Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 5 July 2022
Former Bangor Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Skowhegan man pleaded guilty today in federal court to a bank fraud scheme arising from his applications for Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records Nathan Reardon, 44, formerly of Brewer, Maine, owned and controlled Global Disruptive Technologies Inc., a Bangor-based business. In April 2020, Reardon obtained a $59,145 PPP loan for Global Disruptive Technologies Inc. using false employee wage information and false supporting payroll documentation. Reardon then improperly spent the PPP funds on items and expenses he knew were not covered by the program. After receiving the first loan, Reardon submitted additional fraudulent PPP applications to the same bank in April and May 2020. Two of the applications were for companies that had no active business operations, employees or payroll.
The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law, enacted in March 2020, was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who suffered economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP.
Businesses were required to use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a set period and used at least a certain percentage of the funds for payroll expenses.
Reardon was indicted by a federal grand jury in Bangor on May 13, 2021. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. He also faces up to five years of supervised release. Reardon will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
# # #
Florida Man Charged with Unlawful Transportation of IndividualsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Juan Mejia-Flores, 31, of Bradenton, Florida, has been indicted by the federal grand jury for the unlawful transportation of individuals who entered the United States illegally. Mejia-Flores is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle this afternoon.
According to public documents in the case, on June 24, 2022, United States Border Patrol observed four people unlawfully cross the international border near Pelow Street in Derby Line, Vermont, and enter a white sedan. Border Patrol agents responded to the area, and conducted a traffic stop of the white sedan, which was being driven by Mejia-Flores. The other four occupants of the sedan admitted they were Mexican nationals without lawful status in the United States and had unlawfully entered the United States in Derby Line. Investigation by Border Patrol agents determined Mejia-Flores had been involved in a second unlawful crossing event near Burke, New York on May 14, 2022 that involved seven people unlawfully entering the United States from Canada.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that an indictment is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 5 years of imprisonment on the current charge. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations for their investigation of Mejia-Flores.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt represents the government. Mejia-Flores is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former Schuele Boys Gang Associate for Stealing Painkillers from Rite AidRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Demario Robbins, 29, of Buffalo, NY, with one count of robbery of a pharmacy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on December 30, 2021, Robbins stole quantities of oxycodone and hydrocodone, both Schedule II controlled substances, from the Rite Aid on Genesee Street in Buffalo.
Robbins, a former associate of the Schuele Boys Gang, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced to serve 24 months in prison in 2017.
The defendant was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Contractor charged in bribery and bid rigging schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 64-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in court on charges he participated in a fraud scheme for 12 years, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Abraham Joseph is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. today.
A one-count criminal information, filed June 27, alleges Joseph was the owner of a company called One Point Inc. and participated in a fraud scheme from 2007 until 2019 against a company with a manufacturing facility in Houston.
Joseph allegedly engaged in a bribery and bid rigging scheme to obtain construction and maintenance work at the victim company. According to the charges, Joseph submitted fake bids through the facilities manager who made it appear that OnePoint was the low bidder. In return, Joseph allegedly paid millions of dollars and gave other items of value. Joseph also had work funneled to him and his company and paid kickbacks in return, according to the charges.
The information alleges that when submitting invoices for payment to the victim company, Joseph failed to disclose he was submitting falsified bids, paying kickbacks from victim company funds and even had their employee on OnePoint’s payroll at one point.
The victim company would not have paid OnePoint invoices had it known about the falsified bids or the kickback payments, according to the charges.
If convicted, Joseph faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Chula Vista Woman Sentenced for Attempting to Avoid Prison for Fraud Conviction by Faking CancerRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – This morning, Ashleigh Lynn Chavez was sentenced to serve 24 additional months in prison for obstruction of justice by forging doctors’ notes falsely indicating she had been diagnosed with cancer and causing these notes to be submitted to the federal judge.
U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia had previously sentenced Chavez to serve 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for her conspiracy to embezzle more than $160,000 from a former employer. From the time of her guilty plea in that case in 2019 through her sentencing hearing on March 31, 2021, Chavez was permitted to remain out of custody on bond.
On the eve of her sentencing, Chavez, 38, created a doctor’s note that falsely claimed that a biopsy had revealed “cancerous cells” in her uterus. She forged the signature of her doctor on this letter. Chavez provided the note to her attorney who, believing it to be genuine, submitted it to the court and to the assigned prosecutor in a bid for leniency. As a direct result of the forged doctor’s note she had caused her attorney to submit, Chavez was permitted to remain out of custody for an additional three months so that she could allegedly receive medical treatment.
As detailed in her plea agreement, after her sentencing hearing Chavez hired a new attorney whom she provided with additional forged letters from two different San Diego-area physicians. The new attorney, also believing the letters to be genuine, submitted them to the assigned prosecutor and to the court.
One forged letter, purporting to be from an oncologist, said: “Ashleigh has limitations due to uterine cancer and future need for radiation.” Other letters indicated that she was undergoing a surgical procedure, that she had been admitted to the hospital, and that her “condition has progressed… to Stage II; the cancer has spread to the cervix.” One letter warned that “she cannot be exposed to COVID-19” because of her fragile state. In August 2021, Chavez was purportedly scheduled to begin chemotherapy. Her attorney contacted the assigned prosecutor and indicated that she was too ill to work, and that as a result she needed to be relieved of monthly restitution obligations to the victim in her previous case.
By August 2021, the notes forged by Chavez were overtly recommending that the court reconsider her prison sentence and instead permit her to serve time on home confinement. In one forged note attributed to a San Diego-area oncologist, Chavez wrote that “(a) year in prison could be a death sentence for my patient… I highly recommend the chance to allow home confinement or anything else that you deem appropriate rather than a year in prison.” Two weeks later, she forged a note from the same oncologist stating that “Ashleigh’s cancer, it has in fact metastasized affecting the lymph nodes… I recommend a different approach to her sentencing.”
In fact, Chavez was never diagnosed with or treated for cancer by either doctor. Both doctors denied writing any of the letters attributed to them. While Chavez had been a patient of one, the second doctor had never heard of her and had no idea how or why his identity had been stolen and his signature repeatedly forged by Chavez. In total, Chavez was able to delay serving her sentence for six months prior to her fraud being exposed. During that time, Chavez paid zero restitution to the victim of her embezzlement.
“The defendant obstructed justice by committing a fraud on the federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Grossman. “The lengthy sentence in this case – double the prison term that she initially received – demonstrates just how ill-advised it was for this defendant to attempt to delay the payment of her debt to society.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and the FBI for their excellent work on this case.
“This defendant went to appalling lengths to avoid her initial prison sentence by falsifying medical documents to claim she had cancer. This offensive conduct is an affront to every person fighting that battle,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “This additional sentence demonstrates to criminals that the FBI takes all fraud seriously, and trying to cheat the system will only result in additional prison time.”
DEFENDANT Case No. 22-CR-0318-AJB
ASHLEIGH LYNN CHAVEZ Age 37 Chula Vista, CA
aka “Ashleigh Lynn Coulson”
aka “Ashleigh Chavez Coulson”
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Obstruction of Justice – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1503
Maximum penalty: Ten years in custody and a $250,000 fine.
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Charlotte Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kaila Leaann Shanteau-Jackson, 30, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to wire fraud today, for defrauding the State of Arizona’s COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit program of approximately $995,000, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jason Byrnes, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to plea documents and statements made in court, from June 2020 to September 2021, Jackson engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Arizona by fraudulently creating and redirecting payments for COVID-19 UI benefits to herself and others. During the relevant time frame, Jackson was employed as a vendor-contractor for a financial institution that serviced the UI benefit program in Arizona through the mailing of pre-paid debit cards to qualified recipients. Jackson held the position of Pre-Paid Claims Initiation Agent with the financial institution and, as part of her employment, Jackson had access to the financial institution’s Pre-Paid Administration System (PAS).
According to court documents, Jackson utilized her employment credentials to divert and re-route UI benefits intended for 138 victims to herself and others. To effectuate the scheme, Jackson accessed PAS and changed the recipients’ address information in the database to addresses in Charlotte to which Jackson and others had access. Once Jackson and others received the re-routed pre-paid debit cards, they either withdrew the benefits in cash from ATMs or engaged in merchant transactions with the stolen funds.
Jackson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler and pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. A sentencing date for Jackson has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Secret Service and CMPD for their investigative efforts.
The prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina can also call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for $1.9 Million Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Leon Miles was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 72 months in prison following his guilty plea to making false statements in an application for over $1.9 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which Congress created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The court also ordered forfeiture in the amount of $1,904,593, including the 2020 Bentley that the government seized, and restitution in the amount of $598,299.39 to the authorized lender.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent-in-Charge, Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Eastern Region Office (SBA-OIG); and Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the sentence.
“Leon Miles selfishly enriched himself by defrauding a program designed to alleviate the economic suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendant stole nearly $2 million dollars that was intended to keep struggling businesses afloat and honest workers employed, and he spent those funds on personal luxuries. This Office and our agency partners will continue working to bring to justice those fraudsters who try to take advantage of a national emergency, and recover every dollar that they stole from the government.”
“Leon Miles indulged himself at the expense of U.S. taxpayers by both defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program and victimizing those business owners who legitimately needed the benefits. Today’s sentencing is a fair response to Miles’s criminal behavior and he will now face justice behind bars,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso.
“OIG works tirelessly to identify persons seeking to use falsified information to selfishly exploit SBA programs meant to uplift the nation’s small businesses,” said SBA OIG Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge McCall-Brathwaite. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the allocation of funds for the issuance of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses to receive unsecured loans on favorable terms, which they were required to use for specified expenses, including payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP provided for forgiveness of the loan if recipient businesses spent the proceeds on these specified expenses within a limited time period and used a certain percentage for payroll costs.
In May 2020, Miles applied for a $1,904,593.00 PPP loan on behalf of a limited liability company he owns in Brooklyn, falsely claiming that the company had 50 employees and a total average monthly payroll of $761,838.00. In support of these claims, Miles submitted fraudulent personal and business tax returns and tax forms that were never filed with the IRS. In fact, he reported to the IRS no taxable income during the relevant period, and his company filed no tax returns and reported no wages paid to employees. The loan proceeds were disbursed to Miles’s personal savings account, and within days he had withdrawn hundreds of thousands of dollars, a portion of which he used to purchase a 2020 Bentley Continental for approximately $250,000 and a 2020 Cadillac Escalade for approximately $100,000. The government seized the 2020 Bentley Continental, and the insurance proceeds of the 2020 Cadillac Escalade, which had been totaled. Additionally, approximately $1.3 million of the loan proceeds were frozen and returned to the authorized lender.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Pollack. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Morris of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendant:
LEON MILES
Age: 53
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 21-CR-221 (BMC)
Bridgeport Gang Member Admits Role in 2019 MurderRead the Press Release
TYRONE MOORE, also known as “Ty Ralph Lauren,” 20, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang, including the murder of a rival in July 2019.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Moore has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
Moore and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
In pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, Moore specifically admitted that, on July 12, 2019, he and another East End member shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, the parties have agreed that a sentence of between 20 and 30 years of imprisonment is an appropriate sentence in this case.
Moore is detained pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, and Stephanie T. Levick.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bonifay Doctor Settles Controlled Substances Act Violations for $130,000Read the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA —Ahmad T. Ismail, 70, of Bonifay, Florida, settled potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act by agreeing to pay a fine of $130,000 and surrendering his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“A physician’s failure to adhere to the safeguards of the Controlled Substances Act can facilitate the diversion of addictive drugs, illegal distribution of those substances, and risk of overdose,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to utilize both the civil and criminal provisions of the Controlled Substances Act to protect our communities and hold violators responsible.”
Ismail entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The terms of the settlement include a provision that Ismail will surrender his DEA registration and will not reapply for a period of at least three years. In addition, Ismail will pay a fine of $130,000.
Beginning in December 2018, DEA investigators conducted a routine inspection of Ismail’s practice in Bonifay, Florida. During that inspection and subsequent investigation, they discovered numerous potential civil violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including:
- Failing to keep complete and accurate records, revealing significant discrepancies between the number of dosage units in inventory and the number of dosage units purchased using Dr. Ismail’s DEA registration number;
- Failing to complete a biennial inventory;
- Failing to maintain accurate and complete records of dispensation/administration of controlled substances;
- Failing to maintain complete and accurate dispensing records to include the name of the substance, quantity, date dispensed, address of person whom it was dispensed, the written or typewritten name or initials of the individual who dispensed the substance, the drug strength, and units in each container; and
- Failing to sign and date a controlled substance prescription on the date of issuance on at least two occasions.
“As trusted members of the community, medical professionals are required to adhere to the federal laws regarding controlled substances as set forth in the Controlled Substances Act,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Our communities can rest assured that DEA will pursue civil actions against any DEA Registrant who violates these federal laws as well as the trust of the American public.”
This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Ismail, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch, Kathryn Drey, and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has pleaded guilty to robbery and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
Henry Sirnard Russell, 42, pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco to the charges of Interference with Commerce by Robbery and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
He entered his plea pursuant to a binding Plea Agreement with the government, in which the parties jointly agreed to a sentence of 240 months (20 years) in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for October 26, 2022.
According to the Plea Agreement, on October 12, 2021, Hoover Police responded to the Chevron convenience store in Hoover. The clerk of the store reported an armed male stole an undisclosed amount of money. The clerk saw the suspect leave in a grey SUV, and the police issued a BOLO to surrounding agencies. Vestavia Hills officers saw a vehicle matching the BOLO and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Henry Sirnard Russell was the sole occupant of the vehicle and appeared very nervous and was shaking. Russell was asked to exit his vehicle, but he refused and drove away. A short pursuit ensued, and Russell stopped his vehicle and fled on foot. Various law enforcement agencies arrived on scene, set up a perimeter, used a drone, a K-9, and a helicopter to assist in locating Russell. The search continued throughout the night until a Hoover Police Officer notified dispatch that he observed Russell on the northbound side of I-65 toward Hoover from Homewood. Officers immediately converged on the area and Russell fled into the wood line where he was arrested.
“Federal and local law enforcement agencies prioritize resources on individuals and factors that drive violent crime in communities and that pose a continual threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “People who persistently cause harm in our communities will receive the full attention of federal law enforcement.”
Russell has prior felony convictions for Domestic Violence, Assault (Second Degree), and Robbery (First and Second Degree).
FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Homewood Police Department, Hoover Police Department, and the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Darius Greene prosecuted the case.
Bellevue Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOISE – On Friday, July 1, 2022, Dakota James Hoffman, 29, of Bellevue, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced.
According to court records, Hoffman distributed oxycodone pills to a man with the initials A.K. who overdosed on fentanyl on April 2, 2020. A review of A.K.’s digital communications revealed that Hoffman had distributed oxycodone pills to A.K. approximately two weeks prior to the overdose. A subsequent investigation revealed that the oxycodone pills contained fentanyl. Additional investigation into Hoffman uncovered a separate incident where he distributed a fake oxycodone pill containing fentanyl to another individual that resulted in a non-fatal overdose. For his distribution, Hoffman was charged with distributing fentanyl, and he pleaded guilty on March 1, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson of the Eastern District of Arkansas, sitting by designation, imposed the sentence and ordered Hoffman to serve three years of supervised release to follow his incarceration. Hoffman was further ordered to pay restitution to the family of A.K.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Blaine County Sheriff’s office, and the Bellevue Marshals Office. Their investigation of this matter led to the successful prosecution of this case.
“Fentanyl is unlike any other drug threat we have faced,” Hurwit said. “No part of our nation has been able to escape from the spread of this poison. We must continue to speak out to make sure all Idahoans know about the threat of fentanyl-related overdose and poisoning. And we will hold accountable those who risk the lives of others by distributing this deadly drug.”
Only two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose, and it’s particularly dangerous for someone who does not have a tolerance to opioids.
According to the CDC, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022. Such deaths are now the leading cause of death for adults aged 18-45, and a staggering 67 percent of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Some of these deaths were attributed to fentanyl mixed with other illicit drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, with many users unaware they were actually taking fentanyl.
For more information about fentanyl and counterfeit pills, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
###
Atlantic City Man Sentenced to 125 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Kilogram Quantities of HeroinRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A member of an Atlantic City, New Jersey, drug-trafficking organization was sentenced today to 125 months in prison for conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Terryn Kelsey, 32, of Atlantic City, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
Seventeen other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy – Khalif Toombs, Tyjuan Demarest, Nasir Brown, Karon Carey, James Blackwell, Philip Surace, David Ramirez, Wilbert Toombs, Quadir Stanley, Dean Johnson, Khalif Davis, Joseph Aversa, Thomas Randall, Mayda Hernandez, Sarah Taliaferro, Wayne Burnside, and Blaine Dorsey – previously have pleaded guilty. Of those 17 defendants, 15 have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 135 months. The charges against four other defendants, Jeremy Carll, Valarie Lamar, Tieyesha Tucker, and Jamal Marshall, remain pending.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Kelsey, along with leader Khalif Toombs and other members of the drug conspiracy, trafficked heroin from Patterson, New Jersey and into Atlantic City throughout the course of the investigation. Kelsey admitted in court to conspiring with others to traffic between one and three kilograms of heroin during this time and to operating Toombs’ cellular phone to further the conspiracy. The investigation tracked multiple stamps of heroin being distributed by Toombs and others, including, “AK-47,” “Apple,” “Fortnite,” “Rolex,” “Frank Lucas,” “Bentley,” “Pandora,” and “9 ½.” Between Jan. 1, 2017, and June 21, 2019, those stamps accounted for 48 deaths and 84 non-fatal overdoses in New Jersey.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Kelsey to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI’s Safe Streets South Jersey Violent Incident and Gang Task Force, Atlantic City Resident Agency, and FBI, Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jesse Levine; officers of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Deputy Chief James A. Sarkos, the Interim Officer in Charge; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor William E. Reynolds; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Scheffler; and the Pleasantville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Riggin, with the investigation leading to today’s pleas. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the N.J. State Police for their assistance.
This case is being conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton and Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
For the four defendants whose charges remain pending, the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Armed robbery and illegal possession of firearm brings 102-month sentence for Columbus manRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kamar L. Cox, 23, of Columbus was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 102 months in prison for armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.
A jury convicted Cox of the crimes of robbery and illegal possession of a firearm following a trial in March. According to court documents and trial testimony, on Aug. 21, 2020, an individual working with the ATF attempted to conduct a controlled purchase of a machine gun from Cox for $500. Cox was in possession of a Glock handgun and demanded the $500. Agents later recovered the handgun while executing a search warrant at Cox’s apartment.
Cox’s sentence includes restitution in the amount of $500 and three years of supervised release after his prison term.
As a previously convicted felon, Cox was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.
# # #
Allen Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Allen, South Dakota, woman convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced on June 30, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Jonnie Fineran, age 20, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Fineran was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2020 and pleaded guilty on April 8, 2022. The murder charge stemmed from Fineran, acting with a juvenile cohort, killing a man by stabbing him repeatedly with a knife in July 2020 in Manderson, South Dakota.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Fineran was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Albuquerque men sentenced to prison for sex traffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Adonis Baker, 37, and Inkosi Grandberry, 40, both of Albuquerque, were sentenced for their parts in a sex trafficking ring.
Baker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and admitted that he used narcotics and physical force to cause victims to engage in prostitution. Baker and his co-conspirators advertised the victims online and used cellphones to arrange clients for the women. The victims were not allowed to keep any money paid to them for sex and were expected to work when they were told. The conspirators used motel rooms to harbor the victims. Baker was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Grandberry pleaded guilty to transportation for prostitution by coercion and enticement. In his plea, Grandberry admitted that on June 3, 2015, he aided and abetted Baker in persuading a victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe 1, to travel from Phoenix to Albuquerque for prostitution. Grandberry was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
A third defendant, Leotha Williams, 61, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to transportation for prostitution by coercion and enticement. In his plea, Williams admitted that he and Baker approached a victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, at a bus stop in Albuquerque between June 2016 and September 2016. Williams and Baker instructed the victim to get into a vehicle with them. They then traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Williams ensured that the victim engaged in prostitution. On July 16, 2020, Williams was sentenced to five years in prison, after which he will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Albuquerque Police Department, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Deliver Fund, an anti-human trafficking, non-governmental organization. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Letitia Carroll Simms and Joseph M. Spindle are prosecuting the case.
# # #
27-Year-Old Florida Man Sentenced to over 26 Years in Prison for Enticing Minors in New York, Kentucky, and New Jersey to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CHRISTOPHER NUNEZ was sentenced to 320 months in prison by United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas for his enticement of three minors to engage in sexual activity. The sentencing today followed NUNEZ’s guilty plea on February 28, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Christopher Nunez’s conduct is the nightmare of any parent. Today’s sentencing illustrates that we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who sexually exploit children.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
Between in or about early March 2021 up to and including on or about May 1, 2021, NUNEZ communicated online with a 15-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) and persuaded Victim-1 to meet NUNEZ in person to engage in sexual activities with him. On or about April 30, 2021 and May 1, 2021, NUNEZ travelled to New York from Miami, Florida to meet with Victim-1 in person in Westchester County, New York to engage in sexual activity with her.
On or about May 2, 2021, CHRISTOPHER NUNEZ was charged in the Town of North Salem with Rape in the Third Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. On October 5, 2021, NUNEZ pled guilty to Rape in the Third Degree.
The federal investigation revealed that, prior to Nunez’s abuse of Victim-1, he abused a 12-year-old girl (“Victim-2”) in Laurel County, Kentucky. Nunez engaged in sexually explicit communications online with Victim-2 beginning in or about January 1, 2021, when she was in 6th grade and 11 years old. During these communications, he persuaded Victim-2 to engage in sexually explicit activity, capture this activity in images and videos, and then transmit the photos and videos to Nunez. On March 6, 2021, Nunez travelled from his home in Florida to Laurel County, Kentucky, where he met Victim-2 in person and engaged in sexual activity with her.
The federal investigation also revealed that, in May and June of 2021, Nunez engaged in sexually explicit communications online with Victim-3, a 16-year-old in New Jersey. During these communications, Nunez persuaded Victim-3 to engage in sexually explicit activity, capture the activity in images and videos, and transmit the images and videos to Nunez.
On February 28, 2022, Nunez entered a guilty plea to a four-count federal Information, charging him with three counts of enticement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b) and one count of sexual exploitation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).
* * *
In addition to the prison term, NUNEZ, 27, was sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, and the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Westchester County DAs Office, Rockland County DAs Office, NYPD, Westchester County PD, and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo, and Clarkstown Police Departments, in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
11 arrested as part of narcotics distribution ring bringing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine into central OhioRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A multi-agency law enforcement task force today announced the arrests of eight men and three women indicted by a federal grand jury here for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio. The charges include dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. Local, state, and federal law enforcement officers executed 14 search warrants at various locations throughout Central Ohio and made the arrests between June 29 and July 1.
Those charged are:
Name
Age
City of Residence
Cordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro
35
Columbus
Patrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat
44
Columbus
David E. Price, aka DP
53
Columbus
Allison E. Smith, aka Alli
27
Columbus
Tavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci
22
Columbus
Tyler N. Bourdo
28
Columbus
Alexis C. Lewis
30
Columbus
Michael Fowler
45
Canton
Carmela Brooks
48
Canton
Dustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg
32
Columbus
Danny G. Mullins
53
Columbus
All are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, which is punishable by at least ten years and up to life in prison. The 12-count indictment alleges that some of the dealing over the past two years took place within 1000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School in Columbus. As part of the conspiracy, defendants created Limited Liability Companies in order to create bank accounts to deposit their drug proceeds.
The indictment alleges that the drug trafficking organization sold drugs out of local residences to customers and distributed larger amounts to regional drug traffickers.
“We’ve reached this milestone in this ongoing two-year investigation through meticulous and determined work by federal, local and state law enforcement agencies working together,” said Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “In this case, it appears the perpetrators of this offense had no regard for the children in the community as they allegedly dealt drugs within 1,000 feet of an elementary school.”
Parker announced that the indictment grew from an investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission task force which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, HIDTA Task Force, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.
This investigation 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.
Indictments merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Saturday 2 July 2022
Omaha Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that James Long, 34, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for transporting child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Long to 10 years of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Long will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Long was also ordered to pay $102,000 in restitution to the victims.
On December 14, 2015, Long uploaded child pornography from his online DropBox account to his Google account. On March 6, 2018, Long uploaded child pornography to Google Photos. On July 25, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Long’s Omaha residence. Long admitted to possessing and downloading child pornography. Agents located approximately 41,000 images and 11,000 videos of child pornography on his devices.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jury Finds MS-13 Members Guilty of Roles in Murdering Two JuvenilesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Five members of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, were convicted late yesterday by a federal jury for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of two adolescent boys in 2016.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, MS-13 gang members Elmer Zelaya Martinez, Ronald Herrera Contreras, Henry Zelaya Martinez, Pablo Velasco Barrera, and Duglas Ramirez Ferrera, along with their co-conspirators, targeted E.E.E.M., a 17-year-old resident of Falls Church, who they erroneously suspected was a member of the rival 18th Street gang. On the night of August 28, 2016, the gang lured E.E.E.M. to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County under the pretense that there was going to be a gang meeting there. Instead, in a wooded area of the park, gang members restrained, attacked, and killed E.E.E.M., stabbing and chopping him more than 100 times with knives, a machete, and a pickaxe. Afterwards, the gang broke one of E.E.E.M.’s legs so that his body would fit into the pre-dug hole that was nearby.
Court records and evidence presented at trial also established that the same gang members, along with their co-conspirators, targeted S.A.A.T., a 14-year-old resident of Alexandria, who they erroneously suspected was a police informant. On the evening of September 26, 2016, the gang told S.A.A.T. that there was going to be a gang meeting later that night and encouraged him to attend. Not long thereafter, S.A.A.T. went outside in his pajamas, telling his mother he was just taking out the trash. Eventually, several gang members picked up S.A.A.T. and drove him to the same park where they had killed E.E.E.M. The gang members restrained, attacked, and killed S.A.A.T., stabbing and chopping him with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. They also filmed the murder with a cell phone so that they could prove to gang leaders in the United States and in El Salvador that they deserved to be promoted in rank. Once S.A.A.T. was dead, the gang broke his legs and tied him up with his own pajama pants so that he would fit into the shallow grave that was dug for him that night.
To date, a total of 17 defendants have been charged in this case. Of those, five defendants went to trial and were convicted of all charges. Nine defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial. See the table below for additional information on the defendants who were convicted at trial.
Name
Age
Country of Origin
Convictions
Sentencing Info
Elmer Zelaya Martinez
31
El Salvador
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
Faces mandatory life
Ronald Herrera Contreras
24
El Salvador
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
Faces mandatory life
Henry Zelaya Martinez
28
El Salvador
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
Faces mandatory life
Pablo Velasco Barrera
24
El Salvador
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
Faces mandatory life
Duglas Ramirez Ferrera
25
El Salvador
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity; conspiracy to kidnap; murder in aid of racketeering activity; kidnapping resulting in death
Faces mandatory life
Each of the defendants convicted today faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering activity and for kidnapping resulting in death, in addition to the sentences they receive for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder in aid of racketeering activity and conspiracy to kidnap, the maximum sentences for which are ten years and life, respectively. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the verdict.
The FBI Washington Field Office, the Fairfax County Police Department, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Washington Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Alexandria Police Department, the Prince William County Police Department, the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department, and the Marin County (CA) Sheriff’s Office provided significant assistance on the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca H. Bellows, Alexander E. Blanchard, and Cristina C. Stam are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
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. 1:18-cr-123.
Friday 1 July 2022
Wilkes-Barre Moving Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay Required Federal Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jason T. Cawley, age 44, owner of J Cawley Moving, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2022, before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to failing to collect and pay over several years’ worth of required federal payroll taxes.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Cawley, who was responsible, as owner of J Cawley Moving, for collecting and paying over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) federal payroll taxes, including Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes, willfully failed to pay over to the IRS these required taxes for the period from 2015 through 2019, in the total amount of $398,726.61.
These charges stem from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 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.
# # #
Whiteriver Man Sentenced to 96 Months' Imprisonment for Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On June 29, 2022, Nathan Brooks Manuelito, 41, of Whiteriver, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 96 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Manuelito was previously convicted by a jury of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation or Attempted Strangulation, Assault of an Intimate Partner Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that on April 16, 2018, Manuelito repeatedly punched, kicked, and strangled the victim, who was his girlfriend. The victim suffered serious bodily injuries including bruising and a facial fracture. The assault happened on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, where Manuelito is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
The FBI and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra Sampson, Jillian Besancon, and Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8252-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-104_Manuelito_et_al# # #
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.
West Plains Man Sentenced for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A West Plains man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun, which was found in one of the two vehicles he stole within a week of each other.
Michael Bryant, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, June 28, to eight years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 18, 2021, Bryant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A Howell County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy located a stolen Mazda Miata in a trailer park located on County Road 6540 on Oct. 23, 2019. As the deputy was about to search the trailer, he heard glass break and saw Bryant jump out of the back window of the trailer. The deputy chased him until he injured his leg and Bryant was able to escape.
Another deputy arrived and searched the stolen vehicle. The deputy found a loaded Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun wedged between the driver’s side door and seat.
On Oct. 28, 2019, an individual called the Howell County Sheriff’s Department to report that a vehicle was stuck on a rock near the driveway of her rental property. Deputies arrived at the location and found an extensively damaged Chevrolet Silverado stuck on some rocks. The truck’s license plate was registered to another vehicle. Deputies learned that Bryant, who had a number of outstanding arrest warrants, had been operating the truck earlier in the day.
The deputies knocked on the door of a nearby residence. They were told that Bryant was no longer there, but refused permission to enter the residence to search for him. While the investigators began preparing a warrant to search the home, Bryant came out of the residence and was taken into custody.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Bryant has prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, stealing, resisting arrest, and possession of a controlled substance.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Wayne County Drug Dealer Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Goldsboro man was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. On March 22, 2022, Steven Eugene Patrick pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in March 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and Goldsboro Police Department began investigating Patrick and others in connection with the distribution of methamphetamine in and around Goldsboro. At the time of the investigation, Patrick, who has 17 criminal convictions during the last 34 years, was on state post-release supervision which required him to wear an ankle monitor and stay in the immediate proximity of his residence. On March 4, 2021, law enforcement was able to conduct a controlled purchase of more than 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Patrick. Because Patrick’s ankle monitor required him to stay close to his house, the drug sale occurred in the street just outside his home.
Michael 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. The Goldsboro Police Department and the ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Duffy 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-00351-M-1.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Postal Worker DayRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office is observing National Postal Worker Day by recognizing the men and women of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), including those with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) who investigate crimes related to the mails.
“As we all know, the men and women of the U.S. Postal Service work rain, sleet, or shine to ensure the U.S. mail system continues to function. Their work is critical and, as we have seen in our own district with the senseless murder of Irene Pressley, can also be dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. “I also want to thank our law enforcement partners within the USPS. These agents vigorously investigate crimes related to the mails - which include fraud, violence, and drug crimes - and protect the people of South Carolina and throughout the country.”
“The U.S. Postal Service serves 163.1 million addresses in the country — covering every state, city and town,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to enforcing the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal and dangerous use, persevering the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and most importantly, providing a safe environment for Postal employees and the American Public. We value our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina for supporting our mission and all the employees of the U.S. Postal Service across the country.”
Here in South Carolina, 6,798 postal employees from 415 postal facilities work hard every day to deliver letters and parcels to nearly every residence and business in South Carolina. This includes correspondence from loved ones, shipping orders, and important business documents.
As the agencies who police this system, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigates crimes relating to the mails, while the USPS OIG focuses on internal USPS cases and fraud against USPS.
In September of 2019, the U.S. Postal Service lost one of their own, Ms. Irene Pressley, 64. Ms. Pressley was brutally murdered while delivering mail on her route near Andrews. Postal Inspectors from South Carolina and all over the nation converged to Williamsburg County to investigate her murder and bring her killers to justice. The trial for the remaining defendants in that case is scheduled for October of this year.
Together, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the USPS’s law enforcement components have investigated and prosecuted numerous other crimes, including recent investigations leading to multiple arrests in armed robbery and burglary cases here in Columbia, the destruction of postal facilities, financial scams, and major drug trafficking operations.
South Carolina is safer because of the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and USPS OIG. As America heads into its annual celebration of Independence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office especially thanks all the men and women of the U.S. Postal Service for the work they do for this country.
###
Two Women Charged with Wire Fraud for Stealing Millions in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two women have been charged with engaging in fraud schemes to steal millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, beginning in June 2020, Tequisha Solomon, 39, of Las Vegas, and Takara Hughes, 35, of Maplewood, defrauded California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) and Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and other state agencies, by submitting fraudulent claims and applications for unemployment benefits that were authorized to provide relief to the American workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, while Solomon and Hughes resided in Nevada or Minnesota, they falsely claimed that they resided in Los Angeles or San Diego and worked as hairstylists in California. As a result, California’s EDD paid Solomon at least $37,000 and Hughes at least $46,000 in unemployment benefits.
According to court documents, Solomon and Hughes also fraudulently applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) small business loans, falsely claiming that they owned cleaning service businesses. As part of their fraud scheme, Solomon and Hughes submitted numerous fraudulent claims on behalf of other people and charged a fee for submitting those claims. In total, as a direct result of the material falsehoods and omissions, Solomon caused the United States and multiple state agencies to pay out at least $4.1 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits and EIDL and PPP small business loan proceeds. Hughes is responsible for at least $1.2 million in fraudulent benefits and loan proceeds.
Solomon is charged with six counts of wire fraud. In a separate indictment, Hughes is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung on July 15, 2022.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the St. Paul Police Department and the California Employment Development Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tifton Bartender Pleads Guilty for Distributing Meth, Fentanyl from L.A. to South Central GeorgiaRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Tifton man who was working as a bartender while brokering large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pleaded guilty to distribution.
Edgar Fernando Neri aka Colocho, 21, of Tifton, Georgia pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine before U.S. Senior District Judge Hugh Lawson on June 21. Neri faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant was attempting to move large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl into a small South Central Georgia community; discussions of trafficking firearms, a rocket launcher and body armor also occurred, further illustrating the violent criminal element surrounding the illegal distribution of drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are working with law enforcement at every level to hold individuals accountable for those crimes which most affect the safety and security of our region.”
“A large amount of illegal drugs was taken off the streets of South Central Georgia. We will continue to dedicate resources to investigating drug activity to make our communities safer. Thank you to our federal partners for being a force multiplier when it comes to successfully investigating and prosecuting these types of cases,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
“This defendant posed a clear and present danger to the Tifton community by dealing in dangerous drugs, including discussions of firearms trafficking,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division. “Thanks to collaborative partnerships between the DEA and its law enforcement partners, this defendant no longer poses a threat to Tifton and elsewhere.”
According to court documents, GBI agents developed a confidential source (CS) in late August 2021 who had information regarding the distribution of methamphetamine in Tifton (Tift County). The CS had been purchasing from a local bartender known as "Colocho" who was wanting the CS to purchase larger amounts of drugs that would come from a source in Los Angeles. During the course of the investigation, Neri discussed moving pounds of methamphetamine, multiple kilos of cocaine, as well as the purchase of body armor, rifles, a rocket launcher and rockets with his supplier in California.
Multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from Neri and Neri arranged for shipments of more methamphetamine and fentanyl pills, also referred to as “Percocet,” from the source. Packages containing three pounds of methamphetamine and 1,990 blue fentanyl pills were sent from Neri’s source in L.A. to Tifton in Oct. 2021; Neri was taken into custody on Oct. 19, 2021. Neri is being held responsible for distributing 1,290.93 grams of actual methamphetamine based on the high level of purity of the methamphetamine involved and 1,990 pills containing fentanyl and weighing 205.92 grams.
The case was investigated by DEA, GBI and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. McCullers is prosecuting the case.
Three Found Guilty in Human Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
DEL RIO – This week, a federal jury sitting in Del Rio convicted three defendants of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, both in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roberto Galeas-Mejia, 45, from Honduras who resided in San Antonio; Eva Maria Galeas, aka Eva Huerta-Galeas, 42, of San Antonio; and Lisa Maria Ortega, 24, of San Antonio, conspired together to run a human alien smuggling operation (ASO) and to launder the monetary proceeds of their unlawful activities. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents linked at least 28 events of transporting and harboring undocumented non-citizens to this ASO and arrested over 200 non-citizens who were smuggled by the ASO. In addition, HSI seized $603,593 in ASO proceeds from the residence of Roberto Galeas-Mejia. All are scheduled for sentencing on January 25, 2023.
Co-defendants Sandra Galeas-Mejia, 46, of San Antonio and Norma Galeas-Mejia, 50, of Houston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324. Sandra Galeas is scheduled for sentencing on August 30, 2022. Norma Galeas is scheduled for sentencing on September 28, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee made the announcement.
HSI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley, Antonio Franco and Holly Pavlinski are prosecuting the case.
###
Texas man charged with two bank robberies in ClovisRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that James Edward Robinson, Jr., was charged by criminal complaint with two counts of bank robbery. Robinson, 50, made an initial appearance in federal court today and will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing.
According to a criminal complaint, on June 17, Robinson allegedly entered the Washington Federal Bank on North Prince Street in Clovis, New Mexico, and waited for an open teller station. Robinson allegedly approached a teller, handed her a grocery bag and demanded she put all the money from her station in the bag. Robinson then allegedly demanded that the teller take the bag to another teller, and demanded that the second teller put all the money from her station in the bag as well. After collecting the money, Robinson allegedly fled the bank.
On June 27, Robinson allegedly entered the US Bank on North Prince Street. Robinson allegedly approached a teller and handed her a bag for the money from her station. After taking the money, Robinson allegedly left the bank and entered a vehicle parked at another business nearby.
Clovis Police later identified and arrested Robinson.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Robinson faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Clovis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tavo Hall is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Tacoma woman pleads guilty to wire fraud for stealing more than $600,000 from friends and acquaintancesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 40-year-old Tacoma woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to one count of wire fraud for a scheme to defraud various friends and acquaintances, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Sabrina Taylor admitted to lying about her health, employment status, and her education to steal more than $600,000 from people who had offered to help her. Taylor will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez on October 7, 2022.
Starting in 2013, and continuing into July 2019 and beyond, Taylor convinced various people to provide her with large amounts of money by claiming that she needed to purchase medicine for multiple sclerosis, pay her tuition for the University of Washington, or bail her brother out of jail. In fact, Taylor did not have multiple sclerosis, was not paying tuition to U.W., and did not have a brother in jail. Rather, Taylor used a substantial portion of the defrauded funds to pay for luxuries such as almost $60,000 for multiple trips to Japan and Korea, nearly $38,000 for online purchases from Amazon and Etsy, more than $29,000 for clothing, and nearly $16,000 for make-up.
Taylor also made false claims about how she was planning to repay loans, lying about her employment, a litigation settlement from a local bank, and funds she expected to receive from her parents.
Taylor met some of the people she defrauded online, using shared interests such as Japanese anime, comic books, or video games to establish a relationship. Taylor admitted to stealing over $550,000 from one victim.
Prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 27 months in prison for Taylor. However, Chief Judge Martinez is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence up to the statutory maximum 20 years after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Taylor will also pay restitution to her victims for the money she stole.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Silvio.
Swansea Man Arrested for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Swansea man has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Todd Miozza, 51, was charged with possession of child pornography. Miozza was arrested on June 29, 2022 and, following an initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, Miozza was detained pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for July 5, 2022.
“My number one priority as U.S. Attorney is to keep the people of Massachusetts healthy and safe,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Child pornography is not a victimless crime. Although a person who views child sexual abuse material may never meet the children depicted in the imagery, a child was harmed to produce each image and each view and image exacerbates that harm. Some of the images in this case allegedly involve infants. We will dedicate every resource necessary to protect children.”
“Miozza stands accused of the same crime of which he was convicted of two decades ago—possession of child pornography. These materials document the abuse and exploitation of children, a horrific violation that inflicts untold harm on the most vulnerable. Homeland Security Investigations is committed to investigating those who possess child sexual abuse materials as part of our ongoing mission to prevent and protect the public from crimes of exploitation,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, New England.
According to the charging document, law enforcement received information that Miozza had shared child pornography over the internet using a social media platform. During a search of Miozza’s residence yesterday morning, his iPhone and laptop were seized and found to contain child sexual abuse material – including videos depicting infants.
Miozza was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in the District of Massachusetts in 2002.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of possession of child pornography by a person previously convicted of a child pornography offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, HSI SAC Millhollin and Swansea Police Chief Marc Haslam made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sulphur Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Justin M. Marks, 35, of Sulphur, Louisiana, has been sentenced for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Marks to 43 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to information presented to the court, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call involving the shooting of a canine on October 13, 2020. Deputies arrived at the residence and observed a dog with a gunshot wound to the upper chest. Witnesses were interviewed at the scene by deputies, and they approached the residence and made contact with Marks. After being advised of his Miranda warning, Marks agreed to speak with the deputies and admitted to shooting his neighbor’s dog. He produced the firearm that was used, and it was seized by law enforcement officers.
Marks admitted that he knew as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He has prior felony convictions for simple arson, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, and simple damage to property in 2008; and possession of methamphetamine in 2021.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and Craig R. Bordelon.
# # #
Statement from U.S. Attorney Shier Regarding Floyd County ShootingRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is aware of the Floyd County shooting incident involving law enforcement, which occurred late yesterday and into the early morning hours of today. As the investigation of this incident progresses, we stand with our local and state law enforcement partners. We are offering our support and our federal resources to assist them in their investigation of this shooting. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic event, especially the family members, friends, and colleagues of the law enforcement and first responders lost or injured.
St. Louis man admits committing two carjackingsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man on Friday admitted committing two separate armed carjackings, including one that victimized a woman in her 70s.
Andre Whitfield, 32, stole a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix at gunpoint on April 21, 2020, from a woman who had given him a ride.
On May 13, 2020, Whitfield took a 2010 Toyota Corolla from a woman in her 70s. The woman’s purse, which contained $700, was in the vehicle when it was stolen. Police later spotted the car, and Whitfield crashed after a high-speed chase.
Police found an AR-15 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol in the car.
Whitfield pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. At his sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 7, he faces at least 14 years in prison, as each gun charge carries a mandatory seven-year sentence consecutive to his other crimes. The carjacking charges are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
At the time of the carjackings, Whitfield was on supervised release from a 2011 gun case.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Hillsdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.
Springdale Man Sentenced to over 27 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced yesterday to 330 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $10,000.00 in fines on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
“The increase in violent crime in the Western District of Arkansas is directly tied to dangerous drug traffickers who use firearms in furtherance of their drug distribution,” said United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. “Our office is determined to reduce violent crime in the Western District of Arkansas by using Project Safe Neighborhoods and OCDETF to target violent drug traffickers with lengthy criminal records. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute these dangerous criminals who distribute drugs in our communities and who use firearms and threaten violence to advance their distribution activities.”
According to court documents, In October 2018, the FBI initiated an investigation into Antonio Hernandez, age 36, while he was incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Correction, Varner Supermax. The investigation revealed that Hernandez was utilizing a contraband cell phone to operate a drug trafficking organization, which was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine into Northwest Arkansas from the Mexican border. Hernandez was released from the Department of Correction in September of 2021.
On October 18, 2021, while conducting surveillance, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force observed a known vehicle frequently used by Hernandez leave an apartment complex near his residence. Detectives visually confirmed Hernandez to be the driver of the vehicle. Detectives followed and made contact with Hernandez as he exited the vehicle. Detectives approached and identified themselves as police. During the contact with Hernandez, he was asked if he had any weapons on his person. Hernandez advised he had a gun in his waistband. As one of the detectives was removing the firearm, Hernandez stated, "I've got something else in my pocket." As the detective reached into his pocket to remove some flex-cuffs, Hernandez darted to his left and attempted to flee. He broke free momentarily, but detectives were able to quickly regain control. Hernandez was detained in handcuffs and subsequently searched.
A search of Hernandez's vehicle was conducted. During the search detectives located a backpack containing a box of ammunition and two baggies containing a distribution amount of methamphetamine. In addition, a second loaded magazine for the firearm Hernandez had on his person was found under the driver's seat. In a post-Miranda interview Hernandez advised the detective he had the firearm "for protection."
Hernandez was arrested and taken to the Washington County Detention Center where he has been detained. According to court documents, Hernandez continued to operate his drug trafficking organization from the detention center by using the jail’s phone system.
In addition to the firearm, the United States District Court also held Hernandez accountable for the distribution of 30 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This effort is also 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.
South Georgia physician admits participating in conspiracy to illegally distribute drugsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Coffee County physician and two of his employees have admitted participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed massive amounts of addictive controlled substances from a pain management clinic.
Dr. Wallace Steven Anderson, 68, of Douglas, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Unlawfully Distribute and Dispense Schedule IV Controlled Substances, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Anderson to up to five years in prison followed by at least one year of supervised release and substantial financial penalties.
“Our office remains committed to fighting the opioid crisis that has afflicted far too many people in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to bring to justice those like Dr. Anderson who use their positions as medical professionals to illegally distribute dangerous and addictive drugs.”
Anderson is the owner of Steve Anderson, PC, and Steve Anderson Behavioral Health, both located in Douglas, Ga. In pleading guilty, Anderson admits that from Feb. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2020, his nominal pain management and addiction facilities distributed alprazolam, temazepam, and clonazepam “not for legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice” by providing pre-signed refill prescriptions prior to patient examinations.
Two employees at the clinics, Bridgett Stephanie Taylor, 55, of Broxton, Ga., a Nurse Practitioner who worked under Anderson, and Wandle Keith Butler, 57, of Douglas, a Physician Assistant who worked under Anderson, also await sentencing after previously pleading guilty in the conspiracy.
“Americans rely on physicians and other healthcare providers to help their patients and to ‘do no harm.’ This pill-peddling physician and his co-conspirators violated the law and betrayed the responsibilities of their profession by unlawfully dispensing highly-addictive controlled substances,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The law enforcement community is committed to stopping unscrupulous medical professionals from harming patients.”
The case was investigated under the 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.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Savannah Resident Office; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; and the Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Office; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Josephson and Bradford C. Patrick.
Selma Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Converted MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Selma man was sentenced to seven years in prison for being a convicted felon in illegal possession of a pistol equipped with a machinegun-conversion device.
According to court documents, Danny Jermaine Walker, 32, was arrested in August 2019 after leading Selma police on a high-speed chase on U.S. Highway 80 East. Police had clocked Walker’s car traveling 98 mph in a 55-mph zone. Officers attempted to pull Walker over for speeding, but he refused to stop. During the ensuing chase, Walker swerved and sideswiped another car, causing it to crash. Walker eventually stopped his car and officers approached to arrest him. Walker appeared to be under the influence, was slow to obey verbal commands, and did not get out of his car when ordered to do so. Officers eventually pulled Walker out of the car and took him into custody.
On the driver’s-side floorboard of Walker’s car, officers recovered a loaded Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun-conversion device called a Glock “switch.” Police also found a clear bag containing 29.8 grams of suspected ecstasy pills and a box of .40-caliber ammunition in the car. Federal agents test-fired the pistol and determined that with the “switch” installed, the pistol was an illegal automatic machinegun under federal law.
Walker was previously convicted of felony manslaughter, second-degree assault, discharging a gun into an occupied building, and attempted burglary. His prior felony convictions rendered his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law. Walker was released on parole in 2019 and was on parole at the time of his arrest in August 2019.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Selma Police Department investigated the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Yesterday, a San Antonio man was sentenced to 230 months in prison for receipt of child pornography by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2020, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Louis Anthony Soucie, 59. During the search, digital devices were recovered that contained 48 videos and 580 images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“At sentencing, Soucie never mentioned remorse for his actions, commenting instead on the new start he would get in prison,” said Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Callahan. “Judge Pulliam rightfully reminded everyone that Soucie’s victims don’t get a chance for a new start. It is my hope that his sentence will bring some semblance of justice to his victims.”
“This sentence is fitting of the heinous crime that is child exploitation,” said Craig S. Larrabee, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI, San Antonio. “HSI will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure that these predators feel the full weight of the law.”
On March 22, 2022, Soucie pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison sentence, Soucie will be on a lifetime of supervision once he completes his prison term.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Rutland Woman Charged with Making False Statements to a Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Morgan Gates, 27, of Rutland, Vermont, was arrested yesterday after making false statements to a federal firearms dealer in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Gates is scheduled to make her first court appearance on July 5, 2022 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
According to documents in the case, including the criminal complaint charging Gates, on June 29, 2022, Gates attempted to purchase a firearm at a Rutland dealer with a federal firearms license (“the FFL”). The FFL had reason to believe that Gates was an active drug user, delayed her purchase, and contacted the Rutland Police Department. While law enforcement investigated the attempted purchase, Rutland Police detectives learned that Gates had successfully purchased a Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun from a different FFL located in Rutland on June 29, 2022. In coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations, Rutland Police detectives located Gates and detained her. A search of Gates’s residence in Rutland did not recover the Glock firearm but did result in the seizure of ammunition of multiple calibers and an empty box of 9x19mm ammunition. The Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun purchased by Gates has not yet been recovered.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that the criminal complaint is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years of imprisonment on the current charge. Any sentence in the case will be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest credited the Rutland Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations for its quick and collaborative work in addressing this illicit gun transaction. U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest added, “Federally licensed firearms dealers are the first line of defense in stopping unlawful firearms sales and ensuring only those who pass federal background checks are allowed to purchase firearms. FFLs who work closely with law enforcement play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.”
AUSA Jonathan Ophardt represents the government. Gates is represented by Katina Ready, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn for more information.
Rochester Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing HandgunRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Alexander Dehoyos, 40, of Rochester, New York, was charged by a felony indictment yesterday with one count of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The indictment alleges that Dehoyos possessed a Glock firearm in Onondaga County, New York, on June 5, 2022, after having previously been convicted of a felony. The charge filed against Dehoyos carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Solvay Police Department, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Reno Man Arrested and Charged for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla L. Baldwin for allegedly robbing a bank.
Jerry Michael Fambro (66) is charged by a criminal complaint with one count of bank robbery. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 15, 2022.
According to allegations contained in the complaint, on June 29, 2022, Fambro approached a bank teller and said, “If you don’t give me all the hundreds in the drawer, I will start shooting up the branch.” He grabbed the cash and fled the bank. Law enforcement arrested Fambro approximately 5 ½ hours later outside of a casino in downtown Reno. He allegedly stole $2,769 from the bank.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force which is comprised of members from the FBI, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Reno Police Department, Nevada Parole and Probation, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow is prosecuting the case.
A complaint contains merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
###
Readout of First Site Visit of Critical Incident Review Team of the Law Enforcement Response to the Mass Shooting in Uvalde, TexasRead the Press Release
As part of the work that began several weeks ago and is ongoing, the Department of Justice’s Critical Incident Review Team examining the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, conducted its first site visit the week of June 27. Justice Department staff were joined by subject matter experts in conducting meetings and gathering pertinent information. This site visit, and all subsequent site visits, are just one piece of what will be a thorough and comprehensive review. We anticipate the cooperation of all the agencies involved in the response, as the department is committed to moving forward with a full, fair and complete accounting. The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses; identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events; and provide a roadmap for community safety before, during and after such incidents. The department will make its full findings and recommendations publicly available at the completion of the review.
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco’s Meeting with the Retail Industry Leaders AssociationRead the Press Release
Yesterday, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa O. Monaco met with a group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s annual Washington, D.C., summit to discuss a host of issues impacting the industry nationwide — including cybersecurity as well as violent crime and gun violence.
On cybersecurity, the DAG cautioned the CEOs to be mindful of what the Justice Department continues to see as the “blended threat” of sophisticated cyber-criminal groups and nation-state actors forming alliances of convenience, of opportunity, and by design. She encouraged retailers to bolster their cyber defensives and proactively develop a relationship with their local FBI.
In discussing how the Justice Department is combating violent crime and gun violence, the DAG also addressed organized retail crime, in particular, the federal charges U.S. Attorneys across the country are bringing in instances of aggravated retail theft. The DAG also highlighted the federal resources and expertise that the Department’s law enforcement components are providing to our state and local partners, including as members of retail theft task forces.
Lastly, the DAG took the opportunity to reiterate that corporate criminal enforcement is a priority for the Justice Department and stressed to the CEOs the importance of fostering a strong culture of corporate compliance.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced today that ROY MOORE, 56, who resided on the Wind River Reservation at the time of offenses, was sentenced for sexual abuse of a minor and the commission of a felony sex offense by a registered sex offender on June 28, 2022, by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. Moore was sentenced to 120 months and one day in prison, plus 15 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment.
Due to a conviction in Louisiana, Moore has been required to register as a sex offender since 2000. Between 2009 and 2015, he was residing on the Wind River Reservation when he committed the instant felony sex offense against a minor.
“We commend the efforts of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation which led to the successful prosecution of this case,” said Acting United States Attorney Nick Vassallo.
“Child sex offenders prey on the most vulnerable victims. In this case, a registered sex offender was again found guilty of sexually abusing a child and will spend the next 10 years in prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “The FBI is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation.”
This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case.
Case No. 20-CR-00181-SWS
Previously Convicted Felon Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Brenton Preston, 25, was sentenced late yesterday to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on May 8, 2021, Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop Preston after they observed him driving 80 miles-per-hour in a 55 miles-per-hour zone in Westfield, Indiana. Preston fled from the deputies and led them on a high-speed chase reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles-per-hour, until Preston lost control of his car and crashed into a field. Preston continued to flee on foot but was eventually apprehended. Deputies arrested Preston, who appeared to be intoxicated, and recovered a loaded handgun and a liquor bottle from the front passenger floorboard of the car. Preston’s DNA was later found on the firearm.
Evidence presented at sentencing showed that Preston was on probation for a prior armed robbery conviction at the time of this incident and that he had recently been arrested in Marion County, Indiana, for illegally possessing another firearm and firing shots inside a girlfriend’s home. Preston was on pretrial supervision with GPS monitoring in the Marion County case at the time of the high-speed chase and his arrest.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Chief Ed Gebhart, Fishers Police Department, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force investigated the case. The Fishers Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives provided valuable assistance. U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney imposed the sentence following Preston’s guilty plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Preston be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). ICGTF is a partnership of law enforcement officers and analysts from several central Indiana law enforcement agencies in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties. In cooperation with state, local, and federal partners, ICGTF collaborates to address violent crime through a comprehensive strategy including innovative approaches to locating suspects and evidence related to violent crimes and illegal possession of firearms.
Additionally, this case is also 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Polk Alternative Education Center Mental Health Therapist Sentenced to over a Decade in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A former mental health therapist and licensed independent social worker who was employed by Polk Alternative Education Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who pursued a romantic relationship with a fourteen-year-old student from 2019 to 2020, was sentenced today to more than eleven years in federal prison.
Miranda Breeden, age 46, from Monticello, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 13, 2021 guilty plea to one count of enticement of a minor.
At the guilty plea, Breeden admitted that between November 2019 and January 2020, she knowingly enticed a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
At the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that messages between Breeden and the fourteen-year-old victim began in November 2019. In December 2019, Breeden agreed to purchase a firearm for the teenager and did purchase a firearm at Theisen’s. Also in December 2019, Breeden took the victim and his minor friend to her parent’s residence in Scotch Grove, Iowa, for an overnight stay where they used a hot tub, smoked marijuana, and discharged firearms. In January 2020, Breeden checked into at least two hotel rooms with the victim and his minor friends in the Cedar Rapids area, and attempted to check into a third hotel room at the Isle of Capri casino in Davenport, Iowa. During this same time period, Breeden also rented and stayed in another hotel room with the minor’s brother, and his minor friend. The investigation revealed that Breeden had sex with the minor victim while in hotel rooms, inside her personal vehicle, and during school hours in her locked office. During the above described time period, Breeden was employed as the victim’s mental health therapist at the Polk Alternative Education Center in Cedar Rapids.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge called Breeden’s behavior “horribly egregious” and stated that providing a deadly weapon to a child was both reckless and dangerous.
Breeden was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Breeden was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. She must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison erm. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Breeden is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Liz Dupuich and Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-65.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for 2021 Burglary of Pinnacle Gun and AmmoRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Corey A. Brooks, 30, of the 600 block of SW Adams Street, was sentenced on June 29, 2022, to 63 months in prison for burglarizing a gun store and possessing firearms as a felon. Brooks will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that early in the morning of July 7, 2021, Brooks shattered a window at a federal firearms licensee known as Pinnacle Gun and Ammo, located in the 700 block of Main Street in Peoria. Brooks then climbed into the business through the window and stole 18 handguns and two shotguns, leaving through the back door of the business and fleeing from the scene on foot. Surveillance footage and drops of blood left behind by Brooks enabled the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Peoria Police to trail and identify Brooks and locate the two shotguns, which had been abandoned in a wooded area. A photograph was released to the public, and Brooks was identified and arrested the same day. At the time of his arrest, Brooks was in possession of one of the stolen handguns. The gun was loaded with ammunition. Brooks was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to his four prior felony convictions.
In a post-arrest interview, Brooks admitted that financial gain was the motive for the burglary. He refused to provide information about the location of the 17 stolen weapons. Brooks stated that he was not troubled by the potential for the weapons to be used in further crimes against members of the community.
Also at the sentencing hearing, the government stated that law enforcement recovered three of the stolen guns in a garage in Peoria on July 8, 2021, and, later that day, 11 more guns were located by a young child in a pillowcase in an alley in a residential part of the city. Finally, another one of the stolen guns was recovered during a traffic stop in Peoria in December 2021. At the time it was recovered, the firearm was loaded and equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine and was in the possession of a documented gang member with a prior felony conviction. In total, law enforcement has recovered 18 of the 20 guns stolen by Brooks from Pinnacle on July 7, 2021.
Brooks was indicted in July 2021 and entered a plea of guilty in March of this year.
“Stolen guns are crime guns. They fuel illicit trafficking and are used by violent criminals to terrorize our communities,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ronald L. Hanna. “Individuals who burglarize federal firearms licensees will face federal prosecution.”
“When firearms are stolen from Federal Firearms Licensees, they enter the illegal market and most often become crime guns,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division Kristen deTineo. “This case is an excellent example how not only law enforcement and prosecutors work together hold traffickers accountable, but also how important the community is in assisting to identify those responsible.”
The Peoria Police Department and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Brooks was brought as part of The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The Department’s renewed commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods establishes four fundamental principles to guide efforts to reduce violent crime: 1) build trust and legitimacy within communities; 2) invest in community-based prevention and intervention programs; 3) target enforcement and priorities to focus resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of gun violence and other violent crime; and, 4) measure results with the goal to reduce the level of violence in our communities and not to increase the number of arrests and prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves.
Owasso Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder After Fatal Meth Fueled Auto CollisionRead the Press Release
An Owasso man who drove under the influence of methamphetamine and caused a crash that killed another driver pleaded guilty in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Bradley Wade Wofford, 35, pleaded guilty to second degree felony murder in Indian Country on June 15, 2022.
On June 10, 2019, Wofford was driving a Ford F-150 on U.S. 412 near County Road 4180 when an accident further down the road caused traffic to slow. Wofford failed to follow suit and rear-ended victim Scotty Dilbeck’s Volkswagon, killing him. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol calculated that Wofford had been driving approximately 66 mph when he struck Dilbeck, who was driving 11 mph.
Prior to the collision, Wofford had also been convicted of driving under the influence.
The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case.
North Bay Accountant Sentenced to 29 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud, Embezzlement of Credit Union Funds, and Tax Evasion in Connection with Schemes to Defraud Cavallo Point Lodge and Redwood Credit UnionRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Stephanie Simontacchi was sentenced to 29 months in prison for bank fraud, embezzlement of credit union funds, and tax evasion in connection with schemes to use her access as an accountant to enrich herself at the expense of two former employers, announced U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, and IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William H. Orrick, U.S. District Judge.
According to her plea agreement, Simontacchi, 48, of Petaluma, was employed as a bookkeeper and controller at Cavallo Point Lodge (CPL), a hotel near Sausalito, Calif., from December 2009 through April 2016. While employed at CPL, Simontacchi had access to CPL’s accounting records systems and had signatory authority over CPL’s bank accounts. Simontacchi admitted that between October 2012 and March 2016, she used her skills as an accountant and access to CPL’s accounting systems to steal approximately 81 accounts payable checks issued by CPL and accounts receivable checks intended for CPL. Simontacchi deposited the checks into her personal bank accounts for her own personal gain. Simontacchi acknowledged in her plea agreement that her false representations and statements caused financial institutions to part with approximately $384,363.28 that belonged to CPL.
In addition, Simontacchi admitted that between April 2016 and April 2019, she also was employed as a senior accountant and accounting manager at Redwood Credit Union (RCU), a credit union, where she was responsible for processing voided cashier’s checks and other accounting-related tasks for the credit union. Simontacchi admitted that she used her position to embezzle and misapply approximately 35 checks including voided cashier’s checks returned to RCU by its members, United States Treasury checks, and State of California checks intended for RCU. She deposited the checks into her personal bank and credit card accounts for personal use and used the funds to make payments toward a personal home equity line of credit. Combined, the checks amounted to at least $437,162.24.
Further, Simontacchi admitted that between 2014 and June 2020, she attempted to evade and defeat income tax that she owed. Specifically, she caused to be prepared and filed false tax returns for the calendar years of 2013-2019. Simontacchi acknowledged that the total tax loss from her misconduct was over $100,000.
On June 24, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Simontacchi charging her with seven counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2); seven counts of misapplication and embezzlement of credit union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657; and four counts of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Simontacchi pleaded guilty to one count of each crime and has agreed to pay at least $821,525.52 in restitution.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Orrick ordered Simontacchi to serve three years of supervised release to begin after her prison term. Judge Orrick ordered Simontacchi to surrender on or before August 11, 2022 to begin serving her prison term. The court has not yet scheduled a hearing to make final determinations regarding restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amani S. Floyd and Kristina Green are prosecuting this case. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.
Nigerian National Extradited and Charged with Stealing Financial Information and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
A Nigerian national made his initial appearance in a federal court in Cleveland today following his extradition from Ghana to the Northern District of Ohio to face charges for his alleged role in a conspiracy that obtained stolen financial information, made fraudulent and unauthorized purchases of retail goods and gift cards and stole funds from victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere.
Blessing Adeleke, 31, of Nigeria, was charged in a 17-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and 16 counts of bank fraud.
Ghanian authorities arrested Adeleke on March 14, 2022, in Accra, Ghana. Following judicial proceedings, Ghanaian authorities transferred Adeleke into U.S. custody on June 28, 2022.
During his initial appearance, Adeleke waived his detention hearing and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
According to court documents, from January 2014 through October 2016, Adeleke served as an administrator for an online marketplace, Shad0w.info, where compromised data, such as credit numbers and personally identifiable information (PII), were sold.
As part of the conspiracy, it is alleged that Adeleke and others obtained stolen credit card information and purchased items, such as retail goods and gift cards for themselves. It is alleged that Adeleke shared this stolen credit card information with others, including co-defendant Kylie Ann Harlow.
The indictment states that Adeleke and Harlow shipped retail goods purchased with the stolen financial information to Harlow and others and, in some instances, returned the goods and gift cards to retail stores to obtain cash. It is alleged that Adeleke and Harlow eventually forwarded the fraudulently obtained goods, gift cards and cash to other members of the conspiracy for their personal enrichment.
Additionally, Adeleke is charged with gaining access to online victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere and transferring thousands of dollars to Harlow and other members of the conspiracy.
Kylie Ann Harlow previously pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and was sentenced in June 2021.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Brian S. Deckert.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support and assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Ghana. The U.S. Department of Justice thanks its Ghanian partners, specifically the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, for supporting this extradition. The FBI Legal Attaché in Accra and the U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant support and assistance to Adeleke’s extradition.
Nampa Man Sentenced to 10 years for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE - A Nampa man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, Gilbert Garza, 27, of Nampa, fled from Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole officers who were lawfully visiting his home as part of his parole. With the Meridian Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team’s assistance, law enforcement officers found Garza in a vacant apartment nearby. After arresting Garza, officers lawfully searched his home and found a stolen handgun, approximately one quarter pound of methamphetamine, 62.9 grams of cocaine, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills, and $3,360 in cash. Law enforcement officers also found a digital scale and a large quantity of small baggies that are commonly used for weighing and packaging drugs for distribution.
Garza has a criminal history spanning 14 years. His prior state convictions include unlawful possession of a financial transaction card, aggravated assault, delivery of a controlled substance, and petit theft.
U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson, from the Eastern District of Arkansas, sitting by designation, ordered Garza to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Garza pleaded guilty to the charge on March 10, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the investigation by the Idaho Department of Correction and the Meridian City Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant United States Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. It provides assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. Idaho is part of the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA is a collaboration of local, multi-jurisdictional law enforcement drug task forces, and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Kootenai, and Malheur Counties.
###