Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
8 September 2022
United States Attorney’s Office Obtains Multi-Decade Sentences in Child Exploitation CasesRead the Press Release
Spokane – On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office obtained sentences of 20 and 15 years against two child exploitation defendants. Senior U.S. District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Jessica Ann Barrington, 31, of Spokane, to 20 years in prison for sexually violating a three-year-old girl and sending images of that conduct to at least ten men she met online. Judge Peterson also sentenced Jason Dean Talbott, 44, of Spokane, to 15 years in prison for receiving child pornography in a secret lair that he created at a friend’s home – while he was on federal Supervised Release for a prior federal conviction for child pornography. When they are released from these lengthy terms, each defendant will be on federal supervision for the remainder of his or her life.
Documents and hearings associated with these cases revealed chilling conduct by the defendants.
Defendant Barrington sought out men online to exchange sexual images of minor girls, and to discuss plans for raping, torturing, and one day impregnating them. At one point she contacted a man online who ran a child pornography blog and used the handle “daddy4ltlgrl” and told him she had access to three little girls. When that man asked her if she “played” with them, Barrington sent him an image depicting a three-year-old’s genitals and followed that up with images depicting herself engaging in the sexual abuse of the girl. She later invited the man to come to Spokane from California, offering “to share them with you or just watch you with them.” She also offered to allow him to lock himself in a room with the children so he could rape them.
Defendant Talbott is a recidivist child pornography collector. In 2012, he was sentenced to 60 months in custody after he was convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of federal law. In 2019, after he was released on his first conviction, he built a computer system in a room at a friend’s house and downloaded significant new quantities of child pornography. A search of his digital devices revealed that he had been collecting child pornography since as early as 2001, both before and after his first prison term. On December 30, 2019, Talbott was arrested by the FBI on an airplane that had just landed at Spokane International Airport after a flight from Denver. In addition to a huge quantity of child pornography stashed at his secret computer lair, Talbott also had child pornography on his person, in his luggage, and in his car.
“The FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office stand ready to respond with thorough investigations, aggressive prosecutions, and significant sentences for anyone who abuses children,” said Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District. “Although no sentence can give these children back their innocence, our community is safer with these criminals behind bars.” U.S. Attorney Waldref also emphasized that these crimes involve vulnerable victims: “In one case today, the victim was only three years old, and in the other, there were thousands of child victims whose trauma and abuse was recorded so it can circulate online forever. Today’s sentences send a clear message to those who seek to abuse children, whether behind closed doors or computer screens: justice is coming, and the consequences of abusing children will be severe.”
David M. Herzog, the Assistant United States Attorney who prosecuted the cases, thanked numerous agencies responsible for securing justice. “FBI worked hand-in-hand with state and local law enforcement in each of these cases, along with members of the United States Probation Office. I am particularly grateful to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, which was in lockstep with the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout. Seamless cooperation across law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies allows us to reach fair global resolutions that will protect this community for decades.”
“I am heartbroken at the unspeakable horror these children endured, including from adults who should have protected them,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “While nothing can reverse the harm to the victims, we hope these sentences send a strong message to would-be child abusers and bring our community peace of mind.”
This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States 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. The Project Safe Childhood Initiative (“PSC”) has five major components:
· Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue children;
· Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
· Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
· Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and
· Community awareness and educational programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
These cases were investigated by the FBI’s Spokane Resident Office and the Spokane Police Department, with significant assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service and the United States Probation Office. The cases were prosecuted by David M. Herzog, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Two Rankin County Men Indicted for Discharging Industrial Waste into Jackson Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Two Rankin County men appeared in federal court today on felony charges of illegally discharging industrial waste into the Jackson Sewer System, conspiracy, and making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division’s Southeast Area Branch.
A nine-count federal indictment was unsealed in Jackson on September 2, 2022, charging Thomas W. Douglas, Jr., 61, and John S. Welch, Sr., 64, with carrying out a scheme whereby industrial waste from their company, Gold Coast Commodities, was discharged illegally into the Jackson Sewer System.
The defendants made their initial court appearances today at the Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse in Jackson.
The case is set for trial on November 7, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Jackson. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on Count 1 of the indictment, three years in prison on each of Counts 2-6 of the indictment, and five years in prison on each of Counts 7-8 as to Douglas and Count 9 as to Welch.
The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the case.
Attorney Jeremy Korzenik with the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay B. Baldwin are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Toledo Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Fentanyl Pill ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TOLEDO - Nichole Zieroff, 32, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced on August 26, 2022, to fourteen months in prison by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr after Zieroff pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and eight counts of use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug felony.
According to court documents, from November 2019 to January 2020, Zieroff was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy in which she received packages through the mail containing fentanyl on behalf of her co-conspirators. In addition, court documents state that Zieroff used a cell phone on eight separate occasions to facilitate the conspiracy.
Zieroff pleaded guilty to the 10-count indictment on February 14, 2022.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert N. Melching and Deyana F. Unis.
Three Southwest Florida Family Members Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution RingRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Michael Lee Faz (44, Labelle), Abel Deleon (45, Labelle), and Genaro Deleon, Jr. (63, Labelle) to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Faz was sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison, Abel Deleon was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months’ imprisonment, and Deleon, Jr. was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison. Genaro Deleon, III (45, Lehigh Acres), the leader of the organization, is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2023. Each of the four had previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.
According to court documents, Genaro Deleon, III based his drug distribution organization out of his Lehigh Acres home. In an unsuccessful attempt to thwart law enforcement investigations into his organization, Deleon, III buried the organization’s stash of methamphetamine in multiple locations in the woods around his secluded property, which was patrolled by his aggressive dogs and a network of motion sensing cameras.
Deleon, III employed his father, Deleon, Jr., and his two uncles, Abel Deleon and Faz, as dealers for the organization, responsible for making sales to customers and collecting the drug proceeds. Over the course of a year, law enforcement made at least nine undercover purchases from the organization yielding hundreds of grams of nearly pure methamphetamine. In October 2021, law enforcement arrested the defendants and executed a search warrant at Deleon, III’s house, resulting in the additional seizure of multiple firearms.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Three Paterson Police Officers Sentenced for Roles in Violating Individuals’ Civil RightsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Three Paterson, New Jersey, police officers were sentenced today for their respective roles in a conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden handed down the following sentences in Newark federal court:
- Police Officer Jonathan Bustios, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Bustios previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights and one count of extortion under color of official right.
- Police Officer Eudy Ramos, 35, of Paterson, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Ramos previously pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven of an indictment against him, charging him with conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights and filing a false police report. Ramos also pleaded guilty to an information charging him with using unreasonable and excessive force in violation of individuals’ civil rights.
- Police Officer Matthew Torres, 33, of Paterson, was sentenced to three years of probation. Torres previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights and filing a false police report.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Hayden sentenced Bustios and Ramos to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings. He also thanked the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, and the Paterson Police Department Office of Internal Affairs, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh, Deputy Chief of the Special Prosecutions Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the Special Prosecutions Division.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty Resulting from Separate Project Safe Childhood Investigations in Southwest GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Three defendants entered guilty pleas in federal court today resulting from three separate Project Safe Childhood investigations centered in Southwest Georgia.
Larry Dewayne Goldsmith, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and faces a minimum of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Jawara Kitt, 29, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material and faces a minimum of five years up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Walter Kenneth Rathel, 56, of Donalsonville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
In addition, all three defendants will have to register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner is presiding over these cases. Sentencings are expected to occur within 90 days.
“Finding and stopping predators who seek to exploit or sexually abuse children is of utmost importance to our office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We will use every resource at our disposal to track down dangerous sex offenders who target children and bring them to justice.”
“The pain and harm caused to the children are irreparable,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work hard toward protecting our nation’s children from such individuals that are so clearly focused on doing them harm.”
“These cases send a clear message to child predators that HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will tirelessly seek justice for children who are preyed upon by individuals like these defendants,” said Katrina Berger, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia. “We are thankful that these individuals are no longer able to prey upon children.”
Goldsmith’s plea agreement is sealed at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect the victim.
Kitt admitted in his plea agreement to distributing child sexual abuse material online and through social media depicting children under the age of 12-years-old, including infants and toddlers, being raped and sexually assaulted by adults. Kitt’s activities were discovered in Sept. 2021 as part of an active FBI investigation into the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material online. An undercover FBI agent was contacted by Kitt via the instant messaging app Kik; Kitt inquired if the undercover agent was an “active dad” or a person who has access to a child and is actively sexually abusing the child. Kitt distributed child sexual abuse material to the undercover agent during the course of the investigation. A federal search warrant was executed at Kitt’s Albany residence in Jan. 2022, where agents found Kitt distributed videos depicting child sexual abuse material 144 times in three weeks, between Oct. 19 - Nov. 8, 2021. Kitt was taken into federal custody on April 14, 2022.
According to court records, Rathel was discovered to be in possession of child sexual abuse material during the course of an ongoing investigation targeting child predators by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in April 2021. A special agent with HSI was monitoring a certain account on the instant messaging app Kik and saw an individual post a MEGA link to numerous files of child pornography that was owned by Rathel. Agents obtained a federal search warrant and conducted a search of Rathel’s Donalsonville residence on July 13, 2021, finding 49 images and 139 videos of child sexual abuse material on two of his devices, as well as child sexual abuse materials on his Amazon account.
These cases were 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Goldsmith’s case was investigated by FBI with assistance from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Kitt’s case was investigated by FBI. Rathel’s case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Donalsonville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis is prosecuting the cases.
Three California Men Charged in Conspiracy to Ship Fentanyl-Laced Oxycodone to Middle Tennessee and Other StatesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Three Santa Rosa, California men were arrested in California yesterday and charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances in middle Tennessee, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Matthew Cox, 26, Marcus Johnson, 24, and Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, 27, were arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of California today and will be transported to the Middle District of Tennessee at a later date.
According to the criminal complaint, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations were investigating the distribution of counterfeit fentanyl-laced Oxycodone tablets with the inscription “M30,” being shipped from the Santa Rosa area to Virginia, and to more than a dozen other states, including Tennessee. Subsequent investigation, including surveillance and the review of social media sites and mobile payment records, identified the trio charged today.
During the investigation, agents determined that the drug distribution network was tied to other individuals in Columbia, Tennessee, and that fentanyl laced tablets were being shipped to middle Tennessee. During a recent search in Columbia, law enforcement recovered a loaded firearm and blue tablets inscribed “M30.”
On July 25, 2022, HSI agents seized a package from a UPS Store in Sebastopol, California, which was destined for Nashville. This package contained thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced Oxycodone “M30” tablets weighing approximately 2.4 kilograms. The package also contained more than eight pounds of methamphetamine.
On August 9, 2022, agents intercepted two packages from the Santa Rosa area which were destined for residences in Nashville. One package contained 472 grams of the Oxycodone “M30” tablets and the other package contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the FBI; and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
# # # # #
Thirteen Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Matthew J. Sutton (619) 546-8941 and Assistant U. S. Attorney J’me Forrest (619) 546-6741
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 8, 2022
SAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging 10 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based methamphetamine distribution network with drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. In addition, three more related defendants were charged today via complaint with drug trafficking offenses.
In a coordinated multi-state takedown that took place yesterday, federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and officers arrested multiple defendants and executed six search warrants in Imperial County. During the searches agents seized additional narcotics and two firearms. As of today, nine of the thirteen defendants are either in federal or state custody, and the search continues for four defendants. In addition to these seizures and arrests yesterday, during this long-term investigation, law enforcement has seized more than 119 pounds of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs and more than $80,000 in cash.
According to the indictment and other publicly-filed documents, this Imperial Valley-based network allegedly smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine across the international border. The defendants then used cars, the U.S. Mail, and commercial delivery services like FedEx to distribute that methamphetamine to sub-distributors located throughout Imperial County as well as in the state of Minnesota. In addition, the network used a corrections officer to smuggle fentanyl and contraband cellular telephones into Centinela State Prison.
“This case is the culmination of years of work by our agents and prosecutors, alongside our local law enforcement partners, to target a prolific Imperial Valley-based drug trafficking network,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to use every tool we have to stop these drug traffickers and bring them to justice.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team for their excellent work on this case.
“These arrests are the result of a multi-year collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Disrupting these illegal drug distribution networks is a vital step in preventing dangerous drugs from entering our communities, and HSI will continue to use its broad investigative authorities to aggressively investigate and bring to justice anyone who attempts to smuggle drugs across our borders.”
“The results of this long-term investigation reflect the commitment of the DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to stop methamphetamine trafficking networks,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. “Together, we will continue the fight against the distributors that are driving addiction in the United States.”
Postal Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division Carroll N. Harris stated, “Operation Gotham City showed when the night is darkest, Postal Inspectors will endure to bring justice to those who criminally misuse the US Mail. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted in the success achieved today.”
U.S. Attorney Grossman also thanked federal, state, and local law enforcement for the coordinated team effort in the culmination of this investigation. This case was led by Homeland Security Investigation - Imperial Valley Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Deputies, agents, and officers from the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, California Highway Patrol, El Centro Police Department, Calexico Police Department, Brawley Police Department, the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office also provided vital assistance for the investigation.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
*An indictment and or complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-cr-1553-BAS
(D1) Omar Castro Age: 30 Calexico, CA
(D2) Brianna Nunez Age: 31 Imperial, CA
(D3) Ramon Luna Age: 40 Calexico, CA
*(D4) Vanessa Vega Age: 37 Calexico, CA
*(D5) Sasha Brown Age: 34 Calexico, CA
*(D6) Michelle Figueroa Age: 22 Calexico, CA
(D7) Violette Espinoza Age: 38 Hillside, IL
(D8) Hector Perez Age: 28 Colton, CA
*(D9) Brent Boggess Age: 32 Calexico, CA
(D10) Guillermo Hernandez Age: 30 Calexico, CA
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-mj-8640-JLB
(D1) Mario Gallegos Age: 37 Calexico, CA
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-mj-8641-JLB
(D1) Ray Munoz Age: 41 Calexico, CA
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-mj-8642-JLB
(D1) Ricardo Velarde Age: 41 Calexico, CA
*Fugitives
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))
Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C., § 841(a)(1))
Distribution of Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Importation of Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 952 and 960).
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Marshals Service
United States Border Patrol
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine
California Highway Patrol
El Centro Police Department
Calexico Police Department
Brawley Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff's Office
Imperial County District Attorney's Office
Imperial Valley - Law Enforcement Coordination Center
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona
Swanton Woman Sentenced for Distributing Crack Cocaine While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Pamela Yandow, 50, of Swanton, Vermont, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont to two years’ imprisonment for distributing cocaine base in October of 2021. Yandow had been released from federal prison in April of 2021 and was on supervised release when she committed this offense. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also sentenced Yandow to another two years’ imprisonment, to be served consecutively, for violating the terms of her supervised release.
According to court records, Yandow began violating the terms of her supervised release by using narcotics within weeks of her release from Bureau of Prisons custody. Then in October of 2021, Yandow distributed cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” on multiple occasions to a confidential informant at or near her residence in Swanton. Yandow’s extensive criminal history dates back to 1996, and includes a 2003 federal conviction for bank fraud, a 2013 state conviction for narcotics distribution, and a 2019 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base. Yandow received an 84-month prison sentence in 2019 but sought and obtained compassionate release in April 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Albans Police Department. He also thanked the Swanton Police Department, the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Border Patrol for their assistance.
The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Yandow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara M. Puls.
Sturgis Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sturgis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Dallas Ford, age 28, was indicted in March of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on August 31, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge stems from Ford illegal possessing a .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol in December 2021 in Sturgis. The charge is merely an accusation and Ford is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, and the Sturgis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Ford was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
St. Louis County Felon Convicted of Gun Charge at TrialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri whose girlfriend told police about a hidden gun was convicted Thursday by a jury of one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Rodrick Mitchell, 34, of Breckenridge Hills, Missouri, is scheduled to be sentenced December 13 and could face up to 10 years in prison.
On July 9, 2020, Mitchell’s girlfriend went to the Wentzville Police Department and said that she’d just left Mitchell at a hotel after becoming upset with him. Mitchell’s girlfriend said she was afraid of him because he has a temper and was violent. She also told police she wanted to return their rental car but could not because there was a gun under the car’s hood. She told police he had hidden guns there in the past.
Under the hood, officers found a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun near the driver’s side fender and a drum magazine loaded with 38 rounds near the air filter. Mitchell’s DNA was found on the gun.
Mitchell was indicted on March 10, 2021 on the gun charge.
The Wentzville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley M. Walker and Catherine Hoag are prosecuting the case.
Sioux Falls Man Convicted of Dealing Meth and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Willie Gene Murphy, Jr., age 51, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance, as a result of a federal court trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 7, 2022.
On September 1, 2022, Murphy pleaded guilty to the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in the same case pursuant to a Petition to Plead Guilty.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022.
On December 17, 2019, Murphy knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. Additionally, Murphy was a convicted felon and knowingly and intentionally possessed firearms, to wit: a Ruger, model AR-556, .5.56 x 45 mm, semi-automatic rifle, a Smith and Wesson, model SD40VE, .40 caliber handgun and a Smith and Wesson SD 9, 9-millimeter handgun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and the sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sikeston Man Sentenced to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The United States Attorney's Office announced that David A. Rodgers, 41, of Sikeston, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 240 months (20 years) in federal prison for firearm and methamphetamine-trafficking offenses. Rodgers appeared for his sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
After receiving information that Rodgers was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, law enforcement officials obtained and executed a search warrant at his Sikeston home in August 2020. They found a safe in Rodgers’ bedroom that contained over 800 grams of methamphetamine, several semi-automatic pistols and approximately $6,000 in cash. Rodgers admitted in his guilty plea earlier this year that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearms to facilitate his drug-trafficking. Rodgers has an extensive criminal history, including state felony convictions for various crimes. He was also on parole at the time the search warrant was executed. After serving his sentence, Rodgers will be placed on supervised release for a period of five years.
This case was investigated by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.
Saint Albans Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Saint Albans man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jason Lee Lary, 40, to two years in prison and five years of supervised release. Lary pleaded guilty on February 3, 2022.
According to court records, in April 2021, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop during which Lary was found in possession of more than 50 grams of cocaine base, approximately 80 grams of a fentanyl mixture, approximately 40 grams of cocaine, almost 26 grams of methamphetamine and $4,250 in cash.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted with the investigation.
# # #
Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and cocaine.
Armando Gomes, 34, of Central Falls, Rhode Island, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Oct. 18, 2021, Gomes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
On three separate occasions in September 2017 Gomes sold fentanyl and cocaine to undercover officers. Gomes sold 4.99 grams of fentanyl and 6.94 grams of powder cocaine on Sept. 14, 2017; 4.86 grams of fentanyl mixed with cocaine and 6.87 grams of cocaine on Sept. 18, 2017; and 4.86 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl and 6.78 grams of cocaine on Sept. 22, 2017.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard Fuller made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit prosecuted the case.
Proposed Settlement Resolves Clean Water Act Claims Regarding New Hampshire Fish HatcheryRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced an agreement with the State of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The agreement will require the Powder Mill State Fish Hatchery (the Hatchery) in New Durham, New Hampshire, the state’s largest fish hatchery, to take action to reduce phosphorus in its discharges to the Merrymeeting River, comply with a federal Clean Water Act permit and study downstream water quality.
The Hatchery is owned by the state and operated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. CLF sued officials of the Fish and Game Department in 2018 under the citizen-suit provisions of the Clean Water Act, alleging, among other claims, violations of the federal permit’s narrative prohibition against water quality violations caused by its phosphorus discharges and, in an amended complaint, violations of the reissued permit’s numeric phosphorus limits. The United States, on behalf of EPA, filed a motion to intervene in the CLF action, filed its own complaint against the State of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and lodged a proposed consent decree signed by all parties. If entered by the court, the consent decree would resolve the claims of both the United States and CLF.
“This settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency are committed to addressing risks to water quality in our nation’s rivers and streams,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement will lead to significant reductions in phosphorus discharges to the Merrymeeting River and downstream ponds and help reduce risks to anyone fishing or coming into contact with these waters.”
“Harmful algal blooms in New England waters have been increasing in recent years and need to be addressed in order to protect human health and the environment,” said Regional Administrator David Cash of EPA’s New England Office. “This settlement not only requires the Powder Mill Hatchery to reduce phosphorus discharges that contribute to such blooms but also requires steps to be taken to address the phosphorus that has accumulated in downstream sediments over the years.”
Under the proposed settlement, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department must make upgrades to the Hatchery, including constructing new wastewater treatment systems and reconfiguring the facility’s tanks to promote the settling of solids containing phosphorus, in order to increase phosphorus removal and meet permit limits by Dec. 31, 2025. The Fish and Game Department will also implement best management practices to reduce the phosphorus discharged from the Hatchery in the interim, including adding a neutralizing agent, reconfiguring facility tanks to promote the settling of solids containing phosphorus, and increasing the frequency of removal of these solids.
In addition, the consent decree requires the Fish and Game Department to conduct a water quality assessment in downstream waters and study options for remediating the harmful effects of accumulated phosphorus pollution in the river and sediments. EPA, CLF and the Fish and Game Department will then enter into further negotiations on the implementation of any necessary remediation.
For more information:
- The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Copies of the complaint and consent decree are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees
- Harmful algal blooms and cyanobacteria: www.epa.gov/cyanohabs
- Clean Water Act enforcement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/water-enforcement
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Pill Mill Operator Convicted for Oxycodone DiversionRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against PURIFICACION CRISTOBAL for her participation in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose acting outside the usual course of professional practice. CRISTOBAL was also convicted of two counts of oxycodone distribution pertaining to specific prescriptions. She was found not guilty of other counts of oxycodone distribution pertaining to other prescriptions. CRISTOBAL will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who presided over the approximately two-week trial.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Purificacion Cristobal prescribed powerful medications to patients, some of whom had no medical need for them and were likely selling them, thereby contributing to the flow of highly potent drugs into the black markets of New York. We trust medical professionals to responsibly handle potentially harmful drugs, and this Office will not turn a blind eye to those professionals who break that trust.”
As proven at trial, PURIFICACION CRISTOBAL, a licensed nurse practitioner purporting to specialize in psychiatry, operated a clinic on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. Between approximately June 2019 and June 2020, CRISTOBAL prescribed tens of thousands of doses of oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose outside of the usual course of professional practice. Oxycodone is a highly potent and addictive opioid that commands high prices in the black market because of demand by drug abusers. CRISTOBAL often prescribed oxycodone in combination with Xanax (alprazolam) and/or Adderall (amphetamine), controlled substances that are themselves frequently abused and resold illicitly.
CRISTOBAL never performed physical examinations or medical tests, often asked patients to take their pick among different narcotics, and was repeatedly warned by others that her patients were reselling or abusing the drugs she prescribed. She encouraged existing patients to recruit others, regularly accepted cash, and charged different cash “fees” depending on how many prescriptions she wrote for a particular patient. CRISTOBAL also coordinated with a nearby pharmacist, to whom she referred many of her patients, to shield her unlawful prescribing practices from law enforcement scrutiny.
* * *
CRISTOBAL, 75, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute oxycodone and two counts of distributing oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose acting outside the usual course of professional practice. Those counts carry, in the aggregate, a maximum potential sentence of 60 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the New York Field Office, which is comprised of agents and officers from the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Investigation, Health & Hospitals Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York National Guard.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kyle A. Wirshba, and Derek Wikstrom are in charge of the prosecution.
Pierre Man Sentenced for Failure to AppearRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Appear was sentenced on September 6, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Michael Pomani, age 44, was sentenced to time served of two months in federal prison, one year of supervised release with a condition that he be placed on home confinement for two months, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Pomani was also ordered to pay $16,800 in restitution to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the care of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as a result of his illegal sale of bald eagle feathers, hawk wings, and owl feathers.
Pomani was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 10 of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 6, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 12, 2017, when Pomani failed to appear for his pretrial conference and jury trial. Pomani had previously been charged with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and was released on bond in October 2017. Pomani knowingly failed to appear for his jury trial on the wildlife charges.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Pomani was released to begin serving his term of supervision.
Pesticide Smuggler Sentenced to Three Months in CustodyRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson (619) 546-7976
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 8, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Felipa Oliveros was sentenced in federal court today to three months in custody for smuggling pesticides into the United States from Mexico.
Oliveros pleaded guilty in April 2022 to smuggling bottles of Bovitraz or Taktic into the United States. Oliveros had been charged as part of a larger organized pesticide smuggling ring, which also included her daughter, Laura Orellana, who was sentenced to 92 days in custody for her role in the conspiracy.
On June 7, 2022, Sofia Mancera Morales, the ringleader of this pesticide smuggling organization, was sentenced to eight months in custody and ordered to pay $7,497 in restitution for the cost of disposal of the illegal pesticides. In pleading guilty, Mancera had acknowledged she obtained the illegal pesticides in Mexico and delivered them to others to smuggle into the United States.
According to sentencing documents, Mancera recruited individuals via Facebook, offering to pay $40-$150/box of six 1-liter bottles delivered to the United States. Morales directed her recruits to deliver the pesticides to a self-storage facility near the border in Calexico and required them to send her photographs of the pesticides in the storage unit as proof of delivery prior to payment. Mancera paid the recruits to lease self-storage units in their own names, and provide her with the keys. Recruits caught at the border with pesticides reported that they had seen items delivered by others in their self-storage units, including pesticides, veterinary medications and alcohol. One recruit delivered almost 1,000 bottles of pesticides in a one-month period, while others advised that they had delivered pesticides two to five times per week.
The pesticides involved were primarily Bovitraz and Taktic, which contain the active ingredient amitraz at an emulsifiable concentration of 12.5 percent. In the United States, amitraz in this form is a cancelled and unregistered pesticide. Amitraz is an acaricide that, in the United States, is registered to control varroa mites in honeybee colonies at a concentration of 3.33 percent and is also registered for use in dog flea collars. Additionally, amitraz is classified as a Group C possible human carcinogen based upon rodent studies, and, therefore, long-term exposure could result in cancer.
Federal law prohibits the distribution and sale of cancelled or unregistered pesticides. Only pesticides registered with the EPA may be imported or sold in the United States. All pesticides intended for use in the United States must bear their EPA registration number on their labels, preceded by the phrase “EPA Registration No.” or “EPA Reg. No.” In addition, all required information on a label must appear in the English language. All of the containers smuggled by this group were labeled only in Spanish and bore no EPA registration numbers. The lawful importation of pesticides into the United States requires a Notice of Arrival to be provided to U.S. Customs or U.S. EPA, pursuant to 19 CFR 12.112. None of the co-conspirators provided a Notice of Arrival for the pesticides in this case.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section.
DEFENDANT Case Number 20cr3054-JAH__
Felipa Oliveros Age: 52 El Centro, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 545
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations; Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division; California Environmental Protection Agency
Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON –A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for a child sexual exploitation offense.
David Tweed, 44, of Kulpmont, Penn., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on one count of sexual exploitation of a child. Tweed was arrested on Aug. 30, 2022 and was detained following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He will appear in federal court in Springfield, Mass. at a later date.
“As the chief federal law enforcement officer for our Commonwealth, there is no higher priority than ensuring the safety of our communities and specifically our children,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Tweed is alleged to have preyed on and taken advantage of a child – robbing them of their innocence for the depraved and illegal purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. The exploitation and sexualization of our children is a heinous crime that inflicts untold, long-lasting harm and trauma on its victims. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to bring justice to victims by identifying and prosecuting predators who seek to do them harm.”
“Sexual exploitation of any person is a serious crime, but the sexual exploitation of child is always very deeply disturbing”, said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New England. “HSI New England is appreciative that the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, who recognizes the egregious impacts that child sexual exploitation crimes have on individuals and on our community, is committed to seeking justice for the offenses that the investigation of Tweed has uncovered.”
According to the indictment, on various dates between September 2021 and December 2021, Tweed allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct.
The charges of sexual exploitation a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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 HSI SAC Millhollin made the announcement. Significant assistance was provided by the Monson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and CocaineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Cody Mammen, 32, of the 1300 block of Janssen Street, has been sentenced to an aggerate 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade, the United States presented evidence that on March 2, 2022, Bartonville police officers performed a traffic stop on a car that Mammen was driving. The officers noticed a black fanny pack on the floorboard. The bag was open, and officers saw that it contained cash and clear ziplock baggies. Mammen got out of the car and informed the officers that there were drugs inside the fanny pack. The bag contained 108 grams of methamphetamine, 27.6 grams of cocaine, and $987.
Mammen was indicted on March 15, 2022, and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since March 2022.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are 10 years to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 and a five-year to life term of supervised release. The penalties for possession with intent to distribute cocaine are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 and at least three years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with the assistance of the Bartonville, Pekin, and Peoria Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the United States in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally by the DEA. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. 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.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Matthew Ryan Hunt, 34, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 9, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic violence complaint at Hunt’s apartment. The officers forced entry after learning that shots had been fired inside the apartment. Hunt was found in a bedroom with a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 9 Shield, 9mm semi-automatic pistol next to him. Officers also found three additional firearms, and more than 5,800 rounds of ammunition, in a bedroom safe: an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, semi-automatic rifle; a Savage, model Axis, .308-caliber semi-automatic rifle; and a Springfield, model XD45, .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
A woman was also in the apartment. Swabs taken from her face and hands and from Hunt’s face and hands all showed the presence of gunshot residue. Two spent shell casings found in the apartment were analyzed with assistance from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which indicated that the shells came from the firearm found next to Hunt.
Hunt admitted to possessing the four firearms. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hunt knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his felony conviction for breaking and entering in Wirt County Circuit Court on August 15, 2017.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-267.
###
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Johnathon Earl Hamrick, 33, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 4, 2021, law enforcement officers searched Hamrick’s residence and found more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine. Hamrick admitted to possessing the methamphetamine found at the residence as well as at a second location that Hamrick directed officers to in Wood County. Hamrick admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine to other people.
The methamphetamine seized from Hamrick was part of a 10-pound shipment that he received from John Michael Wells II. Hamrick admitted that he owed Wells $50,000 for that shipment. In October and November 2021, Hamrick conspired with Wells to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana that Wells obtained from California by mail. Hamrick admitted to selling the methamphetamine and marijuana and providing Wells with the cash proceeds. In turn, Wells would order more methamphetamine and marijuana from his suppliers with the proceeds.
Wells, 33, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana on March 31, 2022, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Hamrick is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Parkersburg Police Department, and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force (PNTF).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-139.
###
Operator of 21 Massachusetts Skilled Nursing Facilities Agrees to Resolve Allegations of Disability DiscriminationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement with Next Step Healthcare, LLC (Next Step), the operator of 21 skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts, to resolve allegations that Next Step violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by turning away patients who indicated they were prescribed medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
“Nobody would ever choose to have a substance use disorder. The destruction this disease inflicts on its victims is unconscionable. When people finally find the strength and courage to be open to entering recovery, they should be met with support and understanding, not discrimination and barriers to healthcare,” said United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. “As our Commonwealth continues to battle an opioid epidemic, this office will ensure that people who receive MOUD have access to the healthcare they are lawfully entitled to and often need. We appreciate Next Step’s cooperation in modifying its policies and practices to come into compliance with the ADA, and we strongly encourage other skilled nursing facilities to proactively do the same.”
Individuals receiving treatment for Opioid Use Disorder are generally considered disabled under the ADA, which, among other things, prohibits private healthcare providers from discriminating on the basis of disability. The United States alleges that Next Step denied admission to 548 individuals who indicated they were prescribed MOUD while seeking admission to Next Step’s programs. These individuals sought admission to the facilities for health issues unrelated to their addiction, but also required MOUD to treat their OUD.
Under the terms of the agreement, Next Step will, among other things, adopt a non-discrimination policy regarding the provision of services to individuals with disabilities, including individuals with SUD or individuals on MOUD, provide training on disability discrimination and SUD to admissions personnel, pay a civil penalty of $92,383 to the United States, $10,000 of which will be paid now and $82,393 of which shall be suspended and forgiven if Next Step materially complies with the terms of the agreement.
This matter is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to eliminate discriminatory barriers to treatment for OUD through ADA enforcement. This is the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s 10th settlement agreement with a skilled nursing facility operator. The Office has now entered into 16 settlement agreements and six letters of resolution to ensure ADA compliance arising from OUD treatment. The District of Massachusetts is leading the country in this type of important work and will continue to uphold the ADA and support people with substance use disorders.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Leung, Gregory Dorchak and Annapurna Balakrishna of Rollins’ Civil Division handled the matter.
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Fraudulent Hunting LeasesRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was sentenced to prison in connection with his execution of a scheme to solicit payments from dozens of individuals in exchange for purported hunting leases he had no rights to sell.
According to court documents, throughout 2019, Nathanal L. Knox, 30, of Ohio, operated a scheme where he placed online advertisements for hunting leases, supposedly available on several parcels of land in Ohio, but the defendant in fact had no rights to sell leases for the properties in question. He placed the advertisements on at least 38 different Facebook pages, including “Hunt Florida,” “Ohio Hunting Lease,” “Bow Hunting PA,” and “Alabama Deer Hunters.”
In these advertisements, the defendant solicited payment in exchange for purported hunting leases. The prices charged ranged from $400 to $5,000. The defendant requested payment from prospective clients be made through PayPal, Walmart 2 Walmart, Money Gram, Western Union and Venmo. When individuals inquired further about the purported leases, the defendant would provide pictures of mature bucks that he falsely claimed had been harvested by former clients on the parcels in question. After receiving initial payments, the defendant would send contracts and instructions via email. In total, the defendant solicited payment from at least 68 different individuals, all of whom resided outside of Ohio. At least 59 of these individuals sent initial payments to the defendant, totaling over $34,000.
Judge Sarah D. Morrison of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio sentenced Knox to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release and restitution of $18,037.
“The defendant was sentenced to prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that preyed on unsuspecting individuals from all corners of the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The sentence is a reminder that the department is committed to prosecuting such offenses.”
“The defendant’s crimes were deliberate, detailed, and harmed a great many people,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “His actions not only defrauded the unwitting individuals who fell victim to Knox’s lies, but also created a potentially combustible mixture of hunters who believed they had the right to be on these properties, and the landowners, who had not given permission to these individuals to access their property. Luckily, law enforcement partners halted this scheme before anyone was injured.”
“Protecting sustainable hunting of America's wildlife resources is bedrock to our mission in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Investigating those who prey on individuals attempting to hunt lawfully by defrauding them is our trusted responsibility to the American people.”
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, J. Michael Marous, for the Southern District of Ohio; and Assistant Ohio Attorney General Sally Smetzer Montell prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Long-Running Harassment Campaign Against TV Actress and Her DaughterRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Ohio man was sentenced today to 40 months in federal prison for his 12-year campaign of harassment – via letters and phone calls – against a television actress and her daughter in which he threatened to torture, rape and kill them.
James David Rogers, 58, of Heath, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt.
Rogers pleaded guilty on April 28 to two counts of mailing threatening communications, one count of threats by interstate communications, and two counts of stalking.
According to court documents, from March 2007 until his arrest in November 2019, Rogers stalked, threatened, and harassed Eva LaRue, an actress whose credits include “CSI: Miami” and “All My Children,” and her daughter – who was 5 years old when the threats against her began. For example, in February 2008, he sent LaRue a letter in which he vowed, “I am going to…stalk you until the day you die.” In other letters, Rogers repeatedly threatened to rape LaRue and her daughter.
From March 2007 to June 2015, Rogers mailed approximately 37 handwritten and typed letters in which he threatened to rape, kill, and otherwise injure LaRue and her daughter. In June 2015, Rogers sent a letter to LaRue’s daughter which stated, in part, “I am the man who has been stalking for the last 7 years. Now I have my eye on you too.”
Rogers signed each letter using the name “Freddie Krueger,” the fictional serial killer from the horror film series “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
In October and November 2019, Rogers called the school where LaRue’s daughter attended, spoke with a school employee, claimed to be her father, and asked if she was present. In November 2019, he again called the girl’s school and left a voicemail in which he identified himself as “Freddie Krueger” and threatened to “rape her, molest her, and kill her.”
“[Rogers’] threats impacted the daily lives of his victims,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “[LaRue and her daughter] moved numerous times in hopes that [Rogers] would not find them again. They drove circuitous routes home, slept with weapons nearby and had discussions about how to seek help quickly if [Rogers] found them and tried to harm them. They tried to anonymize their addresses as much as possible by avoiding receiving mail and packages at their actual address. To no avail. Each time they moved, [Rogers’] letters – and the victims’ terror – would always follow. And [Rogers] knew it.”
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Vargas and Amy Pomerantz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Farmville Auto DealershipRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A New York man pleaded guilty today to committing an armed robbery in Farmville, during which he shot the victim in the leg.
According to court documents, on July 16, 2020, Herbert Young III, 54, committed an armed robbery of the Farmville auto dealership, Auto Connection. During the robbery, Young physically restrained the victim-owner’s hands using an electrical extension cord and a phone charging cord. When a customer entered the store, the victim attempted to free himself and flee. Before the victim could do so, Young shot at him and struck the calf area of the victim’s right leg.
Young then stole a 2000 BMW, which belonged to the Auto Connection and fled the scene. In addition to the 2000 BMW, Young took the victim’s cell phone as well as other property that belonged to the Auto Connection.
Young is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2023. He faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison for the robbery and a consecutive mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and maximum of life imprisonment for the discharge of the firearm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police made the announcement after Senior United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. and Michael R. Gill are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-77.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Narcotics and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on September 1, 2022, DEREK NOLAN, a/k/a “Pop,” age 26, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty as charged to an eleven-count Superseding Bill of Information.
In Count 1, NOLAN is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, and a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.
In Counts 2 and 3, NOLAN is charged with distribution of a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
In Counts 4 and 5, NOLAN is charged with distribution of a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
In Counts 6, 8, and 9, NOLAN is charged with distribution of a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, and distribution of a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
In Count 7, NOLAN is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, that is, distribution of a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, and a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
In Count 10, NOLAN is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
In Count 11, NOLAN is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offense, that is, conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance, a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, and a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
As to Counts 1 through 6, 8, and 9 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, and a fine up to $1,000,000.00.
As to Counts 7 and 11 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN faces a mandatory minimum, consecutive, sentence of 5 years imprisonment, and a maximum sentence up to life imprisonment, and a fine up to $250,000.00.
As to Count 10 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, and a fine up to $250,000.00.
NOLAN will be placed on a period of supervised release for each count following his term of imprisonment. As it relates to Counts 1 through 6, 8, and 9 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN will be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment for a period of at least 3 years. As it relates to Counts 7 and 11 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN will be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment for a period up to 5 years. And, as it relates to Count 10 of the Superseding Bill of Information, NOLAN will be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment for a period up to 3 years.
A mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00, per count, will also be imposed by the Court.
United States District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier will sentence NOLAN on December 8, 2022.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIE JACKSON, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm possession and narcotics distribution offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jackson was arrested on March 27, 2020, after he had absconded from a halfway house while on state parole. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a loaded .40 caliber Ruger handgun with an obliterated serial number, 111 wax folds of fentanyl, and quantities of oxycodone pills and marijuana. The handgun was reported stolen in Bridgeport in 2019.
Jackson’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for assault, robbery and firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Jackson has been detained since his arrest. On April 29, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearm by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe through 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. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New Castle Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Jgenus Steele was convicted of committing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Steele, age 23 of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute and/or distributing cocaine base, fentanyl, and heroin on Dec, 19, 2019, and Feb. 21, 2020, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 21, 2020.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville scheduled sentencing to occur on Jan. 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a sentence of at least five years to life in prison. 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mingo County Woman Ordered to Pay Restitution for Federal Fraud CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Diana Cisco, 70, of Delbarton, was ordered today to pay $46,356 in restitution for theft of government benefits and making materially false statements to federal agents. Cisco was also placed on probation for five years, with the first six months to be served on home detention.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cisco admitted that she received Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits on behalf of a deceased relative. Cisco knew that she was not entitled to receive these federal benefits. From June 2016 to April 2020, Cisco received $46,356 in federal benefits that she was not entitled to receive and converted those funds to her own use. Cisco further admitted that she did not have a legal right to these Social Security benefits once her relative passed away and that she knew her conduct in taking those benefits was wrong.
Cisco also admitted to providing false information to Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) special agents on March 4, 2022. Cisco initially denied who she was, falsely claiming to be her sister, and further informed the agents that Diane Cisco would be in Columbus, Ohio for at least a month. The federal agents were able to uncover the falsehood through checking vehicle registration records and photographs of Cisco and obtaining statements from individuals who had recently seen Cisco. Confronted again, Cisco admitted that she was not telling the agents the truth and that she was, in fact, Diana Cisco.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-88.
###
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking SpreeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced today that Madison Tyler (age 20) was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a series of carjackings in the Milwaukee and Oak Creek areas.
According to court records, Tyler participated in six carjackings in September and December 2020. In two of the carjackings, Tyler brandished a firearm. Court records indicate that Tyler and his co-actors targeted victims much older than themselves, and the ages of Tyler’s victims ranged from 56 to 79 years old.
“Carjacking defendants like Tyler are willing to traumatize their victims and place the lives and well-being of innocent community members at risk – all for a few dollars or for a rush of adrenaline” said U.S. Attorney Frohling. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with its federal, state, and local partners to hold these types of violent offenders accountable and to pursue justice for the victims of these senseless acts.”
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Oak Creek Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
Following his term of imprisonment, Tyler also will spend three years on supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $1,605.31 in restitution.
###
For further information contact: [email protected]
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Middle Georgia Man Sentenced to Statutory Maximum Sentence Resulting from ATF InvestigationRead the Press Release
MACON Ga. – A Warner Robins man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to serve ten years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm resulting from an ATF-led investigation.
Denota Lowe, 33, was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release (to be served consecutively to sentences imposed in pending state cases) after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self, III handed down the sentence on Sept. 6. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It was illegal for a multiple-time felon like Mr. Lowe to possess a gun, but he only compounded his problems by then trying to coerce people to alter and even falsify their testimony at his trial,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This sentence reflects the serious consequence of his decisions to undermine both neighborhood safety as well as the integrity of the criminal justice system.”
“The law-abiding citizens of this community are safer because of this sentence which will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
According to court documents, federal agents executed a search warrant at Lowe’s trap house and vehicle on June 17, 2021. Inside the home, agents found $20,000 in cash, counterfeit currency, digital scales and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Inside his car, agents found a semi-automatic firearm, which Lowe admitted he possessed. It is illegal for Lowe, who has prior felony convictions in Bibb County, Georgia, and Houston County, Georgia, Superior Courts, to possess a firearm. While in jail awaiting trial for this offense, Lowe placed multiple recorded calls in which he attempted to induce individuals to withhold, alter or falsify their potential trial testimony.
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 investigated by ATF
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case.
Michael Chick Indicted for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, ME, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of cyberstalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Chick was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 5, 2022, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. He is being detained pending trial.
Chick is accused of stalking and threatening a Greenland child who was on his bus route. The indictment alleges that Chick provided cell phones to the child and used the cell phones to communicate with the child after being warned to cease all contact. Chick is also alleged to have placed GPS tracking devices on the parents’ vehicles and to have walked around the outside of the child’s home at night on numerous occasions.
The charge in the indictment is only an allegation. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenland Police Department.
Anyone with information pertinent to this investigation is asked to call HSI’s tipline at 603-722-1751.
###
Marysville Man Charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine and Heroin in Sacramento, Sutter, and Placer CountiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today against Sanit Khamthong, 41, of Marysville, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between May and August 2022, Khamthong conspired with others to acquire methamphetamine and heroin and distribute it in Sacramento, Sutter, and Placer Counties. On Aug. 29, 2022, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle that Khamthong was driving. The officer subsequently located a gallon-size bag of heroin in Khamthong’s pants.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuba City Police Department, the Marysville Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Khamthong faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Maryland Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud Schemes Resulting in Losses of More Than $1.4 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Linda Pylant, age 59, of Grasonville, Maryland, today to four years in federal prison, followed by one year of home detention as part of three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, social security fraud, tax evasion, and aggravated identity theft in connection with schemes to defraud her employer, fraudulently obtain disability insurance payments, and evade more than $225,000 in taxes, including by concealing income in connection with a bankruptcy petition. As a result of these crimes, Pylant illegally obtained approximately $1.4 million. Judge Bennett ordered that Pylant must pay restitution in the full amount the actual losses caused by her fraud schemes and forfeit assets directly traceable to the fraud offenses, substitute assets, and/or a money judgement equal to the value of the property derived from the offense, which is $950,000.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.
Wire Fraud Scheme
According to her guilty plea, from 2012 to about July 2020, Pylant worked for a Washington, D.C. trade association as an office administrator. Her responsibilities included bookkeeping and other accounting duties, making check deposits, handling accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other administrative duties.
As detailed in her plea agreement, in October 2017, Pylant opened a bank account, purportedly for the trade association, for which she was the sole signatory and caused the bank statements to be mailed to her home. From October 2017 until July 2020, Pylant deposited more than $700,000 in checks, primarily from the trade association’s members and from insurance companies, which were intended for the benefit of the trade association. Pylant also transferred more than $70,000 of the trade association’s funds from a PayPal account to the account she opened in the name of the trade association. In addition, Pylant admitted that she issued trade association checks made payable to herself and a contractor for the trade association, which she signed, forging the names of two trade association executives. Pylant then deposited the forged checks into other accounts she controlled.
Pylant spent more than $175,000 of the stolen funds at a local bingo hall, used more than $100,000 for retail, restaurant, and grocery expenditures and withdrew more than $200,000 in cash. As a result of the fraud scheme, Pylant obtained more than $900,000.
Social Security and Disability Fraud
On August 18, 2015, Pylant applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, failing to disclose that she was working and earning income from the trade association. SSDI payments are only made as long as the beneficiaries are unable to work and/or their income is under a certain amount. From 2018 to July 2020, Pylant illegally received and spent more than $75,000 in SSDI payments to which she was not entitled.
In addition, from 2014 to about 2017, Pylant provided false information to a private insurance company in order to fraudulently collect disability insurance payments. Pylant consistently failed to disclose her income from the trade association, as well as her SSDI payments. As a result, Pylant fraudulently received more than $140,000 in disability insurance payments from the private insurance company.
Tax Evasion and Bankruptcy Fraud
From 2014 until July 2020, Pylant caused her salary payments from the trade association to be paid through a non-existent entity, LPSR, Inc., which Pylant created but did not register with the State of Maryland nor the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Pylant also established LPSR as a vendor in the trade association’s computer system, with no federal tax identification number and no 1099 reporting status. During the six years of the tax evasion scheme Pylant caused the trade association to pay LPSR more than $100,000. During that time, Pylant also caused the trade association to not issue a 1099 IRS reporting form for LPSR. Because Pylant also made false statements to the Social Security Administration, including failing to disclose that she was employed by the trade association, she avoided paying taxes that would have been due on her SSDI payments.
As detailed in her plea agreement, Pylant submitted false information in the course of three Maryland bankruptcy proceedings filed on February 3, 2016, in December 2020, and in January 2021. Specifically, Pylant’s petitions failed to list her taxable income from the trade association that was paid through LPSR, falsely claimed that she had zero earned income and was not required to file any tax returns, failed to list any business names that she had used, including LPSR, and falsely stated that her employment status had not changed since February 2016.
Pylant admitted that her tax evasion offenses caused a tax loss to the United States of at least $233,547 and she will be required to pay restitution to the government in that amount.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, IRS-CI and SSA OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
# # #
Manhattan Woman Who Operated Fraudulent Investment Scheme Charged with Securities and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Patrick Freaney, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrest of LAKENYA HOPKINS on charges of securities fraud and wire fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud over 110 investors in Money Magnet Platinum Membership Initiative LLC (“MMPMI”) of hundreds of thousands of dollars by promising unrealistically high rates of return on investments to induce them to invest and lying about how their money would be invested. Rather than invest the money as promised, HOPKINS used investors’ money for her own personal gain, including to rent a luxury apartment in Manhattan and to purchase high-end luxury goods. HOPKINS was arrested this morning in Manhattan and will be presented before a magistrate judge in the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Lakenya Hopkins preyed on investors, promising them that investing with her would create generational wealth for their families. She lied to induce their investments and continued to lie when they questioned her about the status of their investments. Instead of investing the money as promised, she allegedly enriched herself with a luxury apartment and high-end purchases. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from investment frauds.”
Special Agent-in-Charge Freaney said: “Fraudsters will continue their attempts to manipulate and threaten the larger financial landscape in which the American public conducts their business and transactions, but the highly skilled investigators of the U.S. Secret Service and New York City Police Department will ensure they do not succeed in evading our judicial system. The allegations contained within this indictment describe predatory and fraudulent behavior that specifically exploited individuals seeking to invest for their future. I am immensely proud of the men and women of the Secret Service for their efforts in this investigation and would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership.”
Police Commissioner Sewell said: “Ms. Hopkins turned her investors into victims, betraying their trust to carry out her own despicable embezzlement scheme. The NYPD and our many partners in law enforcement will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to defraud others, holding them fully accountable for their actions. I want to thank and commend the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District for their tireless dedication and focused commitment to seeing justice served in this case.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From in or about August 2020 through in or about April 2021, HOPKINS operated MMPMI as a fraudulent “investment club.” HOPKINS specifically marketed MMPMI to people of color as a way for them to build generational wealth for their families. During her scheme, HOPKINS solicited money from investors by falsely promising them, among other things, that she would provide them with an $8,000 monthly return for every $1,000 investment they made in MMPMI. HOPKINS also falsely told investors that she could guarantee this return because she would pool investor money and invest it into a hedge fund that guaranteed a three to five percent daily return.
The investments were memorialized in documents known as “MMPMI Membership Promissory Notes.” The terms of those investment contracts generally provided that, for every $1,000 an investor invested in MMPMI, the investor would receive an $8,000 monthly return, $5,000 of which would be paid directly to each investor. These documents and HOPKINS’ false representations deceived investors into believing that their principal and return were guaranteed.
Despite her representations to investors, however, HOPKINS never invested any of the investors’ money in a hedge fund or made any other investments for the benefit of investors. Instead, HOPKINS stole the investors’ money and used it for her own personal gain. Between in or about November 2020 and in or about April 2021, Hopkins used most of the investors’ money to (i) make large cash withdrawals, (ii) purchase high-end luxury goods, (iii) rent a luxury apartment, (iv) pay for food, travel, and other goods, and (v) purchase cryptocurrency for her own benefit.
In or about January 2021, after she had failed to make the first guaranteed monthly payments to investors, HOPKINS told investors she was pausing MMPMI and giving out refunds. When investors questioned her about the status of their investments, HOPKINS continued to lie. For example, on a videoconference with investors in or about January 2021, HOPKINS told investors that their money was still in the hedge fund, that they would “not take a loss,” and that she was “not keeping any money.” Despite these representations, HOPKINS gave only approximately five investors a refund payment. To date, HOPKINS has not paid any investors the promised returns.
As a result of this investment scheme, HOPKINS fraudulently obtained over $290,000 from over 110 investors.
* * *
HOPKINS, 44, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the USSS and NYPD and thanked the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has separately filed a civil action against HOPKINS and MMPMI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. King and Elizabeth Daniels are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Manatee County Bank Robber IndictedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Robert Frascella (55, Bradenton) with bank robbery. If convicted, Frascella faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Frascella that the United States intends to forfeit any property (real or personal), which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, on August 8, 2022, Frascella robbed a Fifth Third Bank located in Parrish, Florida.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
Man charged following takedown at notorious crime hotspot in Tacoma, WashingtonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – Prosecutors charged a resident of Tacoma, Washington with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl in U.S. District Court in Tacoma today, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The arrest of Peter Darnell King, 23, and subsequent criminal charges resulted from a joint operation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tacoma Police Department (TPD).
According to the complaint, King was brought to the attention of law enforcement by a confidential informant. King, a reported gang member, was a frequent resident of the Econo Lodge located on South Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington. South Hosmer Street has become a center of gun violence, human trafficking, and drugs in recent years, with five homicides reported in the area since the beginning of the year.
The complaint alleges that agents observed King selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in May and July out of the Econo Lodge. King was later arrested three times between July and August, each time in possession of distribution quantities of fentanyl and an unregistered firearm.
ATF conducted a series of undercover operations at the Econo Lodge in mid-August, during which King was seen numerous times engaging in what appeared to be drug trafficking behavior.
King was arrested on September 7 in a joint operation by ATF and the Tacoma Police Department at the Econo Lodge. Officers executed a search warrant on his hotel room, during which they uncovered three firearms, body armor, ammunition, and substances believed to be fentanyl.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Possession with the intent to distribute this amount of fentanyl is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Tacoma Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.
Man Who Possessed Firearm Two Days After Committing Manslaughter Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who fled from a traffic stop and possessed a firearm two days after shooting a female victim in the face was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.
Larenzo Burnett, age 22, from Battle Creek, Michigan, received the prison term after a January 5, 2022 guilty plea to being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Burnett admitted that on December 24, 2020, he possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol. He was prohibited due to being an unlawful user of marijuana and because he was previously convicted of intimidation with a dangerous weapon in 2020. At sentencing, evidence showed that Burnett also attempted to obstruct justice by attempting to influence a witness.
Burnett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Burnett was sentenced to 99 months’ imprisonment and fourteen days and fined $100. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Burnett is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-57.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Filming Rape of 7-Year-OldRead the Press Release
A Rowlett man was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in federal prison for filming himself molesting a 7-year-old child, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Mark Alan Miller, 35, was indicted in June 2020 and pleaded guilty in March 2022 to two counts of production of child pornography. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle, who handed down the statutory maximum sentence.
According to court documents, police were dispatched to the victim’s home on Jan. 12, 2020, after the victim’s father walked in on the defendant on the floor raping his then-9-year-old daughter.
The father told law enforcement that he and Mr. Miller had been friends for over a decade, and that Mr. Miller was staying overnight at their home. The father heard a noise and went to check on it. When he saw Mr. Miller was not in the living room where he’d been sleeping, the father rushed to the daughter’s room, where he found the defendant anally raping the child. The father held a gun on the defendant until the police arrived.
Mr. Miller immediately confessed to police that he had been sexually touching the child for years, describing their relationship as “a little too close.”
The child was immediately transported to the hospital and on to the Rockwall Children’s Advocacy Center, where she confirmed that Mr. Miller had raped her on multiple occasions and had photographed her genitals and showed her the photos.
When officers confronted Mr. Miller about the photos, he admitted to producing child pornography. A forensic analysis of his electronic devices revealed that he had produced at least five videos and 132 images of child pornography involving the victim dating back two years, to when the child was just seven years old.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, a Rockwall Police Department forensic analyst testified that Mr. Miller’s electronic devices contained more than 8,000 sexually explicit images of other children. Further testimony revealed that the defendant even used a revealing image of the victim in this case as his screen saver.
The Rockwall Police Department, the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case.
Man Charged in Federal Court for Destroying Property at U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Fort LauderdaleRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A federal criminal complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale has charged Matthew Leon Chilcutt, 43, with destruction of federal property for allegedly causing extensive damage to the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Fort Lauderdale on September 5, 2022.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Chilcutt broke into the courthouse’s main entrance and vandalized the interior and exterior spaces of the building, including smashing windows, breaking doors, causing water damage, and destroying other property. He was found inside the courthouse by officers from Fort Lauderdale Police Department who arrested Chilcutt and charged him with burglary. The courthouse was closed to the public during the incident in observance of the Labor Day holiday, and no one was injured.
Chilcutt is scheduled to appear in federal court on September 9, 2022, to answer the federal charges. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and the Federal Protective Service (“FPS”), Miami Region, made the announcement.
FPS investigated this case with assistance from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Snider is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The below photos are part of the criminal complaint.
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-mj-06428.
###
Malden Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Drug and Firearms Conspiracy Involving Machine GunsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced yesterday in connection with his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy in which he possessed over 150 grams of cocaine base and other controlled substances and conspired to possess firearms.
Phillips Charles, a/k/a “PHON C,” 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 78 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On April 26, 2022, Charles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Mr. Charles repeatedly and flagrantly violated the conditions of his state pretrial release. Not only did he continue to traffic deadly narcotics on our streets, but he also recklessly wielded deadly firearms – seriously endangering the safety of our communities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case demonstrates this office’s commitment to utilize all resources necessary in our fight against drug trafficking and violent crime in the Commonwealth.”
“This first-time federal felon profited from the misery of others who were addicted to the poison he peddled,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence protects the public from Phillips Charles’ escalating criminal behavior, and his proclivity towards drug dealing, firearms, and violence.”
“This case is the product of a collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local and federal partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This sentence sends a clear and direct message that we take the illegal possession of firearms and narcotics very seriously and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
While on pretrial release from Malden District Court and Middlesex Superior Court for an October 2019 arrest involving cocaine base (crack cocaine), for which he later served a probation sentence, he continued to conspire with others involved in the conspiracy to distribute large quantities of controlled substances. Members of the conspiracy also possessed firearms, including multiple firearms with “selector switches” that convert firearms into machine guns, to protect the drug trafficking operation and target rival gang members. Specifically, while on pretrial release, Charles was involved in the filming of a publicly posted music video in which Charles was shown along with numerous firearms, including a firearm with an attached “selector switch,” one of which he was shown handling and pointing at the camera. Videos and text messages recovered during the investigation revealed that Charles historically possessed a number of firearms.
Additionally, while still on pretrial release in October 2020 and following a brief encounter with a rival gang member, his girlfriend and their one-year-old child at the Square One Mall in Saugus, Charles pursued the victim and his family and fired at least seven rounds into their vehicle. Charles remained on pretrial release until he was arrested and charged in state court with possessing a firearm in December 2020.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Bonavolonta, ATF SAC Ferguson, Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police and Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorneys’ Offices; Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Hancock (Maine) County Sheriffs’ Departments; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, Revere, Bolton (Maine), Bangor (Maine), Portland (Maine) and Westbrook (Maine) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison Ramsdell announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted at trial of Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer was sentenced on September 6, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Jade LaRoche, age 42, was sentenced to three years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
LaRoche was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 11, 2022. He was found guilty by a federal jury, following a two-day jury trial, on September 6, 2022.
The evidence at trial showed that on October 31, 2021, in Lower Brule, LaRoche forcibly opposed and resisted a federal law enforcement officer. The officer was called to a residence to remove LaRoche. Upon learning that he was going to be placed under arrest, LaRoche ran from the officer into a back bedroom of the home. As the officer approached the back bedroom, the defendant charged out from his hiding spot, striking the officer and knocking him backwards into a table. The victim suffered injuries to his neck, back, and shoulder.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
LaRoche was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Rain LaRoche, age 31, was indicted in August of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 10, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on July 19, 2022, at Fort Thompson, South Dakota, LaRoche assaulted another person with a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury. The Indictment further alleges that LaRoche committed the acts with the intent to murder the victim.
The charges are merely accusations and Ducheneaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
LaRoche was detained pending trial. A trial date has been set for October 11, 2022.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Senior VictimRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $285,336.93 for defrauding an elderly victim out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Roy “Wayne” Jenkins, 66, converted at least $285,336.93 of the victim’s property to his personal use through fraudulent bank transactions between August 2013 and January 2018. Jenkins gained access to the elderly victim’s property and bank accounts under the pretense of helping her son, who held Power of Attorney, manage her financial affairs when she was no longer able to do so. The fraudulent transactions Jenkins engaged in during the scheme included making an unauthorized withdrawal of life insurance proceeds to which he was not entitled, forging checks to steal funds from the victim’s accounts and from a trust established for her benefit and making unauthorized online payments from the victim’s accounts to his personal credit card account.
"I commend the work of LMPD and the United States Secret Service during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Fraudsters who concoct schemes to target the hard-earned savings of our seniors take note. Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners we will work tirelessly in pursuit of identifying, apprehending, and fully prosecuting you.”
The Louisville Metro Police Department and the United States Secret Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. In response to the growing need and targeting areas of greatest concern, the Department of Justice stood up 10 task forces made up of 11 federal districts to combat a variety of elder abuse, including elder financial exploitation. Kentucky’s federal districts make up two of the 11 districts under the Initiative. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.
###
Lorain Man Sentenced to More Than 14 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - Dylan T. Flanigan, 49, of Lorain, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, to more than 14 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in February 2019, law enforcement investigators executed a search warrant at Flanigan’s Lorain residence after receiving information that he was in possession of child pornography.
During the search, investigators found multiple electronic devices that, upon examination, contained hundreds of images and more than 70 videos of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Brunswick Police Department and the Cleveland FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Sullivan, Kathryn Gaughan Andrachik and Margaret A. Kane
Lawrence Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security MisuseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with fraudulently using someone else’s Social Security number.
Mariana Rosmely Aguasviva, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 9, 2023. Aguasviva was arrested and charged in February 2021.
Aguasviva fraudulently used a Social Security number that was assigned to someone else in an application at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston in 2016. The application was to change information on Aguasviva’s driver’s license, which was in the name of the person whose Social Security number was misappropriated. Aguasviva began misusing the victim’s Social Security number to assume the victim’s identity in 2010, when she first obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license in the victim’s name from the RMV. Investigators discovered the driver’s license in the victim’s name in Aguasviva’s purse at the time of her arrest.
The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 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.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Billerica Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Kyle Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Second-Degree Murder was sentenced on August 31, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Stetson Eagle Elk, age 29, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Eagle Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2022 and pleaded guilty on June 3, 2022. The conviction stems from Eagle Elk, along with Gary Little Bull, shooting and killing Todd Little Bull in August 2016 in Kyle.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Eagle Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kyle Man Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 31, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Severt Shon Young Bear, III, a/k/a Yamni Young Bear, age 40, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Young Bear was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in February of 2021, and pleaded guilty in March of 2022. The conviction stems from Young Bear conspiring with at least five other persons to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in South Dakota between November 2015 and February 2021.
The case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force, which includes the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
Young Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.