Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
14 September 2022
Iowa Man Admits Armed Robbery of New Jersey BankRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Iowa man admitted robbing a bank in Secaucus, New Jersey, in January 2017, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Jose Luis Martinez, 32, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2022, before U.S. District Judge John M. Vazquez in Newark federal court to a two-count indictment charging him with armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 5, 2017, Martinez walked into a bank in Secaucus and pointed a handgun at a bank employee while demanding cash. Martinez told the bank employee that he would shoot her and other customers if the employee did not comply. Martinez took cash from the bank and fled.
The armed bank robbery count carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. The brandishing a firearm count carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the FBI’s White Plains, New York Office; the New York City Police Department; the Greenwich, Connecticut, Police Department; and the Port Chester, New York, Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Schuman of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Illinois man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with coercion and enticement of a minor.
Domenique Dequon Hines, 25, of Crystal Lake, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor before U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2023. Hines was initially charged by criminal complaint and arrested in Illinois in December 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021. Hines was later charged in a superseding Information on Sept. 9, 2022 with coercion and enticement of a minor.
Hines and a 14-year-old Massachusetts victim initially met on Instagram in October 2020 and exchanged phone numbers and profile pictures and began communicating online via iMessage and other forms of internet communication for a period of approximately 10 days. On the first day of communications, Hines confirmed with the victim that she was 14 years old and he informed the victim that he is 23 years old. After confirming her age, Hines knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced the victim to take and send him, sexually explicit images and videos of herself. Hines requested that the victim call him “daddy,” and explained that if her parents ever try to take her phone, she should delete all of their text messages.
Hines was previously convicted of a child pornography offense in the state of Illinois.
The charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus and Christopher R. Looney of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Houston doctor pays $240,000 for wrongful receipt of retirement benefit paymentsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 68-year-old Houston doctor has agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations he wrongfully received government retirement benefit payments from the from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), announced the Jennifer B. Lowery.
Dr. Henry Zaleski inappropriately spent funds intended for his mother.
From Jan. 26, 2007, to June 1, 2019, Zaleski received his deceased mother’s CSRS survivor annuity payments through a joint bank account he shared with her while she was alive. CSRS survivor annuity payments are made to the spouse of a former government employee and terminate upon the survivor annuitant’s death.
OPM was not informed of Zaleski’s mother’s death and continued to make deposits into the joint bank account. Zaleski spent the funds on personal expenses including maintenance and upkeep costs on his second home located in Florida.
These payments were made by mistake and caused Zaleski to be unjustly enriched.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and OPM - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.
The claims resolved by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Highlands Ranch Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Raul Rene Rodriguez-Romero, 33, of Highlands Ranch, has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after earlier pleading guilty to distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and money laundering.
According to the plea agreement, in 2015, Rodriguez-Romero met with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential source to discuss drug trafficking and money laundering. Rodriguez-Romero agreed to launder represented drug proceeds. In May 2015 and August to October 2015, Rodriguez met with the confidential source, accepted money he believed was from the distribution of methamphetamine, then wrote checks back to the confidential source from his various bank accounts to launder the money. Along the way, Rodriguez-Romero took a commission for himself. The plea agreement also states that in November 2015, Rodriguez-Romero distributed approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to the confidential source. In April 2016, Rodriguez fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. He was ultimately arrested and extradited back to the United States.
Judge Daniel D. Domenico sentenced the defendant on September 14, 2022.
“Our office appreciates the efforts of our law enforcement partners at the DEA and IRS-CI. Their hard work and dedication makes it possible to disrupt drug-traffickers who seek to distribute illegal drugs in our communities. They also work to stop the laundering of illegal drug proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan.
“Money laundering is a critical lifeline for drug trafficking organizations who look to profit from their deadly trade,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Besser of the Rocky Mountain Field Division. “This sentence should serve as a stark reminder for those criminals, whether they distribute addictive and deadly drugs or launder the proceeds, the DEA will continue to use every available resource to disrupt their illegal operations.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents play a vital role in federal law enforcement’s narcotics investigations by targeting the drug traffickers’ profits laundered through businesses which may appear to be legitimate,” said Andy Tsui, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “By targeting the profits related to drug trafficking, we deprive them of the lifeblood of their organization which is key to dismantling their operations.”
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and IRS-CI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
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.
CASE NUMBER: 16-cr-00266-DDD
Hagerstown residents sentenced for their roles in a firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Hagerstown, Maryland residents were sentenced today for working together to illegally purchase firearms in Berkeley County, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Dwayne Anthony Battle was sentenced today to five years probation. Battle, 37, pleaded guilty in May to one count of “Conspiracy to Violate Gun Control Act.” Battle admitted to working with Antoinette Pauleen McKenzie to illegally purchase firearms in Berkeley County and transfer those firearms to an out-of-state resident, violating the Gun Control Act. The conspiracy took place in August and September 2021.
McKenzie, 33, was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty in May 2022 to one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” McKenzie admitted to lying to the licensed gun dealer, saying she was the true purchaser of the firearm, when the 9mm pistol was meant for someone else in August 2021 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Greenville Man Arrested for Threatening a “Killing Spree”Read the Press Release
Oxford, Miss.– A Greenville man was held in jail without bond today following his arrest last Friday for making online threats to commit a mass shooting in Greenville, Mississippi.
According to court documents and testimony, Jeremy Gordon, 28, posted threats on Facebook claiming that he was going to recreate a recent shooting rampage by Memphis shooter Ezekial Kelly in Greenville, Mississippi on Friday, September 9, beginning at 5pm.
Gordon is charged by criminal complaint with Transmitting Threats in Interstate Commerce. Gordon appeared on the federal charges for the first time on Monday and a detention and preliminary hearing was held on Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Oxford. Following the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders found that Gordon posed a danger to the community and ordered that he be held without bond pending trial.
If convicted, Gordon faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby made the announcement following Wednesday’s hearing.
The FBI and Greenville Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Dabbs and Clyde McGee are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Grand Jury Indicts Registered Sex Offender for Allegedly Enticing a Minor; Launching a Murder-for-Hire Plot to Kill the VictimRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned a three-count indictment charging a 28-year-old registered sex offender with allegedly enticing a 12-year-old Rhode Island girl to engage in sexual activity and later launching a murder-for-hire plot from within the state prison where he was being held on related state charges in an alleged scheme to eliminate her as a witness, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
The indictment alleges that, beginning on December 3, 2021, Chandler John Cardente communicated repeatedly with the minor female via social media, prior to having sexual contact with her on December 10, 2021. Cardente was subsequently arrested and detained in state custody.
It is further alleged in the indictment that, while being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, Cardente communicated by telephone with another person. During these communications, Cardente expressed his intent that the victim be murdered, and offered $200 in cash and equipment worth $1,500. It is alleged in the indictment that Cardente told the other person that the victim needed “to end up dead” because she was “a witness.”
The grand jury indictment charges Cardente with enticement of a minor; committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender; and interstate murder-for-hire. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Enticement of a minor is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to life in federal prison, with a minimum mandatory term of incarceration of ten years; committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender is punishable by a consecutive term of ten years of incarceration to any sentence imposed for enticement of a minor; interstate murder-for-hire is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to ten years imprisonment. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case in U.S. District Court is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah and Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; the Burrillville, Warwick, and Cranston Police Departments; Rhode Island State Police; and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit.
###
Gloucester County Man Admits Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man admitted possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Joseph Cooper, 76, of Williamstown, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb on Sept. 13, 2023, to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Cooper’s residence and discovered computers containing more than 50 videos and 200 images of child sexual abuse, including depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The computers also contained logs documenting Cooper’s participation in internet chatrooms relating to sexual interest in children.
Because Cooper has been convicted previously of interstate transport of child pornography by computer and cruelty and neglect of a child, the charge of possession of child pornography depicting prepubescent children carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Reinhold, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
Georgia Man Charged with Ammunition Crime after St. Louis HomicideRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Georgia appeared in court Wednesday on a felon in possession of ammunition charge connected to a fatal St. Louis shooting in July.
Darius T. Griffin, 31, was indicted August 3 on the charge and arrested August 10 in Georgia. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday in St. Louis.
The indictment alleges that Griffin was in possession of ammunition on July 21, 2022. A detention motion alleges that Griffin was in town that day from Georgia to ambush a man identified in court documents as “V.J.,” a suspect in a shooting of a Griffin relative.
Griffin waited outside a market in the 1000 block of North Kingshighway Boulevard, then chased the victim down an alley, firing a semi-automatic rifle, the detention motions says. The chase and shooting were captured on surveillance video.
The ammunition charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
Gang Member and Accomplice Sentenced for Robbery of Illegal Game Room in WaianaeRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Senior United States District Judge Susan Oki Mollway today sentenced two defendants, Makoa K.F. Wilson, 27, and Jessica R. Lorrin 31, both of Oahu, for their role in the robbery of an illegal game room in Waianae, Oahu, in July 2020. Judge Mollway sentenced Wilson to 94 months’ imprisonment, and sentenced his accomplice, Lorrin, to 54 months’ imprisonment. Both defendants had previously pleaded guilty to the Hobbs Act robbery charge against them.
According to court documents and information presented in court, in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020, Wilson and Lorrin robbed an illegal gambling establishment operating out of a single-story residence on Keaulana Avenue in Waianae, Oahu. During the robbery, Wilson raised and pointed what appeared to be a handgun in the direction of a cashier and demanded all of the money in the cashier’s office. When the cashier complied with the demand, Lorrin questioned why there was so little money, and then took the keys for electronic gambling machines and began collecting the cash from those machines. Wilson and Lorrin then made their escape in a white Yukon vehicle. About a month later, on August 18, 2020, Wilson and Lorrin were stopped in that same vehicle, at which time Wilson was found to be in possession of a privately made firearm—commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”—and a quantity of methamphetamine. In the time period of these events, Wilson was a member of a gang called “Murder Inc.”
“Illegal gambling gives rise to many problems in our community, including violent crime perpetrated by gang members and involving firearms,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “Ghost guns in particular present a threat to Hawaii and are increasingly showing up in our investigations, which we will continue to pursue in earnest.”
“We continue to use our investigative capabilities to stop violent criminals from overrunning our community,” said John F. Tobon, Special Agent in Charge, HSI
Honolulu. “This sentence holds Wilson and Lorrin accountable for their crimes and serves as a warning that HSI and its law enforcement partners will work diligently to keep ghost guns and illegal drugs off the streets.”
“The Honolulu Police Department is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make Oahu safer for everyone, and we are pleased that these dangerous individuals were taken off the street,” said Chief Joe Logan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works 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.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Honolulu Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Smith handled the prosecution.
Former Secretary/Treasurer of Mercer County Township Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $150,000Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Largo, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of mail fraud, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Linda Baun, 73, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Baun was formerly employed as the Secretary/Treasurer for Jackson Township, in Mercer County. Between 2011 and 2019, she embezzled at least $150,000 from the Township by making unauthorized ATM withdrawals and by charging personal purchases on Amazon to the Township’s debit card. She has agreed to a restitution amount of $150,000.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense offense/offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued all conditions of Baun’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Baun.
First Assistant United States Attorney John C. Kocoras to Depart U.S. Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced the resignation of First Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Kocoras, effective next month. Mr. Kocoras served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney since May 2018, supervising the Office’s Criminal and Civil Divisions.
“John Kocoras has served the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois and the United States with tremendous distinction,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “John made our office better each and every day with his sharp mind, strong leadership, and enduring humility. John stands out among a distinguished list of outstanding prosecutors who have served this office as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. I cannot thank John enough for his humble service and trusted counsel, and I look forward to all that he will achieve in the future.”
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney and to work alongside talented colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies in federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Mr. Kocoras. “I am profoundly grateful for the trust placed in me by John Lausch and for the opportunity to serve the Department of Justice during such important times. I am very proud of all that we have accomplished and excited about the future of this office.”
U.S. Attorney Lausch selected Mr. Kocoras as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, a position that is second in command in the Office. Under Mr. Kocoras’s supervision, the Office achieved important criminal convictions in the areas of public corruption, violent crime, national security, civil rights, financial fraud, and many others, while also investigating and prosecuting significant civil fraud and discrimination cases.
Mr. Kocoras also helped supervise the Office’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which included prosecuting numerous individuals for allegedly defrauding the federal government during a vulnerable time in our nation’s history.
Mr. Kocoras earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He previously served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2000 to 2005.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen Gun, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAVON MOORNING, 43, of New Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to possession of a stolen firearm. Moorning also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2011, Moorning was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 100 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine. In December 2014, Moorning’s sentence was reduced to 84 months of imprisonment.
Moorning was released from federal prison in June 2018. Shortly after his release, and while on supervised release, he sold heroin and crack cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement. When Moorning was arrested on July 24, 2018, he possessed additional amounts of heroin and crack cocaine. Moorning pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and cocaine base (“crack”), and he admitted that he had violated his supervised release. On January 9, 2019, he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
Moorning was released from prison in April 2020. On May 17, 2022, he was a passenger in a car that crashed into a tree behind a residence on Whitney Avenue in Hamden after he and an associate attempted to flee from state probation and Hamden Police officers who were serving probation violation warrants. Moorning ran from the vehicle, removed a 9mm handgun from his waistband and tossed it to the ground. State probation officers apprehended Moorning and found him in possession of approximately 20 individual-dose bags of suspected heroin, and quantities of crack cocaine and MDMA pills. A Hamden Police officer recovered the firearm that Moorning had discarded. The handgun, which was loaded, and had been reported stolen in South Carolina in 2020.
Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for December 7, at which time Moorning faces a maximum term of imprisonment 10 years for possessing the stolen firearm, and up to two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Moorning has been detained since June 3, 2022.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hamden Police Department, the Connecticut Office of Adult Probation, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.
Federal correctional officer convicted of lying to agentRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A correctional officer from the U.S. Penitentiary at Hazelton has been convicted of lying about alleged abuse to inmates, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
William Lewis, 34, of Elkins, West Virginia, was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday of two counts of “False Statement to Federal Agent.” After initially reporting that excessive force was being used against inmates in the special housing unit, Lewis denied that it had occurred during an interview with a federal investigator. He was also found to have falsely told the investigator that he had “never told anybody” that he had “seen officers going too far” after previously stating that staff were assaulting inmates and might ultimately kill an inmate.
Lewis was acquitted of a third count, which also charged him with making a false statement.
Lewis faces up to 5 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. 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 Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Fairfield County man sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearms after being convicted of multiple crimes, including impersonating an officerRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony offense.
David Scott Scofield, 58, was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and pay a $15,000 fine.
In May 2019, law enforcement officials seized five firearms, three silencers, more than 6,300 rounds of ammunition, more than 2,000 bullets, nearly 39,000 primers, two canisters of pepper spray, an expandable baton and a stun gun from Scofield’s residence.
Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) were alerted to Scofield’s weapons after Fairfield County probation officers conducted a home visit. Scofield was previously convicted of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle in 2016 in Fairfield County.
During the encounter that led to his 2016 local arrest, Scofield falsely claimed to be a law enforcement officer and possessed an AR-15 automatic rifle with two magazines, a pistol, a knife in a compartment under the steering wheel, a police scanner, and various other magazines, ammunition and knives.
Scofield was also convicted of impersonating a police officer in 2015. The defendant pretended to be a sheriff’s deputy and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a motorist who turned out to be a real Akron police officer. During that incident, officers found a loaded magazine in Scofield’s pocket and two loaded pistols, a rifle, a shotgun, silencers, a bulletproof vest, a fake badge and a SWAT shirt in his vehicle.
Scofield previously held a Federal Firearms License and operated a part-time, online-only firearms business called Dave’s World. His license was revoked in 2019 as a result of his criminal conduct.
As a convicted felon, Scofield was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson and commended the cooperative investigation by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfield County Adult Community Control Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Española man sentenced to over six years in prison for assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Patrick Tafoya was sentenced on Sept. 13 to six years and six months in prison in prison. Tafoya, 61, of Española, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Santa Clara, pleaded guilty on Jan. 28 to assault with intent to commit murder.
On Sept. 8, 2020, Tafoya drove the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, to a bank where he withdrew funds from an ATM to repay money he owed her. Tafoya and Jane Doe began to argue, and he told her to get out of his truck. Tafoya then struck the victim with his truck, pinning her against a utility pole, causing severe injuries. Tafoya fled the scene without calling to request medical assistance for the victim.
The assault, which occurred on the Santa Clara Pueblo, resulted in permanent damage to Jane Doe’s leg that required multiple surgeries.
Upon his release from prison, Tafoya will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.
# # #
El Pasoan Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced last week to a total of 210 months in prison for trafficking drugs and illegal possession of firearms.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2021, Daniel Lee Burmeister, 37, was arrested after a search warrant was executed at a residence where Burmeister was staying. During the search, law enforcement officers found multiple firearms and fentanyl pills.
On June 1, 2022, Burmeister pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of possession of an unregistered firearm; one count of possession of a firearm unidentified by a serial number; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Burmeister has remained in federal custody since his arrest on October 6, 2021.
“This case demonstrates the inherently dangerous nature of drug-dealing in our society, particularly when it involves the deadly substance fentanyl and an offender who uses guns to further drug distribution activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “The sentence imposed by the Court as a result of the prosecution of this case serves to reinforce our commitment to hold offenders like Mr. Burmeister accountable and to protect our community from harm.”
“Fentanyl traffickers like Daniel Burmeister are driving addiction and killing Americans only to make a profit,” said Jeffrey R. Downey, FBI Special Agent in Charge, El Paso Field Office. “Burmeister will now serve seventeen and a half years in federal prison for being in possession of firearms as a convicted felon and using those weapons during his drug trafficking crimes. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from the dangerous drug traffickers that are selling this poison in our neighborhoods.”
“This case is a clear example of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) collaborative efforts with FBI and law enforcement partners to remove those offenders who prey on our communities through drug trafficking and illegal firearms use,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Rasmussen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Department of Justice and Department of Defense Support Federal Communications Commission Inquiry into Internet SecurityRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) filed a submission with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of action to improve the security of internet routing.
This submission was filed in connection with an FCC Notice of Inquiry on Secure Internet Routing launched in February and offered in support of the comment previously submitted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
“We applaud the FCC’s decision to launch this inquiry on this important issue,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We appreciate the opportunity to provide our input on how to address vulnerabilities threatening the security of internet routing.”
According to the filing, known vulnerabilities in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which governs internet traffic routing, continue to put U.S. person and commercial data and communications at risk of theft, espionage and sabotage by foreign adversaries. Though BGP enables network providers to share information about traffic routing so that they can identify the “best” routes for traffic to reach its destination, it does not include any security features. Accordingly, the Justice Department and DOD recommended today that the FCC manage BGP-associated vulnerabilities through a combination of technical security standards and increased transparency.
As an example, BGP vulnerabilities facilitated China Telecom America’s ability to misroute U.S. internet traffic to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to Executive Branch recommendations previously filed with the FCC. As an entity under the control of the PRC government, China Telecom’s exploitation of BGP vulnerabilities provided a foreign adversary of the United States with opportunities to disrupt, capture, examine and alter U.S. traffic.
The nation’s longstanding reliance upon voluntary measures to secure sensitive U.S. data may no longer be sufficient to address this vulnerability. As a result, the Justice Department and DOD support FCC’s initiation of a process to better secure BGP, including through technical security and transparency measures that will help safeguard the data and communications that are so central to U.S. national security interests.
Defendant Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Participating in 11 Armed Robberies of Luxury WatchesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that VICTOR RIVERA was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in prison in connection with his participation in a robbery crew that targeted owners of luxury watches worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars each between October 2019 and November 2020. On January 19, 2022, RIVERA pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein imposed this sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Victor Rivera committed nearly a dozen robberies of unarmed and defenseless victims, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewelry in the process. During one of these robberies, he shot the victim in front of the victim’s own home. This lengthy sentence holds Rivera accountable for these terrifying acts of violence.”
According to the Indictment, court documents, and based on statements made in open court:
From at least in or about October 2019 up to and including November 2020, VICTOR RIVERA and others known and unknown agreed to rob victims of luxury watches worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars each. The watches owned by victims targeted in the robberies included Richard Mille, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe watches owned by jewelers as part of the jewelers’ businesses, which were based in Manhattan’s Diamond District. RIVERA used guns to commit several of the robberies, and in one robbery, shot a victim, who survived.
The 11 robberies and attempted robberies included the following:
- On October 3, 2019, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Long Island City, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $250,000.
- On October 25, 2019, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Jamaica, New York, of, among other things, a Rolex watch worth over $150,000.
- On December 10, 2019, RIVERA and two co-conspirators robbed a jeweler in Brooklyn, New York, of, among other things, a Patek Philippe watch worth over $160,000 and a diamond necklace worth over $77,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to the victim.
- On January 14, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Rego Park, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $500,000.
- On February 16, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Jamaica Estates, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $28,000.
- On February 20, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed an individual in Long Island City, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $125,000.
- On June 11, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Brooklyn, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $148,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to the victim, and a victim was shot.
- On July 6, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Hoboken, New Jersey, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $81,000. Following the robbery, RIVERA and others transported the stolen watch from New Jersey to New York.
- On July 20, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator participated in an attempted robbery of a jeweler in Queens, New York, attempting to steal a Richard Mille watch worth over $180,000.
- On August 2, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed an individual in the vicinity of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $250,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to a victim. Following the robbery, RIVERA and others transported the stolen watch from New Jersey to New York.
- On October 27, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in the vicinity of Woodbury, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $26,000 and assorted jewels and gold links worth over $60,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to a victim.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, RIVERA, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. In addition, RIVERA was ordered to pay $1,380,800 in restitution and $1,380,800 in forfeiture.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, the Weehawken Police Department, and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Mathew Andrews and Andrew K. Chan are in charge of the prosecution.
Couple charged with using fictitious employer accounts and stolen identities to fraudulently obtain more than $1.5 million in Unemployment Insurance benefitsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Shenita Daniel and Wayne A. Lowe, Jr., have been indicted for allegedly using numerous stolen identities to fraudulently claim Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) benefits under fictitious employer accounts registered with the Georgia Department of Labor. The scheme resulted in the fraudulent payment of more than $1.5 million in UI benefits, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Lost Wage Assistance – programs that were created and expanded to assist individuals experiencing unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the height of the pandemic in 2020, criminals exploited the availability of COVID-19 unemployment benefits to illegally enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The defendants allegedly used the identities of numerous victims to illegally obtain proceeds meant to help citizens who desperately needed these funds to support themselves and their families during a time of emotional and economic crisis. In doing so, hey diverted more than $1.5 million in government benefits.”
“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance benefit programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations," said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“The defendants share one trait in common – greed,” said Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Their desire for money, power and material items, drove them to perpetrate crimes against our unemployment insurance system and prey upon many individuals within our community. The financial expertise and diligence of IRS-CI special agents and partnership with other federal and state law enforcement officers we collectively uncovered these schemes, and now these criminals face the consequences of their actions.”
Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, stated, “The DHS Office of Inspector General will continue to prioritize investigations of individuals who take advantage of programs meant to help those in need and work with our law enforcement partners to bring those who commit fraud to justice.”
“These two individuals stole money from the COVID-19 unemployment insurance program during the pandemic for their own financial gain,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector-in-Charge of the Atlanta Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who exploited this program which was designed to assist hard working Americans that were suffering from financial hardships.”
“Along with being tasked by the federal government to provide financial assistance to those unemployed through no fault of their own, it is equally important for our agency to uphold the integrity of the program by monitoring each of the stakeholders for truthful and accurate information,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “We were glad to be a partner in potentially bringing justice to an unjust situation meant to extort state and federal dollars for wrongful gain.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Starting in June 2020, Shenita Daniel and Wayne A. Lowe, Jr. allegedly created several fictitious employer accounts with the Georgia Department of Labor. Through these accounts, they submitted false information to the Georgia Department of Labor that was used, in part, to determine whether persons associated with the employer were entitled to receive benefits. This information included the names and personal identifying information for purported employees, which were actually stolen identities of individuals who had no knowledge of the scheme and did not consent to the use of their information. Daniel and Lowe also allegedly submitted false hiring dates and false quarterly wage information for the purported employees.
Within a few days of creating these fictitious employer accounts, claims for UI benefits were allegedly submitted to the Georgia Department of Labor using the stolen identities of persons listed as purported employees of the sham companies.In addition to filing fraudulent claims for UI benefits in Georgia, Daniel and Lowe allegedly used some of the same stolen identities to submit fraudulent claims for UI benefits in California.
The Georgia Department of Labor approved and paid UI claims through the issuance of debit cards mailed to various addresses in the metro-Atlanta area. The Georgia Department of Labor paid more than $1.5 million in UI benefits as a result of the scheme.
Daniel and Lowe allegedly withdrew the fraudulently obtained proceeds through transactions at retail stores, restaurants, and ATM cash withdrawals. Starting in December 2020, they began making large monthly cash deposits of the fraud proceeds into a bank account for a company called Simplicity Cares LTD. Daniel was listed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Lowe was listed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to December 2020, Daniel and Lowe never received payroll payments from this bank account. Daniel and Lowe allegedly started making payroll payments to themselves after the large cash deposits began.
The indictment charges Shenita Daniel, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Wayne A. Lowe Jr., 43, of Union City, Georgia, with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) – Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special assistance was provided by the Georgia Department of Labor and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracia M. King and Kelly K. Connors are prosecuting the case.
This investigation was sponsored by the Georgia Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force. The mission of the Task Force is to combat fraud schemes targeting the Unemployment Insurance Benefits program, which is federally and state funded, and administered by the Georgia Department of Labor.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
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.
Companies and Owner Sentenced in Federal Court for Defrauding Government AgenciesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Juan Guillermo Gonzalez and his companies, Accelogic LLC and Intellectual Property Systems LLC (Intellep) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon for their roles in obtaining information from U.S. departments and agencies and improperly using it for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
Judge Cannon sentenced Gonzalez to 32 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and ordered him to pay $1.7 million in restitution. She ordered Accelogic and Intellep to pay $2.9 million in restitution and placed the companies on probation for three years. The defendants cannot participate in any government contracts while on supervised release or probation. Money judgments also were imposed against each defendant to forfeit their ill-gotten gains.
Gonzalez owned and operated companies Accelogic and Intellep. He used the companies to acquire research and development (R&D) contracts with various U.S. departments to include the Department of the Army, Missile Defense Agency, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Air Force, and Department of Energy.
“As lucrative as it may seem to defraud the federal government and its programs, those who try eventually end up in prison,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “The sentences handed out in this case should serve as a warning to those who may be tempted to try.”
Gonzalez used the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program—both of which were established to encourage small U.S. businesses to engage in federal R&D that had potential for commercialization and to stimulate the U.S. economy.
“Fraud in the Small Business Innovation Research program harms our nation’s scientific and technological advancement and diverts valuable tax dollars from their intended purpose,” said Department of Energy Inspector General Teri L. Donaldson. “These sentencings are the result of our efforts to protect these important funds. We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners on this joint investigation.”
Gonzalez electronically submitted software improvement proposals to the aforementioned programs using phrases like “world-class multidisciplinary team of experts … put together to guarantee the success of this project.”
The defendants made these statements to lead the proposal reviewers to believe that the companies were working with well-known professors and had the personnel necessary to complete the research and development within the timeframe set by the contracts. One of the contracts specified that Accelogic would partner with a professor and his students at Stanford University, but Accelogic did the work itself and kept the Air Force research funds ear-marked for Stanford. In many cases, work stipulated in the contracts never got done and instead of paying the promised “world-class multidisciplinary team,” the bulk of the funds were routed to Gonzalez and his wife through Accelogic and Intellep.
Due to the sensitive nature of the research, the terms of the SBIR and STTR programs also mandated that all work on the contracts be performed within the United States by U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. Despite repeatedly certifying that Accelogic was obeying those rules, Gonzalez hired engineers in Venezuela to perform testing, including giving them access to government software via government computers. The engineers in Venezuela performed the testing for a fraction of the cost that U.S.-based engineers would charge. Accelogic also hired foreign workers in the United States who were not approved to work on the contracts. These workers also were paid significantly less than U.S. citizens would have been paid.
“The SBIR Program is intended to support legitimate small businesses in pursuit of meaningful and innovative technological discoveries,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations for NASA-OIG Robert Steinau. “Individuals who fraudulently obtain federal funding through blatant deceit for personal enrichment compromise the integrity of the program and deprive the U.S. economy of crucial technological advancements. As we collaboratively continue to pursue and prosecute such individuals, I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners for their tremendous work on this case.”
These types of cases should serve as a warning to those looking to follow suit.
“These sentences show that individuals, as well as companies, will be prosecuted when they break the law,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Scott Moreland, Army Criminal Investigation Division Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “It should send a message to those who are tempted to defraud the government that CID and its federal law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out fraud.”
The case arose from a joint investigation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), NASA’s Office of Inspector General, Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General.
“This case highlights the collaboration between HSI and our federal law enforcement partners who work tirelessly every day,” said Homeland Security Investigations Miami Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury. “HSI was able to use its expertise that highlighted the fraud committed by the defendants. HSI will continue to investigate and unravel complex fraud schemes anytime there is a foreign nexus to defraud the United States government.”
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 22-cr-60101 and 22-cr-80080.
###
Clarksville Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping, Interstate Stalking Resulting in Permanent Disfigurement, and Using a Firearm to Commit Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Keatron L. Walls, 37, of Clarksville, Tennessee, has been sentenced to a total of 37 years in federal prison for four counts of kidnapping, one count of interstate stalking resulting in permanent disfigurement of a victim, and one count of using a firearm to commit interstate stalking. A federal jury convicted Walls of those offenses after a six-day trial earlier this year.
United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the sentence today.According to information presented in court, on November 23, 2016, Walls drove from Clarksville, Tennessee to a residence in DeSoto County, Mississippi where his ex- girlfriend lived with several family members. Armed with a Norinco AK-47 style automatic rifle, Walls fired at least 10 shots from the front yard into the home’s living room window. Four of the seven people inside the house suffered gunshot wounds. One of those victims lost his leg due to the shooting, and another victim lost a finger. The victims were not able to see the shooter, and Walls fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department personnel recovered six spent shell casings outside the house as evidence. Walls presented a false alibi to law enforcement regarding his whereabouts during the shooting. Law enforcement was able to disprove that alibi through further investigation.
Less than 18 months later, on April 20, 2018, Walls kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, her five- year-old daughter, and her boyfriend at gunpoint from their apartment in Memphis, Tennessee. He forced the victim to drive them in her car to a nearby location, where Walls’s vehicle was parked. He retrieved an AK-47 style rifle from his car and put it into the trunk of the victim’s car. After that, he ordered the victim to drive back to her apartment, where he forced her to lock her daughter inside the apartment by herself. He then ordered her to drive to a house in Marshall
County, Mississippi where Walls’s relative lived. During the drive, Walls threatened to kill both victims and hit them with one of his two pistols. When they arrived at the house, Walls forced both victims out of the car, onto their knees, and fired three gunshots past their heads. After arguing with several family members about whether he should let the victims go, Walls directed both victims back into the car.
He forced them to drive into Shelby County, Tennessee, where officers were able to stop the car and rescue both victims.Forensic ballistics testing showed that the AK-47 style rifle in the car’s trunk matched the spent shell casings recovered from the November 23, 2016, shooting in DeSoto County, Mississippi.
"This sentencing demonstrates there is no tolerance for this type of criminal activity and cruel treatment of victims," said Douglas M. Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation Memphis Field Office. "The FBI is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and bring those who commit such heinous acts to justice.”On September 8, 2022, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Walls to a total of 37 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s
Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Memphis Police Department.Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Arvin and Murre Foster prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
Cedar Rapids Man on Supervised Release Sent Back to Federal Prison after Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who possessed a firearm and twice operated a vehicle while intoxicated was sentenced today to more than one year in federal prison.
Terrail Dixon, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after violating terms of his supervised release. At a supervised release revocation hearing, Dixon admitted that on August 29, 2022, he possessed a Raven Arms MP-25 firearm. In addition, on two occasions, he operated a vehicle while intoxicated.
In 2017, Dixon was convicted of possessing firearms as a felon and then sentenced to federal prison for 57 months, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He had previously been convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon, a drug conspiracy felony, driving under the influence, and domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury.
Dixon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Dixon was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Dixon remains in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the United States Probation Office and the Hiawatha Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-22.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
California Man Who Tried to Take Five Pounds of Methamphetamine on a Plane to Iowa Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A man who was arrested in Los Angeles while trying to transport five pounds of methamphetamine to Iowa pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Kiyonte Levell Sowell, age 21, from Los Angeles, California, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Information discussed at the plea hearing showed that in early 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration was conducting a wiretap investigation into a methamphetamine distribution organization in Cedar Rapids. On February 28, 2022, Sowell went to the Los Angeles International Airport with the intention of boarding a flight to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sowell brought a large roller bag and attempted to take the bag through security as his carry-on luggage. Airport security eventually searched the bag, found that it contained approximately 2,211 grams of methamphetamine, and arrested Sowell. At the plea hearing, Sowell admitted he conspired with others in the Northern District of Iowa to distribute methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Sowell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sowell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids consists of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22‑CR‑39‑CJW‑MAR‑10.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
California Man Pleads to Supplying 160 Pounds of Meth to Western PA Drug RingRead 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.
Marco Armenta, age 36, 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. Armenta 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 Armenta supplied at least 160 pounds of methamphetamine that was shipped from California and Nevada to Jefferson County, Clearfield County, and Allegheny County.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Armenta on Jan. 24, 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(s) 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 Threatening Merriam-Webster with Anti-LGBTQ ViolenceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2022 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to making threats to commit anti-LGBTQ violence against Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. and others.
Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communication of threatening communications to commit violence against the employees of Merriam-Webster, and to another count charging the same offense, initially filed in the Eastern District of Texas, targeting the President of the University of North Texas. In a written statement of facts accompanying his plea agreement, Hanson also admitted to sending threatening communications to various corporations, politicians, and others, including the Walt Disney Co., the Governor of California and the Mayor of New York City, a New York rabbi and professors at Loyola Marymount University. Hanson also admitted that he frequently selected the object of his threatening communications because of the gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation of various persons.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2023. On April 20, 2022, Hanson was arrested and charged by criminal complaint and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on May 5, 2022.
“Every member of our community has a right to live and exist authentically as themselves without fear. Hate motivated threats of violence that infringe upon that right are not tolerated in Massachusetts in any capacity. This conviction represents my office’s dedication to protecting targeted communities and bringing accountability and justice when those who aim to endanger act upon their hatred,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “I want to remind people to call the 1-83-END-H8-NOW (1-833-634-8669) line if they have information about concerning or troubling incidents of hate, potential hate crimes, or concerns regarding individuals believed to be espousing hate-filled views or threats of actions.”
“Jeremy Hanson is now a convicted felon after admitting to making hate-fueled threats of violence related to the LGBTQ+ community,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “If you believe you are a victim or a witness to similar conduct, we encourage you to report it to the FBI so we can hold the perpetrators behind these crimes accountable for their actions, like we did in this case.”
Between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8, 2021, Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. received various threatening messages and comments demonstrating bias against specific gender identities submitted through its website’s “Contact Us” page and in the comments section on its webpages that corresponded to the word entries for “Girl” and “Woman.” Authorities later identified the user as Hanson.
Specifically, on Oct. 2, 2021, Hanson used the handle “@anonYmous” to post the following comment on the dictionary’s website definition of “female:” “It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.”
Hanson also sent the following threatening message via the website’s “Contact Us” page: “You [sic] headquarters should be shot up and bombed. It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science tranny [sic] agenda and altered the definition of ‘female’ as part of the Left’s efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality. You evil Marxists should all be killed. It would be poetic justice to have someone storm your offices and shoot up the place, leaving none of you commies alive.”
On Oct. 8, 2021, Hanson posted another threatening comment on the dictionary’s website and a threatening message via the “Contact Us” page that read: “I am going to shoot up and bomb your offices for lying and creating fake definitions in order to pander to the tranny mafia. Boys aren’t girls, and girls aren’t boys. The only good Marxist is a dead Marxist. I will assassinate your top editor. You sickening, vile tranny freaks.” As a result of the threats, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield, Mass. and New York City for approximately five business days.
The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A drug distributor within a Boston-area drug trafficking organization (DTO) has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine).
Terrence Daye, 33, of Boston, pleaded guilty on Sept. 7, 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4, 2023.
Daye was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall, which ultimately resulted in the charging of two different drug trafficking conspiracies during the overall period of November 2018 through June 2020.
According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO in which Daye was a drug distributor. The DTO was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, which they used to store, cook, package, and sell drugs – most of which consisted of cocaine or cocaine base, which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers, and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents. As the investigation continued, law enforcement ultimately identified another DTO operating within the Boston area and targeted its large-scale drug suppliers and their associates.
Daye is estimated to have distributed between approximately 100 and 200 grams of cocaine base during the course of his participation in the Fidelis Way DTO and over a hundred grams of cocaine. Daye is the seventh defendant to plead guilty in the Fidelis Way related drug conspiracy. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 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.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Berkeley County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tyrone Greenfield, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Greenfield, 45, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Greenfield, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions, admitted to possessing multiple firearms in October 2019.
Greenfield faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Marshals Service; the Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, comprised of the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department, Ranson Police Department, Charles Town Police Department, and Martinsburg City Police Department; the Harpers Ferry Police Department; and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington D.C. investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Adams County Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Matthew Berresford, age 44, of Straban Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with child pornography charges.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Beresford with producing and attempting to produce child pornography, receiving child pornography, and coercing or enticing a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The indictment also alleges that in 2010, Berresford was convicted in Maryland of a felony sex offense, which may subject him to increased penalties if he is convicted of the federal offenses charged in the indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Haugsby is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is up to life imprisonment, a term of up to lifetime supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
###
26-Year-Old Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Malik Williams, 26, has been sentencedto 228 months in federal prison for committing multiple business robberies. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to court documents and information in the public record, on June 28, 2019, Malik
Williams, Decardo Moore, and Joshua Beason robbed multiple Memphis-area gas stations. At approximately 2 a.m., Williams, Moore, and Beason went to the Murphy Express on Summer Avenue.
Williams and Beason put a handgun to the side of a store clerk, forced him inside the store, and threatened the lives of both store clerks. They took money from the register and fled. Moore served as the getaway driver.Approximately thirty minutes later, Williams and Beason robbed the Exxon on Summer Avenue. They brandished firearms and removed the cash drawer before they fled the scene. Moore served as the getaway driver. Minutes later, the group participated in a home invasion on the 2000 block of West
Barbara Circle where a resident, Williams and Moore were shot. All three survived. Charges for the home invasion are pending for all three defendants before the State of Tennessee.Williams went to trial in June 2022 and was found guilty of both business robberies and the use of firearms during the robberies.
On September 9, 2022, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Williams to 228 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. This sentence will be consecutive to any sentence obtained by the State of Tennessee for the pending home invasion charges.
On October 25, 2021, Moore pled guilty to four counts of robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Moore to life in federal prison plus 21 years’ incarceration.
On May 14, 2021, Joshua Beason was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
25 Charged in Drug Bust Targeting Recording StudioRead the Press Release
Twenty-five alleged drug traffickers have been charged in “Operation Papercheck Fresh,” announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
During a large-scale operation last Thursday – which involved eight law enforcement agencies targeting nine locations, including a recording studio in Dallas’ Bryan Place neighborhood – officers and agents also seized cocaine, methamphetamine, THC, and fake pharmaceutical pills; eight vehicles; 37 firearms; and more than $300,000 in U.S. currency.
Those charged in a 34- count indictment unsealed Friday include:
- Durrell Kevon Haynes, aka “Duggie,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine,
- Morris Burrell Haynes, aka “Bull,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm (Century Arms 9mm) in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm
- Camira Lashe Anderson, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Baron Wayne Bennett, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Brandon Earl Boyd Jr., aka “Shook,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana,
- Gilbert Garza, aka “Chicko,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Quinton Dwayne Vine, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Devonshire Labrandiff Hudson, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Anthony Dewayne Leffall, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm (Glock 9mm) in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
- Desmond Jamal Quinones, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm
- Jasmine Shanice Reagor, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Chadrick Demar Sullivan, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Carlos Ronsha Thomas Jr., aka “Uno Loso,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Darrick D. Williams, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Those charged via criminal complaint include:
- Chadrick Alex, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Deontate Alex, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Darian Prunty, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Corry Richardson, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face life in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas County Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the DeSoto Police Department, and the Ellis County Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kull and Joe Magliolo are prosecuting the case.
The Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), through its Executive Board comprised of Federal, state, and local agency heads in North Texas and Oklahoma, administers approximately $4,000,000.00 in grant funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to establish and support drug task forces in North Texas and Oklahoma. Drug task force operations which combine Federal, state, and local resources, such as the one conducted in this critical investigation, make our communities safer and represent the strength of the HIDTA program by delivering an outstanding return on the investment of ONDCP and Texoma HIDTA grant funding.
13 September 2022
Woman Sentenced to Eighteen Months in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a College and ParkRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Nicole L. Jarvis, age 35, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, received the sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
In a plea agreement, Jarvis admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl on at least five occasions in Dubuque. Jarvis served as the connecting source and not the supplier. In the fall of 2020, Jarvis utilized Facebook messenger and other communications devices to set up the transactions. Jarvis later distributed heroin and fentanyl near Loras College and Madison Park.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Jarvis was sentenced to serve 18 months’ imprisonment and must serve a six-year term of supervised release following her term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Jarvis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Washington man admits trafficking meth, fentanyl to Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Washington man suspected of bringing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation for distribution admitted to a trafficking crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Hugo Gutierrez Rodriguez, aka Victor aka Juice, 42, of Yakima, Washington, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 26, 2023. Rodriguez was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in May 2021, a Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation resident was found to possess fentanyl pills. An investigation determined that a group of men in Yakima, Washington, were selling meth and fentanyl on the reservation and that Rodriguez was identified as one of these men. In February, investigators conducted a controlled buy of fentanyl pills and meth from Rodriguez in Yakima. Drugs from the controlled buy included approximately 73 grams of meth and 400 fentanyl pills. Investigators further learned that Rodriguez was bringing more drugs to Montana. Idaho State Police located and stopped Rodriguez, who was driving with one passenger. The passenger said he and Rodriguez were bringing drugs to someone in Box Elder, located on Rocky Boy’s. Officers found approximately 149 grams of meth and more than 300 fentanyl pills in a search of the vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Tri-Agency Task Force, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Idaho State Police.
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.
XXX
Violent Repeat Felon with Domestic Violence History Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Shaylor Goer, 46, of Indianapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2022, Goer illegally possessed a.45 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Goer has nine prior felony convictions from state courts in Indiana and Illinois, beginning in 1995, including for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, domestic battery, failure to resister as a sex offender, burglary, and drug offenses. Goer is federally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of each of these convictions.
Goer made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Paul R. Cherry of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate who is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
Additionally, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Settles with Four Additional Responsible Parties for the Release of Mercury in the Village of Rye BrookRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa Flavia Garcia, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), Region 2, announced today that the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against AMERICAN IRON & METAL CO., INC. (“AIM”), CULP INDUSTRIES, INC. (“Culp”), PARAMOUNT GLOBAL (“Paramount”), and PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (“PSNH”) (collectively, the “Defendants”), and has simultaneously filed a consent decree settling the lawsuit. In the complaint, brought pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601-9675 (“CERCLA”) – commonly known as the Superfund statute – the United States alleged that the Defendants arranged for the disposal or treatment of mercury by Port Refinery, Inc. (“Port Refinery”), a mercury refining business in the Village of Rye Brook, New York, which led to releases of mercury into the environment. The consent decree provides for a combined payment of $437,255 by the Defendants for costs incurred by EPA in conducting clean-up activities at the site.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “AIM, Culp, Paramount, and PSNH played a part in causing contamination in a residential community by arranging for the treatment or disposal of nearly 4,000 pounds of toxic mercury or mercury-containing materials, and now each is paying a share of the costs that EPA had to incur to clean up this site. This Office continues to pursue and hold responsible parties accountable for their share of the costs at the site.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said: “With an additional $437,255 in cleanup costs that will be recovered by EPA, this settlement is good news and it brings the total amount recovered from responsible parties for this cleanup to more than $2.8 million. This case demonstrates EPA’s commitment to clean up harmful pollution while holding accountable those entities that are responsible for cleanup costs.”
As alleged in the complaint filed today in White Plains federal District Court, each of the Defendants arranged for Port Refinery’s treatment or disposal of used or scrap mercury and mercury-containing materials at the Site. Port Refinery’s treatment and processing of mercury sent by the Defendants and other parties led to extensive releases of mercury into the environment, necessitating two separate clean-up actions by EPA. In connection with the second clean-up, EPA incurred costs at the Site for investigative and removal activities, including, among other things, excavating and disposing of more than 9,300 tons of mercury-contaminated soil from the site.
In the consent decree filed today, the Defendants admit and accept responsibility for the following:
- EPA has determined that from the 1970s through the early 1990s, Port Refinery engaged in, among other things, the business of mercury reclaiming, refining, and processing.
- Port Refinery operated in the Village of Rye Brook out of a two-story garage bordered by private residences on its south, east, and west sides.
- EPA has determined that Port Refinery took virtually no environmental precautions or safety measures during its mercury refinement process.
- EPA has determined that Port Refinery released a significant amount of mercury into the environment, contaminating the Site.
- EPA has determined that mercury from the Defendants’ mercury-containing products was comingled at the Site and contributed to the mercury released into the environment.
Moreover, in the consent decree each Defendant admits and accepts responsibility for directly or indirectly delivering mercury to Port Refinery as follows:
- AIM delivered 1,033 pounds of mercury to Port Refinery during Port Refinery’s period of operations.
- Culp delivered 527 pounds of scrap mercury to Port Refinery during Port Refinery’s period of operations.
- Paramount delivered to Port Refinery, via a third-party broker, ten drums containing at least 600 pounds of mercury residue for refining by Port Refinery during Port Refinery’s period of operations.
- PSNH sold 1,754 pounds of used mercury containing titanium or magnesium to a third-party broker during Port Refinery’s period of operations, and EPA has determined that those surplus mercury and mercury-containing materials came to be located at the Site.
Pursuant to the consent decree, the Defendants will pay a total of $437,255 in costs incurred by EPA.
* * *
This lawsuit is the United States’ seventh lawsuit against responsible parties to recover clean-up costs for the second clean-up at the Site. With this settlement, the United States has recovered a total of $2,819,392 from responsible parties.
The consent decree will be lodged with the District Court for a period of at least 30 days before it is submitted for the Court’s approval to provide public notice and to afford members of the public the opportunity to comment on the consent decree.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Environmental Protection Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Sun is in charge of the case.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich meets with North Macedonia judges visiting MontanaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich met today in Great Falls with a group of North Macedonia judges who are visiting Montana to study the U.S. judicial system and ethics.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich participated in a panel discussion about the federal judicial system and explained how U.S. Attorneys are appointed, the role they have in the judicial system and their responsibilities in overseeing the prosecution and management of all cases, including fraud and public corruption cases. Additionally, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Racicot, Ryan G. Weldon, and Benjamin D. Hargrove met with the visiting judges to talk about prosecution strategies, investigative tools and resources and ethical obligations.
The North Macedonia judges are visiting Montana to learn about the judicial system and ethics. North Macedonia has applied to join the European Union, and one of the requirements is to review their country’s ability to address high crimes and public corruption. The visiting judges are early career judges who will be shaping their country’s judicial policies.
“I am honored to share with these visiting judges my role as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the District of Montana and how we work with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to seek justice, improve public safety, and uphold civil rights. Meeting with this North Macedonia delegation also is an excellent opportunity to build friendships, exchange cultures, and strengthen democratic societies around the world,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Great Falls, Montana is a city and state that is known all over Eurasia and the post-Soviet region because of the incredible welcome and hospitality shown to these delegates by the residents of this city and this state,” said Dr. Sandra Erickson, local program coordinator for the Advisory Commission (ACIR) for International Relations for the City of Great Falls. “It makes me proud to call Montana and Great Falls home. ACIR has hosted over a dozen such delegations over the past decade. This September 9-17, 2022 delegates are young professionals. They are eager to share and to learn information regarding our judicial system. The public presentation at Great Falls College is a good opportunity for local people to experience global interactions and citizen diplomacy.”
The Macedonian judges will give a presentation to the public at 10 a.m., Sept. 16, at Great Falls College MSU in Room B101. The public is invited to attend. The judges will be addressing their experiences in Montana, their culture and the future of their country. The Advisory Commission on International Relations for the City of Great Falls is hosting the group.
The North Macedonia delegation of five judges is in Montana from Sept. 9 to 17 as part of the Open World program, which is administered by Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL), an arm of the U.S. Congress. The purpose of COIL programs is to introduce rising leaders of emerging countries to the importance of legislative functions in creating and sustaining democracies.
While in Montana, the delegation will be meeting with federal judges, federal prosecutors, district judges and local attorneys. The group also will be visiting with professors at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, the Montana Supreme Court justices in Helena and Gov. Greg Gianforte. In addition, the judges will be meeting with representatives of Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines.
XXX
Twin Brothers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms Theft After Ramming a Stolen Car into Speedway Gun StoreRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Jayveon Majors, 19, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Codefendant and Jayveon’s twin brother, Tayveon Majors, also pleaded guilty to stealing firearms and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on September 21, 2021.
According to court documents, early on the morning of January 21, 2021, Jayveon drove his brother to an Indianapolis car dealership, where Tayveon stole a car. The brothers then drove separately to a gun store in Speedway, Indiana. Tayveon used the stolen car to smash a hole into the side of the gun store to gain entry inside the building, while Jayveon served as a lookout from inside the getaway car. Video surveillance cameras in the store captured images of Tayveon carrying firearms out of the store and loading them into the getaway car. Javyeon drove the getaway car, his brother, and the guns to their Indianapolis residence. Tayveon stole 10 firearms from the store’s inventory and one additional firearm that was on the premises.
Following a tip from the public, a search warrant was executed at the brothers’ residence on January 26, 2021. Police found and arrested the two brothers, who were inside the residence at the time of the search. Police also recovered four of the stolen guns from the Speedway gun store robbery. During an interview with police, Tayveon admitted that he’d planned on selling the stolen guns and stolen vehicle.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Columbus Field Division, made the announcement.
ATF investigated the case in conjunction with IMPD. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Jayveon and Tayveon each be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following their release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney William L. McCoskey who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Two RobberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man from St. Louis County who robbed two stores while wearing a GPS ankle bracelet placed on him after other robbery charges to 14 years in prison.
On Dec. 5, 2020, Darrion Gardner and a co-defendant robbed a T-Mobile store on Lackland Road in Overland while armed. They forced an employee to the ground, stole money from the cash registers and one employee and then forced an employee at gunpoint to take them to a storage area, where they stole phones, Gardner admitted in a plea agreement.
Two days later, the pair robbed the Universal Accessories store on St. Charles Rock Road in Breckenridge Hills. The men took phones from the store and an employee at gunpoint.
Gardner was arrested on Dec. 10, 2020.
After his arrest, Gardner tried to get his father to destroy evidence of the robberies located in his bedroom.
A sentencing memo called the series of events “violent and aggressive crimes which were brazenly repeated.”
Before the cell phone store robberies, Gardner had been released on bond after being arrested and accused of the robbery or attempted robbery of people walking on or near the grounds of Concordia Seminary and Washington University, court records show. Gardner still faces pending charges related to those robberies in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
Gardner, now 22, pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court to two felony counts of robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Each gun charge carries a mandatory minimum five-year term consecutive to other charges.
Federal charges are pending against Gardner’s alleged co-defendant, Malik Dorsey, who was shot by a clerk while allegedly robbing a cell phone store in Maplewood on Dec. 9, 2020.
The FBI and police departments in Overland Hills, Breckenridge and Maplewood investigated this case.
Southwest Georgia Resident Pleads Guilty in Meth-Soaked Rug CaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man arrested after federal agents discovered nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine soaked in a rug and crystal meth in packages at the Atlanta airport addressed to him from Mexico pleaded guilty for drug distribution recently.
Chad Williamson, 42, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Sept. 8. Williamson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years of imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Williamson’s sentencing is expected to occur within 90 days.
“The defendant was part of a larger international network using any means necessary to smuggle methamphetamine into Southwest Georgia; thankfully, federal agents intercepted this deadly drug before it could hit the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is working to hold high-volume drug smugglers accountable for their activities, which gravely harm our communities by feeding addiction.”
“DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to dismantle, disrupt and destroy drug distribution networks,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This case was successful because of the collaborative efforts between DEA and its committed law enforcement partners.”
According to court documents, two packages containing methamphetamine and addressed to Williamson were intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Parcel Center in March 2021. The packages were shipped from Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, and marked as religious image and/or Bible gift; one of the boxes contained a methamphetamine-soaked rug, which can be chemically extracted for use. There was also more than 200 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the packages.
DEA agents went to Williamson’s residence on March 11, 2021. Williamson had removed the SIM card from his phone in an attempt to hide its contents. Williamson’s probation officer administered a drug test, which Williamson failed. Williamson was placed under arrest and subsequently admitted to agents that an associate used Williamson’s address for drug deliveries. The SIM card was located, and a download of Williamson’s phone showed a number of messages he had exchanged with the source of supply, saved in his phone as “Costa Chris.” The messages revealed an on-going relationship between the two regarding illicit controlled substance deliveries requiring tracking and other drug deals. In all, a total of 1926.2 grams of methamphetamine was present in the packages, 459.2 grams of which was determined to be 98% pure.
The case was investigated DEA with assistance from HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case.
South Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Years After Sexually Abusing Non-Verbal, Autistic ChildRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Port Saint Lucie man who in 2018-2019 sexually abused a non-verbal, autistic child has been sentenced to 360 months in federal prison. Earlier this year, Ethan Alexander Concepcion, 24, pled guilty in West Palm Beach federal court to production of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) learned about Concepcion’s abuse of the child after being contacted in January 2022 by the Queensland Police Service, a law enforcement agency in Australia. They reported to HSI that they had prosecuted an individual in Australia who had received by email approximately two dozen child sex abuse images and videos from someone using an IP address located in Greenacres, Florida. In some of the images, the child was holding a sign that read, “For Mr. Plextor.” Authorities believed that “Mr. Plextor” was a reference to the recipient of the images in Australia. Metadata from the images revealed that Concepcion likely abused the child on at least four occasions from March 2018 to January 2019. The child was 5-6 years old at the time. Agents traced the IP address to Concepcion’s residence. On March 10, 2022, Concepcion confessed to abusing the child.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by United States District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks yesterday.
HSI Miami (West Palm Beach office) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto prosecuted it.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions 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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-80043.
###
Socorro Man Sentenced on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – A Socorro man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child sexual exploitation material.
According to court documents, law enforcement became aware that Hector Anthony Segura, 33, had distributed approximately 17 videos in October 2020 containing child sexual abuse material. With consent from Segura, FBI agents searched several of his electronic devices. Over 1,000 videos depicting child sexual abuse material were found on the devices.
On May 31, 2022, Segura pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Segura was arrested on January 21, 2022. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.
“Our office is proud to have secured the conviction and sentence in this case against an individual who received and distributed an alarming amount of child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “We remain committed to protecting our community and prosecuting those who contribute to the exploitation of children.”
“Today's sentencing sends a strong message that there are serious consequences for those who would harm children by distributing and trading images of child pornography,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey. “It is impossible to measure the suffering these victims have endured, and hopefully this will help them on their long road to recovery. The FBI is committed to finding perpetrators of this terrible crime and seeking justice for all who have been victimized.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc.
###
Smoke Shop Owner Who Fled to Brazil in 2014 Convicted of Federal Drug Crimes for Selling K2Read the Press Release
A man who sold K2 from a smoke shop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and who fled the country in 2014 after being charged with federal drug crimes was convicted by a jury on September 12, 2022, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Mohammad Al Sharairei, age 47, previously from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of maintaining a premises for the distribution of controlled substance analogues and one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues. The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about five hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that in 2012 and 2013, Al Sharairei and his wife owned and operated a smoke shop on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids called Puff N Stuff II. During June 2013, federal agents raided Puff N Stuff II and seized thousands of packets of K2 which were labeled as “novelty items,” “potpourri,” and “incense” and contained a warning that the products were “not for human consumption.” Some names of the “potpourri” products were Bizarro, Grave Digger, Lights Out, and Mega Kush. The substances in the packages were determined to contain synthetic cannabinoids called PB‑22 and 5F‑PB‑22. Trial evidence showed that these synthetic cannabinoid substances are far more potent than marijuana and have been associated with severe psychological and physical effects, including death. Trial evidence showed that, despite labeling the products as “not for human consumption” and having a store policy that customers could not talk about smoking the products, Al Sharairei himself smoked the “incense.”
Seized store records from Puff N Stuff II showed that between January 2012 and June 26, 2013, the store had sold over $1.3 million in synthetic cannabinoid products. Trial evidence also showed that after Al Sharairei was charged and appeared in federal court, he fled the country in 2014 prior to a scheduled hearing. He remained a fugitive until he was extradited back to the United States from Brazil.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Al Sharairei remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Al Sharairei faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $1,500,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. He also faces up to $425,000 in forfeiture of proceeds of his drug operation.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Brazil to secure the arrest and extradition of Mohammad Al Sharairei to the United States. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam Vander Stoep.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 14‑CR‑63‑LTS‑MAR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Six indicted by a federal grand jury for crimes including illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Six defendants are among those facing federal charges including illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.
The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.
“As many of our communities continue to fight violent crime, it is vital that law enforcement agencies work together to remove criminals with guns from our streets,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will continue to hold accountable those who endanger our neighborhoods by illegally possessing and using firearms.”
In the past four years, more than 770 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the September 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Terran L. Jones, 25, of Fort Myers, Fla., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Joshua Jerome Russell, 27, of Swainsboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm in a School Zone, and Discharge of a Firearm in a School Zone;
- Windsor Hodge, 64, of Martinez, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Nicholas Robinson, 22, of Savannah, charged with three counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Donald D. Walker, 27, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with False Statement During the Attempted Purchase of a Firearm;
- Carl Williams, 52, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- Deon McWhorter, 36, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brunswick Police officers found McWhorter asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, which was parked in the roadway, in August 2020; while taking McWhorter into custody, offices found a pistol in his pocket.
- Jamie Lee Cogan, 38, of Thomson, Ga., was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cogan in April 2021 after finding him in possession of a pistol. Cogan was being sought at the time by Pickens County, Ga., authorities on a warrant for violating probation.
- Pernell D. Scott, 33, of Hephzibah, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Scott after an October 2019 traffic stop when he was found in possession of a pistol.
- Willie Joe Liddell, 38, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Liddell on an outstanding warrant when they discovered a pistol in Liddell’s jacket pocket.
- Shaquille Green, a/k/a “OC,” a/k/a “Scrill Rip Chop,” 28, of Savannah, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police arrested Green in October 2021 after investigating a report of a man brandishing a pistol during a youth football game.
- James Wayne Cooper Jr., 37, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Burke County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cooper in October 2020 after Cooper drove into a field and attempted to run away from a traffic stop. Deputies found a loaded pistol in Cooper’s vehicle.
- Harry Telfair, 60, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Telfair March 5, 2021, after a domestic violence report in which Telfair fired multiple shots inside his home while others were present.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
107-22
Seven Individuals Charged for Smuggling Kilogram Quantities of Cocaine Through the Luis Muñoz Marín International AirportRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a four count indictment charging four men and three women with drug trafficking through the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
According to the charging document, from January 2020 through the return of the indictment, Luis Avilés-Colom, Michael Pérez-Antonsanti, Tanisha Rosario-Torres, Luis Alberto Cruz-Maldonado, Iván Andino-Núñez, Shirley Córdova-Rosario, and Ashely Ruiz-Rosado, conspired to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization comprised of a network of recruiters, coordinators, and transporters who traveled from Puerto Rico to the continental United States via commercial flights with cocaine for wholesale distribution, all for significant financial gain.
“This drug trafficking organization was using the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to deliver large quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to several destinations throughout the continental United States. Today, federal agencies curtailed their impact by arresting leaders, organizers and travelers who made their distribution network possible,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “The US Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in Puerto Rico and the Continental US to gather the intelligence and evidence necessary to bring the leaders and associates of these dangerous organizations to justice. Efforts like today’s multiple arrests prove the effectiveness of our resolve and commitment.”
“The Airport Investigations Tactical Team (AirTAT), a task force under the Caribbean Corridor strike force, is composed of multiple state and federal entities and is charged with protecting our Airport, including protection from its misuse by criminal organizations,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Iván Arvelo. “The indictment and the arrests send a clear message to any organization that tries to exploit our airport: “we will protect the Airport and the citizens and visitors who use this important port. You will be arrested if you abuse our facilities.”
In addition to the drug trafficking charges, defendant Luis Avilés-Colom is charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, specifically $525,790, which involved the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity, that is the felonious manufacture, importation, receiving, concealment, buying, selling, and otherwise dealing in controlled substances.
If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and their respective Airport Investigations and Tactical Teams (AirTAT) were in charge of the investigation. AirTAT identifies, locates, disrupts, dismantles, and prosecutes transnational crime organizations using the airports in Puerto Rico to smuggle narcotics, weapons, human cargo, counterfeit documents, illegal proceeds, and other contraband.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jawayria Z. Auchter from the Transnational Organized Crime Section is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Sanford Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Possessing and Transporting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Sanford man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland today for possessing and transporting child sexual abuse materials, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Trevan Nordmann, 31, to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. Nordmann pleaded guilty on March 28, 2022.
According to court records, on September 17, 2021, an online covert employee of the FBI was monitoring a group chat on Kik and engaged with a participant using the name “Jerry G”. “Jerry G,” who was later identified as Nordmann, sent the agent three videos showing minors engaged in sexually explicit content. During a subsequent search of Nordmann’s home, electronic devices were seized, and Nordmann admitted to sending the videos on Kik and that additional child pornography videos and images would be found on his cell phone. At least one of the videos showed a child under the age of 12.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: "Child pornography" captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization each time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-843-5678. Your report will be forwarded to a law enforcement agency for investigation and action. If you have an emergency that requires an immediate law enforcement response, call 911 or contact your local police or sheriff’s department.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
San Jose Group Homes Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud by Diverting Foster Care Funds to Personal UseRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Annie Corbett, the CEO of her group homes company that provided foster care, pleaded guilty today in federal court to wire fraud and failure to pay over employment taxes, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson, and U.S. Department Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan.
Annie Corbett, 55, formerly of Redwood City, was initially charged by federal complaint on October 30, 2020, with wire fraud in connection with her operation of Corbett Group Homes, Inc. (CGH), a company that provided foster care for children and adolescents in group homes located primarily in San Jose. According to the plea agreement entered today, Corbett was the owner, CEO and President of CGH from 2011 through mid-2018, when the business closed. Corbett was the sole signatory on CGH’s bank accounts, was solely responsible for hiring and firing, and was responsible for processing employee payroll. During this time, CGH employed about 60 employees a year.
Corbett admitted in her plea agreement that she knowingly failed to pay employment taxes. She contracted with payroll processing companies to determine the tax withholdings for CGH employees, and Corbett issued paychecks and W-2s to the employees reflecting the withholding of employment taxes. Corbett admitted, however, that she never paid those employment taxes over to the IRS or filed those W-2s with the IRS. Corbett also admitted that she deceived her bookkeeper and CPA into believing the employment taxes had been paid despite not paying any taxes to the IRS. In an example, Corbett described that she issued several checks from a CGH account made out to the U.S. Treasury and gave copies of them to CGH’s bookkeeper to create the appearance that the taxes had been paid. However, instead of providing the checks to the U.S. Treasury, Corbett changed the name of the checks’ payee and deposited the funds into an account she controlled. Corbett admitted in her plea agreement that from 2014 through 2017 she failed to pay employment taxes to the IRS in an amount totaling more than $752,000.
In the plea agreement, Corbett further described the fraud she committed involving funds CGH received directly from local county governments and private charities to support CGH’s care of foster children. Corbett controlled multiple CGH bank accounts and diverted funds deposited in CGH’s business accounts into personal bank accounts. Corbett used the diverted funds for her personal enrichment, including making her own credit card payments, her personal retail business payments, and her payments on a vacation timeshare. Corbett agreed in her plea agreement to a fraud loss amount that exceeded $550,000.
Corbett is next scheduled for a sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Beth L. Freeman in San Jose federal court on January 31, 2023. Corbett remains out of custody pending her sentencing hearing.
Corbett pleaded guilty to one count wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The maximum statutory sentence for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Corbett also pleaded guilty to willful failure to pay over employment taxes in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7202, which carries a maximum statutory sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Hsieh is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, and HHS-OIG.
Roseville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Brian Baptise Formiconi, 49, of Roseville, was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Canada were investigating a large network of Kik Messenger users that were trading child pornography. When reviewing some of the chats, they found messages containing nude pictures of a minor victim being sent by Formiconi. Information from Kik, internet service providers, and other investigations led to the identification of Formiconi and the victim.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Yang and Audrey Hemesath prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner IndictedRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Schofield, age 42, of Troy, New York, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with unlawfully using the names and dates of birth of voters to fraudulently apply for absentee ballots for elections held in Rensselaer County in 2021.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Schofield is an Elections Commissioner at the Rensselaer County Board of Elections.
The indictment alleges that in 2021, Schofield unlawfully possessed and used the names and dates of birth of voters in connection with absentee ballot applications he submitted to a New York State Board of Elections web site.
The indictment alleges that Schofield applied for absentee ballots in the names of people who had no interest in voting in 2021; did not request absentee ballots, or Schofield’s assistance in voting or obtaining absentee ballots, in 2021; and/or did not know that Schofield was using their personal information. In some of these instances, according to the indictment, Schofield also took possession of the absentee ballots issued to these voters, brought the ballots to the voters, and had the voters sign absentee ballot envelopes but not actually vote; this allowed Schofield or another person to cast votes in these voters’ names, in Rensselaer County’s primary and general elections held in 2021.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Schofield was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered released on his own recognizance pending a trial scheduled before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
On each of 12 counts, if convicted, Schofield would face up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Registered Sex Offender Charged by South Florida Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A South Florida federal grand jury has charged a 41-year-old Delray Beach man with possessing child pornography and failing to properly register as a sex offender. Nicholas Deraway appeared today in West Palm Beach federal court for his arraignment.
According to the indictment and an earlier-filed criminal complaint affidavit, in January 2022, Google alerted the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that one of its users had uploaded child pornography to an account. An investigation into this CyberTip led law enforcement officers to Deraway’s home, where they executed a search warrant and found thousands of images and videos of child pornography, say the charging documents.
In 2004, Deraway was convicted in the Southern District of Florida for an offense that required him to comply with the ongoing requirements of the federal sex offender registration law. According to the allegations, Deraway used an on-line alias (Nick Meenachan), yet failed to update his sex offender registration information with the associated email addresses. The name “Nick Meenachan” is linked to the child pornography uploads that led to the January 2022 CyberTip.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, and Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, announced the charges.
FBI Miami and USMS investigated the case with assistance from the Delray Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains mere allegations and defendants are innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-80135.
###
Readout of the Justice Department’s Meeting with News Media RepresentativesRead the Press Release
In a meeting with media representatives, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland reaffirmed today the Justice Department’s commitment to a free and independent press and provided an update on efforts to further ensure journalists acting within the scope of news gathering are protected from compelled disclosure of information revealing their sources.
In July 2021, the Attorney General announced a new policy that restricts the use of compulsory process to obtain information from, or records of, members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities. To help ensure the durability of the policy changes, he asked Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco to undertake a process to codify the policy change reflected in the July 2021 announcement into Department regulations and to otherwise update those regulations. Today, Department officials provided an update on that review, noting that the forthcoming revised regulations are intended to further strengthen protections to news media outlets and journalists while providing clear guidelines for Justice Department investigators and prosecutors. The Department expects to finalize and post the regulations online this fall.
In addition to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, other Department attendees included: Matthew Klapper, Chief of Staff to the Attorney General; Marshall Miller, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General; Anthony Coley, Director, Office of Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Attorney General; Dena Iverson, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs; Julie Dickerson, Counsel to the Attorney General; David Newman, Associate Deputy Attorney General; and Margot Benedict, Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General.
News media representative attendees included: Bruce Brown, Executive Director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Steve Adler, Chair, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Nancy Barnes, Senior Vice President of News and Editorial Director, NPR; Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor, Washington Post; Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, Executive Vice President, Newsgathering CBS; Jason Conti, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Dow Jones; Sam Feist, Washington bureau chief, CNN; Dana Green, Senior Counsel, New York Times; Karen Kaiser, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Associated Press; Jane Mayer, Staff Writer and Chief Washington Correspondent, New Yorker; Jim McLaughlin, Deputy General Counsel, Washington Post; Ken Strickland, Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief, NBC; Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief, USA Today; and David Vigilante, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, CNN.