Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
16 August 2022
Local Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison After Being in Possession of a Firearm During an Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Reginald Pigram, 39, has been sentenced to 102 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm during an attempted robbery. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 15, 2020, officers with the Memphis
Police Department responded to an attempted robbery at a gas station on Old Austin Peay Highway.
The victim reported that while he was unloading his delivery truck, a male approached him, lifted his shirt to brandish a firearm, and demanded that the victim hand over his wallet. The victim pulled out a knife and refused, and the suspect walked away to a hotel next door. The victim briefly followed the suspect, who then pointed the firearm at the victim.Responding officers went to the hotel and the management identified the suspect as a guest and led officers to a specific room where he was staying. When officers knocked on the door to the room and announced their presence, they heard someone manipulating the toilet lid. Several minutes after officers repeatedly knocked on the door, Pigram answered the door. He matched the suspect description and was detained.
Officers secured the hotel room, obtained a warrant, and recovered two handguns and multiple magazines (including one high capacity) from the tank of the toilet. One of the handguns was a
Ruger .45 and the other was a Springfield .45.On October 26, 2021, Pigram pled guilty to being a felon in possession of two firearms.
On August 11, 2022, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Pigram to 102 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
Liberian National Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for His Role in an Online Romance Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Michael Moore, 40, a Liberian national, to 10 years in prison for his role in an online romance scheme that targeted older adults, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Conrad also ordered Moore to pay more than $1.7 million as restitution to the victims of the fraud.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Barry Chastain, Port Director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Area in Charlotte join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, including evidence presented at Moore’s October 2021 trial, beginning in January 2016, Moore and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme to defraud unsuspecting victims, many of whom were in or near retirement, by perpetrating an online romance scam. According to court records, Moore and his co-conspirators generally targeted victims through Facebook, senior dating websites, and other social media platforms, convincing victims through online communications that they were romantically interested in the victims. The fraudsters, who often claimed they were located overseas for work, would start requesting gift cards or small amounts of money, often falsely telling the victims they needed the money to pay for airfare or other travel expenses to visit the victims. Generally, the fraudsters would then up the ante and request more money to supposedly pay for additional fictitious fees or costs in order for the visits to take place or for packages to clear customs. Evidence at trial showed that Moore and his co-conspirators would continue to take the victims’ money until there was no more money left.
Trial evidence showed that Moore served as the scheme’s “money man” or “bagman.” As part of the scheme, Moore purchased one-way tickets and flew around the country to meet with and pick up money from unsuspecting victims located in multiple cities. Moore was caught trying to fly out of Charlotte with $75,000 in cash, which he had collected from a victim. During the trial, the government presented evidence of pictures and videos that depicted Moore with piles of cash, bragging about the money he had taken from victims. In total, Moore and his co-conspirators stole over $1.5 million from at least 30 victims through this romance scheme.
In addition, evidence at trial further established that Moore lied to CBP officers and HSI agents when he was questioned at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after he was caught attempting to carry $75,000 in cash through airport security. Instead of telling law enforcement the truth – that he had received the cash from a romance scam victim – Moore told law enforcement that he had received the money from a Liberian government official to buy used cars. Later, Moore made similar false statements and representations on a federal form in an attempt to have the $75,000 returned to him.
A federal jury convicted Moore of wire fraud and two counts of making a false statement to an agency of the United States. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In determining today’s sentence, the Court highlighted the heinous nature of the crimes and Moore’s callous cruelty toward his victims, which caused the victims tremendous financial and emotional hardships.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked CBP and HSI for handling the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Vento and Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
* * *
The U.S. Attorney’s Office Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by investigating and prosecuting financial scams that target seniors; educating older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud; and promoting greater coordination with law enforcement partners. For more information please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/elder-justice-initiative
Examples of financial scams targeting seniors are:
- Lottery Phone Scams – Callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Grandparent Scams – Fraudsters convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.
- Romance scams – Victims believe they are in an online relationship and their love interest needs money to visit them in the U.S. or some other purpose.
- Federal Agent Imposter Scams – Scammers pose as federal agents, including IRS agents, claiming the victim owes a debt for a crime committed, or for unpaid taxes.
- Sham business opportunities – Fraudsters convince victims to invest in sham business opportunities or investments.
To avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a “lucrative” business deal.
- If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
If you have been contacted by a scammer or believe you have fallen victim to a scam, please contact the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-Fraud-11 (1-833-372-8311). The National Elder Fraud hotline was created for the public to report fraud against individuals who are age 60 or older. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.
Levant Man Pleads Guilty to $300k EIDL and PPP Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Levant man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to wire fraud and money laundering charges stemming from his fraudulent receipt of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) funds, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, Craig C. Franck, 40, formerly owned CCF Acoustics LLC and CCF Acoustical Systems. Neither company was in business, generated income, or had employees in 2020 or 2021. In the summer of 2020, Franck received $177,400 in EIDL funds after submitting two fraudulent loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the applications, he made false representations regarding the companies, misrepresented that the funds would be used to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, and claimed that he was not subject to criminal charges. Franck, who had been arrested on felony fraud charges in Florida in July 2020, illegally used the EIDL funds to retain a criminal defense attorney and post bail in that criminal case. He also used the funds to purchase a pickup truck and pay for other personal expenses.
In March 2021, Franck received a $145,060 PPP loan after submitting a fraudulent loan application to a private lender, providing false IRS documents and checking account statements in support of the application. He spent the PPP funds on a second pickup truck, online retail purchases, living expenses, and other prohibited uses.
Franck faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He 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.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
“My office and our federal law enforcement partners will continue the important work of bringing to justice those who defrauded the economic relief programs made available under the CARES Act,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “These funds were meant to keep small businesses running during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will hold accountable those who sought to take advantage of a national emergency simply to line their own pockets.”
# # #
Leader of Brighton Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The leader of a Boston-area drug trafficking organization (DTO) has pleaded guilty to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Matthew Drayton, 45, of Boston, pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 14, 2022.
Drayton was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall, which resulted in the charging of two different drug trafficking conspiracies during the overall period of November 2018 through June 2020.
According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated a DTO for which Drayton was both a leader and a drug distributor. The DTO was comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the DTO assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs – most of which was cocaine or cocaine base, which the DTO supplied to customers, wholesalers and distributors. As a result, the DTO caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life for other residents. As the investigation continued, law enforcement ultimately identified another DTO operating within the Boston area and targeted its large-scale drug suppliers and their associates.
Court documents allege that Drayton was the leader of the Fidelis-Way related DTO whose members were responsible for the packaging, selling, storing and distribution of drugs to, or collection of proceeds from, drug customers, drug runners or other drug distributors and suppliers. It is estimated that Drayton distributed between 280 and 840 grams of cocaine base during the course of his participation in the Fidelis Way DTO. Drayton also participated in a number of controlled buys involving cocaine base during the investigation. Additionally, Drayton used violence or threats of violence to maintain control within the DTO, including at times directing such force against the DTO’s drug runners.
Drayton is the sixth defendant to plead guilty in the Fidelis-Way related drug conspiracy. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lawtey Man Sentenced to over 17 Years for Producing Files of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Dawson Ladale Crews (24, Lawtey) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce sexually explicit depictions. The court also ordered Crews to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Crews had pleaded guilty on March 8, 2022, and has been detained since his arrest on June 7, 2021.
According to court documents, in July 2020, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received information that a purported “16-year-old” male offered a 12-year-old minor victim (MV1) money in exchange for naked pictures and sexual acts. CCSO responded and interviewed MV1 and the reporting party. CCSO learned that MV1 met the male, later determined to be Crews, on a social media application. Crews falsely told MV1 that he was 16 years old and requested nude pictures of MV1, which MV1 sent. Crews later requested additional photographs and threatened to post the pictures MV1 had already sent if MV1 did not comply and send more. Crews offered MV1 $40 to digitally penetrate her vagina and $100 for oral sex.
CCSO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) interviewed Crews at the Bradford County Jail, where he was detained on a separate charge of unlawful use of a communication device and transmission of harmful material to a minor. During the interview, Crews acknowledged having communicated with MV1 and said he is “more into underage girls than [girls his] own age.” He admitted being sexually attracted to 14–16-year-old girls and acknowledged that he offered MV1 money for nude images of herself. Crews admitted telling MV1 he was 15-16 years old and said he does so to keep underage girls talking.
Agents searched Crews’s phones, which revealed sexually explicit images of MV1 along with sexually explicit videos and images of a 16-year-old minor victim (MV2), who Crews had solicited over the same social media app. Crews used alias names to communicate with MV2 and other underage girls to threaten them and coerce them to send him sexually explicit photos.
“With the popularity of today’s social media applications, savvy and dangerous online predators are often able to entice impressionable children into a false sense of security,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “This sentence is an unwavering example of how HSI and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office are committed to stop these deviant child molesters and hold them accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
This is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.
Las Vegas Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
Brent Matthew Wilson (35) pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Wilson, on January 22, 2021, he possessed with the intent to distribute heroin — a Schedule I controlled substance. Approximately 62.6 gross grams of heroin was recovered along with cash, small baggies for individual packaging, and a scale. In addition to the drugs, Wilson possessed a Glock 17 handgun. Wilson has a prior felony conviction in Clark County. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
The maximum statutory penalties are 20 years in prison for the possession with intent to distribute charges, 10 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm charge, a term of supervised release, and a fine.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bianca Pucci is prosecuting the case.
###
Lake St. Louis woman accused of defrauding her disabled uncleRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Lake St. Louis was arrested Tuesday on an indictment accusing her of stealing more than $66,000 from her disabled uncle.
A federal grand jury in St. Louis on August 10 indicted Jessica Medrano, 41, on one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of access device fraud and 12 counts of wire fraud.
Medrano pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday to the charges.
The indictment says that between January 21 and May 16 of 2022, Medrano used a debit card account number issued to her uncle to make $12,668 worth of transactions at Walmart. During that same period, she electronically transferred more than $54,000 from her uncle’s bank account to her Cash App account, the indictment says.
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The access device fraud charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, and the identity theft charge has a mandatory two-year term consecutive to any other charge. All carry a potential fine of up to $250,000.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Kissimmee Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sexually Exploiting A ChildRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Rafael Antonio Bracero-Navas (50, Kissimmee) to 40 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child. The court also ordered Bracero-Navas to forfeit the cellphone that he had used to commit the offense. A jury had found Bracero-Navas guilty of seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child on March 4, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Bracero-Navas used a cellphone to take explicit photos of the minor’s pubic area. He did so covertly from outside a bathroom door, taking pictures through the crack under the door, as the minor was stepping out of the shower. Although Bracero-Navas had deleted the full-sized images from his phone, thumbnail images remained and were later discovered by law enforcement.
In addition to surreptitiously taking those pictures, Bracero-Navas had on multiple occasions engaged in other sexually abusive behaviors toward the minor, including repeatedly forcibly kissing the minor against her will and touching the minor’s genitals without the minor’s consent.
“As heartbreaking as it is to work these kinds of investigations, it’s rewarding to see the lengthy prison sentences handed down to these sexual predators,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI is committed to the work of exposing these abusers and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily C. L. Chang and Amanda S. Daniels.
This is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Alaska JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor the Aug. 16, 2022, federal primary election in certain jurisdictions in the State of Alaska to ensure compliance with the minority language accessibility requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the disability accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On election day, the Civil Rights Division will be monitoring in the following jurisdictions: Municipality of Anchorage, City and Borough of Juneau, Bethel Census Area, Dillingham Census Area and Kusilvak Census Area. During early/absentee voting, the Division has also monitored in the following jurisdictions: Municipality of Anchorage, City and Borough of Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.
The Division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with the federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the Division also deploys monitors from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
Individuals can file complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws by a complaint form on the department’s website https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website, at https://www.ada.gov/.
Visit https://www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights laws. Visit https://www.ada.gov/ for more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Following a three-and-a-half-day jury trial in federal court, Travis Lester, 42, has been found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on May 19, 2021, at approximately 1:00pm, the United
States Marshals Service and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team received information from a confidential source that two wanted fugitives were staying in a room at the
Villa Inn Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.The fugitives were identified as Travis Lester, 42, and his girlfriend who had outstanding arrest warrants. Detectives spoke with the hotel staff and learned which room they were staying in. The marshals knocked on the door, and both Lester and his girlfriend answered. They were immediately placed under arrest. From the doorway, officers observed a digital scale on the nightstand. While searching Lester's person, deputies recovered 20 rocks of crack cocaine and Lester admitted he had more drugs inside the room.
Shelby County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit responded to the scene, secured a search warrant for the room where a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, with a red extended magazine was recovered from a plastic bag containing Lester's clothing. The gun was loaded with 16 live rounds of ammunition in the magazine and 1 live round in the chamber.
Lester’s prior felony convictions include felon in possession of ammunition in 2016, felon in possession of a firearm in 2013 and reckless homicide in 2008. As a result of his prior felony convictions, Lester is prohibited by federal law from possessing ammunition and firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhood, the Memphis Police Department, the
United States Marshal Service, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
(TBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).Sentencing is set for November 18, 2022, before United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays where he faces up to ten years in federal prison followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
###
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Selling FentanylRead 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 Denver Komenda, 47, Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on October 22, 2021, investigators went to a residence on Locust Street in Jamestown to arrest a fugitive possibly located at the residence. When they arrived, investigators encountered Komenda, who gave permission for a search of the residence. Investigators were unsuccessful in locating the fugitive but discovered and seized a bag of fentanyl that was observed in Komenda’s bedroom.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence- driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
# # # #
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 92 months in prison for carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2019, Xavier Keshun Caldwell 23, of Jackson, used a firearm to forcefully take a car from a victim near Northside Drive and Bailey Avenue in Jackson.
Caldwell entered a plea of guilty to carjacking on April 28, 2022. As stated in court, Caldwell admitted to using a firearm to forcefully take the victim’s car.
U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate sentenced Caldwell to a prison term of 92 months to run consecutively to a 7 year sentence received in Madison County Circuit Court on February 19, 2020, for auto burglary. Judge Wingate also fined Caldwell $1500, and sentenced him to a term of 36 months supervised release following release from prison.
The case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne.
Indictment Unsealed Charging Former Member of Congress with Multiple Fraud Schemes and Campaign Contribution FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A 28-count indictment was unsealed today, charging Terrance John “TJ” Cox, 59, of Fresno, with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Cox perpetrated multiple fraud schemes targeting companies he was affiliated with and their clients and vendors. Cox created unauthorized off-the-books bank accounts and diverted client and company money into those accounts through false representations, pretenses and promises. From 2013 to 2018, across two different fraud schemes, Cox illicitly obtained over $1.7 million in diverted client payments and company loans and investments he solicited and then stole.
In addition, Cox received mortgage loan funds from a lender for a property purchase by submitting multiple false representations to the lender, including fabricated bank statements and false statements that Cox intended to live in the property as his primary residence. In fact, he intended to and did buy the property to rent it to someone else.
Cox also fraudulently obtained a $1.5 million construction loan to develop the recreation area in Fresno known as Granite Park. Cox and his business partner’s nonprofit could not qualify for the construction loan without a financially viable party guaranteeing the loan. Cox falsely represented that one of his affiliated companies would guarantee the loan, and submitted a fabricated board resolution which falsely stated that at a meeting on a given date all company owners agreed to guarantee the Granite Park loan. No meeting took place, and the other owners did not agree to back the loan. The loan later went into default causing a loss of more than $1.28 million.
According to the indictment, when Cox was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, he perpetrated a scheme to fund and reimburse family members and associates for donations to his campaign. Cox arranged for over $25,000 in illegal straw or conduit donations to his campaign in 2017.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS‑Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cox faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and money laundering. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for wire fraud affecting a financial institution and financial institution fraud. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for campaign contribution fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hitman for Violent Narcotics Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for His Role in Three MurdersRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that OSCAR VALDEZ-GARCIA, a/k/a “Pony,” an assassin for La Organización de Narcotraficantes Unidos (“La ONU”), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman to 40 years in prison. VALDEZ-GARCIA previously pled guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, participating in a narcotics conspiracy, and participating in conspiracies to murder three people in aid of racketeering.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Oscar Valdez-Garcia murdered three people on behalf of a brutal drug cartel. His killings were depraved and despicable. In one instance, Valdez-Garcia and another gunman shot their victim, a double-amputee who was sitting in his wheelchair, 24 times in front of the victim’s daughter. Today Oscar Valdez-Garcia was rightly sentenced to 40 years in prison for his horrific crimes.”
According to the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:
VALDEZ-GARCIA was a member and enforcer of La ONU, a criminal enterprise involved in the distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine, including cocaine that was sent from Puerto Rico to New York. Cocaine supplied by La ONU was distributed in New York City, including out of a daycare center in the Bronx, New York. Members and associates of La ONU also engaged in acts of violence, including murder, to protect and expand the enterprise’s criminal operations and in connection with rivalries with other criminal organizations.
As an assassin for La ONU, VALDEZ-GARCIA participated in the murder of at least three people in 2006. Those murders involved heinous and brazen acts of violence. Specifically:
On June 23, 2006, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, VALDEZ-GARCIA shot and killed Ken Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Jean Adorno-Caballero on the orders of a senior member of La ONU because of the victims’ involvement in a drug robbery. On the day of the murders, VALDEZ-GARCIA asked the victims if they could give him a ride and he climbed into the backseat of their car. VALDEZ-GARCIA then asked to pull the car over and shot the victims four times each. VALDEZ-GARCIA then fled the scene and put the gun in a nearby trash can. The victims tried to flee to safety after being shot in the car, but soon collapsed and were left on the road and sidewalk to die.
On December 28, 2006, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, VALDEZ-GARCIA and another gunman shot and killed Israel Crespo-Cotto on the orders of a senior member of La ONU, because Crespo-Cotto and his wife were suspected of cooperating with federal authorities. Crespo-Cotto, a double amputee who lost both his legs to diabetes, was killed in front of his daughter while sitting in his wheelchair on his balcony. He was shot 24 times.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, Judge Furman sentenced VALDEZ-GARCIA, 40, of Puerto Rico, to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Police Department for their support in this ongoing investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie E. Bagliebter, Peter J. Davis, Jordan L. Estes, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Lara Pomerantz, Justin V. Rodriguez, and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the prosecution.
Head of Telemarketing Operation Pleads Guilty to $19 Million Credit-Card-Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN SHORT, the former head of Florida-based E.M. Systems & Services, LLC and affiliated companies (collectively, “E.M. Systems”), pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, in connection with his participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain credit-card-processing services for his deceptive Florida-based telemarketing operation, through a California-based company called CardReady LLC (“CardReady”). SHORT pled guilty today by videolink, before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska. His sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2022.
According to the Superseding Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
SHORT and his co-conspirators fraudulently secured access to credit-card-processing services for SHORT’s underlying telemarketing scheme. From about 2012 through 2015, SHORT and E.M. Systems generated over $19 million from thousands of customers who received cold calls promising to reduce their overall debt burdens in exchange for fees of up to $1,495. The telemarketing operation resulted in hundreds of complaints by customers of fraud and deceptive tactics, and requests for millions of dollars in refunds and chargebacks. Credit-card-processing companies prohibit the processing of credit-card charges for purported “debt consolidation” and “interest rate reduction” services. SHORT and his co-conspirators fraudulently subverted those prohibitions using CardReady, which functioned as a sales agent engaged in the business of securing credit-card payment-processing services. To execute this fraud, SHORT and others created dozens of sham merchant accounts and false merchant applications, concealing the true nature of SHORT’s telemarketing operation, and defrauding an associated credit-card-processing company and a federally insured bank into processing more than $19 million in payments for the scheme.
SHORT controlled E.M. Systems. Beginning in 2012, SHORT sought to use E.M. Systems to carry out a telemarketing scheme targeting people with outstanding debt, and to offer them purported financial services. In order to charge for such purported services via credit cards, SHORT sought access to the credit-card-processing market through CardReady, a Los-Angeles based company acting as a sales agent in the credit-card-processing industry. As part of its business as a sales agent, CardReady found merchants who wanted credit-card-processing services, such as SHORT, and submitted merchant applications on behalf of those merchants to a Manhattan-based Independent Sales Organization (the “New York ISO”). The New York ISO then evaluated the merchant applications, and referred acceptable merchant accounts up the chain to a payment processor (“Payment Processor-1”) and a bank (“Bank-1”). Bank-1 and Payment Processor-1, in turn, processed payments to merchants for purchases by customers who had used credit cards. Under E.M. Systems’ deal with CardReady, CardReady kept approximately one-third of the credit card sale transactions of SHORT and E.M. Systems, in exchange for providing them access to the credit card processing network.
From approximately 2012 through 2015, SHORT and E.M. Systems carried out a telemarketing scheme in which they used telemarketers to cold-call consumers, targeting consumers with outstanding credit card debt. The cold-callers offered the customers services, including debt consolidation and interest-rate reduction on their debts, which were prohibited by the applicable guidelines from Bank-1 and associated processing entities (the “Guidelines”), and which — as SHORT knew — would produce chargebacks from dissatisfied customers far in excess of the number and rate of chargebacks permitted under the Guidelines.
In securing credit-card-processing for E.M. Systems to process the fees paid by its customers, SHORT and CardReady concealed that E.M. Systems was the true underlying merchant. Instead, SHORT and his co-conspirators, over a period of more than twenty months, created approximately 26 sham merchant companies, each headed by a “signer” (the “Sham Merchants” and the “Sham Merchant Accounts”). The 26 signers for the 26 Sham Merchants typically had no business of their own, and knew little or nothing about E.M. Systems’ business. In return for signing paperwork, the signers were paid a nominal fee by CardReady. These false merchant applications also concealed the Sham Merchant’s true association with E.M. Systems.
By steering E.M. System’s payment processing through these Sham Merchant Accounts, SHORT and CardReady accomplished a number of fraudulent purposes. First, the use of these Sham Merchant Accounts made it possible for E.M. Systems to conceal its identity from Payment Processor-1 and Bank-1 and to maintain payment card processing. This was particularly relevant as Payment Processor-1 repeatedly required CardReady to close individual Sham Merchant Accounts because of excessive chargebacks and reports of sales of prohibited services. SHORT and CardReady then quickly replaced the closed Sham Merchant Accounts with new Sham Merchant Accounts, precluding Payment Processor-1 from shutting down its processing of Telemarketer-1 and other high-risk merchants. Second, the fraudulent processing scheme enabled E.M. Systems to spread out its charges, refunds, and chargebacks across multiple Sham Merchant Accounts. SHORT and CardReady thus enabled E.M. Systems to evade chargeback monitoring programs operated by Bank-1, Payment Processor-1, and the New York ISO.
* * *
SHORT, 45, of Tampa, Florida, pled guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Also charged in the superseding Indictment is Brandon Becker, 51, of Los Angeles, California, whose trial is scheduled to begin on November 14, 2022 before Judge Preska. Becker is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the extraordinary work of the FBI and thanked the Federal Trade Commission for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Raymond Lewis and Vladislav Vainberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Gallup man sentenced to five years in prison for child sex abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Armando Segovia, 32, of Gallup, New Mexico, was sentenced on Aug. 12 to five years and three months in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country. Segovia pleaded guilty on April 6.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, between July 1, 2016, and Nov. 1, 2016, Segovia, who is non-Indian, engaged in sexual contact with the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. The victim, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, was less than 12 years old at the time of the abuse. Segovia committed the abuse on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Segovia will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Gallup Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Van Deventer prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
# # #
Four Union County Men Charged with Armed Robbery of Gas StationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four Union County men were arraigned today for their roles in the armed robbery of a gas station in Union County, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Wiggins Cadet, 24, and Khalil Brown, 23, both of Roselle, New Jersey; and Zyquan McCray, 23, and Tyrone Crutchfield-Davis, 27, both of Linden, New Jersey, are each charged in a five-count superseding indictment returned Aug. 2, 2022, with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. Cadet, McCray, and Crutchfield-Davis are also charged with one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence. Cadet is charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The four defendants were arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and all entered pleas of not guilty.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 15, 2019, a gas station in Cranford, New Jersey, was robbed by two masked individuals, later identified as Cadet and McCray. Cadet brandished a firearm as he and McCray stole cash from two gas station attendants. After fleeing the gas station, Cadet and McCray got into a getaway car driven by Brown. The investigation revealed that Crutchfield-Davis, one of the gas station attendants, was involved in the robbery scheme.
The Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison term. The possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, the Cranford Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Ryan Greco, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Member of Congress Charged with Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A 28-count indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of California charging a former member of Congress with multiple fraud schemes and campaign contribution fraud.
Terrance John “TJ” Cox, 59, of Fresno, is charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud.
According to allegations in the indictment, Cox perpetrated multiple fraud schemes targeting companies he was affiliated with and their clients and vendors. Cox created unauthorized off-the-books bank accounts and diverted client and company money into those accounts through false representations, pretenses and promises. From 2013 to 2018, across two different fraud schemes, Cox illicitly obtained over $1.7 million in diverted client payments and company loans and investments he solicited and then stole.
In addition, Cox allegedly received mortgage loan funds from a lender for a property purchase by submitting multiple false representations to the lender, including fabricated bank statements and false statements that Cox intended to live in the property as his primary residence. However, the indictment alleges Cox intended to and did buy the property to rent it to someone else.
According to allegations in the indictment, Cox also fraudulently obtained a $1.5 million construction loan to develop the recreation area in Fresno known as Granite Park. Cox and his business partner’s nonprofit could not qualify for the construction loan without a financially viable party guaranteeing the loan. Cox falsely represented that one of his affiliated companies would guarantee the loan, and submitted a fabricated board resolution which falsely stated that at a meeting on a given date all company owners agreed to guarantee the Granite Park loan. No meeting took place, and the other owners did not agree to back the loan. The loan later went into default causing a loss of more than $1.28 million.
According to allegations in the indictment, when Cox was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, he perpetrated a scheme to fund and reimburse family members and associates for donations to his campaign. Cox arranged for over $25,000 in illegal straw or conduit donations to his campaign in 2017.
If convicted, C ox faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and money laundering. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for wire fraud affecting a financial institution and financial institution fraud. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for campaign contribution fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert of the Eastern District of California made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Final Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Catalytic Converters Across State LinesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former Springfield woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a conspiracy to transport tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines as part of a multi-million-dollar business.
Danielle Ice, 34, of Columbia, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to participating in a conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.
Ice is the last of seven defendants indicted in this case to plead guilty. Ice’s husband and co-defendant Leslie Ice, 37, as well as co-defendants Cody Ryder, 31, Enx Khoshaba, 29, and Eric Kaltenbach, 37, all of Springfield, and Evan Marshall, 24, and Camren Joseph Davis, 25, of Rogersville, also have pleaded guilty.
By pleading guilty today, Danielle Ice admitted that she and Leslie Ice stole at least 50 catalytic converters and sold them directly to Marshall. Marshall paid Danielle and Leslie Ice approximately $20,000 for stolen catalytic converters.
The Ices began stealing catalytic converters for Marshall in October 2020 and continued stealing catalytic converters, and selling them to Marshall, through at least March 2021. They photographed the victims’ catalytic converters while the catalytic converters were still attached to the victims’ vehicles and sent the photographs via SMS text message to Marshall. Marshall would then determine whether the victims’ catalytic converters were valuable. If Marshall responded that a catalytic converter was valuable, Leslie Ice removed the victim’s catalytic converter by cutting it from the victim’s vehicle’s exhaust system using a battery-powered reciprocating saw. Leslie and Danielle Ice then sold the stolen catalytic converter to Marshall.
Marshall provided Leslie Ice with a list of vehicles, by year, make, and model, that had valuable catalytic converters so that he could target specific vehicles from which to steal catalytic converters.
Marshall also gave Danielle Ice approximately $1,500 in cash in January 2021 so she could post Leslie Ice’s bond in a state criminal case in which he was being detained. Marshall provided Leslie Ice’s bond money so that he would be released from custody and could continue to steal catalytic converters and sell them to Marshall.
Marshall admitted that he transported stolen catalytic converters, valued at $1 million or more, across state lines from December 2019 to October 2021. Marshall also admitted that he bought tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters directly from his co-defendants and from other thieves, and sold the stolen catalytic converters for a total of approximately $1 million.
Under federal statutes, Danielle Ice is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon T. Kempf and Megan W. Chalifoux. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Webster County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Farmington Man Going to Prison on Gun and Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop on School CampusRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Benyadiel Merced, 21, of Farmington, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of ammunition, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who handled the case, stated that on December 9, 2021, Merced was driving a vehicle on the Victor Central School campus when he was stopped by police. At the time of the stop, Merced possessed a loaded ghost gun. Merced also possessed 16 baggies of marijuana secreted in a compartment behind the vehicle’s radio. Merced admitted that at the time that he was an unlawful user of marijuana and was therefore prohibited from possessing the ammunition.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Philip Povero and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito.
# # # #
Ex-employee sentenced for stealing $284,000 from St. Louis County bankRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The former assistant manager of a bank in Wellston, Missouri on Tuesday was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to a year and a day in prison for stealing $284,000 in cash.
Capri Duvall, 35, of St. Louis, was also ordered to pay back the money.
Duvall pretended to be filling the ATM with cash on July 19, 2021, but hid $284,000 in a brown box and carried it out to her car, she admitted in a guilty plea. After work, Duvall met with teller Chloe Anderson and security guard Mariah Barnes and split up the money. Anderson and Barnes each got $30,000.
Duvall quit at 12:57 a.m. the next day. She then left town with her three children, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III said in court, and it took agents several months to find her.
Duvall pleaded guilty in May to a charge of aiding and abetting in embezzlement of bank funds by an employee.
Barnes, 30, of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, pleaded guilty in June to the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 4.
Anderson, 23, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty later Tuesday, after Duvall’s sentencing, to the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 16.
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III is prosecuting the case.
Eagle Butte Woman Indicted for Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Irene Guerrero, age 37, was indicted on August 9, 2022. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 12, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between approximately February 1, 2021, and August 9, 2022, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, Guerrero conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charge is merely an accusation and Guerrero is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Guerrero was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for October 18, 2022.
Eagle Butte Man Indicted for Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
Joseph Thomas Elsey, age 31, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 1, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. On August 11, 2022, he entered a change of plea, pleading to Count I of the Indictment, Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges Elsey unlawfully possessed a firearm on July 10, 2021, and September 14, 2021. The incident occurred in Dewey County, South Dakota.
The investigation is being conducted by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.
Elsey was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
Duquesne Man Indicted on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Duquesne, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Keion Washington, 22, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Washington is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and a mixture of heroin and fluorofentanyl on or about July 21, 2022.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Duquesne Man Charged with Possessing Deadly DrugsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Duquesne, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Keion Washington, 22, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment,Washington is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and a mixture of heroin and fluorofentanyl on or about July 21, 2022.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Duncan Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DYLAN MICHAEL LILES, 29, of Duncan, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty today to possession of material containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On June 8, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Liles with attempted child enticement, child exploitation, and transfer of obscene material to a minor. Today, Liles pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones to a superseding information charging him with possession of material containing child pornography. As part of his plea, Liles admitted that he knowingly possessed and accessed child pornography via Kik, a smartphone instant messaging application. The government has agreed to dismiss the Indictment at sentencing pursuant to a plea agreement.
At sentencing, Liles faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, at least five years of supervised release, and a $22,100 special assessment. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days. Liles will have to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. After the guilty plea today, Judge Jones remanded Liles into the custody of the United States Marshal.
This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corbin Houston.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to More than 12 years in Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – David Alan Callison, age 56, of Des Moines, was sentenced today to 152 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In April 2019, Callison was the sole back seat passenger of a car stopped by law enforcement. In a bag next to Callison, law enforcement found over 600 grams of methamphetamine, more than $13,000, and a digital scale. The investigation revealed that Callison repeatedly obtained large quantities of methamphetamine for redistribution. Callison was on parole for a state of Iowa drug conviction when he committed this offense.
Last year, Callison’s co-defendants were sentenced. Angel Luis Toledo Castillo, age 37 of Des Moines, received a 162-month sentence, after he was found guilty by a jury in November 2019 of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Demetrio Cortes Montano, age 46 of Des Moines, received a 139-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gustavo Martinez, age 30 of Des Moines, received a 120-month sentence for conspiracy distribute methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department investigated the case, assisted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Court Authorizes Service of John Doe Summons Seeking the Identities of U.S. Taxpayers Who Have Used CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
On Aug. 15, 2022, a federal court in the Central District of California entered an order authorizing the IRS to serve a John Doe summons on SFOX, a cryptocurrency prime dealer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted at least the equivalent of $20,000 in transactions in cryptocurrency between 2016 and 2021 with or through SFOX.
“Taxpayers who transact with cryptocurrency should understand that income and gains from cryptocurrency transactions are taxable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “The information sought by the summons approved today will help to ensure that cryptocurrency owners are following the tax laws.”
“The John Doe summons remains a highly valuable enforcement tool that the U.S. government will use again and again to catch tax cheats and this is yet one more example of that,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “I urge all taxpayers to come into compliance with their filing and reporting responsibilities and avoid compromising themselves in schemes that may ultimately go badly for them.”
Because transactions in cryptocurrencies can be difficult to trace and have an inherently pseudo-anonymous aspect, taxpayers may be using them to hide taxable income from the IRS. In the court’s order, United States District Court Judge Otis D. Wright found that there is a reasonable basis for believing that individuals conducting at least $20,000 in cryptocurrency transactions may have failed to comply with federal tax laws.
The court’s order grants the IRS permission to serve what is known as a “John Doe” summons on SFOX. There is no allegation in this suit that SFOX has engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with its digital currency business. Rather, the IRS uses John Doe summonses to obtain information about possible violations of internal revenue laws by individuals whose identities are unknown. This John Doe summons directs SFOX to produce records identifying U.S. taxpayers who have used its services, along with other documents relating to their cryptocurrency transactions.
The IRS has issued guidance regarding the tax consequences on the use of virtual currencies in IRS Notice 2014-21, which provides that virtual currencies that can be converted into traditional currency are property for tax purposes, and a taxpayer can have a gain or loss on the sale or exchange of a virtual currency, depending on the taxpayer’s cost to purchase the virtual currency (that is, the taxpayer’s tax basis).
The IRS reminds taxpayers that there is a question at the top of the 2022 Form 1040 (income tax return) and the 2022 Form 1040-SR (income tax return for seniors) asking about virtual currency transactions. More information can be found here Virtual Currencies | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Julius Johnson, 44, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on June 7, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Johnson’s storage unit as part of a drug trafficking investigation. When police went to search the storage unit, they found Johnson, who was immediately arrested. Police found $5,636 and multiple cell phones on Johnson’s person. Inside the storage unit, officers located a vehicle which contained a firearm. Johnson’s DNA was found on the gun. After further investigation, police located a bag containing 59.2 grams of fentanyl in Johnson’s underpants. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage.
Johnson has prior felony convictions in Indiana for carrying a handgun without a license, dealing in cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. These prior felony convictions prohibit Johnson from possessing a firearm.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office; and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief Randal Taylor made the announcement.
Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash who prosecuted this case.
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Denver - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Matthew James Vernon, age 41, of Colorado Springs, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to the plea agreement, on June 17, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Colorado Springs. Investigators recovered more than 600 grams of heroin, a digital scale and a cash counter, and three firearms. In an interview with investigators, the defendant acknowleged he could not legally possess a firearm. The defendant possessed the heroin with the intent to distribute it, and he possessed some or all of the firearms in furtherance of his possession of the heroin.
Judge William J. Martinez sentenced the defendant on August 12, 2022. He also sentenced Vernon to 4 years supervised release.
The FBI Denver Division investigated this case. This case was prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Case number: 21-cr-0213
Charlotte Man Involved in Three Shooting Incidents Is Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man involved in three shooting incidents was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. As part of his sentence, Ulondis Raquan Edwards, 23, will also serve three years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, between December 2020 and January 2021, Edwards was involved in three shooting incidents. The first incident occurred on December 12, 2020, during which Edwards fired two shots at a vehicle occupied by two adults and three young children, including an infant, following an altercation between Edwards and one of the adults. After that shooting, Edwards illegally obtained another handgun which he used on December 29, 2020, to shoot and injure a male victim. According to court records, the victim was crossing the street near the parking of a strip plaza in Charlotte when he was cut off by a vehicle. A man later identified as Edwards leaned out of the passenger side window of the vehicle and fired one shot in the victim’s direction, striking the victim in the leg.
According to filed documents and information presented in court, the third shooting incident occurred on January 18, 2021, a little after 4:30 p.m., at the parking lot of the same strip plaza as the previous shooting. In this incident, the male victim was standing in the parking lot when a vehicle drove toward the victim and a passenger in the vehicle fired multiple shots at the victim. The victim suffered six gunshot wounds and sustained life threatening injuries. Law enforcement arrested Edwards on January 28, 2021, after he was identified as the individual responsible for the shooting. A search warrant was executed at Edwards’s residence and three firearms were seized, including a handgun. According to court records, an analysis by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) forensically identified the seized handgun as the firearm Edwards used to shoot and injure the two victims.
On February 18, 2022, Edwards pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Edwards is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
This case is a result of an investigation conducted by CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team which includes HSI.
Assistant United States Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
California Drug Trafficker Who Paid Bribes to Corrupt Supervisory DEA Special Agent Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Francisco Gonzalez Benitez (37, Orange, California) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances (including kilogram quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, and methamphetamine), distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Gonzalez Benitez had pleaded guilty on April 15, 2021.
According to court documents, between at least 2016 and February 2019, Gonzalez Benitez—a/k/a “Paco,” “Antonio Jose Estremera Feliciano,” and “Luis Angel Beauchamp-Justiniano”—operated multi-state conspiracies to distribute controlled substances and launder the proceeds of the enterprise. He and his co-conspirators shipped drugs from Southern California to Jacksonville and other locations hidden in U.S. Mail parcels and vehicles being transported on car haulers. Investigators ultimately identified more than 100 parcels that had been shipped to Jacksonville as part of the conspiracy. The proceeds from this drug business were funneled through various bank accounts in a manner designed to both distribute funds among co-conspirators and conceal the nature and source of those funds. A financial investigator analyzed the conspirators’ banking activity and estimated that individuals and entities in the Jacksonville-portion of the operation made approximately $416,144 in cash deposits and other transfers into the accounts of individuals and entities in the California-portion of the business.
When confronted by FBI Special Agents about these activities, Gonzalez admitted his role in shipping drugs from California to Jacksonville, but also confirmed that he was a source of supply of controlled substances in Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition, he disclosed that, beginning in 2014, he had worked in Jacksonville as a confidential informant with DEA Special Agent Nathan Koen, but throughout 2016 and 2017, Gonzalez Benitez made several cash payments to that federal agent. Gonzalez Benitez continued to pay Koen after Koen was promoted and transferred to Little Rock. The periodic payments, as large as $9,000 per transaction, were made for what Gonzalez Benitez called “top cover protection” for his drug operation. This protection included Koen advising Gonzalez Benitez when not to use the mail to ship controlled substances, when to change his phone number, and when he and his potential customers were under investigation by law enforcement.
Koen was subsequently prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. On August 18, 2021, Koen pleaded guilty to receiving a bribe as a public official. He was sentenced on May 11, 2022, to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.
On July 16, 2019, Gonzalez Benitez’s brother and co-conspirator, Jose Manuel Gonzalez (25, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances (including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine) and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. On May 23, 2022, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Brothers from Mexico charged with transporting aliens resulting in deathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Jorge Garcia-Rascon, 21, and Julio Garcia-Rascon, 19, both of Mexico, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens resulting in death. Jorge Garcia-Rascon made an initial appearance on July 29 and will remain in custody pending arraignment, which has not been scheduled. Julio Garcia-Rascon made an initial appearance on Aug. 12 and will remain in custody pending trial.
According to the complaint, on July 27, Border Patrol agents attempted to make a traffic stop on an SUV traveling on New Mexico Highway 9 in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The SUV failed to yield and continued at a high rate of speed. As the agents ceased their pursuit and turned off their emergency lights and sirens, the SUV lost control and flipped and rolled off the road.
When law enforcement approached the vehicle, Jorge Garcia-Rascon and Julio Garcia-Rascon allegedly attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended. Law enforcement on the scene established that there were 13 occupants in the vehicle, all of whom were undocumented non-citizens. Two of the people in the vehicle died during the rollover. All of the other occupants except Jorge and Julio Garcia-Rascon were transported to University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, for treatment.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Jorge and Julio Garcia-Rascon face up to life in prison or death.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Big Cabin Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Prison for Sexually Abusing and Strangling a Former Dating PartnerRead the Press Release
*This press release has been updated to reflect new sentencing following a successful appeal.
A Big Cabin man was sentenced Tuesday for sexually assaulting and strangling a former dating partner, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh sentenced Christopher Michael Guinn, 23, to 235 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Upon release, Guinn will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In January, a jury convicted Guinn for aggravated sexual abuse by force and threat in Indian Country and for assault of an intimate/dating partner by strangling and attempting to strangle in Indian Country.
“Christopher Guinn’s acts of violence against women are reprehensible. In this case, he strangled and sexually assaulted the victim then threatened her and her children if she did not comply with his demands,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “A team of law enforcement agencies and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Gina Gilmore have put a stop to Guinn’s abusive conduct. This 20-year sentence should serve as a warning that my office will prosecute and hold accountable those who terrorize their intimate partners.”
At trial, the United States alleged that in the early morning hours of March 17, 2019, Guinn sexually assaulted and strangled a former dating partner. During the assault, Guinn held the victim down and grabbed her around the neck. Guinn applied varying degrees of pressure to the victim’s neck and at several points, left the victim gasping for air. The victim testified that Guinn threatened her by saying that if she and her children did not move back in with him, he would find them. He also told her that if she reported the sexual assault, he would come to her mother’s house while the victim was sleeping and rape the victim again. She also believed that Guinn had a gun under the mattress.
After Guinn fell asleep, the victim fled and contacted law enforcement. Deputies with the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office responded and met the victim at the hospital. They documented the victim’s injuries and interviewed her. The Tulsa Police Department conducted a SANE exam.
The United States further showed Guinn had a history of exerting control over women and sexually assaulting them. Two additional women who previously dated Guinn testified about similar assaults they endured by the defendant. They also testified that Guinn physically abused them and isolated them from friends and family. Both had protective orders against the defendant.
In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina Gilmore said both the victim and defendant revealed who they were by their actions. She reminded the jury the victim reported the crime, filed for a protective order, and consistently and repeatedly shared details to both state and federal authorities. Gilmore said the defendant also revealed who he was by his history with women. She said the evidence showed Guinn was controlling, isolating, and took what he wanted despite being told “no.”
The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Tulsa Police Department and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Wright and Gina S. Gilmore prosecuted the case.
Anamosa Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed firearms and ammunition was sentenced today to 33 months in federal prison.
Douglas Hurt, age 42, of Anamosa, Iowa, received the sentence after a February 3, 2022, jury verdict finding him guilty of possessing two firearms and ammunition after having been convicted of one felony and three misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. The evidence at trial showed that, in June 2020, in the cabin where he lived, Hurt possessed a Chinese Type 56 7.62 x 39 mm caliber rifle, a Remington 870 Express Magnum 12-gauge shotgun, and ammunition.
Hurt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hurt was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 21-59.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
15 August 2022
Youngstown Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - Matthew Lucarell, 42, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 30 years in prison after Lucarell pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt and distribution of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to March 2021, Lucarell coerced four separate minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce visual depictions of the interactions. In addition, from May 2018 to February 2021, Lucarell knowingly received and distributed various files of child pornography.
On April 1, 2021, Lucarell was found to be in possession of a cell phone and two Micro SD Cards, which contained numerous files of child pornography, including at least one image involving a minor under the age of 12.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Kane.
Wolfeboro Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possessing with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – David Carlton Hall, 39, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 19, 2021, a Portsmouth New Hampshire police officer attempted to stop Hall’s vehicle for making an illegal U-turn and failing to signal. Hall initially pulled over, but when the officer stepped out of his cruiser, Hall took off at high speed. Hall stopped at the gate to Pease Air National Guard Base, unlawfully entered the base on foot, and fled into the woods.
Inside the abandoned vehicle, officers found a bag containing 50 grams of fentanyl, which Hall admitted was intended for distribution. Hall was eventually apprehended by Deputy U.S. Marshals in San Diego, California.
Hall previously pleaded guilty on April 12, 2022.
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Hall accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarad Hodes and Anna Krasinski.
###
Washington, D.C. man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daquan E’mon Hunt, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 8 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Hunt, 25, pleaded guilty in March 2022 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” Hunt admitted to making false statements to illegally purchase firearms in July 2021 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Violent Bloods Gang Drug Dealer and Weapons Trafficker Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Jimmy McKoy Rouse, 26, of Sampson County, was sentenced last week to 50 years in federal prison for running an armed drug trafficking operation from multiple locations throughout Sampson County. Rouse was convicted on January 7, 2022 of nine felony drug trafficking and firearms related charges.
“This defendant’s fervent commitment to using extreme violence to protect an extensive drug trafficking network endangered many communities in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Local and federal investigative agencies worked collaboratively and patiently to build a case that the jury found compelling and ultimately led to Rouse’s conviction and a fifty-year prison sentence.”
At sentencing, Judge James C. Dever, III noted Rouse’s persistent commitment to a life of serious crime, making the observation that whenever Rouse was shown leniency in the form of a reduced sentence or dismissed charge in the past, such favor served only to embolden Rouse, rather than an impetus to live within the law. In delivering the half-century sentence, the Judge noted the dire need to protect the public from Rouse’s serious crimes.
“ATF and our law enforcement partners continue to seek out those that pose the biggest threat to our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “This joint effort puts an end to a long and violent criminal career.”
“The reign of terror by Jimmy Rouse has come to an end with a 50-year prison sentence,” said Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. “I cannot thank the ATF and the US Attorney’s Office enough for working hand-in-hand with my Special Investigations Division on the arrest and conviction of this violent criminal. These agents and prosecutors put in an untold number of hours conducting surveillance, controlled buys of illegal drugs, interviews, and case preparation to ensure a solid conviction.”
Evidence from an investigation commencing in 2016 and presented in court established that Rouse was a large-scale drug dealer who trafficked kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, along with significant quantities of heroin, assorted pills, cocaine and cocaine base (crack). Rouse’s methamphetamine operation took off after connecting with suppliers who received hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. The court held Rouse accountable more than nine kilograms of methamphetamine, noting that was a conservative estimate.
Gun seizures related to the case include and AK-47, extended magazines and accompanying rounds of ammunition.
At the January trial, Rouse was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of heroin, three counts of distributing methamphetamine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of distributing heroin, and one count of possessing a firearm after receiving a felony conviction.
So far, 12 additional co-conspirators have also been federally prosecuted in cases related to the Rouse investigation. Collectively, these criminals will spend 150 years in prison.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever III. The Sampson County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Knott 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 number 7:19-CR-00194-D-1.
###
Universal Helicopters Inc. and Dodge City Community College Agree to Pay $7.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Post-9/11 GI Bill FundingRead the Press Release
Universal Helicopters Inc. (UHI), a private helicopter flight instructor training company, and Dodge City Community College (DC3), which operates campuses in Dodge City, Kansas, and Chandler, Arizona, have agreed to pay $7.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by making false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in connection with the helicopter flight instructor training program jointly run by UHI and DC3.
The VA provided financial assistance as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to veterans taking classes at the UHI-DC3 helicopter flight instructor program. The United States alleged that from 2013 to 2018, UHI and DC3 made or caused to be made false statements to the VA regarding enrollment in the UHI-DC3 helicopter flight instructor program in order to obtain VA funding. UHI has agreed to pay $7 million and DC3 has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle these allegations. The settlement with DC3 is based on its ability to pay.
“The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides significant educational opportunities to our nation’s veterans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to help safeguard the integrity of VA programs intended for the advancement and benefit of veterans.”
“One of the ways the U.S. government demonstrates gratitude to our veterans is by creating programs intended to create easier paths to accessing higher education,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard for the District of Kansas. “It’s disheartening that any institution of higher learning would submit inaccurate information in order to improperly receive funds designed to benefit those who serve our nation.”
“This case demonstrates the VA Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) commitment to aggressively pursue schools who target veterans’ education benefits,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebeccalynn Staples of the VA OIG’s Western Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of VA’s education benefits program and urges anyone with knowledge of possible fraud against VA to contact the OIG’s hotline at 1-800-488-8244.”
As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, the VA provides tuition and fee payments directly to qualifying schools on behalf of eligible veterans. To qualify for the program, among other things, a school is required to certify to the VA that no more than 85 percent of the students for any particular course are receiving VA benefits. This requirement, commonly referred to as the “85/15 Rule,” is intended to prevent abuse of Post-9/11 GI Bill funding by ensuring that the VA is paying fair market value tuition rates since at least 15 percent of the enrolled students would be paying the same rate with non-VA funds. To determine whether it is in compliance with the 85/15 Rule, a school compares the full-time non-VA supported students enrolled in a particular course to the full-time veteran students enrolled in that same course. A separate ratio must be computed for each course of study.
The settlements resolve allegations that from 2013 to 2018, UHI and DC3 falsely certified compliance with the 85/15 Rule when the UHI-DC3 helicopter flight instructor program included certain expensive classes that were taken almost exclusively by veterans. In addition, in its settlement with DC3, the United States alleged that to reach the required 15 percent threshold, DC3 counted part-time students enrolled in only one online class per semester as full-time students, in violation of VA rules.
The civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by William Rowe, a veteran and former student in the UHI-DC3 helicopter flight instructor program. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Rowe v. Dodge City Community College, et al., No. 18-cv-01113-TC-GEB (D. Kan.). Rowe will receive $1.125 million as his share of the settlements.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, with assistance from the VA OIG and the Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service.
Trial Attorney Jonathan Thrope and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Fleenor for the District of Kansas prosecuted the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Undocumented Mexican Citizen Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Armando Amaya-Lopez (36, Vera Cruz, Mexico) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Amaya-Lopez had pleaded guilty on April 27, 2022.
According to court documents, on August 6, 2013, Amaya-Lopez went to a tax collector’s office in Tampa and applied for and obtained a Florida identification card in the name of a person with the initials C.M. When he applied for the identification card, he claimed to be a U.S. citizen and he provided as proof of citizenship a birth certificate from Puerto Rico and a Social Security card, each in the name of C.M. The birth certificate and Social Security card set forth true identifiers for C.M., including his name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN).
On September 27, 2013, Amaya-Lopez went to a tax collector’s office in Ft. Myers and applied for a driver license, again identifying himself as C.M. He passed the driving examination and was issued a driver license in the name of C.M. On July 25, 2018, he went to a tax collector’s office in Jacksonville and obtained a replacement driver license in the name of C.M.
Each time that Amaya-Lopez obtained a Florida identification card or driver license, he signed a digital application affirming under penalty of perjury that his name was C.M., that he was a citizen of the United States, and that the other identifiers that he had provided, such as his date of birth and SSN, were in fact his. When he did so, he knew that the identifiers belonged to another person and that he was not lawfully authorized to possess or use the identifiers.
On December 5, 2021, Amaya-Lopez was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, at which time he identified himself as C.M. and provided the driver license he had obtained in that name. However, a fingerprint check revealed his true identity and returned records reflecting that he was a Mexican citizen who was illegally present in the United States. During an interview with law enforcement, Amaya-Lopez admitted his true name and citizenship and said that he had paid $1,000 to an unknown person to obtain false U.S. citizen documents.
“Identity theft robs unsuspecting victims of their personal information and financial security,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “HSI, alongside our partners at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, will diligently seek out those hiding under stolen identities and bring them to justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Two Ashland Men Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky.— Two men, Ricardo Rothwell, 42, and Aaron McWhorter, 29, both from Ashland, were respectively sentenced to 72 months and 137 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for various methamphetamine trafficking and firearm charges.
Rothwell was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on July 10, 2021, Rothwell was stopped by law enforcement at a traffic stop, where they found him in possession of 96.8 grams of methamphetamine, 11.35 grams of fentanyl, .97 grams of cocaine, and 2.2 grams of marijuana.
McWhorter was sentenced after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, on July 5, 2021, law enforcement was dispatched on reports of a man passed out in a vehicle, later identified as McWhorter. Law enforcement found him in possession of a firearm. McWhorter admitted that he knew that he was previously convicted in Carter County Circuit Court for felony possession of a controlled substance and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. McWhorter was also in possession distribution quantities of narcotics.
Rothwell and McWhorter both pleaded guilty in May 2022.
Under federal law, Rothwell and McWhorter must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department; and Sheriff Bobby Woods, Boyd County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, FBI, Ashland Police Department, and Boyd County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
– END –
Texas Man Charged with Participating in Scheme to Defraud Spokane Resident of $345,000Read the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging David Joseph Osinski, age 57, a resident of Arlington, Texas, with six counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with his alleged role in a fraud scheme that stole more than $345,000 from an elderly Spokane resident in 2021.
The Indictment alleges that Osinski created a bank account in the Dallas, Texas area to receive fraudulently obtained funds from the victim. As alleged in the Indictment, Osinski and his co-conspirators tricked the elderly victim, a recent widower, through a romance fraud scheme in which they made the victim believe that he was in an online relationship with a woman named “Kathleen” who was an international art dealer who was attempting to finalize an art transaction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Indictment alleges that, posing as “Kathleen,” Osinski and his co-conspirators convinced the victim to wire approximately $189,000 to an account in Dubai, and an additional $156,640 to the Dallas-area account owned and controlled by Osinski, whom the conspirators claimed was involved in the supposed art transaction. As alleged in the Indictment, Osinski then immediately withdrew essentially all of the money by transferring it to a separate account of his used for cryptocurrency purchases.
“Internet scams, often perpetrated outside of the state, are a recurring problem which cause significant harm and hardship to residents here in Eastern Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “Unfortunately, fraudsters and scammers frequently target elderly members of our community. This case is an important part of our efforts to seek elder justice and fight elder fraud in Eastern Washington. In order to make Eastern Washington communities safer and stronger, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute scammers and their conspirators.”
If convicted, Osinski faces possible maximum statutory sentences of up to 30 years on the conspiracy charges, 20 years on the wire fraud charges, and 10 years on the money laundering charges.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Seattle Field Office, Spokane Resident Office. This case is being prosecuted by Dan Fruchter and Tyler Tornabene, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Elijah Howard (22, Tampa) to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Howard to forfeit the firearm and ammunition. Howard had pleaded guilty on April 20, 2022.
According to court documents, on December 21, 2021, officers from the Tampa Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Howard was a passenger. As the officers approached the vehicle, they observed Howard reaching for a firearm on the front passenger floorboard. At the time, Howard had multiple prior felony convictions and was not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition. Officers recovered the firearm, a Glock-19 semi-automatic firearm loaded with 34 rounds of 9-mm ammunition in an extended magazine. A photograph that Howard had posted on social media earlier in December 2021 showed him brandishing the Glock pistol.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Marcet.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sumter Woman and Georgia Man Indicted for Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Daeja Bryana Hodge, 25, of Sumter, and Kelsey Antonio McCallum, 29, of Gainesville, Ga., for one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements on firearms purchase forms, and aiding and abetting.
The indictment alleges that, from at least June of 2020, Hodge and McCallum conspired to make false statements while purchasing firearms, and engaged in unlicensed dealing of firearms. The indictment further alleges that, on two dates in January, 2021, Hodge – aided and abetted by McCallum – falsely claimed on purchase forms at two firearms dealers in Columbia that she was the true purchaser of eight firearms when she was not the true buyer.
Hodge and McCallum face a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Starkville Man Sentenced to 78 Months for PPP FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced on Friday to 78 months in prison for more than $6,000,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud.
According to court documents, Christopher Paul Lick, 46, of Starkville devised a scheme to defraud, and to obtain PPP funds, by filing false and fraudulent loan applications with banks providing loans as part of the Paycheck Protection Program. Lick admitted to overstating the number of employees and payroll expenses of his purported businesses to receive PPP funds. Rather than use the PPP funds for his businesses, Lick admitted to purchasing a home valued at more than $1 million and to using the PPP funds for personal investments in the stock market. After hearing statements from Lick, his attorney and the prosecutor at a sentencing hearing on Friday, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Lick to prison for his crimes.
“The sentence imposed in this case was well deserved. For more than two years, the defendant was living lavishly on taxpayer dollars while millions of Americans were struggling during the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Clay Joyner. “Those, like the defendant, who chose to abuse the system at the expense of their fellow citizens are rightly punished. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing those who committed PPP and EIDL loan fraud. With the President recently extending the statute of limitations for PPP fraud to 10 years, we expect to see many more defendants like Chris Lick brought to justice.”
"Mr. Christopher Lick took very proactive steps to defraud the U. S. Government and the citizens of this nation,” remarked FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “The Paycheck Protection Program and similar programs were established to mitigate the negative impact upon business owners during the unfortunate and uncertain times ignited by the pandemic. Those who erroneously apply for and receive these benefits deprive the government to truly serve those in need. The FBI is committed to continued collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s office in bringing those who commit fraud to justice."
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Levy and Sam Wright prosecuted the case.
St. Paul Man Indicted for Multiple Armed Robberies of University Avenue Grocery StoresRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been indicted for three armed robberies of grocery stores located in St. Paul along University Avenue, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions between May 27 and June 5, 2022, Nicholas Antwain Dancy, 38, robbed three grocery stores located on University Avenue in St. Paul, Towfiq Grocery, Midway Grocery and Deli, and Global Food and Mid Market. During the robberies, Dancy used a firearm to threaten the employees and demand cash. Dancy is also a convicted felon and is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Dancy is charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court on August 15, 2022, before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth S. Shnider is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sand Springs Youth Group Leader Sentenced for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
A church youth group leader was sentenced Thursday in federal court for engaging in a sexualized relationship with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced Thomas Daniel Johnson, 49, of Sand Springs, to 135 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. In February, a jury convicted Johnson of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
“This fraudulent mentor’s illicit acts were brought to light in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Make no mistake, Thomas Johnson’s interaction with this young man was calculated, predatory, and criminal. He will now spend more than a decade in prison to account for his conduct.”
Johnson knew the victim’s family and volunteered as a youth leader at a church both families attended. Johnson was known as a mentor to adolescent and teenage boys, so the victim’s family asked him to mentor their child.
On Aug. 15, 2020, the victim’s mother discovered numerous sexually explicit texts, memes and images sent to her child by Johnson and confronted the defendant. Then both parents contacted law enforcement and turned their child’s phone in to authorities. Further examination of the phone revealed thousands of messages exchanged between Johnson and the victim, dating back to March 2019.
During the trial, prosecutors contended that Johnson engaged in a sexualized relationship using text messaging when the minor was 11, 12 and 13 years old, thus committing the crime of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
The United States argued Johnson groomed the victim, first gaining the victim’s trust and friendship. Johnson regularly encouraged the victim and called the victim a stud, sexy beast, and made sexual references and jokes.
Then the sexualized relationship increasingly involved the exchange of memes and comments with references to oral sex, penises, ejaculation and more. Johnson eventually told the victim about several sexual experiences he (Johnson) had taken part in. The victim testified that at first, he felt the exchange of texts and memes were jokes, but he grew increasingly uncomfortable as the defendant began routinely making comments about the victim’s penis and physical appearance, as well as implying that he was sexually attracted to the victim.
Johnson repeatedly asked the minor to send pictures of his penis or “nudes.” The defendant further suggested in messages that he could give the victim oral sex or vice versa. A few days before the communications were discovered, Johnson sent the victim a selfie of himself with a banana in his mouth simulating oral sex and during the texting exchange, asked the victim if he “could handle it,” implicitly offering to perform oral sex on the minor victim.
The victim testified that he believed Johnson would have acted on his (Johnson’s) requests had the victim complied.
At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Gallant noted Johnson wrapped himself in “a cloak of authority” and took advantage of the victim’s trust. He stated that mentors set age-appropriate boundaries with children. Instead, Johnson, a man in his forties, repeatedly crossed those boundaries by sending a “cesspool of memes and messages” that degraded and sexualized a vulnerable boy.
The Sand Springs Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Gallant and Valeria G. Luster prosecuted the case.
See trial press release here.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Last week, Avery Ulate, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 300 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Ulate previously pleaded guilty to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.
Ulate admitted to authorities that in 2019 he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. He also admitted that he had sexually abused the child for years. The crimes took place on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, where the child is an enrolled tribal member.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-08250-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-136_ULATE# # #
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.
Phoenix Felon Charged for Violent CarjackingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Friday, Adonijah Josiah Ortega, 19, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged via criminal complaint for Carjacking, Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The complaint alleges that on August 8, 2022, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Ortega approached the victim while he was entering his vehicle in the parking lot of a Target Store, located at 9350 West Northern Avenue, Peoria, Arizona. After Ortega approached the victim, he pointed a semi-automatic handgun at him, and demanded the victim give him his keys and wallet.
Ortega struck the victim multiple times in the head with the handgun and fired his weapon twice, striking the victim once in the right thigh. Ortega then took the victim’s keys and fled the scene with the victim’s vehicle. After Ortega fled, the victim limped toward the store where citizens rendered aid until paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound and multiple lacerations to his head.
A conviction for Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment. A conviction for Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence carries a minimum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Peoria Police Department, and the Phoenix Police Department are conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-5351-PHX-DMF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-137_ORTEGA# # #
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.