nationals living in the United States illegally, operated a scheme to defraud major app-based rideshare and food delivery companies. In Spring 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, the conspirators shifted away from the rideshare companies, which saw a dramatic decrease in traffic, to food, grocery and other delivery companies, which saw a corresponding and precipitous increase in demand. De Avila and his co-conspirators exploited the surge in demand by creating driver accounts with stolen identities, collecting referral bonuses from the fraudulent accounts, and by using, renting, and selling the accounts to others on these platforms, including people who were not otherwise qualified to drive for the platforms.
De Avila and his co-conspirators also admitted that once they received payment from the rideshare and delivery companies, they laundered the money both to promote the conspiracy and to conceal the fact that the source of the funds was an elaborate fraudulent scheme. While the fraudulent scheme targeted popular app-based rideshare and food delivery services, De Avila and his co-conspirators also stole and used the identities of close to 100 victims to create fraudulent driver accounts on the various platforms over the three-year conspiracy.
Before imposing a 34-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel stated that De Avila and his co-conspirators “harvested identities,” which left victims with a “lingering unknown” as to whether their identities were “in the ether” or in the hands of other criminals.
“Today’s sentencing is the final step to achieving justice on behalf of dozens of victims whose identities were stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “All five defendants will spend at least two years in prison for sending their victims on a miserable journey to reclaim their good names. We are determined to pursue cases against identity thieves because these crimes have such a devastating impact on the everyday lives of victims.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and agents from Homeland Security Investigations for their excellent work on this case.
“It’s great to see justice brought in this case” said Chad A. Plantz, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. “Technology-enabled crimes and identity theft cost U.S. consumers billions of dollars every year. HSI will continue to pursue financial fraud and identity theft investigations to hold criminals accountable.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21CR1538-GPC
Gustavo De Avila Moreira Farinha Age: 30 Brazil
Tatiane Pereira Arantes Age: 38 Brazil
Natalia Magalhaes Rocha Age: 30 Brazil
Leonardo Trulsen De Oliveira Age: 30 Brazil
Thassya Da Silva Alves Age: 30 Brazil
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, $250,000 fineCount 2 – Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), (b)(i), and 1956(h)Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instruments
Counts 3-17- Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., 1028AMaximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum of two years in prison, to run consecutively to the specified felony.
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 38 Years in Federal Prison, Eight Conspirators Also Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Jonathan Jermain Thomas (33, Ocala) to 38 years and 4 months years in federal prison. A federal jury had convicted Thomas on April 28, 2022, of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, and more than 1 kilogram of heroin. The jury also found Thomas guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, Thomas supplied large amounts of drugs to a “trap house” in Summerfield, Florida. Once the drugs were delivered to the house, Thomas’s conspirators worked together to prepare, mix, and distribute the various substances to users and smaller-scale suppliers who made daily purchases from the residence. The conspiracy included Thomas as the lead supplier, enforcers who carried firearms to protect the drug assets, and others who helped package and distribute the substances from the house.
On September 9, 2020, Thomas was stopped by law enforcement on I-75 in Gainesville. After smelling the odor of marijuana, a search of the vehicle yielded nearly a kilogram of fentanyl hidden within the vehicle’s side paneling. The fentanyl had been packaged for distribution, and Thomas was heading to Detroit, Michigan to meet with a buyer. His passenger, who was charged in the indictment, pleaded guilty prior to trial.
In addition to Thomas, eight conspirators previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in this case:
Name
(Age, Residence)
Date of Plea
Date of Sentencing
Sentence Imposed
Samuel Glover
(32, Summerfield)
4/19/22
8/26/22
35 years
Roddrick Anthony
(29, Ocala)
11/10/21
7/20/22
15 years
Jelyssa Washington
(30, Summerfield)
11/22/21
5/20/22
15 years
Crystal Lovejoy
(43, Ocala)
11/10/21
5/20/22
10 years, 10 months
Brent McCray
(30, Wildwood)
9/21/20
5/25/22
10 years
Aaron Bostick
(41, Ocala)
4/20/21
7/20/22
5 years, 3 months
Elaina Buchanan
(31, Ocala)
10/25/21
5/20/22
3 years, 5 months
Danny Lee Campbell
(33, Belleview)
3/25/22
6/24/22
2 years, 3 months
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Tyrie K. Boyer.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Federal Prison for Killing Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Jacob KeltnerRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge in Rockford today sentenced an Illinois man to 55 years in federal prison for the killing of Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Jacob Keltner.
A jury earlier this year convicted FLOYD E. BROWN, 43, of Springfield, Ill., of second-degree murder of a federal officer, attempting to kill additional federal officers, assault of federal officers, and multiple firearm offenses. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed the sentence after a hearing in federal court.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ashley T. Johnson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, Loves Park Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Talia Bucci, Scott Paccagnini, and Ronald DeWald.
“Through the violent actions of Floyd Brown, the Keltner family lost a devoted son, husband and father, and the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois lost a dedicated public servant,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Special Deputy Keltner made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation. His bravery and dedication will not be forgotten. We remain committed to prosecuting violence against federal law enforcement officers to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Special Deputy Keltner put his life on the line every day to protect and serve his community,” said FBI Acting SAC Johnson. “Tragically, on March 7, 2019, he paid a terrible price for his dedication. We will never stop working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to remove violent offenders from our streets and safeguard those who care for our communities.”
Special Deputy Keltner was fatally wounded on March 7, 2019, when members of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and other law enforcement officers attempted to execute a warrant for Brown’s arrest at a Rockford hotel. Special Deputy Keltner served as a McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy and was a sworn member of the task force. Brown was wanted on a residential burglary charge.
When the officers attempted to gain access to Brown’s third-floor hotel room, he fired ten shots through the door and nearby walls, narrowly missing a Deputy U.S. Marshal and two Special Deputy U.S. Marshals. Brown then jumped out of a window and fired a shot that fatally struck Special Deputy Keltner, who was covering the exterior of the hotel.
Brown was arrested several hours later near Lincoln, Ill., after a high-speed pursuit.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Roy Bills, 57, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 24, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bills’ residence and found multiple firearms in the basement: a Diamondback 5.56mm AR-15 rifle; a Savage AXIS XP .308-caliber Winchester bolt-action rifle; a Derya Arms, model VR-80, 12-gauge shotgun; a GSG .22-caliber pistol; and a Beretta 96 .40-caliber pistol. Officers also located ammunition with the firearms. Bills admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bills knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute marijuana in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November, 7, 2016.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe 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. 3:21-cr-60.
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Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GABRIEL CORDERO, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began an investigation of an organization that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Cordero and other members of the organization were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers. They then stored, processed and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments located at 280 Collins Street in Hartford where some members of the organization also resided, and then distributed the drug in the Hartford area, and also the Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts area. A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at the Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford.
Cordero resided in an apartment at 280 Collins Street, and investigators made multiple controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Cordero and other members of the drug trafficking organization in and around 280 Collins Street and Neighborhood Supermarket.
The investigation also revealed that Cordero and his associates possessed and used firearms in connection with their drug trafficking activity.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, much of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags. Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin/fentanyl additive. Seven firearms, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a bullet proof vest were also seized.
Fourteen individuals have been charged with various narcotics, firearms and immigration offenses as a result of this investigation.
Cordero has been detained since his arrest on June 29, 2017. On March 24, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Hacienda Heights Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing $1.3 Million from Amazon Through Refund ScamRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A third-party seller on Amazon.com was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for gaming the online retailer’s payment system in a scheme that defrauded the company out of more than $1.3 million.
Ting Hong Yeung, 40, of Hacienda Heights, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who also ordered him to pay $1,302,954 in restitution.
Yeung pleaded guilty on June 6 to one count of wire fraud.
Amazon allows third-party sellers to use its online retail platform to advertise items, make sales and communicate with customers. Ordinarily, when an Amazon customer purchases an item listed by a third-party seller, Amazon credits the third-party seller’s internal Amazon account for the amount of that purchase. About every two weeks, Amazon disburses into the seller’s bank account the proceeds of those sales for which the seller has provided proof that the items purchased have been shipped – namely, the shipment tracking numbers.
Yeung operated as an Amazon third-party vendor using business names including “Speedy Checkout,” “Special SaleS” and “California Red Trading Inc.” After enough time passed to allow his businesses to appear to be reputable vendors, Yeung would list expensive merchandise, such as furniture and home décor, at cut-rate prices to drive a spike in sales.
However, instead of shipping purchased items to the customers, Yeung provided Amazon with bogus tracking numbers. When customers complained about not receiving their purchases, Yeung delayed customer refund requests long enough to ensure that Amazon would disburse funds into his businesses’ bank accounts. As a result, Yeung collected payment for items that were never shipped and relied on Amazon to issue refunds to his disgruntled customers under its “A-to-z Guarantee.”
In some instances, instead of sending customers the products they ordered, Yeung shipped them cheap crystal ornaments, which served the dual purpose of generating tracking numbers that induced Amazon to disburse customer funds and forestalling customer complaints and demands for refunds. Yeung also used Amazon’s Buyer-Seller Messaging Service to convince customers that their orders were on their way when, in fact, they were not.
On occasion, Yeung provided goods to his customers that he obtained through his own fraudulent purchases from Amazon, which he made using credit cards in the names of other people and fictitious identities. After the goods were delivered to his customers, Yeung requested refunds for the goods from Amazon. Yeung often falsely claimed that he was entitled to a refund because the product was “Different from what was ordered,” and then returned lower-value items rather than the merchandise he had originally ordered. As a result, Yeung received both the refund and the proceeds of the original sale to his own customer.
“[Yeung] perpetrated his fraud over the course of roughly seven years, collecting more than $1.3 million,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “He forced his victim into an elaborate game of Whac-A-Mole: when Amazon uncovered and shut down a fraud scheme involving one of defendant’s companies, he simply began it anew with another.”
Yeung has admitted causing Amazon to suffer approximately $1,302,954 in losses. He has agreed to pay restitution, some of which will be paid with gold and silver bars that investigators seized during a search of his residence in February 2022.
The FBI investigated this matter and received cooperation from Amazon.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Guatemalan National Living in Maryland and Salvadoran National Living in Virginia Charged with Unlawful Transportation of Individual in VermontRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Nector Armando Garcia Perez, 26, of Waldorf, Maryland, and Deisy Del Cid Reyes, 27, of Falls Church, Virginia, were arrested yesterday and will appear tomorrow in federal court on a charge alleging that, on or about August 26, 2022, they unlawfully transported an individual they knew to have entered the United States illegally. Garcia Perez is a national of Guatemala, and Del Cid Reyes is a national of El Salvador.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that a criminal complaint is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As currently charged, each defendant would face up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their quick response and investigation of Garcia Perez and Del Cid Reyes, and their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human-smuggling organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt represents the United States in this case. Garcia Perez is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office. Del Cid Reyes is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.
Georgia Man Sentenced to over 7½ Years in Prison for Synthetic Identities Scheme That Defrauded Banks Out of Nearly $2 MillionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Georgia man was sentenced today to 94 months in federal prison for participating in a nationwide fraud ring that used stolen Social Security numbers – including those belonging to children – to create synthetic identities used to open lines of credit, create shell companies, and steal nearly $2 million from financial institutions.
Corey Cato, 41, of Atlanta, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $1,908,481 in restitution. Cato pleaded guilty on May 9 to one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
No later than 2017, Cato joined conspiracies to defraud banks and illegally possess credit cards. Cato and his co-conspirators created “synthetic identities” by combining false personal information such as fake names and dates of birth with the information of real people, such as their Social Security numbers. Cato and others then used the synthetic identities and fake ID documents to open bank and credit card accounts at financial institutions. Cato and his co-conspirators used the unlawfully obtained credit cards to fund their lifestyles.
As part of the scheme, Cato maintained a commercial mail receiving agency space called “Pak Mail” in Georgia where he and his co-conspirators received correspondence related to the synthetic identities, including bank account and credit card statements, while insulating their personal addresses from detection.
Using a stolen social security number and fake California driver’s license, Cato rented an apartment in Atlanta under the name “Jason Brown,” where, in February 2019, he possessed credit cards and financial information in the names of synthetic identities like “Adam M. Lopez” and “Carlos Rivera.”
The total losses to the banks totaled approximately $1.9 million.
“[Cato] and his co-conspirators built their wealth off the backs of the people whose identities they stole, many of them children,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Both the effects on these victims’ credit histories and their sense of violation are impossible to quantify, but they provide further reminder of the seriousness of [Cato’s] crime and the callousness of his conduct.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, which is one of a series of cases that has resulted in criminal convictions for 12 defendants, including Turhan Lemont Armstrong, 52, of Northridge, who was convicted at trial in 2019 of 51 counts of fraud, money laundering, identity theft and other federal offenses.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section and Allison L. Westfahl Kong, Chief of Trials, Integrity, and Professionalism, prosecuted this case.
Fugitive Sentenced to 57 Months for High-Speed Chase and Assaulting Federal Officer with VehicleRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– A Staunton, Virginia man, who attempted to run over law enforcement officers serving arrest warrants, was sentenced last week to 57 months in federal prison.
Richard Lee Knight, 39, pled guilty in June 2022 to one count of assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents, the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) discovered that Knight, who was wanted on several fugitive warrants out of various jurisdictions in Virginia, was staying at a motel in the Charlottesville area.
Local law enforcement, in conjunction with CARFTF, located Knight in a Walmart parking lot on the morning of November 29, 2021 near his Mercedes Benz vehicle. When a law enforcement officer moved in to arrest him by issuing an order to “show me your hands, don’t move,” Knight refused the order and entered his car instead. Knight drove his Mercedes in reverse, striking both a CARFTF officer and a police vehicle, then drove forward, ramming into a second police vehicle.
After fleeing the scene, Knight led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase through Albemarle County, Virginia before being apprehended after crashing his vehicle on Interstate 64.
As a result of Knight’s actions, a CARFTF officer suffered cuts, bruises, back injuries, and a concussion.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and United States Marshal Thomas L. Foster of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Albemarle County Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald M. Huber and Jordan E. McKay prosecuted the case.
Fort Hall Man Sentenced to 38 months Imprisonment for AssaultRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – A Fort Hall man was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2022, Evaristo Antonio Aguilar, 28, and the victim went to his residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Once inside the house, Aguilar, who had been using heroin, barricaded the door so the victim could not leave the residence. Aguilar then hit the victim on the leg and in the face with a dog leash. Aguilar slammed the victim’s face into a mirror and hit and kicked the victim over the next few hours, with the victim drifting in and out of consciousness. Late in the evening Aguilar dragged the victim down the hallway toward the bedroom and told her it was time to go to bed. At around 10:00 pm Aguilar fell asleep, and the victim managed to leave the house and call police from a cell phone in her car. Responding officers stated that the victim’s face was swollen, with black and bruised eyes and blood on the victim’s mouth and nose. The victim was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a collapsed lung, broken ribs, broken bones in her face and hand and extensive bruising over her body. The victim has since recovered.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Aguilar to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department which led to the charges.
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Former postal worker sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography and possessing stolen mailRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Stacy Keith Wisener, a repeat sex offender, has been sentenced to three decades in federal prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl and producing child pornography depicting the abuse. Wisener also received a concurrent term of imprisonment for possessing mail he had stolen from the U.S. Postal Service processing facility where he worked.
“After his release from Georgia’s sex offender registry, Wisener resumed his predatory activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His horrific targeting of this child is unbelievable. The extraordinary courage of Wisener’s young victim, and outstanding cooperation between investigators and prosecutors on the federal, state, and local levels, brought this repeat child predator to justice.”
“Wisener’s decision to continue to exploit children, even after working to get off the sex offender registry, now puts him in prison for decades,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is difficult to measure the pain and suffering this victim has endured. This case serves as an example of the FBI and our partners’ commitment to bring to justice despicable predators that prey on vulnerable children for their own gratification.”
“This defendant wasted a second chance after being removed from the sex offender registry by reoffending, this time with far more egregious crimes. The GBI is committed to working with our partners to protect our young ones who are most vulnerable,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director John Melvin.
“Given the horrid nature of Wisener’s conduct, we are especially grateful for the hard work and dedication of the investigative and legal teams,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Pierce, USPS Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office. “This sentence, likely leading to life behind bars, is a critical step in protecting those most vulnerable to predators like Wisener. The USPS Office of Inspector General will continue to work hand-in-hand with our local, state and federal partners to hold accountable any Postal Service employee who chooses to violate the law.”
“We are thankful for the strong relationships that we have with our state and federal partners. In complex cases like these, those partnerships help secure convictions which will ensure that no other child will ever be terrorized by this man. I would like to sincerely thank all of the individuals who played a role in securing this conviction for these appalling crimes,” said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: for approximately four years, Wisener sexually molested a minor girl and routinely photographed and videotaped himself assaulting her. The abuse began in 2017, just a few months after a Paulding County Superior Court judge granted Wisener’s application to be removed from Georgia’s sex offender registry. Wisener had been added to the registry in 2003, when he pleaded guilty to molesting a different child under the age of 16. For that crime, Wisener was sentenced to probation in lieu of any jail time.
In October 2021, the victim, who Wisener had started molesting in 2017 when she was 11 years old, reported the abuse to her parents and local law enforcement. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office immediately obtained a warrant to search Wisener’s home, where many of the assaults occurred. Deputies found and seized multiple data storage devices, including hard drives, flash drives, SD cards, micro-SD cards, and compact discs. A camera, a video camera, and a computer were also seized. Many of the seized devices contained child pornography, including but not limited to photographs and videos of Wisener molesting the victim.
During the search, deputies also located thousands of pieces of unopened mail, including packages, that bore the names and addresses of people other than Wisener. Wisener stole these items from the Postal Service processing and distribution facility on Crown Road in Atlanta.
Stacy Keith Wisener, 60, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen to 30 years in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. Additionally, Wisener was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $175,000, a $5,200 special assessment, and to forfeit his house as property he had used to produce child pornography. Finally, Wisener was required to re-register as a sex offender.
Wisener was convicted of the federal child exploitation and stolen mail possession charges on April 29, 2022, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The Paulding County District Attorney’s Office and United States Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne M. Marek and Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia B. Smith is representing the government in the related civil forfeiture action against Wisener’s house.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Statesboro City Councilman Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A former Statesboro, Georgia city councilman was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for evading taxes on income from bars he co-owned.
According to court documents and statements made in court, William Britt, now of Bluffton, South Carolina, evaded taxes on income from various bars he co-owned near college campuses in Georgia. As part of the scheme, each establishment was nominally owned by a single individual. In reality, a group of business partners, including Britt, owned the bars in varying ownership percentages. Britt and the other true owners skimmed cash from the establishments and disbursed it amongst themselves in accordance with their ownership percentages without reporting that income to the IRS.
To complete the fraud scheme, Britt personally ensured that some of the nominal owners of the bars filed false tax returns. Britt also provided false information to an accountant who prepared tax returns related to some of these businesses. Specifically, Britt misrepresented the businesses’ true ownership, underreported the bars’ income, and omitted cash distributions to the owners. This conduct enabled Britt and the other true owners of the bars to file tax returns with the IRS that omitted their full income tax liabilities. As part of his guilty plea, Britt admitted to willfully underreporting his income on his 2014 individual tax return.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief Judge J. Randal Hall of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia ordered Britt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $352,404.54 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief David Zisserson and Trial Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Tax Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, prosecuted the case.
Former South Bay Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation Charge for Enticing Girls to Send Him Images Depicting MasochismRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Redondo Beach resident pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for targeting girls on the internet and enticing them to engage in masochistic abuse for his sexual gratification.
Matthew Christian Locher, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child for the purpose of producing a sexually explicit visual depiction.
According to his plea agreement, from November 2020 to May 2021, Locher targeted girls suffering from mental health issues, including depression, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders. During internet conversations, Locher groomed his victims to engage in self-mutilation and instructed a victim struggling with an eating disorder to starve herself, ordering her to film herself cutting her body when she disobeyed him.
Locher enticed two of the minor victims to send Locher images and videos of themselves committing acts of self-harm, which included cutting their breasts with razor blades.
Locher enticed a third victim, who was 12 years old, to run away from her home in Ohio and travel to California to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. Specifically, Locher encouraged the victim to kill her parents, at which point he would pick her up, bring her to California, and make her his “slave.” This victim began a trip to California after setting a fire in her family’s home in an unsuccessful attempt to kill her parents.
Soon after federal authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, Locher relocated to Indiana in the summer of 2021. Following his arrest in Indianapolis in January 2022, federal authorities transported Locher to California. He has been in federal custody since then.
United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee scheduled a January 17, 2023 sentencing hearing, at which time Locher will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Springfield (Ohio) Police Department, the Shelby County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, and the New York City Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
Former Real Estate Attorney and Wife Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Massachusetts attorney and his wife have been sentenced in federal court in Boston in connection with various mortgage fraud schemes.
Barry Wayne Plunkett Jr., 62, and Nancy Plunkett, 57, both of Hyannis Port, were sentenced on Aug. 25, 2022 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf. Barry Plunkett was sentenced to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,236,466 and forfeiture of $3,221,403. Nancy Plunkett was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,054,759, jointly and severally with Barry Plunkett, and forfeiture of $3,221,403. On March 4, 2022, Barry Plunkett pleaded guilty to five counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of tax evasion. On the same date, Nancy Plunkett pleaded guilty to five counts of bank fraud.
Prior to being disbarred in October 2017, Barry Plunkett owned and operated the Plunkett Law Firm where his wife, Nancy Plunkett, served as his office assistant and paralegal.
The defendants engaged in several bank fraud schemes. In one scheme, from September 2012 to July 2016, the defendants defrauded six mortgage lenders and 14 homeowners for whom the Plunkett Law Firm handled the closings for new mortgage loans to refinance residential properties. The Plunketts informed the mortgage lenders that pre-existing mortgages were paid off from the new loan proceeds when, in fact, they intentionally failed to pay off the prior liens and instead converted more than $1 million in payoff funds for their own purposes.
In other bank fraud schemes – between April 2015 and March 2018 – the Plunketts fraudulently used various names, entities and false documents to obtain three successive mortgage loans on their home in Hyannis Port in amounts of $412,000, $470,000 and $1.2 million. The defendants pledged as collateral a property in Hyannis Port that was held in a family trust for which Barry Plunkett was one of three beneficiaries. Both defendants participated in providing false documents to the lenders, including false title reports and other records to falsely represent that the property was free and clear of existing mortgage liens and forged documents in the names of other people. The defendants also made misrepresentations to a lender that Nancy Plunkett was a single woman living in Wellesley who was purchasing the property in her maiden name as a business investment when, in fact, the defendants had been married since 2014 and the property was their residence.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Victor A. Wild and Mackenzie Queenin of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Carol Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit, prosecuted the case.
Former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Restrained InmateRead the Press Release
Jeffery T. Havens, 27, a former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Center (EKCC) officer from West Liberty, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to one count of depriving an inmate of his civil rights.
According to his plea agreement, Havens admitted that on July 24, 2018, he and another EKCC correctional officer assaulted an inmate who had been taken to an isolated shower cell. Havens admitted that he held the inmate against the ground while his fellow correctional officer punched and kicked the inmate in the head. Havens joined in the assault by punching the inmate multiple times. At the time of the assault, the inmate was unresisting, lying face-down and wearing handcuffs and leg shackles.
On July 12, in a related case, former EKCC officer Derek Mays pleaded guilty to four counts of obstruction of justice based on his efforts to cover up the same assault.
Havens is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. Commissioner of Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the guilty plea.
The FBI, KSP and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dembo and Mary Melton for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted this case.
Former High School Track and Field Coach Charged in Twenty-Count Child Exploitation IndictmentRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging Alfredo Bruce Smith, 51, of St. Thomas, with twenty counts of charges including production of child pornography, coercion and enticement, and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Smith is also charged with Virgin Islands sexual offenses including aggravated second-degree rape. If convicted, Smith faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment.
According to court documents, Smith worked as a coach and school monitor at Charlotte Amalie High School. In 2021, Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation into Smith’s alleged criminal activities after receiving reports that he sexually assaulted a minor during a school-sponsored track and field trip in March 2019. A subsequent search of Smith’s social media and cell phones revealed dozens of images of child pornography, many of which depicted sex acts occurring at Charlotte Amalie High School
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everard Potter and Natasha L. Baker. Homeland Security Investigations encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-800-981-3030, or by calling 787-729-6969.
United States Attorney Delia L. Smith reminds the public that an Indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Exporting firearms and ammunition for wife lands Texas man in prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A man illegally residing in Garland has been sent to federal prison for his role in smuggling firearms from the United States into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Juan Jose Roque, 36, pleaded guilty April 29.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Roque to serve 46 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Roque had been participating for months in the criminal venture before he was caught. The court also heard that his participation included buying firearms and ammunition to be exported and loading vehicles for his wife who was acting as the leader/organizer. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Roque was an average participant in the venture even though he was acting at the behest of his wife at the time.
On Dec. 17, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Roque after he failed to use a signal to change lanes. Soon after, authorities discovered 13,000 rounds of ammunition and a firearm in the vehicle.
Investigation later revealed that Roque worked in conjunction with his wife Brendalit Hernandez, 44, and co-conspirator, Juan Marvin Garcia, 25, both illegally residing in Garland, to smuggle ammunition and firearms into Mexico. Hernandez was also romantically involved with Garcia while currently married to Roque.
Hernandez facilitated the delivery of the ammunition and firearms to individuals in Mexico. She instructed Roque to purchase the weapons and ammunition to then be transported in vehicles while coordinating with Garcia to carry ammunition from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley area and eventually Mexico.
Garcia was previously sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Hernandez pleaded guilty to charges July 5 and will be sentenced Sept. 14.
Roque will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner prosecuted the case.
Eastern panhandle man admits to role in “boot” distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Corbin Charles Linthicum, of Kearneysville, West Virginia has admitted to his role in a drug conspiracy, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Linthicum, 22, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Eutylone.” Linthicum admitted to working with others to distribute large quantities of Eutylone, also known as “boot,” from Maryland to Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia from February 2019 to March 15, 2022.
Linthicum faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 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 FBI; ATF; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Martinsburg Police Department; the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department; the Virginia State Police, Montgomery County; and Maryland State Attorney’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
District of Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation and Sex Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Matthew Stitt-Johnson, 31, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Stitt-Johnson pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2023. Stitt-Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 68 ½ years.
According to the government’s evidence, Stitt-Johnson sexually abused three children, an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-month-old infant, between 2015 and 2020. Stitt-Johnson took videos of his sexual abuse of the five-year-old child and the eight-month-old infant. While the five-year-old and her sister reported the abuse to their mother, the abuse was not reported to law enforcement agencies. In 2021, law enforcement officers received a tip that Stitt-Johnson downloaded child pornography from a cloud-based service and subsequently executed a search warrant on his home, recovering two cell phones belonging to Stitt-Johnson.
Videos depicting the sexual abuse of the five-year-old victim and eight-month-old victim were discovered in his cell phones, along with 13,000 images of child pornography. Stitt-Johnson distributed the images of his sexual abuse of children in Internet forums dedicated to trading child pornography, particularly trading images of the rape and torture of infants and toddlers, and actively sought out and distributed other child pornography images over a two-year period.
Stitt-Johnson was arrested on Dec. 17, 2021. He has been in custody since.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as MPD’s Youth and Family Services Division (YFSD), Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Alexis Spencer-Anderson and Daniel Haines, Victim/Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant and Tracy Owusu, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Janani Iyengar.
Convicted Felon Who Possessed Loaded Firearm Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Nathanael Santiago (29, Ocala) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. A federal jury had found Santiago guilty on May 11, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encountered Santiago in the driver’s seat of an idling vehicle in Marion Oaks. The deputies approached Santiago and saw a marijuana “blunt” in the ashtray, which Santiago admitted to smoking. When Santiago stepped out of the vehicle, the deputies discovered a loaded 9mm pistol that had been hidden beneath his right leg. Santiago has previously been convicted of three felony offenses. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah Nowalk.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 262 Months in Prison for Firearm Possession Following Armed Standoff with PoliceRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jermaine Lee Walker, 45, of Quincy, Florida, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison after he pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes are deserving of significant prison sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Our brave law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and are to be commended for apprehending this armed career criminal and bringing his reign of violence to an end. This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”
Court documents reflect that on April 5, 2021, the Quincy Police Department (QPD) and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding a man holding a woman at gunpoint. QPD officers arrived on scene and made contact with residents who explained a man and woman were inside, struggling over a firearm. QPD officers entered the house and found Walker struggling with his girlfriend over control of a revolver. Walker ignored commands to drop the firearm and told officers to give him five minutes and then come back. Walker kept his girlfriend between himself and officers, using her as a human shield. Walker pointed the firearm at his girlfriend and pointed the firearm at officers. GCSO deputies arrived on scene and entered the residence. One deputy was able to get a clear shot at Walker and shot him in the hip/buttock area. Walker then dropped the firearm, was arrested, and given medical attention. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the officer involved shooting.
“This sentencing is a testament to the effectiveness of the law enforcement community—local, state, and federal alike—when we partner with the United States Attorney’s Office and the community to prevent and solve community-related problems together, as well as to hold those accountable who violate the laws of our state and nation,” said Chief Timothy Ashley, Quincy Police Department.
Walker qualified for enhanced sentencing because he had previously been convicted of arson of a structure, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and two separate incidents of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Walker had been to prison on four separate occasions and was released from prison approximately six months before this offense. He was on state probation at the time of this offense.
This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Quincy Police Department, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to 2011 Robbery After Start of Federal TrialRead the Press Release
A man who robbed a Century cab on April 29, 2011, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Johnathan DeWayne Mitchell, age 44, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of interference with commerce by robbery.
The guilty plea occurred during the opening stages of Mitchell’s jury trial after exhibits had been admitted and the jury was selected. In the plea hearing, Mitchell admitted he robbed a Century cab on April 29, 2011, and took money and personal effects from the driver. Evidence admitted at the trial, before the plea was entered, showed the cab driver died of multiple stab wounds she sustained during the robbery.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Mitchell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Mitchell faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, restitution to the victim’s family, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Reinert and Dillan Edwards and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 16-CR-00029-LTS.
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Canton Man Charged with Operating Illegal Slot Machine Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Steven Saris, 47, of Canton, Ohio, was charged in an indictment with operating an illegal gambling business.
The indictment alleges that from 2012 through 2018, the defendant, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, owned and operated Café 62, an illegal gambling business involving slot machines, in the Canton area.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, a sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Ohio Casino and Gaming Commission and the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Toepfer and Robert J. Patton.
Californian Admits Mailing 2 Kilograms of Meth to Western PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Stockton, California pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Francisco Barba, age 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Barba was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Barba mailed approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine to the Western District of Pennsylvania at the direction of methamphetamine suppliers located in California.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Barba on January 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Stockton, California pleaded guilty in federal court to violation of federal narcotics and money laundering laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Christian Maldonado, age 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possesses with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine as well as one count of conspiracy to launder money before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Maldonado was one of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Maldonado received over 280 pounds of methamphetamine from suppliers located in California, package it in mail parcels, and provided them to couriers, who shipped them from California and Nevada to Jefferson County, Clearfield County, and Allegheny County. Maldonado also received a large amount of United States currency representing drug proceeds that was used to purchase additional methamphetamine from the Western District of Pennsylvania. Maldonado then transported the remaining drug profits to a co-defendant.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Maldonado on Jan. 9, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The court ordered that the defendant remain detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks
California Man Arrested for $7 Million Securities FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man has been arrested in connection with his alleged involvement in a sophisticated securities fraud scheme that generated over $7 million in illicit proceeds.
Joseph A. Padilla, 53, of Carlsbad, Calif., was charged with one count of securities fraud. Padilla was arrested at the San Diego International Airport on Aug. 25, 2022 and made an initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of California on Aug. 26, 2022. He will appear in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, Padilla is a one-time stockbroker who was barred from the securities industry in 2012 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It is alleged that, between February and April 2021, Padilla participated in a sophisticated and lucrative pump-and-dump fraud scheme involving the shares of Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc., a thinly-traded microcap company that traded under the stock ticker symbol FPWM. As part of the scheme, Padilla is alleged to have orchestrated the fraudulent inflation (or “pump”) of Charlestowne’s stock price using his brokerage account and the accounts of several other individuals. He then allegedly facilitated the sale (or “dump”) of millions of Charlestowne’s shares at pumped up prices to unsuspecting investors in Massachusetts and throughout the United States.
The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $5 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.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bucks County Drug Trafficker Convicted of Multiple Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Matt “Mack” Jones, 39, of Bensalem, PA, was convicted at trial of multiple narcotics offenses including distribution of heroin and conspiracy to distribute heroin.
In January 2018, New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia DEA, New Jersey (Camden) DEA, and the Philadelphia Police Department began a joint investigation of the defendant and other co-conspirators related to a drug trafficking operation. Investigators learned that the defendant was a supplier of heroin, and would use female associates as couriers to deliver bags of heroin to customers. Phone records, text messages, and physical surveillance confirmed the defendant’s participation in the conspiracy to distribute and deliver substantial amounts of heroin throughout the Philadelphia region.
The investigation progressed from controlled purchases of heroin from the defendant and his co-conspirators, to the eventual seizure of substantial amounts of fentanyl-laced heroin, narcotics adulterants, drug paraphernalia, and multiple stolen firearms from an apartment used by the defendant and his coconspirators to store and distribute drugs. All told, the narcotics conspiracy was responsible for distributing over a half kilogram of heroin and/or fentanyl.
“Drug addiction and the distribution operations that enable it are at epidemic levels in Philadelphia, and the federal government is aggressively prosecuting those responsible for the surge,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Jones and other members of this conspiracy pumped large quantities of narcotics into our communities, putting many people’s lives at risk. We want to thank our law enforcement partners in this case for their hard work and dedication.”
The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, the Bensalem Township Police, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Buckhannon man sentenced for drug and counterfeit chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Garry William Moran, II, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 84 months of incarceration for drug and counterfeit charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Moran, 42, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of Counterfeit Obligations.” Moran admitted to having methamphetamine to sell from January to May 2019 in Upshur County and elsewhere. Moran also admitted to having $1,100 in counterfeit bills in May 2019 in Upshur County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Lakes Drug Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Bridgeport Gang Member Admits Role in Murder and Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
TRAVON JONES, also known as “Buda” and “Budda,” 20, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang and the murder and attempted murder of rival gang members.*
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Jones has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
Jones and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
In pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, Jones specifically admitted that, on July 12, 2019, he and another East End member shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang. In addition, on October 17, 2019, Jones and another East End member shot at and attempted to kill another member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, the parties have agreed that a sentence of between 20 and 30 years of imprisonment is an appropriate sentence in this case.
Jones is detained pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
*On July 21, 2023, Judge Bolden granted Jones' motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
Boston Man Charged with Four Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with multiple bank robberies in Massachusetts.
Jacob Pimentel, 31, was indicted on four counts of bank robbery. Pimentel is currently in custody in Middlesex County for a related offense and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, between April and May 2022, Pimentel allegedly robbed four separate banks in the greater Boston area, stealing a total of more than $6,000. Specifically, it is alleged that Pimentel robbed the TD Bank branch in Allston on April 25, 2022; the TD Bank branch in Brighton on May 4, 2022; the Santander Bank branch in Brookline on May 13, 2022; and the TD Bank branch in Cambridge on May 23, 2022.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to five 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Sharon and Lynn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Gotlob of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.