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Thursday 16 June 2022
Holly Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Holly Springs man was sentenced yesterday by Judge Louise W. Flanagan to a total of 140 months followed by 20 years of supervised release for Receipt of Child Pornography. On March 9, 2021, Ryan Evers, 28, pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in September 2018, Evers was communicating online via social media with a minor child. During the conversations, Evers discussed wanting to have sexual intercourse with the child and encouraged the child to send sexually explicit images to Evers. The child posed for pictures in the way Evers encouraged and sent the photographs to Evers.
The social media site reported the child pornography images to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC forwarded the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency in the state in which the child lived for investigation. Search warrants were executed on the social media site for the contents of the conversations between Evers and the minor child. Law enforcement officers were able to identify Evers though the IP address used during the online communications with the child and photographs that he sent the child. At the time of the communications, Evers lived in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
The child was identified and later disclosed there had been video calls with Evers during which the child sexually penetrated himself with objects encouraged by Evers.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00407-FL.
Hartford Man Admits Illegally Possessing Handgun in ManchesterRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL JONES, 25, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2021, Jones pointed a firearm at another individual outside of a hookah lounge on Broad Street in Manchester. When Manchester Police arrived on the scene, Jones attempted to flee and discarded the firearm in the rear parking lot of the lounge. Jones was apprehended and the firearm, a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, was recovered.
Prior to July 2021, Jones was convicted in state court of criminal possession of a firearm. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for September 7, at which time Jones faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Jones has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Manchester Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hardy County man sentenced to 9 years for drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Roger Allen See, of Wardensville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 110 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
See, 32, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.” See admitted to distributing methamphetamine from September to November 2020 in Hardy County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Harborcreek Resident Pleads Guilty to Sending Ammunition to the Netherlands and Possessing Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws relating to smuggling goods from the United States, and possessing unregistered firearms, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Donald Robert Witherow, 48, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in September 2019, Witherow, without first obtaining the required approval, sent ammunition and ammunition magazines to the Netherlands. In addition, on March 26, 2020, Witherow possessed unregistered firearms, namely destructive devices.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reductions efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevent and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for October 13, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.Pending sentencing, the court continued Witherow on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Witherow.
Hamden Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARRYL SMALL, 34, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Small after receiving information that he was distributing heroin and fentanyl in and around New Haven. In December 2020 and January 2021, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Small.
Small was arrested on February 24, 2021. On that date, a court-authorized search of his Hamden residence revealed $24,134 in cash and approximately $165,000 in jewelry. Judge Dooley ordered Small to forfeit the cash and jewelry, and Small’s 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 that was also seized at the time of his arrest.
Small has been detained since his arrest. On March 7, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Small’s criminal history includes felony convictions for criminal possession of a weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit, and first-degree robbery.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force includes officers from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Hamden Police Department, East Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor M. Reardon.
Grand Jury Indicts Bank Robbery SuspectRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a man with one count of bank robbery.
According to court documents, Roland K. Vandenberg, 55, allegedly robbed Emprise Bank on South Broadway Street in Wichita on June 2, 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Erice Salsbery,63, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of counterfeit currency, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Grand Jury - June 2022Read the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 14 unsealed Indictments charging 15 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Abas Yassin Ali, age 19, of Omaha, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Counts I through III charge Ali with bank fraud beginning on or about January 1, 2021 and continuing through May 25, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment for each charge.
* Miguel Avalos-Diaz, age 25, and Jose S. Perez, age 26, are charged in a five-count Indictment. Count I charges Avalos-Diaz and Perez with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about December 10, 2021 and continuing to on or about March 30, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Avalos-Diaz with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about February 3, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Avalos-Diaz with distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine on or about March 22, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Avalos-Diaz and Perez with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about March 30, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges Avalos-Diaz and Perez with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about March 30, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ imprisonment and up to a life consecutive to Count IV, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about March 30, 2022.
* Edwin Baez, age 28, of Omaha, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Baez with distribution of cocaine on or about March 22, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, not less than three years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Baez with distribution of cocaine on or about April 27, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, not less than three years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Baez with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on or about May 26, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than a four-year and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Baez with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about May 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about May 26, 2022.
* Olegario Bernabe-Ortiz, age 49, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 7, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jeffrey Bowlin, age 53, of Papillion, Nebraska, is charged in an eight-count Indictment. Counts I through VIII charge Bowlin with theft of mail beginning on or about April 24, 2022 and continuing through on or about May 21, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment for each charge.
* Joshua David Charter, age 44, is charged with escape from custody on or about May 21, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment for each charge.
* Donnale C. Clay, age 39, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Clay with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) on or about April 27, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, not less than ten-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Clay with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on or about April 27, 2022. The maximum penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, not less than six years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Clay with felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 27, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Catarino Gonzalez, age 50, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after a felony on or about May 17, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Demetrius Jones Spence, age 53, is charged with bank robbery on or about July 11, 2018. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
* Jeremy A. Kinney, age 48, of Campbell, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Kinney with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) on or about May 26, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Kinney with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about May 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Kinney with felon in possession of a firearm on or about May 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about May 26, 2022.
* Marcio Remberto Padilla Villatoro, age 24, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about May 18, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* David Mark Platt a/k/a Mark Platt, age 56, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Platt with transporting a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity on or about May 14, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years’ and up to life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Platt with committing a sex offense while on the sex offender registry on or about May 14, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment consecutive, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Rascon-Escobar, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after a felony on or about May 25, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Delmer Sanchez Zuniga, age 41, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after a felony on or about June 8, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Former West Tennessee Healthcare Director Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Melanie Haste, 62, formerly of Trenton, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 18 months
in federal prison for wire fraud. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney,
announced the sentence today.According to the information presented in court, from 2012 until 2020, Haste served as the
Director of Risk Management at West Tennessee Healthcare and worked at the Jackson-Madison
County Hospital. During her time there, she developed a fraud scheme that allowed her to steal
hundreds of thousands of dollars from the organization.In May 2020, Haste stole and attempted to deposit a check made out to the organization into her
own account. The check was for more than $146,000. After bank personnel became suspicious,
they froze her account and alerted West Tennessee Healthcare of her actions. After the matter
was referred to law enforcement, it was discovered that beginning in 2017, Haste had stolen
and attempted to steal more than $355,000 over a three-year period, using the hospital's money to
pay personal expenses, finance vacations, and give to family members.In January 2022, Haste pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.
On June 15, 2022, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Haste to 18 months in
federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The
Court also ordered Haste to pay $209,181.47 in restitution to the organization. In
imposing the sentence, the Court noted that Haste had abused the trust of her employer, and the
seriousness of her offense warranted a prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.The case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department, Financial Crimes Unit, and
the United States Secret Service.Assistant United States Attorney Matt Wilson prosecuted the case on behalf of the
government.
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Former University of Arkansas Professor Sentenced to a Year and a Day for Lying to Federal Agents About Patents in ChinaRead the Press Release
An Arkansas man and former University of Arkansas professor was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison followed by one year of supervised release on one count of making a false statement to the FBI about the existence of patents for his inventions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
According to court documents, Simon Saw-Teong Ang, 64, of Fayetteville, filed 24 patents in the PRC which bear Ang’s name or Chinese birth name. The University of Arkansas, where Ang worked as a professor, required individuals such as Ang to promptly furnish to the university “full and complete” disclosures of inventions, and university policy provided that it, not individual inventors, would own all inventions created by those subject to the policy. This policy was established “in furtherance of the commitment of the university to the widest possible distribution of the benefits of university research, the protection of inventions resulting from such research, and the development of Inventions for the public good.”
Despite this requirement, Ang did not disclose his Chinese patents to the university and, when interviewed by an FBI agent, lied about his involvement in the inventions. Specifically, when asked whether his name would be listed as “the inventor” of numerous patents in China, Ang denied being the inventor, despite knowing he was. In addition, Ang also received numerous talent awards from the PRC government, which he did not list on the university’s annual conflict of interest disclosure forms.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas and Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division made the announcement.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), NASA Office of Inspector General and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo from the Department of Justice National Security Division prosecuted the case.
Former University of Arkansas Professor Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison for Lying to Federal Agents About Patents in ChinaRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – An Arkansas man and former University of Arkansas Professor was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison followed by one year of supervised release on one count of making a false statement to the FBI about the existence of patents for his inventions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, Simon Saw-Teong Ang, 65, of Fayetteville, filed 24 patents in the People’s Republic of China bear Ang’s name or Chinese birth name. The University of Arkansas, where Ang worked as a professor, required individuals such as Ang to promptly furnish to the University “full and complete” disclosures of inventions, and University policy provided that it, not individual inventors, would own all inventions created by those subject to the policy. This policy was established “in furtherance of the commitment of the University to the widest possible distribution of the benefits of University Research, the protection of Inventions resulting from such research, and the development of Inventions for the public good.”
Despite this requirement, Ang did not disclose his Chinese patents to the university and, when interviewed by an FBI agent, lied about his involvement in the inventions. Specifically, when asked whether his name would be listed as “the inventor” of numerous patents in China, Ang denied being the inventor, despite knowing he was. In addition, Ang also received numerous talent awards from the PRC government, which he did not list on the university’s annual conflict of interest disclosure forms.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson made the announcement.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), NASA Office of Inspector General and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo from the Department of Justice National Security Division prosecuted the case.
Five Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment today against Jesus Horacio Ramirez Hernandez, 40; Fernando Aldama Tinoco, 48; Walter Garcia-Ruiz, 34; Geovany Espinoza Norzagaray, 33; and Neftali Castillo Montes, 40; charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and unlawful use of a cellphone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Montes sold an FBI confidential source over 14 pounds of methamphetamine between May 2019 and December 2020. Surveillance, wiretaps, and additional investigation uncovered Garcia-Ruiz, Norzagaray, Tinoco, and Hernandez as higher-level distributors. A search of a storage unit controlled by Tinoco resulted in the discovery of 33 pounds of methamphetamine, 7 pounds of cocaine, and 2 pounds of counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. Tinoco is additionally charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Borders Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Felon Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison After Attempting to Rob a Baltimore Convenience Store While on Supervised Release for a Previous Federal ConvictionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Larry Haynes, age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to attempt to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on January 21, 2022, Haynes attempted to rob a convenience store in Baltimore City. After the clerk refused to comply with Haynes’ demands, Haynes showed the clerk a gun tucked within his waistband. Subsequently, the clerk called the convenience store manager who fled to the manager’s office and called 911.
As stated in his plea agreement, off duty Maryland State Police officers responded to the scene and detained Haynes until Baltimore City police officers arrived. MSP officers recovered a 9mm handgun loaded with 9mm cartridges from Haynes’ waistband. The attempted robbery was captured on in-house store security cameras.
Haynes agrees that at the time of the attempted robbery, he was on supervised release for a prior federal firearms offense.
Haynes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up by three years of supervised release for attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for September 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, MSP, and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia McLane, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Federal Jury Finds St. Paul Felon Guilty of Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted a St. Paul man of methamphetamine distribution and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, William Howard Proto, Jr., 44, was convicted on two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. During the trial, Proto pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
As proven at trial, on June 29, 2021, officers with the Bloomington Police Department arrested Proto after he was in the driver’s seat of a stolen Cadillac Escalade. Officers searched the vehicle and found nine pounds of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine, digital scales, more than $50,000 in cash, and a loaded firearm. Following his arrest, Proto was indicted in U.S. District Court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. On August 19, 2021, pursuant to a federal warrant, agents located Proto at a hotel in Woodbury. Proto was taken into custody in the hotel parking lot. At the time of the arrest, Proto had a handgun in his pocket and, in a black duffle bag, more than five pounds of methamphetamine and an assault-style rifle with no serial number.
Because Proto has multiple prior felony convictions in Dakota and Ramsey Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bloomington Police Department.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne and Joseph S. Teirab.
Ex-East Helena police chief sentenced to more than five years in prison for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — East Helena’s former chief of police was sentenced today to five years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing child pornography using social media, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
William Daly Harrington, 43, of Helena, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to distribution of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also imposed $7,500 in fines. Harrington was ordered to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.
“As a career police officer and then as chief of police, Harrington had a duty to protect children, and yet he distributed child pornography. His actions perpetuated the sexual exploitation of children and harm inflicted on vulnerable victims. This sentence holds Harrington accountable not only for his criminal conduct but also for his breach of the public’s trust. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyndee L. Peterson and Wendy A. Johnson and all of our law enforcement partners for their work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
"Crimes against children are horrific, and this case was aggravated by the fact that William Harrington took an oath to protect and serve," said Dennis Rice, Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City FBI. "The FBI is committed to protecting society's most vulnerable and will hold those who prey on innocent children accountable."
“We appreciate the partnership of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that the FBI leads. We appreciate the City of East Helena assistance with this investigation as well,” said Lewis and Clark County Sheriff and Coroner Leo C. Dutton.
The government alleged in court documents that in September 2020, a Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s deputy, who is a member of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated a tip that Facebook Messenger had reported one of its accounts distributed child pornography to another account. The investigation determined that the Facebook Messenger account distributing child pornography belonged to Harrington, who was the chief of police for East Helena. Account records showed that on Nov. 17, 2019, Harrington sent 11 images to another account. Some of the images depicted child pornography. Law enforcement served a search warrant on Harrington’s residence and seized his cellular phone. An analysis of the phone found it contained images and videos of child pornography. As part of his investigation, the ICAC detective consulted with a pediatrician who concluded that some of the images depicted prepubescent children or children under the age of 12 years old.
Harrington admitted that he owned and used the Facebook Messenger account that distributed child pornography.
The government further alleged that Harrington was a mandatory reporter of child abuse, and, during the same timeframe, he sought out sexually explicit images of children, saved them to his phone and then distributed them. As chief of police, Harrington attended Child Protection Team Meetings, knew the consequences to the children depicted and, nonetheless, pursued the images at the expense of child victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyndee L. Peterson and Wendy A. Johnson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Bozeman Police Department.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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El Paso Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Kevin Holguin-Cano, 29, of El Paso pleaded guilty this week to receipt of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, in June 2021, agents executed a search warrant on the residence of Holguin and found materials depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Holguin pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. A sentencing date is not scheduled yet. Holguin faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Frank Burrola, El Paso Division, made the announcement.
The HSI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Rasmussen is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Dublin man pleads guilty to producing and possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Dublin, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexually exploiting at least five minors and possessing child pornography.
Timothy W. Wright, 50, faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.
Wright admitted to placing a hidden camera in the bathroom of his home, thereby producing pornographic images of two minors via that hidden camera. To save videos or images of the minors from the hidden camera to his phone, Wright admitted that he would watch the video feed live. Investigators discovered approximately 27 videos and 152 images from the hidden camera on Wright’s phone.
In addition, Wright admitted he paid three additional minor victims at least $300 on numerous occasions in exchange for those minors lying nude on Wright’s bed while Wright engaged in sex acts or acts of masturbation with the minors. The defendant also admitting to paying for nude images from these three minors and those images were also recovered on Wright’s phone.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio announced the plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
The case was being primarily investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance and cooperation of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which operates under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and, Columbus Division of Police, Dublin Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit, Delaware County Drug Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service.
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Dallas County Sheriff’s Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing $250k from Jail’s Commissary FundRead the Press Release
A Dallas County Sheriff’s Office supervisor who embezzled more than $250,000 from the jail’s inmate property fund pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal offense, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Umeka Treymane Myers, 49, was charged via criminal information on April 28. On Thursday, she pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds.
According to plea papers, Ms. Myers worked as a supervisor at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center’s inmate property vault, which refunds inmates’ commissary account balances upon their release.
When an inmate’s account contains more than $30, property vault employees give them the balance on debit cards generated by software from the Keef Group.
If an employee makes an error processing a debit card, the software generates an error message, which only a lead clerk or supervisor (such as Myers), can clear.
After overriding a debit card error, however, Ms. Myers used released inmates’ book-in numbers to create new and duplicate debit cards, then entered the same amount from the card issued to the released inmate on to the newly created card.
Between 2018 and 2021, she fraudulently issued dozens of debit cards, which she used in Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, Maryland, and New York. (Her spending was confirmed by Winstar, Choctaw, and Margaritaville casino records, Southwest Airlines records, Bank of America ATM surveillance footage, and personal bank records.)
Ms. Myers now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the full cooperation of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch is prosecuting the case.
Crownpoint man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Wade Dixon, 33, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Dixon will remain in custody pending sentencing.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on July 10, 2021, Dixon engaged in a sexual act with the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was 13 years old. The abuse occurred in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Wade faces 13 months in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The Navajo Nation Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the FBI. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting 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/.
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Corrections Officer, Inmate Charged in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Inside Stillwater PrisonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Stillwater corrections officer and an inmate have been indicted for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution organization within the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Stillwater, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Faith Rose Gratz, 24, a MCF – Stillwater corrections officer, and Axel Rene Kramer, 34, an inmate who is currently serving a 288-month sentence for second degree murder, conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine within MCF – Stillwater, Minnesota’s largest high security prison facility. As part of the conspiracy, Kramer obtained wholesale quantities of prepackaged methamphetamine from sources of supply outside the prison. After Kramer and another co-conspirator inmate worked with the drug suppliers to arrange meet up times and locations, Gratz would pick up the drug packages. Gratz used her position as a prison guard to smuggle the drugs into the secure facility and then provide the drugs to Kramer while she was on duty guarding him. Gratz did this on approximately six different occasions. Gratz also smuggled into the prison multiple cell phones that she provided to Kramer. Kramer used the cell phones to communicate with people inside and outside the prison and to facilitate his drug distribution network from within the prison.
According to court documents, Gratz and Kramer exchanged hundreds of text messages with each other. The messages included communications about the drug distribution conspiracy as well as discussions about their romantic relationship. Gratz also warned Kramer about upcoming searches of inmates’ cells so that Kramer could hide his phone and drugs to avoid detection.
On April 8, 2022, after recovering Kramer’s cell phone, law enforcement officers confronted Gratz about the drug distribution operation. Officers searched Gratz’s car and recovered a half pound of methamphetamine.
Gratz and Kramer are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gratz is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court before a Magistrate Judge at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bayport Police Department, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Coral Springs Police Officer Charged with COVID Relief Fraud, Using Loan Money to Service and Repair His Vintage CarRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A South Florida federal grand jury has charged a Coral Springs police officer with fraudulently applying to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for a COVID-19 relief advance grant and low-interest loan.
According to the Indictment unsealed today in federal district court, Jason Scott Carter, 44, of Boca Raton, submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) application and loan agreement on behalf of Jason S. Carter, Inc., a South Florida business he allegedly owned and operated. That application falsely and fraudulently certified, among other things, that during the twelve 12 months prior to January 31, 2020, the business had gross revenues of $100,000, according to the Indictment. In reality, the business had only minimal gross revenues during that period. The Indictment also charges Carter with falsely and fraudulently certifying that he would use the funds only for business expenses to alleviate economic injury that the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the business. In fact, according to the charges, Carter spent more than $21,000 of the SBA loan money at a car repair and detailing company for luxury vehicles and high-end auto parts.
The Indictment charges Carter with one count of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Carter made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart. He was released on bond, pending trial.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Omar Perez Aybar, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, and David Walker, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Tampa, announced the charges.
HHS-OIG, Miami Regional Office (Tampa) and FBI Tampa investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Laserna is handling asset forfeiture.
Indictments contain mere allegations and defendants are innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-80094.
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Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Cedric Durham, Jr. (21, Tampa) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Durham that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. Durham was arrested on June 13, 2022, in Tampa. He made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson the following day and was ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, on March 6, 2022, Durham was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Durham had a previous felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Durham is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and David Chee. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Columbia Man Facing Federal Charges After Resisting Arrest by Franklin Police OfficersRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal indictment unsealed yesterday, charges a Columbia, Tennessee, man with drug distribution and firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin.
Roy Gene Nicholson, III, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury last month and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Nicholson was arrested yesterday by the United States Marshals Service and is currently in federal custody.
The charges are the result of an incident on April 24, 2022, where Nicholson was stopped on I-65 in Williamson County, Tenn., by an officer with the Franklin Police Department. According to the indictment, when the officer approached the car, he observed a pistol on the front passenger seat and smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The officer attempted to detain Nicholson and a physical struggle ensued. Nicholson was able to re-enter his vehicle and as two officers attempted to remove him from the car, Nicholson accelerated, dragging both officers for a distance and knocking them to the ground. The legs of one officer were run over by the vehicle as it sped away.
Nicholson was later arrested approximately one mile away and was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm, marijuana, and more than $3,600 in cash. A pink backpack found on a sidewalk nearby, contained approximately 200 grams of marijuana and plastic baggies. Officers had observed the pink backpack in Nicholson’s car during the earlier attempt to arrest him.
If convicted, Nicholson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Franklin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert L. Bunton, III is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Carjackers Net a Collective Total of 41 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Justin Huddleston, 21, Terrance Moore, 21, and Angelo Smith, 23, have been sentenced
to a collective total of 492 months in federal prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm
during and in relation to a crime of violence. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney,
announced the sentence today.According to the information presented in court, on Friday, September 20, 2019, at 1:45 a.m.,
victim R.H. was in her white Ford Fusion at the InTown Suites, when a male suspect pointed a
pistol at her and carjacked her white Fusion. As the suspect drove away, he picked up two
additional suspects.Approximately two hours later, victim T.M. was at the Valero gas station on South
Perkins. While inside the convenience store, a male suspect from a white sedan followed her inside
and then returned to the driver seat of the white sedan. The victim drove away, and the suspect
driver followed her. When the victim reached a stop sign at Cottonwood and Claudette, the white
sedan cut her off. The front passenger got out of the sedan, approached the victim, pointed a
pistol at her, and demanded her car. The victim sped away, and the armed suspect fired a shot.Twenty minutes later, at the same Valero station, victim D.K. was pumping gas into his truck. The
truck had an attached trailer with lawn equipment. Two male suspects from a white sedan approached
him and pointed pistols at him, demanding his truck, phone, and wallet. The two suspects drove away
in the victim's truck, and the driver of the white sedan followed the truck.At 12:20 p.m. the same day, Memphis Police officers found victim R.H.'s Fusion at Big Daddy's Pawn
Shop on Hickory Hill Road. Terrance Moore was in the driver seat. Angelo Smith and Justin
Huddleston were in the pawn shop, pawning lawn equipment that
belonged to victim D.K. Huddleston and Smith tried to run from police but were arrested.Victim R.H. identified Terrance Moore as the armed suspect who carjacked her of her Ford Fusion.
Victim D.K. identified Terrance Moore and Justin Huddleston as the armed suspects who carjacked him
of his truck and trailer. Victim T.M. identified Angelo Smith as the suspect as the suspect who
followed her in the Valero and drove the white sedan.On February 8, 2022, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced
Huddleston to 180 months to be followed by five years’ supervised release. On February 11, 2022,
Moore received 168 months to be followed by five years’ supervised release. Smith was sentenced
on June 14, 2022, to 144 months in federal prison with five years’ supervised release. There is
no parole in the federal system.This case was investigated by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis
Police Department.Assistant United States Attorney Dean DeCandia prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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California Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining over 700 Credit Card Numbers to Purchase $500,000 in Las Vegas Event TicketsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A California resident was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining over 700 credit card numbers to purchase more than $500,000 in tickets for various events in Las Vegas over a one-year period.
Carl Dewain Jefferson (36) pleaded guilty in September 2021 to use or trafficking of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, between March 14, 2014, and March 13, 2015, Jefferson — who operated LV Show Tickets, LLC — fraudulently obtained credit card numbers to purchase tickets for various events in Las Vegas. Later, he resold the tickets on his own website, www.lvshowticket.net, and Craigslist. In total, Jefferson used more than 700 different credit card accounts to fraudulently purchase more than $500,000 worth of event tickets.
On September 4, 2014, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers executed a search warrant for two rooms reserved under Jefferson’s name. Officers seized a laptop, cell phones, a credit card embossing machine, forged debit cards, and business cards.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
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California Man Known as “icloudripper4you” Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Nude Photographs and Images from Apple iCloud AccountsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Hao Kuo Chi (41, La Puente, California) to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy and computer fraud. Chi had pleaded guilty on October 15, 2021.
According to court documents, Chi operated for years on Anon-IB, a now defunct website. Anon-IB was notorious for posting explicit and intimate images of others shared without consent and with the intent to intimidate, harass, or embarrass—commonly known as “revenge porn.” Chi hacked into the Apple iCloud accounts of victims across the United States in search of nude photographs and videos of young women, which he referred to as “wins.” Using the online moniker “icloudripper4you,” he then shared and traded these images with persons he had met on Anon-IB.
Chi’s email accounts contained the iCloud credentials of approximately 4,700 victims. These accounts also revealed that he had sent content stolen from victims to conspirators on more than 300 occasions. Some of those conspirators subsequently released the images into the public sphere. Chi not only shared his “wins” with conspirators, but he also kept many of those images for his own personal collection. Specifically, Chi maintained approximately 3.5 terabytes of victim data on cloud and physical storage, containing content attributable to more than 500 victims.
“Chi victimized hundreds of women across the country, making them fear for their safety and reputations,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “This sentence reflects the resolve of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold cybercriminals responsible for their crimes.”
“This man led a terror campaign from his computer, causing fear and distress to hundreds of victims. The FBI is committed to protecting the American people by exposing these cybercriminals and bringing them to justice,” said David Walker, FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Cheyenne Man Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl Within 1000 Feet of a SchoolRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that a grand jury returned an indictment charging ROBERT BUTLER, 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, with possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Butler has been arrested and appeared before United States District Court Chief Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin for an arraignment hearing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for July 25, 2022.
Butler faces no less than five years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, no less than four years to life of supervised release, up to $6 million in fines and a $200 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Margaret M. Vierbuchen.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No: 22-CR-00061-ABJ
Cheyenne Man Charged on Fentanyl and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that a grand jury returned an indictment charging TROY MICHAEL PAINTER, 26, of Cheyenne, Wyoming with possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Painter has been arrested and appeared before United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson for an arraignment hearing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for June 27, 2022.
Painter faces no less than five years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, no less than four years to life of supervised release, up to a $5.25 million fine and a $200 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Jonathan C. Coppom.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No: 22-CR-00065-SWS
Bogalusa Rapper Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAVORIOUS SCOTT, aka JAYDAYOUNGAN, age 24, a Bogalusa resident and rapper was sentenced by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance to a sentence of time served after serving approximately seven (7) months’ imprisonment, one (1) year of supervised release, a $5,500.00 fine and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment that charged him with possession of a firearm while under indictment or felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(n)(1) and 924(a)(1)(D), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on October 29, 2021, Officers with the Bogalusa Police Department executed a traffic stop on a silver-colored Audi bearing a Virginia license plate traveling south on South Columbia Street in Bogalusa, Louisiana because the vehicle possessed a switched license plate. SCOTT, the driver of the vehicle, failed to provide his license or vehicle registration. While speaking to SCOTT and the passenger, officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle. The officers also observed a black handgun on the driver’s side floorboard directly beneath SCOTT’S legs. Officers removed SCOTT from the vehicle and observed a small amount of suspected marijuana in the driver’s seat. Officers then recovered a loaded Ruger, Security-9, 9mm, pistol from the driver’s side floorboard.
At the time that the officers located and seized the firearm from the floorboard, SCOTT was under indictment for felony crimes in Harris County, Texas.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Bogalusa Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.
Billings man convicted at trial of kidnapping minors, transporting a person for sexual activity, drug trafficking and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A judge today convicted a Billings man on multiple crimes stemming from an investigation into kidnapping of minors, transportation of persons for illegal purposes, cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking and firearms crimes, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters found Angelo Corey Stackhouse, 52, guilty of all crimes charged in an indictment, including transportation of a person with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, distribution of cocaine to a person under the age of 21, distribution of cocaine and meth, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of kidnapping.
Stackhouse faces a mandatory minimum of 27 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Judge Watters presided at a four-day bench trial that began on June 13. The court will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Judge Watters set sentencing for Oct. 27. Stackhouse’s detention was continued.
“Stackhouse was a violent cocaine trafficker who used drugs, a firearm and threats to prey on and sexually assault victims, including kidnapping two minor girls with the purpose to sexually assault them. Stackhouse’s convictions hold him accountable for multiple crimes. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake and all of the investigative agencies for their work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and in evidence presented at trial, the government alleged that in early 2020, Stackhouse trafficked illegal narcotics, primarily cocaine. Stackhouse went to Denver, Colorado, among other locations, to obtain cocaine for redistribution in the Billings community through the summer of 2020. During this time, Stackhouse also transported a young adult female to Colorado and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Then in September 2020 and again in April 2021, Stackhouse kidnapped two minor females for the purposes of sexually assaulting them. One of the minor victims was from the Crow Indian Reservation and a second minor victim was from Billings.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office.
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Berks County Man Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that George Steve Rugel, 46, of Reading, PA, was sentenced to fourteen years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., for possessing with intent to distribute the dangerous narcotic fentanyl. In addition to the fentanyl, other drugs including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as firearms were found inside the defendant’s Reading apartment that he used as a stash house for his drug distribution activities.
In November 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession of a loaded firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents and Task Force Officers based in New York City and Allentown into Rugel’s distribution of the dangerous narcotics fentanyl, heroin, and other controlled substances in New York City and in the Reading area of Berks County. During the investigation, Rugel delivered fentanyl to individual in New York. When Rugel attempted a second delivery of fentanyl to an individual in Reading in June 2020, he was arrested by DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers. At the time of his arrest, Rugel was found in possession of approximately one kilogram of fentanyl in his car, and a loaded firearm on his person. The investigation also led to the discovery of Rugel’s apartment in Reading, where he stored additional controlled substances, including another kilogram of fentanyl, and firearms.
“Drug distribution and gun violence are an epidemic in cities like Reading and across the Eastern District, and the federal government is aggressively prosecuting these crimes to get dangerous criminals like this defendant off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “George Rugel was a large-scale, armed drug trafficker, which put our community in grave danger. We want to thank the DEA and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, and all of our involved law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication.”
“Rugel not only trafficked in illicit fentanyl, a dangerous street drug that is largely responsible for the overdose crisis, but also carried a loaded handgun at the same time,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “His criminal behavior involving both drugs and guns are representative of two of the most pressing threats that are endangering the safety of our communities.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Allentown Resident Office, Berks County District Attorney’s Office Detectives, and Reading Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mary A. Futcher and Kishan Nair.
Baltimore Man Facing Federal Indictment for Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury yesterday returned an indictment charging Ziyon Thompson, age 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, for interference with commerce by extortion, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and for use of a firearm resulting in death during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in connection with the murder of an alleged marijuana trafficker.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to the three-count indictment and other court documents, from March 2022 through May 2022, Thompson conspired with others, including three individuals in California, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
The indictment and other court documents allege that on May 8, 2022, Thompson kidnapped the victim, who was one of the individuals he conspired with in California to traffic large quantities of marijuana from California to Maryland. The victim had traveled to Maryland to meet with Thompson to discuss their business. Court documents allege that after kidnapping the victim, Thompson “FaceTimed” one of the victim’s associates in California, filmed the victim, who was bound and gagged, and demanded 200 pounds of marijuana and $50,000 for the safe return of the victim.
As detailed in court documents and alleged in the indictment, after not receiving the demanded ransom, Thompson shot the victim, killing him. Firefighters responding to a house fire in a vacant residence in the 300 block of Furrow Street in Baltimore discovered the burnt body of the victim. Baltimore Police Department homicide detectives recovered a gas can and shell casings in the residence and Baltimore Fire Department investigators ruled that the fire was intentionally set.
If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for interference with commerce by extortion and for the drug conspiracy; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for use of a firearm resulting in death during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Thompson is detained in federal custody and is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to over Eight Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Tarance Damon Cousar, age 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 102 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Cousar was a previously convicted felon and knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Cousar admitted that he knew, or had reason to know, that the gun was stolen.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, in 2021, law enforcement began investigating drug trafficking and firearms-related incidents in the area of the 1200 block of West Baltimore Street in Baltimore. Investigators monitored members of a suspected drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) who conducted hand-to-hand transactions of suspected controlled dangerous substances (“CDS”). Individuals, including Tarance Cousar, were seen on CCTV exchanging cash for vials containing suspected CDS, frequently out in the open.
In April 2021, investigators purchased a total of 11 vials of suspected MDMA, also known as Ecstasy. Lab analysis of the drugs determined that it was Eutylone, a controlled substance that is a substitute of MDMA. On June 17, 2021, investigators watching the CCTV feed again observed Cousar conduct a hand-to-hand drug transaction.
As detailed in the plea agreement, on June 24, 2021, law enforcement executed court-authorized search warrants at Cousar’s residence, on his vehicle, and on his person. When law enforcement arrived at Cousar’s residence, Cousar was found in the living room. Investigators recovered: a 9mm pistol and 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition located in the pistol’s magazine; one black plastic bag containing 62 grams of Eutylone, along with empty packaging material; a digital scale with a white powdery residue; a black plastic bag containing drug packaging material; and a cell phone. Law enforcement checked the serial number on the firearm and learned that it had been stolen from North Carolina.
Cousar admitted that everything found in the house belonged to him. Further, Cousar knew that as a result of previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute CDS, voluntary manslaughter, and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Armed Pitt County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More than 17 YearsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Alterick Wallisima Boyd of Winterville, NC, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).
On February 16, 2021, Boyd entered a plea of guilty to the charges.
“Working with law enforcement at every level to stop the trafficking of dangerous and illegal drugs in our communities is a top priority for this office,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant, and his co-conspirators, will now be spending significant time behind bars rather than peddling significant quantities of drugs on the streets.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the investigation began in October 2018 when agents of the Greenville Regional Drug Task Force (GRDTF) in Greenville, North Carolina, received information that Boyd obtained narcotics from a source in Atlanta and was distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin in Pitt County, North Carolina. Boyd would often hide his drugs in a concealed area, or “trap”, in his vehicle.
Agents determined that Boyd would bring 4–5 kilograms of cocaine and 1–2 kilograms of heroin per trip from Atlanta to North Carolina. The investigation showed that Boyd was working with several co-conspirators, including Michael Aaron Cartwright and Antoinette Charmane Becton.
On January 2, 2019, agents saw Boyd meeting with Cartwright. Agents conducted a traffic stop of Cartwright and seized 1.3 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment in the rear passenger floorboard.
The same day, Boyd was arrested and found in possession of cocaine and a stolen handgun. Agents then searched Boyd’s residence and seized $32,840, a .22 caliber handgun, ammunition, and approximately one kilogram of heroin.
Investigators also searched a trailer used by Boyd. They seized 1.5 kilograms of heroin and 99 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl.
From October 2019 until February 2020, agents also conducted controlled purchases of cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and 1.2 kilograms of 100% pure crystal methamphetamine from Boyd and Antoinette Becton.
Boyd, Becton, and Cartwright were charged by federal indictment on February 19, 2020. Boyd’s co-defendants have previously been sentenced:
- Michael Aaron Cartwright): 81 months imprisonment; and
- Antoinette Charmane Becton, a/k/a “Charmane Cox”): 166 months imprisonment; $222,461 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Greenville Regional Drug Task Force (GRDTF), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-CR-0016-M.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 272 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man was sentenced to 272 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, law enforcement received information from a confidential informant that Gregory Lynn McCoy, 60, was in possession of a handgun and illegal narcotics. On October 22, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of McCoy’s residence and nearby vehicle. McCoy was inside the residence at the time. Upon his arrest, McCoy tossed multiple bags of illegal narcotics into a nearby closet. Officers found 20 bags of illegal narcotics and a box of .45 caliber ammunition hidden inside his residence. Officers also found a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a loaded magazine and two additional magazines in the center console of McCoy’s Dodge Durango. The vehicle was registered to McCoy and McCoy’s DNA was found on one of the three magazines.
On November 1, 2021, McCoy was convicted at trial of possessing a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. McCoy was sentenced to 262 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and to an additional 10 months in prison for having committed the crime while on supervised release. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, McCoy qualified for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. MacLaughlin and Joseph S. Teirab prosecuted the case.
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Alleged Gangster Disciples Members Indicted for Murder, Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging five alleged members of the Gangster Disciples with murder and racketeering related to the alleged murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 33, of Atlanta; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Shawty, 27, of Athens, Georgia; Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, are each charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Chambers and Browner are additionally charged with Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering-murder (VICAR); the carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and use of a firearm resulting in death.
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are three gang-related murders triggered by the murder of a Gangster Disciple member. After that murder, other Gangster Disciples allegedly sought to identify and retaliate against those responsible for the victim’s death. Chambers allegedly followed Rodriguez Apollo Rucker to his Athens residence where he shot and killed Rucker, who was a relative of a suspect of the first murder.
According to the indictment, after learning that police suspected Chambers of Rucker’s murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. In order to cover up this crime, Chambers allegedly ordered that fellow gang members he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson, be killed. Defendants Green, Guidry and Carlisle allegedly shot and killed Ruff and Jackson and left their bodies in a storage unit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they were discovered four months later.
Chambers allegedly held a “Position of Authority” with the Gangster Disciples organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement” or “Elimination” team (E-Team); Browner was allegedly a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” or “SOS,” a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciple organization; Green allegedly was a member of the E-Team; Carlisle was a member of the GD organization; and Guidry allegedly held a “Position of Authority” as the “Assistant Literature Coordinator.”
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being investigated by FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alleged Gangster Disciples Members Indicted for Murder, Federal Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia returned an indictment yesterday charging five alleged members of the Gangster Disciples with murder and racketeering related to the alleged murder of three people, as well as various other offenses including drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka Dolla Phil, 33, of Atlanta; Andrea Paige Browner, aka Light Brite, aka Shawty, 27, of Athens, Georgia; Lesley Chappell Green, aka Grip, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia; Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka Different, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka Lil L, aka L, aka Lil Bro, aka Lil Larry, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, are each charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Chambers and Browner are additionally charged with murder in aid of racketeering; the carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and use of a firearm resulting in death.
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are three gang-related murders triggered by the murder of a Gangster Disciple member. After that murder, other Gangster Disciples allegedly sought to identify and retaliate against those responsible for the victim’s death. Chambers allegedly followed Rodriguez Apollo Rucker to his Athens residence where he shot and killed Rucker.
According to the indictment, after learning that police suspected Chambers of Rucker’s murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. In order to cover up this crime, Chambers allegedly ordered that fellow gang members he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson, be killed. Defendants Green, Guidry and Carlisle allegedly shot and killed Ruff and Jackson and left their bodies in a storage unit in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they were discovered four months later.
Chambers allegedly held a “Position of Authority” with the Gangster Disciples organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement” or “Elimination” team (E-Team); Browner was allegedly a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” or “SOS,” a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciple organization; Green allegedly was a member of the E-Team; Carlisle was a member of the GD organization; and Guidry allegedly held a “Position of Authority” as the “Assistant Literature Coordinator.”
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Aliquippa Felon Sentenced to More Than a Dozen Years in Prison for Dealing Drugs and Brandishing a GunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Dana Penney was sentenced to 188 months in prison for (1) conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances in 2017 and 2018; (2) possessing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute on June 19, 2018; and (3) brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on July 18, 2018, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Penney, age 40, of Aliquippa, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Penney was on federal supervised release in 2017 and 2018 as a result of a prior federal drug trafficking conviction. Judge Ranjan sentenced Penney to a concurrent term of 12 months in prison for the supervised release violations that corresponded with the convictions mentioned above. Judge Ranjan ordered that the prison sentences be followed by six years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
39 Defendants Indicted in $4.7 Million Meth, Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Twenty Mexican nationals are among 39 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin over the past two years.
“This operation took a significant amount of illegal drugs off the street, and disrupted a large Mexican drug-trafficking organization in the Kansas City metropolitan area,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies worked together in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation to bring drug traffickers to justice and protect our community from the violence and other harms that result from the flow of illegal drugs.”
On June 8, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led an operation that involved 140 officers and agents from 14 state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. The takedown resulted in the arrests of 31 defendants charged in the indictment as well as three additional felony state arrests. Three of the federal defendants were already in custody at the time of the takedown and five of the federal defendants remain fugitives from justice.
On the day of the takedown, officers executed 16 search warrants and seized 84.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 10.4 kilograms of fentanyl, 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, 10.5 kilograms of marijuana, 687 Xanax pills, 3.1 kilograms of unknown pills, a quantity of bulk cash, five firearms, a 3D printer with manufactured ghost gun parts, and a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab.
“This indictment represents HSI and our law enforcement partners’ dedication to removing deadly narcotics from our community,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City area of responsibility Katherine Greer. “We stand alongside our community leaders, stakeholders and the public, to continue our work toward a safer community without the significant dangers associated with these illegal substances.”
The 91-count indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 1, 2022. The indictment was unsealed and made public following the arrests and initial court appearances of the defendants.
The federal indictment charges Jose Jesus Sanchez-Mendez, also known as “Michoacano,” 41, Jesus Morales-Garcia, also known as “Don Jesus,” 43, Luis Eduardo Pineda-Zarao, 26, Juan Bernardo Galeana-Aguilar, 45, Baltazar Flores-Norzagaray, also known as “Sinaloa,” 50, Rafael Perez-Esquivel, 51, Jose Eliazar Valle-Rivera, 39, Uziel Morales-Baltazar, 31, Erick Fernando Martinez Contreras, also known as “Alex,” 34, Joel Enrique Roman, also known as “Pelon,” 44, Miguel Angel Juarez-Lopez, also known as “Chapo,” 47, Jonathan Zuniga-Villafuerte, 30, Sergio Armando Valencia-Ochoa, 36, Juan Humberto Lemus-Mejia, 24, Yuliana Del Carmen Perez Ciprian, 38, Trinidad Torres-Meza, 41, Miriam Veronica Bustos-Martinez, 37, and Liliana Valencia-Mendoza, 40, addresses unknown and all citizens of Mexico; Flor Gonzalez-Celestine, 52, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; and Jose Bernabe Zamora-Cardenas, also known as “Mufa,” 52, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Kan.
The federal indictment also charges Tina Marie Cruces, 36, Lisbet Espino, 24, Frank Anthony Valdivia, 43, Melissa A. Bates, 55, and Monica L. McCubbin, 39, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Santiago Raul Mendieta-Sanchez, 41, a citizen of Honduras residing in Kansas City, Mo., Jennifer S. Lawson, 35, of Buckner, Mo.; Felton Stone Jr., 45, Donald R. Moses, also known as “Moe,” 51, Felipe Antonio Alcala, 30, Anthony C. Hughes, 37, Maria Nancy Valdez, 32, Ignacio Barragan-Vazquez, 32, Yvonne Guzman-Carpio, also known as “Morena,” 39, Kongmhink Her, 41, addresses unknown; Marco Antonio Salazar, also known as “Tono,” 29, and Nelson Alirio Garcia-Guerra, 28, both citizens of Guatemala, addresses unknown; Arantxa Sabrina Valderrama-Barros, also known as “Sabri,” 25, a citizen of Venezuela, address unknown; and Daniel Felipe Suarez-Reinoso, 30, a citizen of Colombia, address unknown.
All of the defendants are charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from Feb. 28, 2020, to June 1, 2022.
In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Sanchez-Mendez, Zamora-Cardenas, Valencia-Ochoa, Valencia-Mendoza and Suarez-Reinoso are charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy related to transporting or transferring the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy to Mexico.
Sanchez-Mendez and Morales-Garcia are also charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise related to the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies and other offenses alleged in the indictment. The indictment alleges Sanchez-Mendez and Morales-Garcia occupied a position of organizer, supervisor, or manager of the ongoing criminal enterprise, from which they obtained substantial income.
The federal indictment charges various defendants in various counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl, distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, money laundering, reentry by an illegal alien, and using cell phones to facilitate drug-trafficking crimes.
The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations that would require the defendants to forfeit to the government $4,718,700, which represents the proceeds of the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy and criminal enterprise. The indictment alleges the conspiracy involved the distribution of more than 335.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an average street price of $300 per ounce, and more than 22.1 kilograms of heroin, with an average street price of $1,500 per ounce.
The forfeiture allegations would also require the defendants to forfeit to the government $277,440 that was seized by law enforcement officers from a vehicle driven by Suarez-Reinoso and $51,445 that was seized by law enforcement officers while executing two search warrants at Kansas City, Mo., residences.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black, Patrick C. Edwards, and Mary Kate Butterfield. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Olmsted County, Minn., Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case 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.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a sign
Wednesday 15 June 2022
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, the Department of Justice reaffirms its commitment to elder justice while joining the world in commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
Elder abuse takes many forms, including financial exploitation (abuse and fraud), caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.[1] Annually, at least 15% of older adults experience some form of elder abuse, affecting 15 to 20 million older Americans. While the staggering number of older Americans affected by elder abuse is stunning, it is the consequences associated with elder abuse that demand our attention. Victims of elder abuse experience devastating financial losses, compromised health, injury, institutionalization, hospitalization, and even early mortality to name a few.
Attorney General Merit Garland stated “The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support. We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. Some older adults cut down on their prescription medications harming their health or they are unable to pay their rent and may have to move into senior subsidized housing, impacting their sense of independence. That is why the Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta commented “Our guiding legislation in the elder justice arena is the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA). While financial fraud is a high priority for the Department, it is important to recognize that the EAPPA instructs the Department to take a much broader stance to include elder abuse in all its forms, whether occurring in domestic or long-term care settings. Therefore, the Department continues to invest heavily in elder justice by developing tools and training to enable federal, state, and local elder justice professionals to respond vigorously yet compassionately when elder abuse occurs. Older Americans deserve to age with dignity and the Department’s commitment to elder justice contributes to this goal.”
“We will continue our efforts to protect senior citizens along with state and federal agencies who comprise our district’s Elder Justice Task Force,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Consumers are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target everyday citizens- especially when the elderly are the victims of rip-offs. Every day, people receive offers that sound just too good to be true; some come through the mail, others by telephone or the Internet. These offers have one objective – to rob you of your belongings. Prevent becoming a victim by saying “No”, ignoring the scammers, and reporting them to the authorities.”
The Department’s Elder Justice Highlights
Across the country, Department personnel and our law enforcement partners are diligently pursuing fraudsters who swindle money from older adults, whether they live with the older adult or on the other side of the globe. When older adults experience victimization, the Department responds with the full force of the federal government. For example, the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is a federal-state collaborative body that investigates and prosecutes individuals and organizations engaged in foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect older Americans. The Money Mule Initiative involves federal, state and local law enforcement agencies specifically identifying and addressing money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes that impact older Americans. The National Nursing Home Initiative coordinates and enhances civil and criminal pursuit of nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents. The Elder Fraud Initiative within the Consumer Protection Branch is the Department’s leader in prosecuting elder fraud crimes, while Elder Justice Coordinators serving in each of the US Attorney’s Offices actively pursue elder fraud in their respective jurisdictions.
Key to the Department’s efforts to prevent and investigate elder fraud are reports from financial institutions collected by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). Today, FinCEN is releasing an Advisory on Elder Financial Exploitation, highlighting fraud typologies that impact older adults.
For every enforcement action taken, there is one (and often many) older victims whose future is forever altered. To assist older victims in recovering from crime victimization, the Department provides Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to states for crime victim services programming, with a significant portion of those funds assisting older victims. At the federal level, Victim Specialists serve alongside Elder Justice Coordinators in facilitating services for older victims. The Department enthusiastically promotes collaborations of all types and for the first time released a $3.75 million solicitation to develop statewide elder justice coalitions (June 27, 2022, deadline), through the Office for Victims of Crime, in which elder justice professionals collaborate to collectively identify and address state-level gaps in services to older victims. Importantly, the Department trains elder justice professionals to embrace a victim-centered response when interacting with older victims. For example, funding provided by the Office for Victims of Crime resulted in Responding to Transnational Elder Fraud - A Victim-Centered Approach for Law Enforcement, a training provided by the National White Collar Crime Center. These and other efforts support victim recovery and well-being.
The Department stands at the ready to intervene when fraud and abuse occur, assisting victims and holding offenders accountable. However, the Department recognizes that public awareness is our best defense and therefore extensively invests and engages in public outreach. In addition to enforcement efforts, Elder Justice Coordinators across the country engage in public outreach activities.
There are things we can all do to promote public awareness. Join us this WEAAD in sharing with your friends and family our Community Outreach Flyers containing information on elder abuse and where to report. The former FBI Director Webster warns Americans to be vigilant about elder fraud. Educate yourself about Transnational Elder Fraud Schemes and listen to the voices of older fraud victims in the video, Financial Scams -- Deceit and Devastation, so you “know fraud when you see it”. On WEAAD, and throughout the year, we can all work to find solutions to stop elder abuse.
These few examples demonstrate how collectively the Department is daily striving to promote justice and safety for older Americans through enforcement actions, victim services, elder justice training and resources, and public awareness. To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice website.
Report
To report financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm eastern time. English/Español/Other languages available.
To report elder abuse, contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by calling the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm eastern time.
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[1] What is Elder Abuse (Elder Justice Website); Overview of Elder Abuse (NIJ)
Woodbine, Iowa Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Woodbine man, Curtis Lee Jensen, age 47, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to twelve years in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.
In January of 2021, a cyber tip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a KIK Messenger account. The email address was traced to Jensen and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Jensen’s email and KIK account. The investigation revealed that Jensen received and distributed child pornography using his KIK account.
Jensen was sentenced to 144 months in prison. He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Venezuelans Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine on Board a Vessel Subject to U.s. JurisdictionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Henry Gonzalez Noriega, 47, and Francisco Rodriguez Infante, 28, both of Venezuela, pleaded guilty today before District Court Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 25, 2019, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Donald Horsley intercepted a suspicious 55-foot vessel named La Gran Tormenta displaying Venezuelan nationality indicia approximately 38 nautical miles south of St. Croix. Occupants of the La Gran Tormenta failed to respond to USCG’s efforts to engage in questioning of the crew, and upon detection, the La Gran Tormenta changed course and began jettisoning packages. Crew members from the USCG Cutter Donald Horsley subsequently retrieved two bales from the water. The two jettisoned bales contained packages with brick-shaped objects which were subsequently laboratory tested and found to contain approximately 49 kilograms of cocaine hydrocholoride.
After requesting and receiving permission to stop the vessel from the Venezuela, the flag state, USCG personnel attempted a right-of-visit boarding which was ineffective because crew on the La Gran Tormenta disregarded the USCG’s instructions. Eventually, USCG personnel obtained control of the La Gran Tormenta through use of an entanglement tactic which stopped the vessel’s engine. A USCG counter-drug boarding team later encountered 11 persons, including the defendants.
The sentencing date for Noriega and Infante is scheduled for October 14, 2022. For their convictions, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney's Office Commits to Justice on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) this June 15thRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Michael Easley, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, reaffirms the Eastern District of North Carolina’s commitment to combating elder abuse and financial exploitation. Mr. Easley commented: “Our seniors deserve our best efforts to prosecute those who attempt to capitalize on their vulnerabilities. As the Department of Justice continues to fight elder abuse on the national scale, we are doing justice for elderly victims in North Carolina.”
Examples of our commitment to prosecuting crimes that target and disproportionately impact our elders include the following:
Financial Fraud
On February 3, 2022, Furman Alexander Ford, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for eleven counts of mail fraud, eleven counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Ford was a New York Life (NYL) financial advisor who was advising a 72-year-old client who had recently inherited real property valued at $1.3 million.
Ford assisted in the sale of the property and the setting-up of a charitable annuity trust with NYL using the sale proceeds. The victim was his primary client while employed at NYL. As part of Ford’s responsibility as the victim’s financial agent, he drafted and submitted letters of withdrawal from the client’s annuity account to pay for certain expenses. The funds would then be electronically wired to the recipient as directed by the client.
During the investigation however, agents identified twenty separate fraudulent letters of withdrawal drafted by Ford and submitted to NYL headquarters in New York, NY. The letters were all mailed by Ford from his office in Raleigh. The funds requested ranged from $5,000 to $45,000 and totaled over $376,000. The proceeds were then electronically wired by NYL to Ford’s personal checking account. An FBI financial analysis traced the funds to the purchase by Ford of various personal items, including a BMW vehicle, Rolex watches, firearms, child support, and a cruise to the Bahamas. On December 29, 2014, Ford withdrew an additional $1 million from his client’s annuity account. In total, Ford stole over $1.3 million from the elderly victim.
Romance Scams:
On March 17, 2022, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Between 2014 and 2018, Kolaogunbule opened, maintained, and controlled approximately 20 different bank accounts at multiple financial institutions that were used to receive more than $2 million in romance scam proceeds derived from elderly citizens and other victims. Romance scammers exploit victims who are looking for companionship by creating fake profiles on online dating websites that include false personal details, such as the death of a spouse or military service. After creating the illusion of a romantic relationship to gain the victim’s trust, the scammer will typically solicit the victim for money to alleviate some fabricated crisis, such as a medical or business emergency.
More than 60 victims were directed to send money to Kolaogunbule’s accounts, many of which were titled in the names of purported export companies, including DSC Exports and Belmont Integrated Logistics. In fact, these companies were fronts for Kolaogunbule’s money laundering business.
Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who target our seniors to rob them of their life savings.
United States Attorney Waldref Joins Attorney General Garland in Recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, joined United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
“From the Palouse to the Cascades, and from the small towns to the big cities, respect for our elders is a principle we can all live by in the Eastern District of Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Having safe and strong communities means protecting our seniors, who can be among our most vulnerable—and are often the same people who have protected all of us when we have been vulnerable ourselves.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref’s comments dovetailed with the comments of Attorney General Garland. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of exploitative practices targeted at seniors. The Justice Department has worked to expand our capacity to prevent elder abuse, prosecute perpetrators of that abuse, and protect and support elderly survivors.”
The Attorney General also noted several DOJ initiatives designed to protect and enrich the lives of the Nation’s seniors. “Our Elder Justice Initiative coordinates programmatic efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for our partners at all levels of government and beyond. Our grantmaking components have also funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multidisciplinary Teams. In addition, Elder Justice Coordinators in each of our 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide are working to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref concluded by joining Attorney General Garland’s call for the United States to be a leader in the prevention of elder abuse: “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Department of Justice joins our partners across America and around the world in reaffirming our commitment to preventing and ending elder abuse in all of its forms.”
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Offers Training, Resources to Combat Elder AbuseRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia offers training and resources for its citizens to prevent and respond to elder abuse.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, through the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Elder abuse is a serious crime affecting an estimated one out of ten older Americans annually, although those numbers are likely even higher. Working with our law enforcement and community partners, our office will continue to seek justice for vulnerable citizens through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services and public awareness.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia has a dedicated Elder Justice Coordinator to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, along with offering opportunities for education and training. Citizen groups and law enforcement agencies interested in learning more about training opportunities can contact Pam Lightsey, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Middle District of Georgia, at [email protected].
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s expanding efforts to protect and support older Americans through the Elder Justice Initiative, including information about grant opportunities to advance elder justice, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
To report financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm eastern time. English/Español/Other languages available.
To report elder abuse, contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by calling the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm eastern time.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio joins with the Department of Justice and other U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country in recognizing June 15 as Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD provides an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
“Many of us are familiar with instances involving the exploitation of loved ones or our older relatives,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “The Department of Justice and law enforcement in this region are committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice initiatives and providing support through grants, training and other resources.”
The Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative coordinates efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for partners at all levels of government and beyond. Grantmaking components have funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multi-disciplinary Teams.
Elder Justice Coordinators in each of the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide work to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.
In addition, the Department of Justice continues to expand the capacity to protect and support survivors of elder abuse. This includes a training and technical assistance program to develop and expand statewide Elder Justice Coalitions and an Abuse in Later Life Program, which supports organizations dedicated to assisting older individuals and advancing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary solutions to elder abuse.
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116.
Monday – Friday 9:00 am - 8:0 pm EST.
To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833–FRAUD–11 or 1-833–372–8311.
Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Reconfirming Commitment to Combatting Senior FraudRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Today marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee is concerned for Maine’s senior generation. Elder abuse can take many forms, including financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual or psychological abuse. Annually, 15-20 million older Americans face some form of elder abuse.
“The impact on victims of elder abuse can be devastating,” U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee said. “At the federal level, the cases we most often see involve senior scams, and instances are becoming far too prevalent. Last year alone, 475 senior Maine residents were scammed out of more than $2.5 million while nationally the losses were a staggering $1.7 billion.”
Across the country, Department of Justice personnel and its law enforcement partners are pursuing fraudsters who swindle money from older adults. For example:
- Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is a federal-state collaborative body that investigates and prosecutes individuals and organizations engaged in foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect older Americans.
- Money Mule Initiative involves federal, state and local law enforcement agencies specifically identifying and addressing money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes that impact older Americans.
- The National Nursing Home Initiative coordinates and enhances civil and criminal pursuit of nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
- Elder Fraud Initiative within the Consumer Protection Branch is the Department’s leader in prosecuting elder fraud crimes.
- Elder Justice Coordinators serving in each of the U.S. Attorney’s Offices actively pursue elder fraud in their respective jurisdictions.
“The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. The Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”
Report Elder Abuse: Victims of elder abuse are often hesitant to report it. While the Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting cases of elder abuse, raising public awareness of scams and encouraging the reporting cases of abuse are vital to combatting the epidemic.
- To report financial fraud: contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311.
- To report elder abuse in Maine: call 1-800-624-8404 (24-hour, toll free) or Maine Relay 711 to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
“Maine seniors deserve to feel safe and secure without the concern of predators lurking, whether online or in person,” McElwee said. “We all must play a role in protecting our elder generation by being aware, vigilant and reporting suspected or attempted abuse.”
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U.S. Attorney Charges Nurse Practitioner in $10.5 Million Disability Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Terry Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Eastern Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (“ED-OIG”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging CATHERINE SEEMER with wire fraud, federal financial aid fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme that resulted in the fraudulent discharge of over $10.5 million worth of student loans on the basis of falsified medical certifications of permanent disabilities. SEEMER was arrested this morning and will be presented before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program is designed to help ease the financial burden of those who suffer from permanent physical or mental disabilities, including military veterans who endure service-related disabilities, by relieving them of their student loan obligations. As alleged, the defendant defrauded this program for her own benefit. She stole the identities of more than a dozen medical doctors and falsified the disabilities of more than 100 borrowers in order to profit from the multi-year scheme, which resulted in the fraudulent discharge of over $10.5 million in loans. This Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigilantly protect the integrity of critical programs that exist to help those who are most in need.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, Ms. Seemer fraudulently orchestrated the discharge of student loans in excess of $10 million on behalf of more than 100 borrowers she led to believe were eligible for various forms of student-loan relief. She ultimately reaped more than $1 million in ill-gotten gains by charging borrowers fees in exchange for her “services.” The action we have taken today is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to protecting government programs from fraudsters who seek to undermine them for their own selfish purposes.”
ED-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Terry Harris said: “Tracking down those who cheat the Federal student aid programs is a priority of our office. The OIG is committed to fighting student aid fraud in all its forms and we will continue to pursue anyone who participates in these types of crimes.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court:[1]
From June 2017 through March 2022, SEEMER orchestrated a scheme to cause the fraudulent discharge of millions of dollars’ worth of student loans for borrowers who did not qualify for relief under the federal Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program and its private analogue. As part of the scheme, SEEMER deceived over 100 borrowers into believing they qualified for various forms of student loan relief and charged them fees—often between 10% and 20% of the loan amount—to facilitate their loan discharge process. She then used the personal identifying information of the unsuspecting borrowers to submit fraudulent applications for student loan discharge on the basis of non-existent permanent physical and mental disabilities. In support of these applications, SEEMER used the stolen identities, medical license numbers, and forged signatures of over a dozen medical doctors to falsify medical diagnoses and disability certifications. The scheme resulted in the wrongful discharge of over approximately $10.5 million in loans under the disability-based relief programs. It is estimated that SEEMER earned at least approximately $1 million as a result of the scheme.
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CATHERINE SEEMER, 42, of Elmsford, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of federal financial aid fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. Mr. Williams noted that the investigation is ongoing.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Qais Ghafary is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace Highlights Support and Resources for Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
In observation of this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, celebrated annually on June 15th, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York highlighted available resources to increase awareness of, and prevent, various scams against seniors including brochures, flyers, and targeted presentations.
“By disseminating materials and having Assistant U.S. Attorneys provide presentations to the Eastern District community, we hope to ensure our valued senior citizens have the tools they need to protect themselves against scams,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “The Office is proud to be part of the Elder Fraud Strike Force and will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our senior communities are protected, and those that wish to harm them are brought to justice. We encourage all to reach out for more information.”
U.S. Attorney Peace thanked the Federal Trade Commission for its help in creating some of the materials and investigating alleged acts of elder fraud.
Some common scams targeting the elderly include:
- Family imposter scams, where someone calls pretending to be the victim’s relative (often a grandchild) and claiming to need money;
- Government imposter scams, such as callers impersonating the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration and demanding payment for fictitious tax liabilities or compromised personal information connected to alleged criminal activity;
- Tech support scams, where scammers request remote access to victim computers and then demand money to fix various bogus computer problems; and
- Romance scams conducted through online dating websites. Often the scammers request payment via gift card, making it easier for them to remain anonymous.
Increasing awareness of common types of scams among potential victims helps to increase their vigilance and makes them less likely to fall prey to these schemes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has made available various materials to help increase awareness about, and prevent, frauds targeted at seniors. These include:
- Presentations by Assistant U.S. Attorneys about ways to protect yourself and your community against scams. To request a presentation please email [email protected]
- Brochure about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Strike Force, with details about how to submit a complaint if you were a victim of a scam, where to find additional information, and an overview of common scams and red flags – and how to protect yourself against them.
- Flyers about gift-card scams in English and Spanish created with the Federal Trade Commission.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the U.S Attorney’s Office. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10% of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services, and public awareness.
The United States Department of Justice seeks to prevent and prosecute elder abuse and fraud through the Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates enforcement efforts Department-wide. In June 2019, the Attorney General announced the establishment of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Eastern District of New York was one of six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to be selected to be a part of this joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other organizations. The Strike Force focuses on investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors. These include telemarketing, mass-mailing, and tech-support fraud schemes.
In March 2022, the Office formed the Consumer Protection Team within the Office’s Civil Division to protect the health, safety, economic security, and dignity of individuals in the Eastern District of New York and nationwide, including our most vulnerable residents – older adults and children. Click here to see more recent news regarding the Office’s Elder Justice initiative.
To request a presentation or other materials, please email [email protected]
For more information on the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).
All FTC information is in the public domain, and free to share. Visit FTC’s Pass It On to download or order free materials, including articles, presentations that you can deliver, bookmarks, and activity sheets in English and Spanish.
The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Two New Mexico men sentenced for Rio Arriba drug trafficking, money laundering conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that José Mendoza and Ryan Rodriguez were sentenced for their parts in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
A grand jury indicted the defendants on Feb. 25, 2020. According to their plea agreements and other court records, from June 22, 2018, through Feb. 25, 2020, José Mendoza, 34, of Medanales, New Mexico, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, 37, conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Rodriguez, 29, of Chamita, New Mexico, would obtain cocaine from José Mendoza, convert it to cocaine base, then sell it to others in the Española Valley. From Oct. 7, 2019, to Jan. 8, 2020, Rodriguez sold and arranged to sell cocaine and cocaine base to an undercover agent.
Natalie Mendoza kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. Natalie and José Mendoza deposited the proceeds from illegal drug transactions into checking, savings, and loan accounts at various financial institutions to conceal the source of the money. Deposits were often split to avoid amounts that would trigger reporting requirements. The couple also made large payments towards loans or mortgages, including loans for vehicles purchased under other names. José Mendoza admitted to using false income statements to qualify for loans.
José and Natalie Mendoza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On June 7, José Mendoza was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Sentencing for Natalie Mendoza has been continued to a date to be determined.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, five counts of using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses, one count of distributing cocaine base, four counts of distribution of 28 grams and more of cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 280 grams and more of cocaine base. Rodriguez was sentenced on June 10 to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
In addition to their prison terms, the co-defendants in the case also forfeited numerous vehicles, multiple firearms and $24,893.69 in U.S. currency.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office investigated this case with assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Taos Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Nelson, Peter Eicker and Steve Kotz prosecuted the case.
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Two Men Sentenced for the Unlawful Taking of a Golden EagleRead the Press Release
BOISE – Two Treasure Valley men, were sentenced for the unlawful taking of a golden eagle without permission.
According to court records, Colten R. Ferdinand, 20, of Boise, Idaho, and Wyatt G. Noe, 23, of Eagle, Idaho, were each charged by Information with one count of unlawful taking a golden eagle without permission and one count of unlawful taking a migratory bird of prey without permission. On April 10, 2021, they entered the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and shot and killed a golden eagle and shot and killed five red-tailed hawks. Both Ferdinand and Wyatt pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful taking of a golden eagle on March 24, 2022.
United States Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale sentenced Ferdinand and Wyatt to two years of probation and 15 hours of community service related to wildlife conservation. Further, Judge Dale ordered a two-year hunting ban and a two-year ban from possessing firearms. Noe was ordered to forfeit his rifle, pistol and ammunition; and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Ferdinand was ordered to forfeit his rifle, ammunition, and two Streamlight flashlights and was ordered to pay $3,800 in restitution to the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
The Idaho Fish and Game Department, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement and Security, participated in a joint investigation that began in March of 2021, after law enforcement was notified of multiple birds of prey, to include red tail, ferruginous, and rough-legged hawks, and golden eagles, found dead under the power line that paralleled the Big Baja Road in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. All of those hawks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and golden eagles are protected under the Bald Eagle Act of 1940.
As part of the investigation, officers interviewed a Boise State Graduate Research Assistant regarding the raptor shootings. The research assistant stated there was a history of raptors being killed in that area. On March 13 and 14, 2021, the research assistant reported that several dead raptors were located in the conservation area. All of the raptors collected showed evidence of being shot, and two raptors suffered bullet exit wounds. One raptor that survived the shooting was taken to a veterinarian where it was later euthanatized. On March 20, 2021, nine additional dead raptors were located, along with ammunition casings.
Law enforcement was conducting surveillance in the area on April 10, 2021, and observed Ferdinand and Wyatt driving along Big Baja Road with powerful hand-held lights and watched as they shot at raptors. When approached by law enforcement, both Ferdinand and Noe admitted to shooting at the raptors. A search of the area discovered a freshly killed golden eagle and five freshly killed red-tailed hawks, to include one juvenile hawk.
“The wonton killing of migratory birds, including the majestic golden eagle and the red-tailed hawk is senseless,” said U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. “We take our mission to support fish and game laws very seriously, as do our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement and land management. The slaughter of migratory birds will not be tolerated,” he concluded.
“These defendants knowingly shot and killed migratory birds and a golden eagle, which are protected under state and federal laws,” said Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement. “We thank the U.S. Department of Justice, the Idaho Fish and Game Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for their work on this investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Gonzalez made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Fish and Game Department, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement and Security, which led to charges.
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