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22 August 2022
Southwest Virginia Methamphetamine Drug Traffickers Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who distributed methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia as part of a multi-member drug trafficking ring, pled guilty last week to federal drug charges.
Travis Nelson Farmer, 44, of Rural Retreat, Virginia, pleaded guilty last Thursday to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Previously, co-defendants, Larry Wayne Whittaker, 41, of Marion, Virginia, Amanda Michelle Wain, 29, of Marion, Virginia, and Borve Carlyle Fisher Jr., 35, of Chilhowie, Virginia, all pleaded guilty to similar charges as part of their participation in a drug-trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Farmer, Fisher, Wain, and Whittaker distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Smyth County, Virginia, much of which was trafficked from Atlanta, Georgia.
Farmer, Wayne, and Whittaker face sentences ranging from ten years to life in prison, while Fisher faces a sentence of five to forty years. In addition, the defendants forfeited multiple pistols, ammunition, and nearly $42,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
Southwest Virginia Methamphetamine Drug Traffickers Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia man, who distributed methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia as part of a multi-member drug trafficking ring, pled guilty last week to federal drug charges.
Travis Nelson Farmer, 44, of Rural Retreat, Virginia, pleaded guilty last Thursday to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Previously, co-defendants, Larry Wayne Whittaker, 41, of Marion, Virginia, Amanda Michelle Wain, 29, of Marion, Virginia, and Borve Carlyle Fisher Jr., 35, of Chilhowie, Virginia, all pleaded guilty to similar charges as part of their participation in a drug-trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Farmer, Fisher, Wain, and Whittaker distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Smyth County, Virginia, much of which was trafficked from Atlanta, Georgia.
Farmer, Wayne, and Whittaker face sentences ranging from ten years to life in prison, while Fisher faces a sentence of five to forty years. In addition, the defendants forfeited multiple pistols, ammunition, and nearly $42,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
South Burlington Resident Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Kendall Liberty, 21, of South Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced today to 6 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three months of home confinement and two years of supervised release, following his conviction for possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III announced the sentence following a hearing in the federal courthouse in Burlington. At the conclusion of the hearing, Liberty was taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service to begin his sentence.
According to court records, Liberty pleaded guilty to the firearm offense on December 20, 2021. The defendant acknowledged having purchased a 7.62-millimeter AK-style rifle from Powderhorn Outdoor Sports Center in Williston, Vermont in September 2020. The defendant further acknowledged having consumed marijuana on a frequent and regular basis between September 2020 and his arrest on July 20, 2021. As described in the complaint affidavit, witnesses indicated that Liberty also frequently used cocaine, ecstasy, and alprazolam (Xanax) during that period. Witnesses also described Liberty having made threats to use the firearm against others, including at a hospital, at Oakledge Park, and at a school.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the South Burlington Police Department for their quick response and ongoing support in the case, and he thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for its assistance in the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher handled the prosecution. Liberty was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Smyrna doctor surrenders DEA registration and pays $100,000 to resolve Controlled Substances Act violationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Keith Jeffords, M.D., has agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties and refrain from applying for a DEA registration for a period of five years to resolve allegations that he issued prescriptions for controlled substances while his medical license was suspended by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA requirements are designed to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and ensure that controlled substances are dispensed and prescribed by authorized individuals. Prior to agreeing that he would not hold a registration for a period of five years, Dr. Jeffords voluntarily surrendered his registration to the DEA.
“A suspended medical license means that a doctor cannot write prescriptions for controlled substances, period,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan “When physicians ignore this basic requirement of the Controlled Substances Act, our office will vigorously pursue the violations.”
“While in the midst of this country’s prescription opioid epidemic, eliminating physicians who disregard both state and federal licensing requirements and who continue to prescribe opioids is an important part of DEA’s mission,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This medical doctor surrendered his DEA registration and will refrain from applying for a registration for a period of time and will pay a fine. This case was a success because of the hard work and dedication put forth by DEA and its law enforcement partners.”
Keith Jeffords operates a plastic surgery practice in Smyrna, Georgia. Jeffords wrote prescriptions for powerful opioids after the Medical Board summarily suspended his license on November 22, 2021. As part of the settlement, Jeffords acknowledged that he distributed controlled substances in violation of the CSA and its implementing regulations.
The CSA was enacted by Congress to deter the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession, and improper use of controlled substances, including prescription medications. The CSA prohibits DEA registrants without a valid state medical license from issuing prescriptions for controlled substances. DEA registrants who issue prescriptions without a valid medical license are subject to civil monetary penalties for each violation.This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Hall and Adam Nugent.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Six Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 1,487 Months in Federal Prison for Gang CrimesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On Friday, August 19, 2022, the final three defendants in a 15-count, 6-defendant gang case involving the Only the Brothers (OTB) street gang were sentenced to federal prison. All three were found guilty following a ten-day jury trial in April 2022. Raekwon Malik Patton, a/k/a Kwon a/k/a Nutt, age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison after being found guilty of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Patton had previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Austin James Mallory, age 21 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison after also being found guilty of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Yuri Perren Green Jr. a/k/a YG, age 22 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison after being found guilty of two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Witness Tampering.
Previously, three other defendant pled guilty and were sentenced. On January 20, 2022, Braden Craig Shafer, a/k/a Stickup, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 375 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. On May 20, 2022, Jordan Marie Wilkerson, age 30 of Knoxville, was sentenced to 83 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. On June 16, 2022, Fabrece Jamar Bower Turner a/k/a Fab a/k/a Vell, age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
According to evidence presented at the trial and found by the Court at sentencings, during 2020, there was a series of gang-related shootings in Des Moines carried out by members and associates of OTB. These shootings were predicated, in part, to social media interactions between members and associates of rival gangs. Additionally, evidence demonstrated OTB engaged in drug trafficking, firearms acquisitions and sales, and witness intimidation. The gang members and associates collectively operated under a code of conduct that included not cooperating with law enforcement, violence towards opposition gang members, and earning respect through acts of violence and intimidation.
On May 6, 2020, there were two gang-related shootings in Des Moines. During the first, OTB members and associates were shot at, while standing on a front porch on Eighth Street, by rival gang members. OTB members and associates then committed a retaliatory shooting later that day. Specifically, OTB members Shafer and Bower Turner fired guns from a vehicle at rival gang members walking down the sidewalk near 13th and Harrison Streets. One of those rival gang members returned fire. Des Moines Police Officers recovered over 17 shell casings from that shooting scene. Both of the shootings occurred during daylight in residential neighborhoods. Unintended vehicles and residences were hit by the gunfire.
On May 10, 2020, which was Mother’s Day, just before 5:00 p.m., OTB members and associates Shafer, Patton, and Mallory were at the Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines when they encountered a rival gang member. The rival gang member fled the area in a vehicle, and Mallory, at the direction of Patton and Shafer, pursed the rival gang member through the streets of Des Moines. Once the vehicles reached Clark Street, gunshots were exchanged between the two groups, with Patton and Shafer firing guns from Mallory’s vehicle. Shafer was struck in the head by a bullet but survived. Mallory then drove Patton and Shafer away from the scene until they were apprehended by Des Moines Police Officers near Evelyn Davis Park. Officers recovered over 27 shell casings from this shooting, and several residences and vehicles were hit by the gunfire.
Later that same day, May 10, 2020, OTB members and associates who had learned about Shafer’s shooting began driving around looking for rival gang members to shoot in retaliation. Wilkerson drove Green and Bower-Turner to an area near East 17th Court and University in Des Moines. Once there, Green and Bower-Turner saw who they believed to be a rival gang member and began shooting. Wilkerson then drove them away from the scene. The victim of this shooting was not a gang member and was, instead, an innocent person driving home from work. Officers recovered ten shell casings from this shooting, and vehicles and residences were also hit by the gunfire.
On December 16, 2020, Green was driving near 19th and Carpenter Streets in Des Moines when he observed rival gang members driving in another vehicle. Green pursued the vehicle containing rival gang members and fired at least eight shots from the window of his vehicle. One of the rival gang members was grazed in the head by a bullet, and the vehicle was struck multiple times.
Four days later, on December 20, 2020, Green was encountered by Warren County Deputies in Des Moines, after he was in a residential neighborhood waving a gun and threatening a resident. When deputies arrived, Green ran from them. Officers used canines to apprehend him. Green possessed two firearms that day. One of the firearms, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, was ballistically matched to the December 16th shooting. The second was a folding Kel-Tec rifle. Green was arrested and detained on state charges.
While in custody, Green placed a series of phone calls to a witness who had been issued a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Green and his gang-related activity. In those calls, Green repeatedly told the witness not to show up to testify and also encouraged her to lie for him.
Eight other members or associates of Heavy Hittas or its subsidiary the OTB Street Gang were previously sentenced for federal drug and firearms violations. In December 2020, Logan James Elmquist, age 21 of Ankeny, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In February 2021, Marcus De Shawn Ford, age 23 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In April 2021, Javontay Dequan Johnson, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA and drug user in possession of a firearm. In July 2021, Robert John Manuel Jr., age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm. In September 2021, Montreel Marques Robinson, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 42 months in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In November 2021, Dejon Gene Watley, age 22 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In February 2022, Catrell Ronald Green, age 25 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In April 2022, Emmitt Kenneth Fraley, age 25 of Des Moines, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing in federal court is set for September 22, 2022.
There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to terms of imprisonment, all defendants were ordered to serve a term of federal supervised release after their prison sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal said “Prosecuting violent crime remains one of our highest priorities. These multiple instances of aggravated gang related shootings in residential areas created a grave risk to the public. Through the hard work of the Des Moines Police Department and our U.S. Attorney’s Office trial team, we were able to hold these individuals accountable, and these significant sentences reflect the seriousness of these crimes and our common interest in community safety.”
The investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, with assistance from the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
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. In May 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.
Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing from the GovernmentRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who defrauded the United States Government was sentenced August 19, 2022, to 4 months in federal prison.
Margaret Ortega, age 45, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 14, 2022, guilty plea to theft of government funds.
In a plea agreement, Ortega admitted she embezzled and stole from the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) no less than $92,744.51.
Specifically, Ortega concealed her living arrangements with her husband, Hassan Ortega, by providing false statements to the SSA and the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). In her statements, Ortega attested that Hassan was not part of her household and that she received no support from him (since November 2010). An investigation conducted by the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) revealed evidence that refuted Ortega’s statements and showed Hassan was a member of Ortega’s household since November 2010.
As a result of her actions, Margaret Ortega was overpaid $88,176.51 in SSA Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, on behalf of her daughter, Jasmine Ortega, from January 2011 through November 2020, and $4,568 in SSI benefits for herself, for the same time period (total $92,744.51).
As a result of her actions, Ortega was also overpaid $20,152 in Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from November 1, 2014, to October 31, 2019, and $2,927 in SNAP benefits from February 17, 2020 to November 30, 2020 for the household (total $23,079).
Ortega was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ortega was sentenced to 4 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to pay $115,823.51 in restitution ($92,744.51 to SSA and $23,079 to IDHS). She must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ortega was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal; Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and investigated by Iowa Department of Human Services and Social Security Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4015.
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Shamokin Man Charged with Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Clark, age 32, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, was indicted on August 18, 2022, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Clark distributed quantities of fentanyl on June 1, 2022 and again on August 3, 2022, in Northumberland County.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Shamokin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on August 18, 2022, by Judge Karen E. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Cameron Hart, age 28, was sentenced to three 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.
Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022 and pleaded guilty in May 2022. The conviction stems from Hart, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly possessing a Taurus, Model PT 1911, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol and 2 rounds of .40 caliber Federal ammunition, which was found after Hart came into contact with law enforcement in February 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.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Hart was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on August 18, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Westerly Seid, age 28, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Seid was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2021 and pleaded guilty in May 2022. The conviction stems from Seid, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly possessing a Taurus, model PT38S, .38 Super caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which was found after Seid came into contact with law enforcement in May 2021.
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 investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Seid was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Interstate Marijuana Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to traffic marijuana illegally grown in Oregon to several U.S. states for resale.
Kyle Lee Cerkoney, 40, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
Cerkoney was also ordered to forfeit criminally-derived proceeds and property identified by the government, including nine luxury watches, a diamond necklace, a Porsche 911 sports car, a semi-automatic rifle, and more than $570,000.
According to court documents, Cerkoney and two friends—Jeremiah David Cruz, 40, of Vancouver, Washington, and Robert Benjamin Kawika Dawe, 40, of Beaverton, Oregon—conspired with one another to transport black-market marijuana grown in Oregon to several U.S. states including New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, and Minnesota. The three men went to great lengths to conceal their illegal shipments. They hand-built large crates to package marijuana and marijuana extract for shipping, created false bills of lading, and flew to destination cities to personally receive their shipments. When commercial freight companies, under suspicion, began rejecting or limiting their freight shipments, the group started using a smaller private freight company.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Cerkoney, Cruz, and Dawe shipped or attempted to ship more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana with an estimated street value in the destination states of more than $2.5 million. They used several bank accounts opened under various false business names to launder their proceeds and structured cash deposits to avoid detection by financial regulators.
On July 8, 2021, Cerkoney, Cruz, and Dawe were charged by criminal information with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Cerkoney and Cruz were also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
On November 4, 2021, Cerkoney waived indictment and pleaded guilty to both charges.
The next day, on November 5, 2021, Cruz also pleaded guilty to both charges and, on February 3, 2022, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and five years’ supervised release.
On November 1, 2021, Dawe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and, on April 11, 2022, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years’ supervised release.
After pleading guilty, Cerkoney aroused additional government suspicion by attempting to sell the Porsche 911 sports car he had recently agreed to forfeit. Cerkoney shipped the vehicle from Oregon to California for repair and resale following an accident.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Jarrett for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Oregon.
Phoenix Man Convicted of CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Chauncey Hollingberry, 35, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 60 months of probation. Hollingberry previously pleaded guilty to one count of Cyberstalking and, at the time of sentencing, had already served 26 months of pretrial detention.
For approximately two months in 2020, Hollingberry posted a series of videos and livestreams to his YouTube channel disclosing personal information about the victim and encouraging his followers to assist him in harassing the victim. He also sent false and misleading emails about the victim to the victim’s employer, colleagues, and members of the media.
During his period of probation, Hollingberry is prohibited from contacting the victim. In addition, his internet usage will be restricted, and will be monitored by the probation officer.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and Glenn B. McCormick, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00673-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-144_Hollingberry# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Pharmaceutical President and Company Guilty in Counterfeit Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Florida-based pharmaceutical president has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Adam P. Runsdorf, 57, of Boca Raton, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit drugs, and money laundering conspiracy today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson.
According to the indictment, from April 2014 until August 2021, Runsdorf, the owner and president of Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC based in Boca Raton, Florida, conspired with drug traffickers in Houston, Texas, to distribute misbranded and counterfeit cough syrup. Runsdorf’s company pleaded guilty to the same charges today before Judge Stetson.
According to information presented in court, Byron A. Marshall, 43, of Houston, utilized Woodfield Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing facility and employees in Houston to produce more than 500,000 pints of counterfeit cough syrup. Marshall’s drug trafficking organization sold the counterfeit drugs across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Arkansas, and Ohio. Prices generally ranged from $100 to more than $1,000 per one-pint bottle. Depending on the market and brand of cough syrup, prices went as high as $3,800 to $4,000 per pint.
During the conspiracy, Marshall communicated directly with Runsdorf regarding production of the counterfeit cough syrup. At Runsdorf’s request, Marshall paid Woodfield Pharmaceutical in cash only, and Woodfield employees mailed the cash directly to Runsdorf in Boca Raton.
Six codefendants, including Marshall, have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Runsdorf faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
“In April 2014, Actavis Holdco US discontinued production of Actavis cough syrup due to its widespread abuse by recreational drug users,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “After that, the street value of Actavis increased to more than $3,000 per pint. In his greed, Adam Runsdorf, owner and president of Woodfield Pharmaceutical, used his position and connections to enable drug traffickers in Houston to produce thousands of gallons of counterfeit Actavis, labeled to be nearly identical to the discontinued product. The conspirators in this case sought to capitalize on the scarcity of Actavis and other prescription cough syrups by marketing counterfeit versions to street-level abusers.”
"Today Adam Runsdorf pled guilty for his role as the CEO of Woodfield Distributors to illegally distributing thousands of controlled substances into our communities, Runsdorf misused the privilege granted by the DEA to handle controlled substances by conspiring with street level drug dealers to manufacture fake drug labels to help drug dealers profit," said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux." This case is another example of the DEA's continued commitment to combat our nation's opioid crisis and ensure that registrants remain compliant regardless of their position. We will continue to aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone attempting to profit from driving overdoses and violent crime in our communities."
“This is an important victory for the American public. Not only is Adam Runsdorf going to jail for his crimes, but he and his business, Woodfield Pharmaceutical, will forfeit to the government over $8.4 million of illegal proceeds,” said Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are committed to using their forensic accounting skills to help unravel complex fraud and money laundering schemes in order to financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. We will continue to provide our financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like Mr. Runsdorf to justice.”
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.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; Houston Police Department; Galveston Police Department; Galveston County Sheriff’s Office; Dickinson Police Department; League City Police Department; Pearland Police Department; Pasadena Police Department; Texas City Police Department; Harris County Precent #2; Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office; Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; and the Texas National Guard. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Jonathan C. Lee.
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Oshkosh Man Sentenced on Robbery and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 22, 2022, Raymon A. Fuller, Jr. (age: 26) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Greisbach.
Fuller pled guilty to a federal “Hobbs Act” robbery charge and a separate charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to his written plea agreement, on August 28, 2020, Fuller was armed with a 9 mm Glock handgun with an extended magazine when he robbed a van full of people in Oshkosh, obtaining a small amount of marijuana and a wallet containing a small amount of cash.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense, the strong need for deterrence, and the need to protect the public from Fuller. In addition to 90 months’ imprisonment, Fuller was ordered to spend five years on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department and the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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New York Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Jeremy Inderyas, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, August 18, 2022, to 100 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Inderyas was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. Inderyas had previously pled guilty in federal court to the methamphetamine conspiracy charges. As part of his guilty plea, Inderyas acknowledged he arranged a transaction involving over thirteen kilograms of methamphetamine in Phoenix, Arizona, for his co-conspirators which was seized by law enforcement officials in Madison County, Illinois, on May 13, 2018.
“Methamphetamine continues to be a scourge on our society, causing misery for countless Americans across our nation,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “With its major interstate highway systems, our district plays a key role in detecting and disrupting the flow of methamphetamine across the country. This prosecution and sentence demonstrate how seriously we take that responsibility.”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.This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.Mobridge Man Sentenced for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mobridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on August 22, 2022, by Judge Charles B. Kornmann, U.S. District Court.
Taylor Charles Oster, age 51, was indicted in October of 2021. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2022.
Oster was sentenced to three years of probation, a $5,000 fine, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeiture of a firearm and ammunition.
On June 29, 2021, Oster possessed a handgun in Mobridge while being under the influence of methamphetamine. The handgun was recovered next to a loaded magazine in a public place by law enforcement.
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 Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Mobridge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Oster was released after sentencing.
Militia Group Member Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Obstruction of Justice Conspiracy and Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Last of Four “Grizzly Scouts” Members Sentenced For Conspiring to Thwart Investigation into the Murder of a Federal Protective Security Officer and the Shooting of Another; Robert Blancas Also Sentenced For Enticing a 15-Year-Old Girl to Produce Child Pornography
SAN FRANCISCO – Robert Blancas, a member of the “Grizzly Scouts” militia group connected to the “boogaloo” movement, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison for obstructing justice and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. The obstruction charge relates to the investigation of the murder of a federal Protective Security Officer (PSO) and the shooting of another PSO at the Oakland federal building on May 29, 2020. The enticement charge relates to the production of child pornography. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Vince Chhabria, United States District Judge.
Blancas, 35, of the San Francisco Bay Area, was one of four members of the militia group indicted on March 23, 2021, in connection with their scheme to obstruct justice by destroying records related to the murder and shooting investigation. Today, Blancas was the last of the four defendants to be sentenced. Three other members of the group were previously sentenced on May 5, 2022 by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge: Jessie Rush, 29, of Turlock; Simon Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo. Rush, Ybarra, and Miksch each remain in federal custody.
“Today’s 126 month sentence imposed on Blancas brings an end to another chapter in this tragic story,” said U.S. Attorney Hinds. “The sentence of Blancas arises from two separate, serious offenses: enticement of a minor to produce child pornography and the obstruction of the federal investigation into the May 29, 2020, assault on the Oakland federal courthouse. The shooting involved the murder of a Federal Protective Service officer and the wounding of a second officer. Rather than assist federal authorities, Blancas and his Grizzly Scouts co-conspirators destroyed important evidence in an effort to obstruct justice. Through the diligence of law enforcement, their cowardly efforts were not successful, and all four have been convicted of felonies and sentenced to custodial sentences. Destruction of evidence relevant to a federal investigation is a serious offense and will land you in jail.”
"Robert Blancas and his three co-defendants conspired to cover up the murder of a federal officer. Not only was Blancas convicted of obstruction of justice, he was also convicted of the heinous crime of enticing a juvenile to make child pornography," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. "Either of these crimes on their own would have been very significant, high-priority cases for the FBI. The broad nature of his criminal offenses demonstrate that Robert Blancas was a threat to society. The combined sentence of greater than ten years in federal prison prevents him from continuing to harm our community."
According to their plea agreements entered into at the time of their guilty pleas, Blancas and his codefendants Rush, Ybarra, and Miksch formed an armed anti-government militia group in April 2020 named the “1st Detachment, 1st California Grizzly Scouts” (Grizzly Scouts). They had connected earlier via a Facebook group created in connection to the “boogaloo” movement. “Boogaloo” is a term, as noted in the indictment, used by some militia extremists to reference a purportedly impending politically-motivated civil war or uprising against the government. Blancas assumed the rank of “1st Lieutenant” with responsibilities for the group’s security and intelligence. Blancas and his codefendants acknowledged in their plea agreements that they engaged in armed, in person “training operations” in May 2020 with “operations orders” that labeled law enforcement as potential “enemy forces” and suggested using lethal force and taking prisoners. They also engaged in June 2020 discussions with other Grizzly Scouts about “boog” (boogaloo), waging war against the government, and tactics for killing law enforcement personnel, including police officers.
Blancas and his codefendants acknowledged in their plea agreements that they learned another Grizzly Scouts member was involved in the May 29, 2020 murder of a federal PSO and the attempted murder of another PSO in Oakland. The Grizzly Scouts member sent group communications via a WhatsApp group entitled “209 Goon HQ” during that alleged member’s subsequent attack on and shoot-out with Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies in Ben Lomond, California on June 6, 2020. Blancas and his codefendants admitted to conspiring with other group members to destroy the records of their interactions and communications because they foresaw authorities would investigate and prosecute that Grizzly Scouts member, and admitted that they intended to impair the integrity and availability of the records for use in official proceedings. Blancas also destroyed files on Dropbox regarding the Grizzly Scouts that consisted of the group’s rank structure, a non-disclosure agreement requiring members to maintain confidentiality of group materials, a liability release waiver, descriptions of the Grizzly Scouts uniforms, and a scorecard assessing the skills of Grizzly Scouts members in combat, firearms, medical, and other training.
Before the indictment, Blancas was also charged in a separate complaint and information with the enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, that is, the production of child pornography. Blancas was arrested on December 1, 2020, and he has remained in federal custody since then. In entering his plea of guilty, Blancas admitted that from about April through September 2020 he enticed a 15-year old girl to repeatedly make and send him pornographic photographs and videos of herself. Blancas admitted that he received more than one hundred pornographic photographs and videos from the victim, all while exchanging thousands of messages with her and speaking to her by audio and video call. Blancas also admitted that he knew she was a minor when he did so. Blancas pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
Last year, Blancas also pleaded guilty in the obstruction case to three counts: one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice by destroying records in an official proceeding, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(k), and two counts of destroying records in official proceedings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1).
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chhabria imposed a ten year term of supervised release on Blancas following incarceration.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Riebli from the Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The prosecutions are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Dashea Lasal Thomas, 27, of Inkster, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Thomas admitted to selling approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Huntington on November 6, 2019. Thomas further admitted to selling approximately 22 grams of methamphetamine to an informant on October 28, 2019, and approximately 4 grams of fentanyl to an informant on December 4, 2019, both times in Huntington.
On May 11, 2021, Thomas was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement officers in Huntington. Thomas admitted to possessing approximately 4 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and $3,500 in cash found in the vehicle. Thomas further admitted that he intended to sell the crack for money, and that the cash was drug proceeds.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-37.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Ricardo Renteria Gutierrez, age 49, a Mexican citizen, was sentenced on August 19, 2022, to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gutierrez was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
Gutierrez was identified as a leader and organizer of a methamphetamine conspiracy operating in Colorado, California, and the Davenport area. Gutierrez, along with others, supplied large quantities of methamphetamine to people in Davenport. On January 10, 2022, Gutierrez pleaded guilty to the charge. Gutierrez’s co-defendant, Oscar Cruz Guzman, age 28 of Riverside, California, was sentenced in April 2022 to 126 months imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Mexican Citizen Illegally Residing in West Liberty Sentenced to Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Silvano Marez Rios, age 50, a Mexican citizen who resided in West Liberty, was sentenced on Thursday, August 18, 2022, to 33 months in prison for fraud in connection with immigration documents, aggravated identity theft, misuse of a social security number, and illegal reentry. Marez Rios was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
According to court documents, Marez Rios was found in West Liberty after having been deported or removed by immigration authorities. In Iowa, Marez Rios used the identity of a United States citizen to obtain employment. He also utilized the same identity when incurring medical expenses and for numerous driving offenses. After working under one false identity, Marez Rios used the identity and social security card of another United States citizen to obtain employment. On March 30, 2022, Marez Rios plead guilty to the four charges.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Iowa Department of Transportation, West Liberty Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Mercer County Jail Inmate Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Crack and to Launder the ProceedsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Eugene Phillips pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and to launder drug trafficking proceeds, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Phillips, age 30 of Farrell, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on Dec. 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
As part of the factual basis for the guilty plea, the Court was informed that between March and June 2021, while Phillips was detained at the Mercer County Jail with pending state drug trafficking charges, he conspired to distribute crack cocaine and to launder drug trafficking proceeds.
The law provides for a sentence of at least 5 years and up to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun on Chicago StreetRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun during an altercation on a Chicago street.
JULIAN ALMANZA, 22, of Chicago, illegally possessed the gun on the afternoon of Jan. 14, 2021, in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. At one point during the altercation Almanza stood in the middle of a street and pointed the gun at multiple individuals. When Chicago Police officers began arriving on the scene, Almanza slid the firearm under a truck. The officers quickly discovered the gun, which was equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition.
Almanza had previously been convicted of two firearm felonies in state court and was not legally allowed to possess the gun. He was on parole for the more recent firearm offense at the time of the federal charge.
Almanza pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee imposed a 44-month prison sentence Thursday after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick M. Mott represented the government.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Man Sentenced to 42 Months’ Imprisonment for Attempting to Rob the Vermont Federal Credit Union in BurlingtonRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Donald McCandless, 43, formerly of Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to 42 months’ imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge that he attempted to rob the Vermont Federal Credit Union in Burlington last June. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered that McCandless serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. McCandless has been detained since he first appeared in federal court last June.
According to court records, McCandless entered VFCU with an object in his pocket, stated he had a bomb, and demanded money. McCandless then approached a teller window and began punching the plexiglass barrier, knocking items off the counter. A customer conducting business at the bank grabbed McCandless and began pulling McCandless toward the exit of the bank. McCandless was given $10 in cash by a patron, and McCandless left the bank. Burlington Police Officers who responded to a 911 call and alarm at VFCU encountered McCandless on College Street wearing clothing consistent with that described by witnesses of the attempted robbery. McCandless was found with two $5 bills in his hand, and McCandless reported having been “doing meth” earlier in the day. At the time of his arrest, McCandless had a nonextraditable arrest warrant issued in Norfolk, Virginia for violating a term of probation imposed as part of his sentence for a 2020 conviction for felony strangulation. In the week prior to the attempted robbery, McCandless had multiple encounters with Burlington and South Burlington Police and was cited by South Burlington Police earlier on the day of the robbery for trespassing onto the Vermont Air National Guard Base with a knife.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the quick response and investigation of the Burlington Police Department and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its assistance.
The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ang. McCandless is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth.
Madison Man Sentenced to 15 Months for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert Coney, 50, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced Friday, August 19, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 15 months in prison for possessing ammunition as a felon. Coney pleaded guilty to this charge on May 12, 2022.
On May 3, 2020, Madison police officers were dispatched to the chaotic scene of a shots fired call at Brittingham Park. According to witnesses, Coney was at the park arguing with other men, then left the park and returned a short time later. Detectives analyzed several videos of the incident and were able to identify Coney as firing a handgun during the incident. A spent shell casing was recovered in the area. And at the time of this offense Coney had prior felony convictions for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and drug trafficking. When Coney was arrested on May 12, 2020, officers found 36 baggies of crack cocaine in his pocket.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that Coney fired a handgun in a public park and toward others involved in a dispute. Judge Conley also said that Coney’s possession of the cocaine when arrested was an aggravating factor, as was his decision to return to the park with the gun. Judge Conley ordered Coney to complete three years of supervision after release from prison. A charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine was dismissed as a part of the plea agreement.
The charge against Coney was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
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.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Adante Mower, 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 19, 2022, in federal court in Lincoln. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Mower to 240 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Mower will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 4, 2021, Mower distributed a substance believed to be cocaine to two individuals in a store parking lot in Lincoln. Those two individuals then went to Nebraska City and used that substance. Shortly thereafter, those individuals became unresponsive. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and administered medical treatment, including Narcan, to reverse the effects of the overdose. The two individuals were hospitalized and survived. Law enforcement seized the remainder of the substance sold by Mower at the scene of the overdose. A lab determined that the substance contained cocaine and fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Lincoln County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Lincoln County man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Randall Jim Hughes, 37, of Alkol, on an outstanding warrant. During the arrest, two baggies containing approximately 23 grams of fentanyl fell from Hughes’ person. Hughes admitted that he possessed the fentanyl and intended to distribute it. Hughes further admitted that officers seized two loaded firearms from him.
Hughes is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the United States Marshals Service.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani and former United States Attorney Nick Miller have 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-205.
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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Multi-State Drug RingRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Dillon Andrew Young, 29, of Sissonville was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in a multi-state drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Huntington that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Young admitted that he spoke to co-defendant Scott Lee Midkiff on April 9, 2021, using the cell phone of another individual. Midkiff asked Young to bring the phone to him because Midkiff believed that the owner of the phone had stolen a quantity of drugs and money from him. Young agreed to bring the phone to Midkiff in exchange for money and 10 grams of methamphetamine. When Young entered Midkiff’s Huntington residence, law enforcement seized the phone and arrested Midkiff.
Midkiff was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Young pleaded guilty to use of a communications facility in committing, causing, and facilitating a felony, controlled substance offense. The case is the result of a long-term investigation that disrupted the DTO. All 18 defendants have pleaded guilty.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force. The Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force consists of officers with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the Marshall University Police Department, with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West. The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus, Ohio also assisted in the investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-109.
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Judge Sends Philadelphia Man to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced on Thursday in federal court to 33 months’ imprisonment on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Damion Fray, 25.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around January 2017 through in and around June 2020, Fray conspired to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and Yvonne M. Saadi prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fray.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Ricky Pulley, age 39, of Iowa City, was sentenced on Friday, August 18, 2022 to 87 months in prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Following his imprisonment, Pulley was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
Iowa City police officers were dispatched to a residential neighborhood on a report of shots fired. Surveillance video showed Pulley in a Chevrolet Equinox firing shots toward a dark-colored SUV. Pulley then crashed the Equinox into a snowbank and fled but was located hiding nearby. Officers recovered spent shell casings inside the Equinox and the discarded firearm on a deck of a home. Pulley was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana at the time and has prior felony convictions, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Pulley pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Samuel Lee Pelechek, age 25, of Iowa City, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. Following his imprisonment, Pelechek was ordered to serve five years of supervised release.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from Dropbox related to the upload of possible child pornography. Law enforcement traced the child pornography to Pelechek. Pelechek admitted to obtaining child pornography from various sites which was uploaded on his Dropbox account. Pelechek pleaded guilty on February 22, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Coralville Police Department and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Huntsville Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies in North AlabamaRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Huntsville man with committing a string of armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Christopher Maxwell Jacobie Owens, 28, of Huntsville, to 228 months in prison for Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm. Owens pleaded guilty to the charges in June.
According to the plea agreement, in a span of six days in November 2020, Owens committed six armed robberies at businesses in Huntsville. Owens robbed two Family Dollar locations, Dollar General, two MetroPCS locations, and Walgreens.
“The safety of our citizens and the businesses operating within our district is of utmost importance,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “This defendant put the lives of several victims at risk during the commission of these robberies. Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners, he will serve significant time in the federal prison system as a result of his actions. We continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in the Northern District of Alabama. Let this be a deterrent to others who might consider similar conduct.”
“The FBI’s most fundamental duty is to safeguard people’s right to live without fear of violence,” SAC Sharp said. “Owens’s string of armed robberies put the lives of innocent citizens at risk while they were simply going about their daily business, and today’s sentence will give him plenty of time to reflect on his actions. The citizens of north Alabama should know that the FBI and our partners will not stop in our pursuit of violent offenders and our work to keep them safe.”
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pillsbury is prosecuted the case.
Huntington Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Federal Drug, Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Corey Michael Perkins, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to have drugs smuggled into the Western Regional Jail. In a separate case, Perkins was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for aiding and abetting the illegal straw purchase of firearms. The two sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November to December 2020, Perkins coordinated with multiple individuals to get drugs into the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville. Perkins admitted to using jail phone calls, which were recorded, to arrange for a package containing 228 suboxone strips, 1.4 grams of fentanyl/methamphetamine mixture, and 1 gram of methamphetamine to be transported into the jail. Perkins utilized an inmate and a person who worked at the jail to carry out the scheme. Perkins was aware that the drugs were intended for redistribution in the jail, and that he would receive money in exchange for the drugs.
Perkins further admitted to arranging for another person to buy four firearms for him at a Huntington pawn shop. On June 30, 2020, Perkins picked out the four firearms: a Rock Island M1-1911 FS, .45-caliber pistol; a Taurus 1911, .45-caliber pistol; an Anderson AM-15, multi-caliber rifle; and a Spikes ST-15, .300-caliber rifle. Perkins told an employee he would send someone to purchase the firearms. Perkins admitted that he aided, abetted, counseled, and induced that straw purchaser to falsely state and represent on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms. Perkins was the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms. Perkins further admitted to providing the straw purchaser with the necessary cash to buy the firearms.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Perkins knew he could not purchase the firearms himself because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 10, 2013.
Perkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute suboxone, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and to aiding and abetting the making of false statements in the acquisition of firearms.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the ATF, the West Virginia State Police, the Huntington Police Department, and the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Investigations Unit.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the cases.
The drug case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-215 and 3:22-cr-56.
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Hopkinsville Man Federally Indicted for Illegally Possessing Handguns and DrugsRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on August 10, 2022, charging a Hopkinsville, KY, man with possessing handguns and drugs on two separate days.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2022, in Logan County, KY, Marquez Penman, 29, possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed, in connection with his drug trafficking, a Taurus, model G2C, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Additionally, on May 26, 2022, in Todd County, KY, Penman possessed with the intent to distribute marijuana and possessed, in connection with his drug trafficking, a Ruger, model SR-22, .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
Prior to these offenses Penman had been convicted of first-degree robbery in Christian Circuit Court in case number 13-CR-00349 and second-degree robbery in Christian Circuit Court in case number 11-CR-00423, making him a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Penman is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The defendant is scheduled for an arraignment on August 23, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
The ATF, the Kentucky State Police, and the Todd County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that RAUL CABRERA-PERDOMO , age 47, pleaded guilty on August 18, 2022 after being charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) in 2021.
According to papers signed in open court, RAUL CABRERA-PERDOMO (“CABRERA”), admitted to reentering the United States after he was previously deported on May 15, 2009. CABRERA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee as well as being deported again. Sentencing is set for November 10, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
High school security guard who filmed his sexual abuse of a child sentenced to 25 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Monday sentenced a former high school security guard who recorded his repeated sexual abuse of a child it to 25 years in prison.
Mark A. Bennett’s victim was less than 10 years old when he began abusing her and filming it, he admitted in a guilty plea in March. It went on for years, until his attempt to download child pornography triggered a Dec. 12, 2019 tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and an investigation by the FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department.
After a search of Bennett’s home and electronic devices, investigators found 589 pictures of videos of the girl’s abuse, as well as 1,500 files containing child sexual abuse material, his plea says.
Bennett, 48, pleaded guilty to a charge of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Bennett worked at McCluer North High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, but did not meet the victim through his job.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Guatemalan National Living in Maryland Charged with Unlawful Transportation of Individual in VermontRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Alex Alejandro-Cordero (also known as Alejandro Guerro-Soto and Enio Alejandro Cordero), 36, of Adelphi, Maryland, appeared on Friday, August 19, 2022, in federal court on a charge alleging that, on or about August 18, 2022, he unlawfully transported an individual he knew to have entered the United States illegally. Upon the motion of the United States, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Alejandro-Cordero detained pending further proceedings in the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that a criminal complaint is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As currently charged, Alejandro-Cordero would face up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their quick response and investigation of Alejandro-Cordero and their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human-smuggling organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher represents the United States in this case. Alejandro-Cordero is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels, Esq.
Former Ft. Bragg Substance Abuse Counselor Sentenced for Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A former Ft. Bragg substance abuse counselor was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison and 5 years of supervised release, for sexual contact without consent. Harrell Lenear Jamison will also have to register as a sex offender. On April 8, 2022, Jamison pled guilty to the charge pursuant to a plea agreement.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Jamison, 48, was a substance abuse counselor for the Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care (SUDCC) program at Ft. Bragg. During a session with a patient, Jamison undid the pants of his 20-year-old victim, put his hands inside her underwear, and rubbed her groin area. When the victim asked him to stop, he said, “be quiet, you’re fine.” After attempting to drive away from the appointment, the victim pulled over and was found crying on the side of the road.
Michael F. Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. US Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-404.
Former Executive Director of Drug Prevention Coalition Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Patrick Martin, 51, of Gainesboro, Tennessee, was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison for embezzling approximately $211,000 from the Community Prevention Coalition of Jackson County while serving as the Coalition’s Executive Director, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Martin was initially charged in May 2019 and pleaded guilty in August 2021 to wire fraud, failure to pay over employment taxes, and filing a false income tax return.
According to Court documents, beginning in 2014, Martin submitted applications to an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services for Drug Free Communities program grants and received awards for the Coalition totaling $375,000 over three years. Martin was supposed to use the grant funds on behalf of the Coalition, but instead used the money for his own personal benefit, including to make an automobile purchase, pay personal bills, make home renovations, and financially support someone outside of his family.
As the Executive Director of the Coalition, Martin also was responsible for paying over certain employment taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks to the IRS. Martin failed to do so and used this money for his own personal benefit as well. Martin also filed false income tax returns with the IRS for tax years 2014 and 2015, failing to report the income from his embezzlement scheme.
Martin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $507,373.76, with $375,000 to be paid to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the agency that awarded the grant; and $132,373.76 to be paid to the IRS. Martin was also ordered to forfeit $211,795.84.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the IRS - Criminal Investigation; and the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Levine prosecuted the case.
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Former Colorado Sheriff's Deputy Is Sentenced to 21+ Years for Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that a former Colorado sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor. Vincent Ryan Potter, 38, formerly of Colorado, was also ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
“Potter is an online predator who contacted vulnerable children via social media and used deception, pressure, and threats to coerce his young victims into sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Potter was a sworn officer of the law which makes this case particularly disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney King. “I commend the law enforcement agencies that investigated this case for working closely across state lines to locate Potter and put a stop to his predatory behavior.”
“As a former law enforcement officer, this defendant betrayed the public trust placed in him by preying on children rather than protecting them, as he was sworn to do. HSI is committed to holding those who seek to exploit children fully accountable, regardless of the position they may hold,” said Special Agent in Charge Martinez.
“A child predator has been arrested and held accountable for his actions due to the joint investigative and prosecution efforts of UCSO detectives, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Union County Sheriff’s Office is proud to partner with our federal law enforcement partners in order to safeguard the children in our community from anyone who would try and cause them harm,” said Sheriff Cathey.
According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between January and April 2021, Potter used Snapchat to entice and coerce two minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. At the time of the offense, Potter was a Deputy with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Court documents show that, in early 2021, Potter began communicating via Snapchat with a 14-year-old female located in
Union County. At the time Potter was communicating with the minor he knew the victim was a teenager. Over the course of their communications, Potter, who created multiple Snapchat accounts and pretended to be both a 15-year-old and a 23-year-old male, enticed and pressured the minor victim to send him images and videos of herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Potter continued to ask the minor to produce child pornography and threatened the minor that he would release her explicit images to her friends and the internet if she did not comply.
According to court documents and court proceedings, during the same time period, Potter initiated communications via Snapchat with a second teenage female also located in Union County. During those communications, Potter enticed and coerced the minor to send him sexually explicit images and videos of herself.
On March 4, 2022, Potter pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Potter remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI in Charlotte and in Colorado and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Five Burlington Men Sentenced to Federal Prison on Charges Related to a Drug Conspiracy Involving the Seizure of 362 Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine During an Arizona Traffic StopRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Five Burlington, Iowa men were sentenced to decades in prison for conspiring to distribute drugs in the Burlington area. The conspiracy started by at least December 1, 2019 and continued until November 2, 2021. Those sentenced as part of this drug conspiracy include:
• Rudolph Sinclair Allen, age 37, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Clyde Macks Stewart, Jr., age 51, was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Demetrius Antre Goudy, age 42, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Gregory Jermain Johnson, age 36, was sentenced to approximately 14 years (169 months) of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Brian Keith Davis, Jr., age 42, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
According to court documents, Gregory Johnson, Allen, and Marcus Johnson, age 46 of Burlington, were the “middlemen” who received large quantities of ice methamphetamine in Burlington from Kendric Centrall Childs, age 35 of Burlington, who served as the main drug source, along with another individual. Gregory Johnson, Allen, and Marcus Johnson either sold quantities of ice methamphetamine themselves or provided it to lower-level dealers such as Goudy, Stewart, and Davis for distribution. Court documents further show that Julie Mason, age 54 of Burlington, was one of the drug couriers for the group.
On January 24, 2020, Mason was stopped in Arizona while transporting approximately 362 pounds of ice methamphetamine. Mason admitted the ice methamphetamine was bound for Burlington. This traffic stop was the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s largest single seizure of ice methamphetamine at the time.1
Mason, Childs, and Marcus Johnson have all pled guilty to drug conspiracy charges and are scheduled to be sentenced on a later date. Mason was previously found guilty of Possession of Drugs for Sale and Transport Drugs for Sale following a jury trial in Arizona and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.
1 Trooper’s Traffic Stop Leads to 362 lb. Meth Seizure, Largest in AZDPS History, Arizona Dep’t Public Safety, https://www.azdps.gov/news/releases/933 (Jan. 27, 2020).
Felon Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Romeo Lenell Battle (25, Lehigh Acres) to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Battle to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Battle had pleaded guilty on April 13, 2022.
According to court documents, on April 22, 2021, deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Lehigh Acres in response to a 911 call for service relating to a domestic dispute involving a firearm. Battle, a previously convicted felon and state probationer, was in the residence when deputies arrived. When deputies searched the residence, they found a loaded Glock handgun hidden under a bed. DNA analysis later revealed that Battle’s DNA profile matched DNA extracted from the firearm. As a convicted felon, Battle is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
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.
Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- August 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August 2022 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Mark Allan Barnes. Bank Robbery. Barnes, 39, of Bartlesville, is charged with robbing Armstrong Bank of Bartlesville on July 19, 2022, by threatening the teller with a knife. The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-265
Florentino Bautista-Sanchez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Bautista-Sanchez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Feb. 8, 2007, at or near El Paso, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-278
Daniel Lewis Brandon. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country (Counts 1,2). On Oct. 15, 2020, Brandon, 52, of Quapaw, allegedly broke into and entered a residence through a floor vent with the intent to commit a crime while the home was occupied. He is further alleged to have forcibly broken the same victim’s outer door and entered the victim’s residence with intent to commit a crime on May 1, 2021. The FBI and Quapaw Nation Marshals Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-285
Ricardo Esparza Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Esparza, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 24, 2017. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-268
Jeremy Mikal Glazier. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1-3); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute (Count 4); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 5). Glazier, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Walther .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 29, 2020; being a felon in possession of a Taurus 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and two rounds of ammunition on Jan. 16, 2021; and being a felon in possession of a Smith and Wesson 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition on July 26, 2022. He is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of marijuana on July 26, 2022. Finally, Glazier is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime on July 26, 2022. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-266
Shanon Eugene Graham. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. On June 22, 2022, Graham, 48, of Chouteau, allegedly possessed an Aero Precision LLC 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle and 25 rounds of ammunition after being convicted of four felonies. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan H. Heatherman is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-286
Oscar Efrain Hernandez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez, 27, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on July 15, 2020, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-267
Cody Wayne Horn. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country. Horn, 27, of Tulsa, is charged with coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity from Nov. 26, 2021, to Nov. 28, 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-287
Genesia Nan McKinney. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On Aug. 28, 2020, McKinney, 28, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted an individual by stabbing the individual repeatedly with a knife. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-269
Aleydy Navarrete-Gutierrez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Navarrete-Gutierrez, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been deported and removed on or about July 16, 2016, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-270
Glenn David Nickols. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Nickols, 39, of Afton, is charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child younger than 12 years of age from March 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2020. He is further charged with sexually exploiting the same child by coercing the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-271
Justin Leon Pritchett. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1,2). Pritchett, 55, of Oaks, is charged with assaulting two victims with a vehicle on July 2, 2022. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-272
Juan Carlos Rincon-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rincon-Castro, 34, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed on June 22, 2013, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-273
Jesus Sanchez-Reyes. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Sanchez-Reyes, 32, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on July 13, 2015, at or near Hidalgo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-279
Michael Wayne Tiffany; James Allen Quapaw. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Counts 1,4); Sale and Disposal of a Firearm to a Prohibited Person (Count 2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 3,8); Possessing and Selling Stolen Firearms (Count 5); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 6); Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 7). Quapaw, 41, of Miami, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger .270 caliber rifle and four rounds of ammunition from Dec. 30, 2021, to Jan. 4, 2022. Quapaw is also charged with selling the firearm and ammunition to Tiffany, 37, of Miami, who is a prohibited person. From Dec. 30, 2021, to Jan. 4, 2022, Tiffany allegedly possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Tiffany is further charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger .270 caliber rifle, a Remington .243 caliber rifle and eight rounds of ammunition on Jan. 5, 2022. Tiffany and Quapaw are both charged with aiding and abetting each other to possess and sell the Ruger .270 caliber rifle, Remington .243 caliber rifle and eight rounds of ammunition on Jan. 5, 2022. Additionally, Tiffany is charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 16, 2022, and with carrying a firearm during the crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-222
Atanael Vasquez-Ixlaj. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Vasquez-Ixlaj, 29, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on July 18, 2012, at or near Harlingen, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operation is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-280
Tony Darnelle Warledo. Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence within Indian Country. On May 30, 2022, at a Tulsa QuikTrip, Warledo, 22, of Tulsa, allegedly robbed the victim of a firearm, wallet and cell phone by force, violence, and intimidation. He is further charged with carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during the crime. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-281
Charlotte Deann Wasson; Joshua Halfmoon Wasson. Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud (Count 1); Bank Fraud (Counts 2-8; Counts 16-26; Counts 38,39); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 9-13; Counts 27-37). Charlotte Wasson, 53, and her son, Joshua Wasson, 31, of Talala, conspired with at least one other person to commit bank fraud. The conspirators worked as labor contractors for an environmental remediation company in Collinsville, which had an account with Blue Sky Bank in Tulsa. Together, the conspirators stole then altered and forged at least 22 of the company’s checks, making the checks payable to themselves in amounts that they specified. The conspirators then presented the checks for payment to a bank and a check cashing business in Tulsa. Charlotte Wasson is charged with bank fraud after she presented seven fraudulent company checks for payment, totaling $8,853.85. She is further charged with aggravated identity theft after forging another individual’s signature on those checks. Joshua Wasson is also charged with bank fraud after he presented eleven of the fraudulent checks for payment, totaling $12,260.85. He is further charged with aggravated identity theft after forging another individual’s signature on those checks. Finally, Charlotte Wasson is further charged with bank fraud for presenting two altered and forged checks as payment for a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and a 2013 Honda Civic. Those checks were illegally drawn from a Bank of Oklahoma account in the amounts of $6,000 and $7,000. The U.S. Secret Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-282
Heath Raymond Wells. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Wells, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting an intimate partner by strangling and attempting to strangle her on June 13, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-288
Audie Wayne Woolman. Child Abuse in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding. Woolman, 51, of Jay, allegedly assaulted an intimate partner on March 27, 2022, exposing two children to the abuse. He further physically abused one of the children during the incident. The FBI and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-289
Farmington Man Sentenced to Prison for Florida to Connecticut Gun Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DOMINIC COLON-BROWN, 28, of Farmington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking firearms that were stolen in Florida to Connecticut. Judge Meyer also ordered Colon-Brown to pay a $2,200 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2021, Colon-Brown sold a firearm to a convicted felon. He then conspired with Julian Judge and another individual to obtain firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut. In late February 2021, Colon-Brown and Judge drove to Florida, obtained three handguns and transported them back to Connecticut. Colon Brown and Judge knew the firearms were stolen or otherwise illegally obtained.
On March 8, 2021, law enforcement recovered the three firearms, as well as more than 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately 60 grams of cocaine, during a search of a New Britain apartment.
During the investigation, Colon-Brown and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms. Colon-Brown and Judge also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.
Colon-Brown was arrested on May 27, 2021. On January 20, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines.
Judge, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on May 27, 2022, he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, New Britain Police Department, Farmington Police Department, West Hartford Police Department and Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
This prosecution 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. 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.
Euclid Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Receipt, Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
John P. Comer, 52, of Euclid, Ohio, was sentenced on August 19, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan to more than 12 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release after Comer pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2021, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at an address in Euclid associated with Comer after authorities became aware of his involvement in the receipt and distribution of child pornography, including a digital folder labeled “CP video Brutal.”
During the execution of the warrant, authorities seized multiple electronic devices belonging to Comer, including two computers and a cell phone containing child pornography. An onsite forensic preview of Comer’s cell phone revealed that it contained images of minors engaged in sexual conduct.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Gaughan ordered Comer to pay $3,000 in restitution and a $10,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessment.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
East Bay Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Sale of Fentanyl That Killed A Young WomanRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Gage Pascoe was sentenced to 68 months in federal prison for distributing pills laced with fentanyl that caused a Walnut Creek woman’s overdose death, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge William Alsup.
Pascoe, 23, of Pittsburg, California, pleaded guilty on February 14, 2022, to the charge of distributing fentanyl. In his plea agreement, Pascoe admitted that on the night of June 16, 2020, a former high school classmate came to his house to buy oxycodone pills. He sold her thirteen M30 pills, which lab tests later showed were laced with deadly fentanyl. The next morning the victim was found dead in her bed, and the baggie containing the M30s that Pascoe sold to the victim was found in her bedroom. Pascoe agreed in his plea agreement that the victim ingested the M30s he sold her and as a result suffered an overdose of fentanyl.
The government filed a sentencing memorandum asserting that while Pascoe did not intentionally cause his high school classmate’s death, her death was the product of Pascoe’s reckless disregard for her safety. Pascoe told the victim he would buy the oxycodone pills from a street source he referred to as his “other connect.” The government pointed out that dealing in M30 oxycodone pills bought on the street is extremely dangerous. According to DEA, counterfeit M30 pills routinely contain fentanyl, and four out of every ten such pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. A lethal dose can be miniscule, as little as two milligrams. Pascoe essentially “played Russian roulette,” the government asserted, but it was the victim who suffered the fatal consequences of Pascoe’s reckless, grossly negligent conduct.
In addition to the 68 month prison term, U.S. District Judge Alsup ordered Pascoe to serve five years of supervision following release from federal prison and to pay restitution to the family of the victim for funeral costs.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Shepard and Ross Weingarten prosecuted the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Jasmine Sanders. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the Walnut Creek Police Department.
One Pill Can Kill: Beware of pills bought on the street. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs and can typically be obtained at a lower cost than the genuine drugs. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl creates huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily have lethal consequences. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are commonly shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies. For example, counterfeit pills known as M30s mimic Oxycodone and routinely contain fentanyl. These tablets are round and often light blue in color, though they come in many other colors, and have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.
Dearborn Bank Robber Nabbed in Porta Potty Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
DETROIT, MI – An Inkster resident pleaded guilty to bank robbery in federal court this morning in Detroit on charges stemming from his robbery of the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining United States Attorney Dawn Ison in the announcement is Acting Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Issa Shahin, Chief, Dearborn Police Department.
Charles William Woolery, age 52, admitted guilt to robbing the savings bank in Dearborn , Michigan before U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. According to court records, on the afternoon of March 2, 2022, Woolery entered the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank wearing a black facemask. He approached a victim teller, handed her a note, and gestured to his hip as if he had a weapon. The note demanded the teller to “smile” and put money in a bag or Woolery would “kill everyone.” The teller, fearing for her safety, placed $1,690 in cash in a black bag and handed it to Woolery. Woolery then fled the bank on foot. He was later arrested by Dearborn police officers hiding out in a Port-a-John located in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn on Michigan Avenue near the bank. Officers found the $1,690 cash in the front of a Lions’ hoodie that Woolery was wearing. Officers also recovered Woolery’s facemask, full tan Carhartt style suit, and tan gloves like those used in the bank robbery in the Port-a-John where Woolery was hiding.
“This case shows that violent criminals can run, but they can’t hide no matter where they may go,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “The federal authorities appreciate the assistance and partnership of the Dearborn Police Department.”
Woolery faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for bank robbery. Judge Goldsmith will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for December 19, 2022.
This case is being investigated by special agents of the FBI along with the assistance of the Dearborn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosemary Gardey is prosecuting the case.
Davenport Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Robert Stanley Nelson, III, age 42, and Taylor Christopher Graeber, age 24, both of Davenport, were sentenced to federal prison yesterday. Nelson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Following his imprisonment, Nelson was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Graeber was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Following his imprisonment, Graeber was ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
In fall 2020, law enforcement identified Nelson and Graeber as part of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization in Davenport. Nelson trafficked methamphetamine between July 2020 and March 2021. In March 2021, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Nelson’s residence in Davenport and seized approximately 11.37 grams of ice methamphetamine and more than $4,000, which was drug proceeds. On March 29, 2021, Nelson was arrested transporting methamphetamine from Colorado to the Quad Cities. Nelson pleaded guilty on March 31, 2022.
Graeber trafficked methamphetamine between August and November 2020. When he was arrested in November 2020, Graeber possessed a firearm and methamphetamine, as well as other evidence of drug trafficking. Graeber pleaded on March 30, 2022.
In June 2022, Nelson and Graber’s co-defendant, Chelsey Lira was sentenced to 180 months in prison. Additional co-defendants are scheduled be sentenced at later dates.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Davenport Police Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group investigated the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Arnordo Corderrel Turner, age 34 of Davenport, was sentenced on Thursday, August 18, 2022 to 65 months in prison for Bank Robbery. Following his imprisonment, Turner was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
On June 16, 2021, Davenport police officers were dispatched to the Ascentra Credit Union for a reported bank robbery. Officers identified Turner as the robber. Turner passed a note to a teller requesting that they “put all the money on the counter.” The teller provided Turner with $1,155. Officers located Turner nearby and he admitted robbing the credit union. Turner pleaded guilty to the charge on February 22, 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Commerce City Man Indicted for Tampering with a Consumer ProductRead the Press Release
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Christopher Robert Pattinson, age 40, of Commerce City, has been indicted on charges of tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deceit.
According to the indictment, between November 8, 2021, and January 13, 2022, the defendant, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, tampered with fentanyl, by removing fentanyl from 20 vials and replacing it with another substance. The indictment also states between November 5, 2018 and January 12, 2022, the defendant obtained fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, and subterfuge, by misrepresenting that a vial or vials of fentanyl were used for a patient, when in fact the defendant acquired and obtained the fentanyl for himself.
The defendant made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty on August 22, 2022.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI).
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case number: 22-cr-0263
Columbia Gang Member Sentenced on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Raekwon Cortez Ford, 25, of Columbia, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that, in late November 2019, several automobiles were broken into and various items stolen, including an iPhone. One of the victims of the break-ins was able to track their iPhone to a residence in Columbia and notified the Columbia Police Department. Officers responded to the residence and found a number of individuals in the yard, including Ford. Ford, a gang member, was placed under arrest on outstanding warrants and was found to be in possession of the stolen iPhone.
Officers then obtained a search warrant for Ford’s residence, which they executed a month later. Within the residence, officers located Ford, who had been released on state bond from the earlier arrest, and found a loaded Ruger .45 caliber handgun concealed in an air vent in Ford’s bedroom. An analysis showed Ford’s DNA on the firearm and that the firearm had been reported stolen from an earlier auto break-in in Columbia in December 2018. A ballistics analysis through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) revealed that the firearm had been used in four separate shooting incidents in Richland and Lexington Counties from June through August 2019. It should be noted that there was no evidence linking Ford himself to the actual shootings as he was in jail on state charges at the time of the shootings.
During the sentencing hearing, the Court heard evidence of Ford’s possession of four other firearms, some with extended magazines, and some of which had been reported stolen from automobiles. The Court also heard evidence of threats made by Ford toward a Deputy United States Marshal and a correctional officer while incarcerated. That post-plea conduct increased his sentencing range and resulted in Ford losing his acceptance of responsibility reduction despite pleading guilty.
Ford is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Ford has prior state convictions for unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a pistol by a person under 18 years of age, obtaining property under false pretenses, and breach of peace of an aggravated nature (which involved a shooting).
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Ford to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of Court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. In imposing the sentence, the Court noted, “Guns in the hands of folks who aren’t supposed to have them is very serious business.”
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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 (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.
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Chesapeake Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced to 90 months in prison for possessing firearms as a prohibited person and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Kim Joseph Habit, 49, as a person who had been committed to a mental institution, violated federal law by subsequently possessing an AM-15 rifle and other firearms. During the course of the investigation, the FBI determined that Habit had been purchasing significant quantities of chemicals and other laboratory equipment that could be used to create a destructive device. Agents also obtained evidence that a computer user at the Habit residence was participating in a peer-to-peer file-sharing network through which images of child pornography were downloaded.
On December 14, 2021, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Habit’s residence and found numerous firearms, a box containing components that could be used in combination to create an improvised explosive device, and electronic devices containing images of child pornography.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Washington Field Division; and Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
This outcome was made possible by significant contributions by our state and local law enforcement partners; the Virginia State Police, Hampton Police Division, the Virginia Beach Police Department, Suffolk Police Department, Norfolk Police Department, the Chesapeake Police Department, the Newport News Police Department and support from the Hampton Road’s regional bomb squads.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Montoya prosecuted 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. 2:22-cr-009.