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29 July 2022
Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to over Eighteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine from out-of-state and into Iowa during 2019 was sentenced July 28, 2022, to more than eighteen years in federal prison.
Gilbert Terrell Brutley, age 42, from Dothan, Alabama, received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having been convicted of a serious felony drug offense.
At the guilty plea, Brutley admitted that, between February 2019 and September 2019, he entered into an agreement with others to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. Brutley was previously convicted of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance in Alabama in 2017.
Brutley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Brutley was sentenced to 219 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brutley is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Manchester Police Department and the Delaware County Sherriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2046.
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Massachusetts Man Arrested for Making Bomb Threat to Arizona State Election OfficialRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts man was arrested today in Falmouth, Massachusetts for allegedly sending a communication containing a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, is charged with one count of making a bomb threat, one count of perpetrating a bomb hoax, and one count of communicating an interstate threat. Clark made his initial appearance today at the federal courthouse in Boston.
“Illegal threats of violence put election officials and workers at risk and undermine the bedrock of our democracy: free and fair elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the nation, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute illegal threats like these to hold accountable those who threaten our democracy.”
“Throughout Arizona, we are fortunate to have highly professional state, county and local officials who administer elections in a fair and impartial manner,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino. “Democracy requires that we support those officials, and that we take seriously allegations of threats or violence against them.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix field office. “While this arrest demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate a public official, it also shows that people cannot threaten others with violence and physical harm without repercussions.”
According to the indictment, on or about Feb. 14, 2021, Clark allegedly sent the following message via the website contact form of the Elections Division, Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, addressed to the election official: “Your attorney general needs to resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”
The indictment also alleges that Clark utilized a web browser to search for the address of the election official and searched for “how to kill” the election official. The indictment further alleges that, on or about Feb. 18, 2021, Clark utilized a web browser to search for “fema boston marathon bombing” and “fema boston marathon bombing plan digital army.”
If convicted, Clark faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison for making the bomb threat and up to five years in prison for each of the counts on the bomb hoax and making a threatening interstate communication.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Phoenix is investigating the case, with the assistance of FBI Lakeville (Mass.).
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the Task Force is continuing this work and supporting the United States Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the Task Force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at: tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Arrested for Making Bomb Threat to Arizona State Election OfficialRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts man was arrested today in Falmouth, Massachusetts for allegedly sending a communication containing a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, is charged with one count of making a bomb threat, one count of perpetrating a bomb hoax, and one count of communicating an interstate threat. Clark made his initial appearance today at the federal courthouse in Boston.
“Illegal threats of violence put election officials and workers at risk and undermine the bedrock of our democracy: free and fair elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the nation, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute illegal threats like these to hold accountable those who threaten our democracy.”
“Throughout Arizona, we are fortunate to have highly professional state, county and local officials who administer elections in a fair and impartial manner,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino. “Democracy requires that we support those officials, and that we take seriously allegations of threats or violence against them.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix field office. “While this arrest demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate a public official, it also shows that people cannot threaten others with violence and physical harm without repercussions.”
According to the indictment, on or about Feb. 14, 2021, Clark allegedly sent the following message via the website contact form of the Elections Division, Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, addressed to the election official: “Your attorney general needs to resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”
The indictment also alleges that Clark utilized a web browser to search for the address of the election official and searched for “how to kill” the election official. The indictment further alleges that, on or about Feb. 18, 2021, Clark utilized a web browser to search for “fema boston marathon bombing” and “fema boston marathon bombing plan digital army.”
If convicted, Clark faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison for making the bomb threat and up to five years in prison for each of the counts on the bomb hoax and making a threatening interstate communication.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Phoenix is investigating the case, with the assistance of FBI Lakeville (Mass.).
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the Task Force is continuing this work and supporting the United States Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the Task Force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at: tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Indicted in Murder for Hire Scheme Arrested in BostonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Allen Gessen was arrested in Boston after a San Francisco federal grand jury indicted him for murder for hire, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan.
The indictment, filed July 26, 2022, against Gessen, 47, of Massachusetts, charges that from June 2 to July 26, 2022, he engaged in a murder for hire scheme targeting a person identified only as “P.C.” in the indictment. The indictment alleges the consideration offered for the murder was $50,000. The indictment further alleges that Gessen paid a gold coin as a down payment in the murder scheme on June 22, 2022, and the indictment seeks to forfeit that gold coin as well as $22,950.
Gessen made his initial federal court appearance July 28, 2022, in United States District Court in Boston.
The indictment charges one count of murder for hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958. The maximum statutory penalty for the charge is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case is being investigated by the FBI.
Madison Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Brandon Norton, 32, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 120 months in prison for distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Norton pleaded guilty to this charge on April 6, 2022.
On October 14, 2021, a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration communicated with Norton and arranged to buy two pounds of methamphetamine from him in Madison in exchange for $6,000. Norton arrived at the meeting location driving a car with his girlfriend and two minor children. The confidential source entered the back seat of Norton’s car and received the methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley noted that Norton had “leaned into” a leadership role in a large-scale interstate drug trafficking organization and was involved in transporting pounds of methamphetamine from California to Wisconsin. Judge Conley also noted it was an aggravating factor that Norton had two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking in the Madison area.
The charge against Norton is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Sun Prairie Police Department. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Lorain Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Lorain man was sentenced to 105 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker on July 28, 2022, for his role in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing cocaine and heroin in the Lorain County area.
Prince Brown, 37, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession of a firearm as a felon and other drug possession charges.
According to court documents, from January 2019 to September 2020, Brown and codefendant Mohammed Hamid engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that purchased large quantities of cocaine and heroin and redistributed the drugs to other traffickers in Cleveland, Lorain and Elyria, including codefendants Robert Starr, Darian Lopez, Devan Grantham and Amos Jackson.
Court records state that Brown was arrested in December of 2019 in Cleveland and had in his possession at the time of the arrest 96 grams of heroin and other narcotic substances along with a loaded firearm and $20,000 in drug trafficking proceeds.
Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of drug trafficking in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Previously sentenced in this matter were Richard Starr, 29, of Fairview Park, Ohio, to 160 months; Amos Jackson, 39, of Elyria, Ohio, to 48 months; Darian Lopez, 28, of Lorain, Ohio, to 32 months and Devan Grantham, 27, of Elyria, Ohio, to 12 months in federal prison. Mohammed Hamid, 31, of Avon Lake, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and will be sentenced in the future.
This case was investigated as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., an initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers in Lorain County.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Elyria Police Department, Lorain Police Department, Lorain County Drug Task Force and the FBI Cleveland conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vasile C. Katsaros and Robert F. Corts.
This effort was 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.
Leading ISIS Media Figure and Foreign Fighter Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
A Saudi-born Canadian citizen was sentenced today to life imprisonment for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death.
According to court documents, Mohammed Khalifa, aka Abu Ridwan Al-Kanadi and Abu Muthanna Al-Muhajir, 39, served in prominent roles within ISIS starting in 2013 and continuing until his capture by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January 2019, following a firefight between ISIS fighters and the SDF. In addition to serving as a fighter and personally executing two Syrian soldiers on behalf of ISIS, Khalifa served as a lead translator in ISIS’s propaganda production and the English-speaking narrator on multiple violent ISIS videos.
In the spring of 2013, Khalifa traveled to Syria with the intent of becoming a foreign fighter and ultimately joining ISIS. In or around November 2013, he joined ISIS and swore allegiance to then-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In early 2014, he was recruited to join ISIS’s media department due, in part, to his language abilities as a fluent English and Arabic speaker. Starting in 2016, Khalifa directed various supporter networks that assisted in the translation, production and dissemination of propaganda released under various ISIS media brands in order to reach Western audiences. He worked within the ISIS media operation until late 2018.
Khalifa provided the narration and translation for approximately 15 videos created and distributed by ISIS. The productions narrated by Khalifa include two of the most influential and exceptionally violent ISIS propaganda videos: “Flames of War: Fighting Has Just Begun,” distributed on Sept. 19, 2014, and “Flames of War II: Until the Final Hour,” distributed on Nov. 29, 2017. The videos depict glamorized portrayals of ISIS and its fighters as well as scenes of violence, including depictions of unarmed prisoners being executed, footage of ISIS attacks and fighting and depictions of ISIS attacks in the United States.
The ISIS “Flames of War” videos include scenes of Khalifa executing a different Syrian soldier in each of the two videos. In the final scenes of both videos, a masked Khalifa speaks to the camera and is then seen executing a kneeling Syrian soldier while other masked ISIS members shoot the prisoners kneeling in front of each of them.
During the time Khalifa was a prominent member of ISIS, the terrorist organization was conducting a brutal hostage-taking and ransom demand campaign involving journalists and humanitarian aid workers who came to Syria from across the globe. Between August 19, 2014, and February 6, 2015, ISIS killed eight American, British and Japanese citizens in Syria as part of the hostage scheme.
In January 2019, Khalifa engaged in fighting on behalf of ISIS and attacked an SDF position in Abu Badran, Syria. Khalifa, alone and armed with three grenades and an AK-47, threw a grenade on the roof of a house where SDF soldiers were standing. The grenade detonated and Khalifa ran into the house and attempted to go to the roof, but an SDF soldier was firing from the stairs. Khalifa began firing at the SDF soldier and attempted to use all three of his grenades during the attack. Khalifa fired most of his ammunition during the assault before his AK-47 jammed. Khalifa surrendered to the SDF on or about Jan. 13, 2019. He was transferred to the custody of the FBI last year and brought to the Eastern District of Virginia, where he had his initial appearance on Oct. 4, 2021. Khalifa pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death, on Dec. 10, 2021.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis M. Fitzpatrick, John T. Gibbs and Aidan Taft Grano-Mickelson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Trial Attorney Alicia H. Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-271.
Leading ISIS Media Figure and Foreign Fighter Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Saudi-born Canadian citizen was sentenced today to life imprisonment for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death.
According to court documents, Mohammed Khalifa, aka Abu Ridwan Al-Kanadi and Abu Muthanna Al-Muhajir, 39, served in prominent roles within ISIS starting in 2013 and continuing until his capture by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January 2019, following a firefight between ISIS fighters and the SDF. In addition to serving as a fighter and personally executing two Syrian soldiers on behalf of ISIS, Khalifa served as a lead translator in ISIS’s propaganda production and the English-speaking narrator on multiple violent ISIS videos.
In the spring of 2013, Khalifa traveled to Syria with the intent of becoming a foreign fighter and ultimately joining ISIS. In or around November 2013, he joined ISIS and swore allegiance to then-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In early 2014, he was recruited to join ISIS’s media department due, in part, to his language abilities as a fluent English and Arabic speaker. Starting in 2016, Khalifa directed various supporter networks that assisted in the translation, production, and dissemination of propaganda released under various ISIS media brands in order to reach Western audiences. He worked within the ISIS media operation until late 2018.
Khalifa provided the narration and translation for approximately 15 videos created and distributed by ISIS. The productions narrated by Khalifa include two of the most influential and exceptionally violent ISIS propaganda videos: “Flames of War: Fighting Has Just Begun,” distributed on September 19, 2014, and “Flames of War II: Until the Final Hour,” distributed on November 29, 2017. The videos depict glamorized portrayals of ISIS and its fighters as well as scenes of violence, including depictions of unarmed prisoners being executed, footage of ISIS attacks and fighting, and depictions of ISIS attacks in the United States.
The ISIS “Flames of War” videos include scenes of Khalifa executing a different Syrian soldier in each of the two videos. In the final scenes of both videos, a masked Khalifa speaks to the camera and is then seen executing a kneeling Syrian soldier while other masked ISIS members also shoot the prisoners kneeling in front of each of them.
During the time Khalifa was a prominent member of ISIS, the terrorist organization was conducting a brutal hostage-taking and ransom demand campaign involving journalists and humanitarian aid workers who came to Syria from across the globe. Between August 19, 2014, and February 6, 2015, ISIS killed eight American, British, and Japanese citizens in Syria as part of the hostage scheme.
In January 2019, Khalifa engaged in fighting on behalf of ISIS and attacked an SDF position in Abu Badran, Syria. Khalifa, alone and armed with three grenades and an AK-47, threw a grenade on the roof of a house where SDF soldiers were standing. The grenade detonated and Khalifa ran into the house and attempted to go to the roof, but an SDF soldier was firing from the stairs. Khalifa began firing at the SDF soldier and attempted to use all three of his grenades during the attack. Khalifa fired most of his ammunition during the assault before his AK-47 jammed. Khalifa surrendered to the SDF on or about January 13, 2019. He was transferred to the custody of the FBI last year and brought to the Eastern District of Virginia, where he had his initial appearance on October 4, 2021. Khalifa pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death, on December 10, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Fitzpatrick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Gibbs and Aidan Taft Grano-Mickelson, all from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Trial Attorney Alicia H. Cook of the Justice Department prosecuted this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-271.
Lead defendant pleads guilty in Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: The lead defendant in a Waycross-area fentanyl and heroin trafficking operation has now pled guilty, joining the other five defendants who admitted their roles in the conspiracy.
Eric Lashawn Hayes, a/k/a “Pee Wee,” 28, of Blackshear, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Because of a prior drug felony conviction, Hayes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with substantial financial penalties, and a minimum of eight years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Opioid addiction and overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl, continue to ravage our country,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Eric Hayes typifies the gun-carrying drug trafficker whose activities fuel the opioid epidemic and the violent crime it inflicts on our communities. The substantial prison sentence he now faces will make our streets safer.”
Hayes was one of six defendants named in February 2021 in U.S.A. v. Hayes, et. al, an indictment targeting a drug distribution network in the greater Waycross area. The Pierce and Ware County Sheriff’s Offices initiated the investigation in July 2020 after multiple drug overdoses attributed to heroin and fentanyl, including three deaths. The Savannah Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration joined the investigation, which identified Hayes as a source of supply for the illegal drugs.
The investigation culminated in the indictments of the six defendants, all who now have pled guilty. The brother of Eric Hayes, Cyrlus LaShawn Hayes, a/k/a “Dubo,” 45, of Waycross, Ga., is serving 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Fentanyl and Heroin; and Crystal Champagne, 34, of Waycross, is serving 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl. Three other defendants – Preston Connor Luke, 27, of Blackshear; Renalba Jamar Green, a/k/a “Reno,” 35, of Waycross, Ga.; and Davey Green, a/k/a “Little Dave,” 35, of Waycross – await sentencing after pleading guilty to related charges in the conspiracy.
“Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin – the combination of these deadly substances has claimed many lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Because of the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement, these defendants can no longer distribute these dangerous and potentially deadly substances.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Blackshear Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and Noah J. Abrams.
Kidnapper Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Raymundo Guerra, 36, of El Paso pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to kidnap.
According to court documents, on December 23, 2015, Guerra agreed with Charles Douglass, 39, and Lawrence Dean Henry, aka Gotti, 33, both of El Paso, to kidnap a man they thought had stolen methamphetamine from Guerra. The victim was kidnapped in Chaparral, NM, then forcibly moved to El Paso and then back again to Chaparral. The victim was assaulted by the three men and died during the commission of the kidnapping. Guerra and Henry then burned and buried the victim’s remains in a desert area near Chaparral.
The case, initially opened as a missing person’s report, remained unsolved until officers with the El Paso Police Department and agents with the FBI discovered the victim’s remains in 2017. Guerra, who is a United States citizen, fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. The FBI worked with counterparts in Mexico to have Guerra arrested and deported to the United States to face these criminal charges.
Guerra is scheduled to be sentenced on October 12, 2022 and faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On April 17, 2019, Douglass pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and was sentenced on October 30, 2019 to 169 months in prison.
On July 2, 2019, Henry pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On November 12, 2019, Henry was sentenced to 480 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey, El Paso Field Office, made the announcement.
The FBI and the El Paso Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian Martinez Hanna and Kyle Myers are prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Underscore Legal Obligations of Auto Finance Companies During Military Consumer MonthRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a joint letter today reminding auto lenders and leasing companies of their responsibilities to recognize important legal protections that exist for members of the military and their dependents under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Under the SCRA, servicemembers have additional rights and protections given the unique financial challenges that often emerge because of their service. July is Military Consumer Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness of consumer protections and promoting financial readiness for servicemembers, veterans and their families.
“The Civil Rights Division is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that the rights of those serving in our nation’s armed forces are safeguarded from discrimination and unfair treatment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Auto lenders and leasing companies across the nation have an obligation to ensure the fair and lawful treatment of servicemembers.”
“Auto finance companies that play by the rules should not be disadvantaged by competitors that violate the legal rights of military families,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “The CFPB is closely monitoring the auto finance industry to ensure that servicemembers and their families are being treated fairly.”
Recent CFPB research has shown that servicemembers tend to carry more auto loan debt at younger ages than their civilian counterparts, largely due to the need for transportation while living on a military base. Servicemembers are also the common target of unfair or predatory practices, including costly loans and expensive contracts, because of the financial inexperience of many entering the service as young adults, combined with their steady paychecks and ability to structure payments through the military allotment system.
The letter is designed to ensure that auto finance companies are aware of key provisions within the SCRA that protect servicemembers and their families against certain unlawful auto financing practices, including:
- Wrongful vehicle repossessions – The SCRA prohibits an auto finance company from repossessing a vehicle during the borrower’s military service without a court order, if the borrower financed or leased the vehicle prior to entering military service.
- Failure to terminate vehicle leases without penalty – The SCRA allows servicemembers to terminate motor vehicle leases early and without penalty after entering military service or receiving qualifying military orders for a permanent change of station or deployment.
- Violations of auto loan interest rate benefits – The SCRA also limits interest rates on loans incurred prior to military service to no more than 6% per year, including most fees. If servicemembers make a proper request, a creditor must forgive and not defer any interest greater than 6%.
The Justice Department’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative coordinates with federal resources and information to build a comprehensive legal support and protection network focused on serving servicemembers, veterans and their families. The initiative’s mission is to support the department in its efforts to protect those who protect us all. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Consumers encountering problems with auto servicing can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372). Employees who believe their companies have violated federal consumer financial protection laws are encouraged to send information about what they know to [email protected].
Justice Department and HHS Issue Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth the Week of the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
As we commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are partnering to publish guidance on the protections in federal nondiscrimination laws, including the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, requiring that telehealth be accessible to people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons. These laws work in tandem to prohibit discrimination and protect access to health care. The guidance is available here on the Justice Department website. The guidance is also available here on the HHS website.
“Telehealth has become an evolving and common pathway for accessing healthcare, particularly as our society becomes increasingly digitized,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is critical to ensure that telehealth care is accessible to all, including patients with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency and people of all races and national origins. Federal civil rights laws protect patients from discrimination regardless of whether they are receiving health care online or at the doctor’s office. The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce the ADA and other civil rights laws to ensure that health care providers offering telehealth services are doing so free from discrimination.”
“We have seen important expansions in health care technologies, such as telehealth, that provide great convenience and help for people seeking care,” said Acting Director Melanie Fontes Rainer of HHS’s Office for Civil Rights. “This guidance makes clear that there is a legal obligation to ensure that all people receive full access to needed health care and can connect to telehealth services, free of discriminatory barriers. While we celebrate the progress of the ADA, we know how important it remains to uphold the rights of people with disabilities and other protected individuals to make our country accessible and inclusive for all. That work has been a priority of this Administration from day one, and President Biden’s Executive Order on advancing equity explicitly includes people with disabilities in its call for comprehensive action.”
Technological developments and the COVID-19 public health emergency have increased the importance of providing telehealth and greatly expanded its use. Telehealth can take many forms, including communication between a patient and a health care provider via video, phone or other electronic means. While telehealth has many benefits, including making health care more available and convenient, certain populations may face discrimination or other barriers in accessing care provided via telehealth. For example:
- A person who is blind or has limited vision may find that the web-based platform their doctor uses for telehealth appointments does not support screen reader software.
- A person who is deaf and communicates with a sign language interpreter may find that the video conferencing program their provider uses does not allow an interpreter to join the appointment from a separate location.
- A limited English proficient person may need instructions in a language other than English about how to set up a telehealth appointment.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights and Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have collaborated to provide this new guidance to help health care providers better understand their nondiscrimination obligations and patients better understand their rights under federal law in this area. The guidance provides examples of actions that may be discriminatory and describes steps that providers may need to take to ensure that health care offered via telehealth is accessible. The guidance also provides a list of resources that providers and patients may wish to consult for additional information about telehealth and civil rights protections.
If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html.
If you believe that a telehealth provider has violated your or another person’s civil rights, you may file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at: https://civilrights.justice.gov/#report-a-violation.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Field Office.
James Lee Simmons, 50, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $1500 fine.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2020, a confidential source made prior arrangements with another individual for the purchase of a pound of methamphetamine. The other individual, who is a codefendant in the case, directed the confidential source to pick up the methamphetamine from Simmons. The confidential source met with and provided Simmons with $3,000 in exchange for the methamphetamine. The substance was laboratory tested and confirmed to be methamphetamine hydrocholoride containing 369.4 grams of pure substance.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Jackson, Mississippi area. “Hailstorm” 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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Imprisoned leader of gang-related drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to nearly 40 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: The imprisoned leader of a criminal conspiracy in which violent criminal street gang members distributed methamphetamine and other drugs throughout south Georgia has been sentenced to nearly 40 years in federal prison.
Jackie Kavaskia McMillan, a/k/a “Bijay,” 41, was sentenced to 444 months in federal prison, consecutive to the life sentence for murder he currently is serving at Dooly State Prison, after pleading guilty in January to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. In the event that the sentence of incarceration ends, McMillan also must serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“’Bijay’ McMillan led an extensive drug-trafficking operation while locked inside a Georgia prison, using contraband cellphones and a gang-related network inside and outside prison to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and other drugs that fueled violent crime in Coffee County and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Ultimately, our network of law enforcement agencies overcame this criminal conspiracy, ensuring that its leader is unlikely to ever walk the streets again.”
McMillan was the lead defendant in U.S.A. v. McMillan et.al, the 57-count indictment resulting from Operation Sandy Bottom, an investigation centered in the Sand Ridge neighborhood on the east side of Douglas, Ga., in an area known as “the bottoms.” Of the 48 defendants originally named in the indictment, 36 are now sentenced after pleading guilty; nine defendants await court hearings related to guilty pleas; two await trial or other court proceedings; and one defendant is deceased.
The investigation began in 2018 when the Coffee County Drug Unit enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force to investigate rising violent crime and illegal drug activity in the Douglas area. The traffickers, coordinated by a subset of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, controlled multiple “trap houses” to store illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamine. Those drugs were then distributed throughout Coffee, Bacon, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Wheeler counties, along with other parts of Georgia.
Investigators infiltrated the operation, intercepting multiple kilograms of drugs and nearly two dozen illegally possessed firearms, along with seven vehicles and more than $12,000 in cash identified as drug-trafficking proceeds.
As described in court documents and testimony, McMillan used contraband cell phones and compromised prison guards to coordinate the drug trafficking operation while incarcerated. McMillan’s primary contact outside prison was his girlfriend, Christina Veronda Alexander, 41, of Hazlehurst, Ga., who is serving a 286-month prison sentence for her role in the conspiracy that included obtaining methamphetamine from a supplier in Mexico for distribution to street-level dealers in south Georgia. Three state prison guards indicted as part of the conspiracy have all pled guilty to federal charges.
“As a result of this case, communities across Georgia are safer and drug traffickers across the region have been put on notice that we will not tolerate efforts to spread these dangerous drugs,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is especially alarming that McMillan ran his operation from behind prison walls while already incarcerated for murder. Prisons should be a place of rehabilitation, not a place to continue committing crimes.”
The 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.
It was investigated by the FBI and the FBI Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office; the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office; the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office; the Blackshear Police Department; the Nicholls Police Department; the Douglas Police Department; the Alma Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Swainsboro Police Department; and the Coffee County Department of Family and Children Services.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Illegal Pharmacy Operator Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally sold thousands of doses of controlled substances and misbranded prescription drugs was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison, fined and ordered to forfeit over $500,000 in drug proceeds.
Jon Stidham, age 57, from McClelland, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 5, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to deliver, distribute or dispense methyltestosterone, a Schedule III controlled substance, by means of the Internet without a valid prescription and without complying with federal and Iowa licensing requirements, and one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead and to commit mail fraud.
In a plea agreement, Stidham admitted that he operated a business called Kennel Supply, LLC. Kennel Supply provided a variety of items used for the operation of kennels and the care of farm animals at a brick-and-mortar location. On the Internet, Kennel Supply sold controlled substances and non-controlled prescription drugs that require prescriptions to lawfully dispense to the ultimate user. From 2015 through October 12, 2018, Stidham distributed and sold over 300,000 doses of methyltestosterone, a controlled substance, without valid prescriptions, profiting $324,303. During that same time-period, Stidham illegally distributed over 50 types of misbranded prescription drugs without a valid prescription or authorization, and illegally profited $203,207.
Stidham was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Stidham was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and fined $7500. He was ordered to forfeit $527,510 of drug proceeds. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The laws regarding the labeling and dispensing of controlled substances and prescription drugs exist to protect the health and safety of our community, said Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax. When those laws are violated, it endangers those who come into contact with the unprescribed or mislabeled substances. Accordingly, when individuals like Mr. Stidham try to profit by ignoring or violating controlled substance and prescription laws, they will be vigorously prosecuted and the proceeds of their illegal activities will be seized.”
“To protect the wellbeing of animals, the FDA regulates animal drugs as part of its mission to protect the public health. This ensures that prescription animal drugs are lawfully distributed and dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription, among other requirements” said Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to evade the law.”
Stidham was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-01036.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Haitian National Indicted for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Haitian national Peniel Olibris, age 32, was indicted on charges of smuggling goods, specifically firearms, from the United States.
According to the indictment, between April 8, 2019, and July 5, 2019, the defendant allegedly sent a semi-automatic firearm from the United States to Haiti. This is a violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Between October 19, 2019, and December 10, 2019, the defendant is accused of sending another semi-automatic firearm from the United States to Haiti in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
The defendant made his initial appearance on July 28, 2022 before Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz is handling the prosecution.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case number: 22-cr-00238.
Garyville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRYANT DAIGRE, age 33, of Garyville, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 28, 2022 to 120 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
According to court documents, DAIGRE conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, on August 15, 2020, DAIGRE possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in St. John the Baptist Parish.
United States Chief District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced DAIGRE to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.
Garyville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRYANT DAIGRE, age 33, of Garyville, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 28, 2022 to 120 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
According to court documents, DAIGRE conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, on August 15, 2020, DAIGRE possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in St. John the Baptist Parish.
United States Chief District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced DAIGRE to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.
Four men charged with aiming laser pointers at police helicoptersRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Daniel Maloney, Fredy Contreras, Timothy Wilson, and Theodore Rowe have been arraigned on federal charges of aiming laser pointers at police helicopters. All four were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2022.
“Pointing lasers at an aircraft is extremely dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “A laser aimed at an aircraft blinds the pilot and makes it difficult if not impossible for the persons in the cockpit to read their instruments. Persons who are found pointing lasers at aircraft will be prosecuted.”
“When aimed at an aircraft, a beam of light from a handheld laser can illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding the pilot or pilots of the craft, and in this case, preventing police from completing important public safety work,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It's not a game. It's a federal felony that the FBI and our law enforcement partners take very seriously.”
“Irresponsibly using and aiming a laser device at any civil, commercial, military, or law enforcement aircraft seriously compromises safe aviation operations,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southeastern Region. “These arrests on federal charges should serve as a warning that engaging in this dangerous and criminal activity is unacceptable.”
“The Atlanta Police Department takes the safety of our officers seriously, whether on the ground or in the air,” said Interim Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “The fact that these defendants used laser pointers to endanger the lives of members of our Phoenix Air Unit and the safety of people on the ground, is very disturbing. The federal charges brought forth against these men sends a message that irresponsible actions and criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
“The Gwinnett Police Department is thankful for the diligence the FAA and FBI both have for continuing the mission of educating the public on how dangerous it is to point a laser at any aircraft. Our department will not allow these offences interfere with the Aviation Unit’s operations and the department’s mission of serving and protecting the residents of Gwinnett with first class law enforcement service, including airborne response,” said Chief James D. McClure, Gwinnett County Police Department.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court, each defendant aimed a laser pointer at a police helicopter as the helicopter was assisting officers on the ground: Around 9:50 p.m. on February 13, 2020, a Gwinnett County Police Department helicopter was assisting officers in looking for a robbery suspect who had fled into a wooded area. Daniel Maloney saw the helicopter in the air and pointed a red laser at it, temporarily blinding the pilot and the tactical flight officer. They had to stop looking for the robbery suspect, switch to infrared vision, and look for the source of the red laser. Ground units went to Maloney’s home, where an officer found Maloney still pointing his laser at the helicopter.
Around 9:00 p.m. on November 9, 2020, as a Gwinnett County Police Department helicopter was assisting officers on the ground looking for a stolen vehicle, it was hit at least twice with a green laser. Using the infrared camera, the tactical officer was able to identify the home that the laser was aimed from. Officers on the ground went to the home, where Fredy Contreras admitted that he had been shining the laser at the helicopter.
In the early evening hours of May 26, 2021, an Atlanta Police Department helicopter was assisting grounds units with looking for a missing 6-year-old boy. The helicopter was struck several times by a green laser. After switching over to protective eye gear that minimized the light from the laser, the pilot was able to identify the home where the laser strikes were coming from. Officers on the ground went to the home, where Timothy Wilson admitted that he had been shining the laser at the helicopter.
Around 10:30 p.m. on July 1, 2021, Gwinnett County Police Department received a call about a suspicious person wandering in the middle of a busy road. A Gwinnett County Police Department helicopter was sent to help locate this person. While searching for the person, the helicopter was struck multiple times by a green laser. The tactical flight officer switched to the infrared camera to identify the source. Officers on the ground went to a home in Lawrenceville, where Theodore Rowe admitted that he pointed the laser at the helicopter.
Daniel Maloney, 55, of Snellville, Georgia, Fredy Contreras, 48, of Lilburn, Georgia, Timothy Wilson, 61, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Theodore Rowe, 51, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove each defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul R. Jones is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Four Defendants Facing Federal Charges for Mail Theft and Possession of United States Postal Service KeysRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four defendants with theft of mail matter and the unlawful possession of postal service keys. The indictment was returned on July 21, 2022 and unsealed today upon the defendant’s arrests. Charged in the indictment are:
Eyalan Owona, age 21, of Upper Malboro, Maryland;
Ibrahim Kourouma, age 22, of Glenarden, Maryland
Ali Dickerson, age 20, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and
Benjamin Washington, age 22, of Owings Mills, Maryland
Owona, Dickerson, and Washington will have their appearances today beginning at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan. Co-defendant Kourouma remains a fugitive.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Tira Hayward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.
According to the two-count indictment, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly unlawfully possessed proprietary United States Postal Service keys with the intent to use, sell, and dispose of the keys. On the same day, the defendants allegedly stole mail matter from a United States Postal Service depository for mail located on Stanford Street in Bethesda, Maryland. The mail that was stolen in the theft included the mail of Victim 1 who had a recipient address located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
As stated in the detention memo filed on behalf of the government, the defendants’ arrests occurred as part of a larger law enforcement investigation into a series of violent armed robberies of United States Postal Service (“USPS”) Letter Carriers. During these robberies Letter Carriers appear to have been targeted for proprietary keys that are used to open USPS mail collection boxes. According to the detention memo, at least 13 robberies involving USPS Letter Carriers have taken place in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area between May 23, 2022, and July 7, 2022.
If convicted on the current charges, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison possession of United States Postal Service keys and 5 years in federal prison for the theft of mail matter. 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.
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.
If you have any information regarding a United States Postal Service letter carrier robbery or would like to report mail theft or other crimes committed through or towards the United States Postal Service, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or https://www.uspis.gov/report. The United States Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of any other individuals involved in United States Postal Service letter carrier robberies.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the USPIS for their work in the investigation and thanked the Montgomery County Police Department and the United States Park Police for their assistance in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam K. Ake, and Darren Gardner, who are 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 www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Madison County Detention Center Captain Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Assaulting DetaineeRead the Press Release
Gregory Evans, 50, a former Captain with the Madison County Detention Center, in Richmond, Kentucky, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, and three years of supervised release. Evans previously pleaded guilty to using unreasonable force against a detainee, thereby violating the detainee’s civil rights.
According to court documents and statements made at the sentencing hearing, Evans was escorting the victim, E.B., down a hallway when Evans grabbed E.B. out of anger, strangled him and repeatedly punched him. Evans’s assault caused E.B. to lose consciousness and Evans then punched E.B. in the back and face while E.B. was unconscious. E.B. suffered a broken jaw as a result of the assault. Evans was aware that chokeholds were banned at Madison County Detention Center and that punching and strangling E.B. out of anger was an unreasonable use of force. Following the assault, Evans falsified an incident report and made false statements to the FBI. Specifically, Evans falsely claimed that he had ordered E.B. to turn around prior to the assault, that E.B. ignored his commands, and he deliberately omitted the fact that he had strangled E.B.
“The defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer and betrayed the public’s trust when he violently assaulted a detainee in his custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Law enforcement officials who abuse inmates and detainees are not above the law, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute those who deprive individuals of their Constitutional rights.”
“The defendant was supposed to be law enforcement; instead, he broke the law and violated the rights of someone in his custody,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Today, he learned the consequence of his criminal conduct. We will continue our efforts to prosecute excessive force violations, and strive to restore some of the public trust that is lost whenever these crimes occur.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Lexington resident agency, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Former Huntsville Business Executive Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal prosecutors have charged a Round Rock, Texas man with wire fraud for embezzling from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr.
A one-count information filed yesterday in U.S. District Court charges Steve Ray Shickles, Jr., 43, of Round Rock, Texas, with wire fraud.
According to the information, between January 2012 and January 2019, while employed as the Chief Operating Officer for Simple Helix, LLC in Huntsville, Shickles devised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from Simple Helix. As part of the scheme, Shickles gained access to PayPal accounts of Simple Helix and made multiple unauthorized charges, withdrawals, and transfers from those accounts to pay for personal expenses. Shickles also created a fraudulent email account for Simple Helix and caused funds intended for Simple Helix to be deposited into personal accounts of Shickles. Shickles took steps to conceal his fraudulent activities by causing a computer-generated report of financial activities of Simple Helix to exclude his fraudulent transactions. The fraudulent transfers caused by Shickles resulted in a loss to Simple Helix of over $2.1 million dollars.
“White-collar crimes imperil the livelihood of every employee and their families. Vigorous enforcement against white-collar criminals is the best deterrent and means to protect the integrity of our community institutions,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pillsbury is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former BOP Employee Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a WardRead the Press Release
A former employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Hosea Lee Jr., 43, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after pleading guilty to committing five counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
According to his plea agreement, Lee was employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, serving as a drug treatment specialist. In that position, Lee was responsible for conducting interviews regarding treatment eligibility and progress, leading drug education classes and providing group and individual counseling to inmates with substance use disorder. Between August and December 2019, on several occasions, Lee engaged in sexual acts with four separate women. Each of these victims was a participant in his drug treatment classes. These sexual acts all occurred in secluded spaces adjacent to the classroom or a closet area in his office.
Lee pleaded guilty in April 2022.
“The defendant’s abhorrent sexual misconduct betrays the trust we place in our correctional officers to protect those in their custody and to prepare them to return to society,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “As part of our ongoing effort to root out sexual misconduct within the Bureau of Prisons, the department has prioritized prosecuting cases of criminal misconduct by Bureau employees. We will continue to hold accountable those who violate their position of trust.”
“This defendant abused his authority and the public trust by preying sexually upon women entrusted to his care,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This betrayal of trust by a federal official is intolerable and the Department of Justice hopes that this prosecution brings some much-needed closure to his victims.”
“The safety and security of federal prisons are of the utmost importance, and correctional officers who abuse their authority undermine the integrity of these institutions,” said Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “Inmates should never experience sexual abuse at the hands of the Bureau of Prisons employees, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of abuse, including sexual abuse, across the BOP.”
“Instead of helping those in his custody and care with their substance use, the defendant preyed on particularly vulnerable individuals and betrayed an important public charge,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This despicable conduct has done enduring damage to his victims. Beyond that, when public officials act with such disregard for those in their care and protection, it erodes faith in law enforcement. We will continue our efforts to protect these individuals, and to combat abuses by those who fail to warrant the public trust.”
“Part of the FBI’s critical mission is to protect the American people. This includes those who are currently serving time in prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “When corrections officers who have sworn to protect inmates within their facility abuse their position of authority, the FBI will stop at nothing to hold them accountable. Because investigating civil rights violations remains a top priority for the FBI in Kentucky, if you have knowledge of similar crimes occurring within our correctional facilities, contact your local FBI field office or submit information to tips.fbi.gov.”
Under federal law, Lee must serve 85% of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special in Agent Charge William J. Hannah of the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), Chicago Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by DOJ-OIG and FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tashena Fannin and Kate Smith.
Flo~Pro Performance Exhaust and Thunder Diesel & Performance Company to Halt Sales of Illegal Vehicle Emission Control Defeat Devices and Pay a $1.6 Million PenaltyRead the Press Release
Red Deer Exhaust Inc. (doing business as Flo~Pro Performance Exhaust) and Thunder Diesel & Performance Company have agreed to stop selling devices that bypass or disable vehicle emissions control systems, and pay a $1.6 million penalty, to resolve allegations that they violated the Clean Air Act (CAA).
The complaint, filed simultaneously with the consent decree, alleges that the parts described above are “defeat devices” prohibited by the CAA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that prior to its 2018 investigation, Flo~Pro manufactured or sold more than 100,000 aftermarket defeat devices in the United States per year. In early 2019, Flo~Pro suspended sales of the defeat devices in the United States in an effort to resolve this matter.
“Defeat devices violate Clean Air Act emissions requirements meant to protect public health and the environment, as well as vulnerable communities that are disproportionately impacted by air pollution,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement ensures that Flo~Pro will stop the sale of all defeat devices in the United States and is the latest reminder that the Department of Justice will hold the aftermarket automotive parts industry accountable for violations of federal anti-pollution laws.”
“The exhaust from diesel pickup trucks equipped to operate without essential emissions controls causes severe harm to our nation’s air quality,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This action will stop the manufacture and sale of these illegal products, preventing additional excess pollution caused by aftermarket defeat devices and keeping the air we breathe clean.”
Under the agreement, Flo~Pro, an automotive parts manufacturer based in Alberta, Canada, has agreed to stop manufacturing and selling parts for diesel pickup trucks in the United States, that bypass, defeat or render inoperative EPA-approved emission controls and harm air quality. Thunder Diesel, a distributor based in Mountain Home, Arkansas, has shut down its operations and is no longer selling auto parts. The companies will pay a $1.6 million penalty, which is a reduced amount due to verified financial information indicating the companies’ limited ability to pay. The companies will notify customers who purchased subject parts that the products violate the CAA, will no longer provide technical support or honor warranty claims for the products and will provide CAA compliance training for employees.
This settlement will improve public health and prevent substantial amounts of air pollution in the future, as the installation of defeat devices prevents emission controls from working properly. Tampering with diesel-powered vehicles by installing defeat devices causes large amounts of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, both of which contribute to serious public health problems. These include premature death, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Numerous studies also link diesel exhaust to increased incidence of lung cancer. Respiratory issues disproportionately affect families, especially children, living in underserved communities overburdened by pollution. EPA estimates that the subject parts from these companies in 2016-2019 may have resulted in more than 775 million pounds of excess nitrogen oxides emissions and 6.7 million pounds of excess particulate matter over the life of the affected vehicles. Stopping the sale and use of defeat devices will help reduce harmful air pollution that exacerbates the health effects of pollutant exposures.
Stopping the manufacture, sale and installation of defeat devices on vehicles and engines used on public roads as well as on nonroad vehicles and engines is a priority for EPA. To learn more, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines.
The consent decree for this settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas and will be open for public comments for a period of 30 days.
If you suspect someone is manufacturing, selling or installing illegal defeat devices, or is tampering with emission controls, tell the EPA by writing to [email protected].
Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to over 13 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Sterling man was sentenced today to 162 months in prison for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents, Salahudin Mitchell, 39, distributed fentanyl in the Petersburg area and elsewhere. In late 2020, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Virginia State Police, and Petersburg Bureau of Police became aware of Mitchell’s drug trafficking activities. Between April 2021 and October 2021, a series of nine controlled purchases of fentanyl were made from Mitchell. In November 2021, Mitchell was arrested and a search warrant was executed for his residence. At that time, a distribution quantity of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine were recovered from inside his residence, along with cash and a scale used to weigh narcotics.
Mitchell pleaded guilty in March to one count of distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl. In all, Mitchell was held responsible for distributing approximately 270 grams of fentanyl and 2 kilograms of heroin during the one-year time period that preceded his arrest. In October 2021, Mitchell, who was previously convicted in federal court for conspiring to distribute cocaine and sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment in the federal Bureau of Prisons, possessed and sold a Walther PPQ .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, despite being prohibited from possessing any firearms at all.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Division; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, and Travis Christian, Chief, Petersburg Bureau of Police made the announcement after sentencing by Senior United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-7.
Fennimore Man Charged with Producing & Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A Fennimore, Wisconsin man is charged with producing and possessing child pornography in an indictment returned on July 13, 2022, by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison. The charges are announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The indictment charges James C. Gibson, 53, with 4 counts of using minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. The indictment alleges that Gibson used a cellular phone to produce the child pornography on four occasions between January 2020 and September 2021.
The indictment also charges Gibson with 1 count of possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on November 8, 2021, he possessed a cellular phone containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment further alleges that at least one of the depictions was of a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
The indictment was unsealed following Gibson’s arrest Wednesday, July 27, at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming by the U.S. Marshals Service, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued at the time the indictment was returned. Gibson made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Mammoth, Wyoming yesterday and remains in federal custody. An identity and detention hearing is scheduled for August 2 in federal court in Wyoming.
If convicted, Gibson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on each production charge and a maximum of 20 years on the possession charge.
The charges against Gibson are the result of an investigation by the Fennimore Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Wyoming and Southern District of Illinois, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn is handling the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens is handling the court appearances in Wyoming.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Federal Prosecutor Retires After 35+ YearsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK-Pat Harris, a longtime federal prosecutor, has announced his retirement from the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO). Harris, who has held various roles at the USAO including Acting United States Attorney, began as a law clerk in 1983.
Harris returned to the USAO in 1985 as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and the Law Enforcement Coordinator and became an Assistant United States Attorney in 1987. Since that time, he has been a true leader through his tireless work in the pursuit of justice.
Harris became Criminal Chief in May 2007 and remained in that position until February 2013, when he was appointed First Assistant United States Attorney, second in command of the entire office, and remained in this role until becoming Acting United States Attorney in March 2017, when he served and led the office. He has also served as Professional Responsibility Officer, Organized Crime Chief, Violent Crime Coordinator, and is currently Senior Litigation Counsel.
In addition to his leadership roles as an attorney, Harris took on numerous other responsibilities during his time in federal service. He served as Acting Administrative Officer, and in that capacity filled 13 vacancies at the USAO. He volunteered with Evaluation and Review Staff (EARS) and participated in 25 evaluations of other offices across the country, often serving as Team Leader.
Harris played a major role in reducing gang violence in central Arkansas in the 1990s through his dedicated pursuit of violent crime prosecutions. He received the Attorney General’s Director’s Award in 1996 and 2000 for superior performance as an AUSA. Harris has prosecuted some of the most complex cases in the district, including death penalty cases, large drug trafficking organizations, and significant fraud cases.
Harris’ courtroom skills and experience have been an invaluable asset, and one that he often shared as a mentor to other prosecutors. His unique ability to motivate, encourage, and inspire others had led to an increased sense of family among his coworkers at the USAO.
The United States Attorney’s Office celebrated Harris’ retirement with an event on Thursday, when more than one hundred friends and colleagues gathered to reflect on Harris’ accomplishments and contributions to the federal justice system. His dedication and expertise will be sorely missed, and the USAO wishes him well.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Federal Jury Finds Meridian Man Guilty of Attempted Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, a federal jury convicted a Meridian, Mississippi man on two counts of Attempted Witness Tampering.
In June 2018, Daniel Robert was arrested on an outstanding warrant in a narcotics trafficking case that spanned multiple states from 2007 through 2009. Robert was indicted in 2009 and on the run until his capture in June 2018. Soon after his arrest, Robert made numerous phone calls to his family members directing them to tell witnesses not to appear for trial by avoiding subpoenas, to testify that they could not remember facts of the case, or to simply refuse to testify. Daniel Robert even went so far as to request the preparation of a false affidavit.
In January 2020, Daniel Robert was convicted of his narcotics trafficking charges following a three-day trial. Daniel Robert is currently serving a sentence of 330 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for those narcotics trafficking convictions.
Robert again chose to go to trial and was convicted this week of two counts of witness tampering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2022 for the witness tampering convictions by U.S. District Judge Kristi H. Johnson, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count. Those sentences will be imposed in addition to the sentence Daniel Robert received for his narcotics trafficking crimes.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Criminal Chief Erin O. Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham are prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Finds Former Navy Sailor Guilty of Sexually Exploiting a Minor on SnapchatRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal jury convicted Christopher Jeorge Millican, 28, of Coalinga, on Thursday for producing and receiving child pornography via the popular app, Snapchat, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents and evidence introduced during the trial, in July 2018, a parent reported to Snapchat that someone, later identified as Millican, had been engaging in inappropriate communications with an 11-year-old girl. Snapchat reviewed Millican’s account and discovered images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Snapchat reported the conduct to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which then contacted the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Fresno. Investigators identified several minors, and one of them testified at the trial that Millican had coerced her into creating and sending him sexually explicit images. At the time of the offense conduct, Millican was on active duty with the U.S. Navy.
“The conviction in this case means that the defendant will no longer be in a position to carry out his criminal acts against innocent and vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with its federal and local law enforcement partners to protect and seek justice for these young victims.”
“Safeguarding children from predators is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI San Francisco/NorCal Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI is committed to working with local, state and federal partners to relentlessly pursue anyone involved in criminal behavior against children.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Police Department, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Hanford Police Department, and several local police agencies across the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz are prosecuting the case.
Millican is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 24, 2022. Millican faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum prison term of 50 years. He also faces a potential $250,000 fine for each count and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Andrew Daniel Sprinkle, 35, of Oak Hill, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Sprinkle admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Mount Hope on September 21 and September 22, 2020. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Sprinkle’s vehicle following the September 22, 2020, transaction and found cash from the controlled buys, drug paraphernalia, and a Smith & Wesson, model SD9 VE, 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Sprinkle admitted to possessing the firearm during the September 21, 2020, controlled buy. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Sprinkle knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for possession with the intent to sell or deliver marijuana in the District Court of Henderson County, North Carolina, on May 12, 2015.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Beckley Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-149.
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Eight Indicted in Money Laundering RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Eight individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged roles in elaborate money laundering and money transmitting conspiracies that laundered tens of millions of dollars’ worth of drug trafficking proceeds, as well as a trade-based scheme that used stolen and/or fraudulent gift cards to purchase and ship thousands of Apple products internationally.
The following defendants were indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering and unlicensed money transmitting:
- Shi Rong Zhang, 48, of Windham, N.H.;
- Qiu Mei Zeng, 47, of Quincy;
- Vincent Feng, 32, of Quincy;
- Da Zeng, 30, of Massachusetts;
- Wei Qing Zeng, 58, of Quincy;
- Xian Rong Zeng, 45, of Hanover; and
- Qiu Fang Zeng, 59, of Windham, N.H.
Chengzou Liu, 36, of Braintree, was also indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
“These defendants are alleged to have moved tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds as part of sophisticated money laundering and transmitting schemes operating out of seemingly lawful businesses that serve Massachusetts residents,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Without money, there is no drug trade. Laundering drug profits is fundamental to drug trafficking activity. By eliminating the means by which drug suppliers clean their illicit proceeds, we cut off the life blood of their operations: money. In doing so, we help significantly limit the flow of drugs trafficked in our communities. We need to do everything possible to make the Commonwealth safer and combat the drug crisis. This indictment should serve as a serious warning to both drug traffickers and business operators who engage in illicit money laundering: your conduct is criminal, and you will be prosecuted under federal law.”
“This group is alleged to have laundered tens of millions of dollars in illicit drug trafficking proceeds which in turn, fuels the drug crisis we are currently facing,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Everyday, drug traffickers are motivated by the power and the wealth they gain from the sale of narcotics. The DEA will not allow this type of illegal activity to happen and we will continue to pursue anyone who puts their own financial gains before the safety and well being of the people of Massachusetts. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law-enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the US attorney‘s office.”
"Drug trafficking and money laundering go hand in hand, and this crew is accused of using their family-owned restaurant in Chinatown as a front for an elaborate, international money laundering scheme and money transmitting business in which they conducted tens of millions of dollars in off the books transactions to circumvent our country’s laws, and hide the source of their income," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Operation Good Fortune is just one example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners work together to dismantle large-scale criminal enterprises."
According to the charging documents, Qiu Mei Zeng and her former husband, Zhang, co-own China Gourmet, a restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. Zhang is also a registered owner of Wonderful Electronics, an electronics and restaurant supply business based in Hanover. It is alleged that the defendants used these businesses to run a large-scale money laundering and money transmitting operation that involved the laundering of drug proceeds and proceeds from stolen and/or fraudulent gift cards.
During a months-long wiretap investigation, Liu was identified as a marijuana trafficker who laundered his drug proceeds through Qiu Mei Zeng and Zhang’s businesses. It is alleged that Liu regularly delivered large amounts of bulk drug proceeds, typically in amounts greater than $30,000, to China Gourmet, and to Qiu Mei Zeng, who then laundered the money via electronic transfers. Additionally, in March 2022, investigators allegedly seized over $250,000 of suspected marijuana proceeds being transported by Wei Qing Zeng from New York to China Gourmet in Boston. The cash was found inside Wei Qing Zeng’s vehicle, hidden under packaged frozen meat products as it was en route to be delivered to China Gourmet.
To conduct the scheme, Qiu Mei Zeng and Zhang allegedly worked with their co-conspirators – including family members Wei Qing Zeng, Xian Rong Zeng and Qiu Fang Zeng – to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of drug proceeds in exchange for Chinese Renminbi. Specifically, it is alleged that the defendants would accept drug proceeds in Boston and New York for a fee, transfer the equivalent value of Chinese Renminbi to drug traffickers’ bank accounts and “sell” the drug proceeds to individuals in the United States at a discounted exchange rate. Through these off-the-books transactions, the defendants conspired to avoid United States reporting requirements, as well as China’s capital flight limits, and to hide the nature and source of the illicit funds being transferred.
It is further alleged that Zhang, Qiu Mei Zeng, Da Zeng, Feng and other defendants worked together on a sophisticated trade-based money laundering scheme in which they used stolen and/or fraudulent gift cards to purchase thousands of Apple products, which they then shipped internationally to locations, including Dubai, in exchange for tens of millions of dollars in wire transfers.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The charge of unlicensed money transmitting provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; DEA SAC Boyle; FBI SAC Bonavolonta; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; Braintree Police Chief Mark W. Dubois; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren A. Graber of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
This investigation, dubbed Operation Good Fortune, is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Sentenced to 54 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS MIGUEL ROSARIO-PERALTA, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit identified Rosario-Peralta as a large-scale fentanyl trafficker. In July 2019, investigators intercepted Rosario-Peralta on a wiretap negotiating the sale of kilogram quantities of narcotics. Rosario-Peralta was arrested on July 5, 2019, in Yonkers, New York, after he traveled to a drug stash location there and picked up approximately three kilograms of fentanyl.
Peralta has been detained since his arrest. On August 5, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Rosario-Peralta faces immigration proceedings when he is released from prison.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department, with the assistance of the Yonkers Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.
District of Columbia Man Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty Involving Dogs Kept at His ResidenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jaquan Jackson, 35, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of charges stemming from animal abuse in which he failed to provide proper veterinary care for two dogs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jackson, who was sentenced on July 28, 2022, was found guilty by a judge earlier this month of two counts of animal cruelty. The verdict on July 20 followed a three-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable John M. Campbell sentenced Jackson to a total of 360 days in jail but suspended all but 90 days of that time on the condition that he successfully complete five years of probation.
The judge ordered the forfeiture of all animals seized by law enforcement, a 10-year ban on owning or possessing animals, and $52,372.66 in restitution.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 11, 2018, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department went to Jackson’s residence in the 3500 block of Brothers Place SE and found one dog deceased and hanging from a fence. Further examinations showed that the dog had extensive, mature heart worms and intestinal parasites, and that it had not eaten in approximately a day and a half. On July 26, 2018, officers found a second dog with extensive scarring on its head, face, and forelimbs consistent with dogfighting. This second dog also had untreated fractures in both front paws, several broken teeth, an open and infected wound with bone visible that required digital amputation, mature intestinal parasites, and a canine tooth embedded in its forelimb. Blood tests found that this dog suffered from Babesiosis, a rare blood infection found in breeds associated with dog fighting. In a search of the premises where the dogs resided, law enforcement found paraphernalia associated with dog fighting: a break stick, slat mill, neck weights, scales, make-shift veterinary supplies like antiseptic for horses, fish antibiotics, medicated feed, IV bags, and a skin-stapler.
Jackson was arrested on Jan. 24, 2019.
In announcing the plea and sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Humane Rescue Alliance and the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Sabrina Hudgens and Wanda Trice and Victim/Witness Coordinator Maenylie Watson.
Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmanuel Hampton and Matthew Goldstein, who prosecuted the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Dolin, Stephanie Dinan, and Noah Simmons, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Gilmore, who previously assisted in the investigation and prosecution.
Dallas Based Financial Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $200,000 from ClientRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KATIE LAROCHE, age 54, a resident of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty as charged on July 27, 2022 to a one-count bill of information charging her with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
According to court documents, LAROCHE created, owned, and operated a business, Capital City Consulting Firm, that purported to provide financial management services. Victim 1 was a client of LAROCHE’s, and LAROCHE was responsible for performing bookkeeping, accounting, and other financial services for Victim 1 and Victim 1’s businesses. LAROCHE had signatory authority and access to Victim 1’s bank accounts.
From about February 2015 through March 2021, LAROCHE engaged in a scheme to defraud Victim 1 and Victim 1’s businesses by withdrawing funds from Victim 1’s accounts under false pretenses and using the funds for her own benefit. Specifically, LAROCHE falsely represented that the funds were being used to pay federal income taxes. When Victim 1 asked LAROCHE about the status of Victim 1’s tax obligations, LAROCHE lied to Victim 1 as a means of hiding her scheme. LAROCHE also arranged for monthly payments to pay for an automobile insurance policy benefitting someone other than Victim 1 to be automatically withdrawn from Victim 1’s account without Victim 1’s knowledge or consent. In total, LAROCHE embezzled $233,363.53 from Victim 1.
LAROCHE faces up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Judge Sarah S. Vance scheduled the sentencing hearing for October 19, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Moses and Jordan Ginsberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Coney Island Man Sentenced for Distributing Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on July 29, 2022, Christopher Rivers, 28, of Coney Island, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 30 months’ imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for distributing cocaine base on September 21, 2021.
As indicated in court records, throughout August and September 2021, investigators with the Burlington Police Department, with the assistance of members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Burlington Resident Office, conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from traffickers who were working together in Burlington, Vermont.
As part of this investigation on September 21, 2021, a confidential informant purchased cocaine base from Rivers in downtown Burlington. On September 23, 2021, investigators apprehended multiple traffickers involved in drug distribution, including Rivers. That day, investigators also executed a search warrant at a Church Street residence in downtown Burlington. Within the Church Street residence, investigators recovered over 40 grams of cocaine base and over 18 grams of fentanyl, which Rivers, with others, admitted to possessing with intent to distribute. Investigators also recovered a Mossberg .410 pump shotgun and a Savage Arms .22 Long Rifle from the Church Street residence.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Burlington Police Department as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Burlington Resident Office, in the investigation and prosecution of Rivers.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Rivers was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.
Center City Steakhouse Enters into Agreement with the Government to Resolve ADA Compliance IssuesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced an agreement with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia to resolve the Department of Justice review of the restaurant for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The government inspected the restaurant for ADA compliance as part of its review of 25 Philadelphia restaurants launched by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2015. These restaurants were not reviewed in response to any specific complaint.
Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Del Frisco’s”) entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement to resolve the government’s ADA compliance review of its Philadelphia Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse location on Chestnut Street. Designed and built in what was a nearly empty space in 2008, the restaurant was found to have a number of architectural barriers that violate the ADA, which President George H.W. Bush signed into law 32 years ago this week.
The agreement announced today requires the restaurant to take steps to remove specific barriers to accessibility identified by the Department of Justice during its inspection. The agreement also requires Del Frisco’s to identify and correct violations of the ADA that may exist in each of its other locations nationwide, including 16 Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse restaurants and 17 Del Frisco’s Grille locations.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated this compliance review to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to area restaurants to the full extent guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement announced today furthers that important goal,” said Romero. “Restaurants and other businesses must comply with the applicable accessibility provisions of the ADA. If they do not, we will continue to take all practical steps within our power to enforce compliance, including litigation if necessary.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has a proud history of prioritizing civil rights enforcement and the ADA in particular; it has continued that tradition in recent efforts. For example, in February 2020, the Office began a review of all polling places in the District to ensure compliance with the ADA in advance of the November election. In April 2019, in response to an investigation initiated by the Office, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc., executed a settlement agreement in which it agreed to address barriers to access for individuals who use wheelchairs in Jefferson’s radiology outpatient clinic. After a lengthy investigation, in March 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Education signed a settlement agreement to address alleged discrimination against students with disabilities in its alternate education programs. In a March 2018 settlement agreement, Allergy & Asthma Specialists, P.C. agreed to fix barriers to access for deaf individuals at its Jenkintown facility.
The ADA compliance review of Del Frisco’s was handled by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, previously the Civil Rights Coordinator for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, former Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Crutchlow, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren DeBruicker.
For resources on ADA compliance, visit www.ada.gov. To report a suspected violation of the ADA, visit www.ada.gov and click “File an ADA Complaint,” or email the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at [email protected].
Brunswick County Heroin and Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years After Conviction in Federal Jury TrialRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Leland man was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, forty grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine, and five counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl. On February 17, 2022, a federal jury found Benne Lee James guilty of all charges.
“Working together with law enforcement, we are working to investigate and prosecute those that are bringing illegal drugs into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant will trade his time dealing drugs for time behind bars.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, James, 44, sold heroin laced with fentanyl in the Leland area of Brunswick County on at least five occasions from May to August 2018. During the course of the investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that James had trafficked more than sixteen kilograms of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl from New York in or around November 2016, through August 2018. James and his co-defendant, Alexander Mootoo, had a source of supply in New York to buy bulk amounts of heroin and fentanyl, and then used a courier to bring the drugs on commercial buses to eastern North Carolina. Once the drugs arrived, James used several properties to store the drugs until it was packaged for sale in the Brunswick and New Hanover County areas. James maintained a network of at least 11 individuals who sold heroin for him, many selling for him on a weekly basis. James also trafficked and sold cocaine on occasion. He has a lengthy criminal history dating back to the mid-1990’s, including common law robbery, possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, and possession of marijuana.
On March 29, 2022, Mootoo was sentenced to 38 months imprisonment for his role in the offense.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. This investigation was led by the Wilmington Safe Streets Task Force which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Wilmington Police Department and the Brunswick Count Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-79-1FL.
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Brooklyn Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 to 2014 David Seruya was an original owner and shareholder of a New Jersey-based home warranty business. In 2014, Seruya entered into a buyout agreement whereby he agreed to sell his shares of stock back to the business and exit the company. In exchange for his stock shares, the home warranty company agreed to pay Seruya a total of more than $4.1 million, which included a lump sum payment and installment payments spread out over 24 months. Seruya underreported to his return preparer the actual amount of income he received from the sale of his stock. In addition, Seruya did not inform his return preparer about income received from canceled mortgage debt. As a result, Seruya caused his return preparer to prepare and file false income tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2016. As part of his plea, Seruya also admitted to evading taxes for the years 2010-2013. In total, Seruya’s tax evasion caused a loss to the IRS of more than $1.1 million.
Seruya is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of three count of tax evasion. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Shawn Noud of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
Baltimore Sex Trafficker Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Recruiting a 14-Year-Old to Engage in Commercial SexRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Kyle David Robinson, age 29, of Baltimore, Maryland to 126 months in federal prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a minor.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Robinson manipulated a 14-year-old minor victim, sexually abused her, and advertised her for commercial sex dates for his financial benefit. In coordination with our law enforcement partners, our office continues to combat human trafficking through law enforcement training, persistent prosecution, and awareness,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “As tomorrow is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I encourage Marylanders to learn about the common signs of human trafficking and report suspected human trafficking cases to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1(888) 373-7888”.
According to his plea agreement, Robinson knowingly recruited, enticed, transported, and advertised a 14-year-old female (Minor Victim 1) to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit. Robinson admitted that he was aware that Minor Victim 1 was 14-years old prior to advertising her for commercial sex.
In May 2021, Robinson approached Minor Victim 1 in his vehicle while Minor Victim 1 was sitting on the steps of near a group home where she resided. Robinson told Minor Victim 1 that he was a pimp and referred to himself as “Youngblood”. Despite Minor Victim 1 informing Robinson that she was a minor, Robinson asked for Minor Victim 1’s phone number and sent her a text message. The following day, Robinson picked up Minor Victim 1 from the group home and brought her to his residence.
As detailed in his plea, in May and June 2021, Robinson transported Minor Victim 1 to his residence on multiple occasions. On at least one occasion, Robinson engaged in unprotected sex with Minor Victim 1. After one interaction in which Robinson had intercourse with Minor Victim 1, Robinson told Minor Victim 1 that she had to “break herself” to him, took $50 from Minor Victim 1, and told Minor Victim 1 that she should call him “daddy”.
Robinson advised Minor Victim 1 to download a social media application for the purpose of communicating with potential commercial sex customers. Robinson then scripted responses to potential customers on Minor Victim 1’s behalf. Additionally, Robinson sent verbally hostile messages to Minor Victim 1 and instructed her to always keep her phone with her.
On June 4, 2021, in a text message with Minor Victim 1, Robinson informed Minor Victim 1 that he had to physically assault Victim 2, a 19-year-old female, for having a boyfriend. Robinson arranged for Victim 2 to reside at his residence and for Victim 2 to go on commercial sex dates. Like Minor Victim 1, Robinson had unprotected sex with Victim 2, and required Victim 2 to pay him money to associate with him.
As stated in his plea agreement, after law enforcement received information that Robinson offered young females for commercial sex, investigators arranged for an undercover agent to arrange for commercial sex. In a conversation with the undercover agent, Robinson told the undercover agent that he had young girls and that he had two teenagers available for an hour at the rate of $1,000. The undercover agent offered to pay $500 for half an hour with a tentative date and Robinson agreed. Later in the conversation, Robinson told the undercover agent that he had only one female available because of a conflicting school schedule.
On June 7, 2021, Robinson called the undercover agent to arrange for two victims, including Minor Victim 1, to have commercial sex with the agent at a hotel. Surveillance cameras captured Robinson and Minor Victim 1 as they entered the hotel for the commercial sex date. Within the hotel room, the undercover agent offered $750 to have sex with Minor Victim 1. Robinson then accepted the money for the sex date. Shortly after, law enforcement entered the room and apprehended Robinson and secured Minor Victim 1.
This case was investigated by law enforcement agencies that are members of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.mdhumantrafficking.org/.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the HSI, the Howard County Police Department, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Colleen E. McGuinn, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, information on the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, and resources available to report human trafficking, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/human-trafficking.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining over $250,000 in Covid-19 Cares-Act Funding and Defrauding over $1 Million Dollars from BusinessesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Keon Ball, age 45, of Baltimore, Maryland to 66 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in relation to multiple identity theft schemes and fraud schemes—including schemes conducted while on probation after a past state fraud conviction and while on pre-trial release in connection with state fraud charges. The Court has ordered Ball to pay at least $715,504 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, from May 2018 to June 2020, Ball and a co-conspirator incurred charges of over $1,000,000 on fraudulently established credit lines, using the identities of at least 10 victims in connection with the schemes. For example, on August 25, 2018, Ball submitted a false and fraudulent application for a credit line account from a financial institution using the name, birth date, and social security number of Victim 1. After the credit application was approved, Ball and his co-conspirator incurred $105,442.59 in purchases from Company 1 (a home improvement store) under the identity of Victim 1. Ball and his co-conspirator committed the same criminal conduct in several instances, incurring charges of over $150,000 in connection with lines of credit opened using various other victims’ names—none of which was repaid. Ball and his co-conspirator also repeatedly passed fraudulent checks to Company 1 purporting to pay the balances they incurred. Further, as part of their scheme to defraud, Ball and his co-conspirator obtained two vehicles valued at over $60,000 and multiple pieces of heavy construction equipment valued at over $300,000 using the identity information of Victim 2.
As stated in his plea agreement, on February 5, 2019, law enforcement executed a search and seizure warrant on Ball’s luxury high rise in Baltimore where law enforcement seized multiple counterfeit identification documents including three fraudulent licenses, a card reader, re-encoder, blank white plastic card stock, hologram overlays, and a firearm which Ball was prohibited from possessing. Investigators also discovered that Ball leased the apartment using a counterfeit identification document and the identifying information of another identity theft victim. Law enforcement would go on to recover multiple pieces of the fraudulently obtained heavy equipment. Ball was subsequently arrested and charged on a state level in connection with the fraudulent credit line scheme then was released on conditions.
Despite his pending state charges, Ball was not deterred and his fraudulent activity continued. In June and July 2020, Ball submitted fraudulent CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program loan applications (PPP loans) and obtained $256,664 in government-backed PPP funds for purported businesses that did not exist in any legitimate capacity. Included with each application was a document purporting to be a 2019 IRS Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements which was in fact not legitimate and contained false information concerning purported wages paid and purported number of employees of each business. Each application also falsely affirmed that Ball was not on probation in light of a past conviction at the time of each application. The PPP funds were then deposited in a bank account that Ball had opened using the identity information of another victim. Ball also started the PPP loan application process for two additional fraudulent PPP loans from Bank 1 in the amounts of $113,258 and $231,078.000 for purported businesses he ran. These loans, however, ultimately did not close. In total, Ball caused a loss of $750,000, intended to cause a loss of over $1,450,000, and used the identifying information of more than 10 victims in connection with his schemes.
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.
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from its 22 member Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the USSS and the BCPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, 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 and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. For more information on identity theft and fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Baltimore County Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Kilogram of Heroin and over Five Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Rajeim Ali Bradshaw, age 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 136 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and heroin. As part of the sentence the Court took into account that Bradshaw admitted that he possessed two firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on June 20, 2019, Baltimore County Police officers executed a search warrant at Bradshaw’s home and recovered 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl—enough to kill 2,275,000 people, as well as a kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement also located drug manufacturing, packaging, and distribution paraphernalia, including respirator mask, which are used to cut and package fentanyl. A DNA sample from one of the respirator masks found in Bradshaw’s home matched Bradshaw’s DNA profile. Further, Bradshaw’s cellphones were found to contain a large number of coded, drug-related messages. For instance, Bradshaw indicated to others that he had heroin and fentanyl to sell by sending messages telling them that the “grill” or “restaurant” was open.
Bradshaw admitted that the .40-caliber pistol and a rifle found in Bradshaw’s bedroom and ammunition seized from him during the investigation were in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Bradshaw also admitted that the $48,000 in cash found in his bedroom during the search was drug proceeds. As part of his plea agreement, Bradshaw must forfeit the firearms, ammunition, and the cash seized during the investigation.
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.
This prosecution is also 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 priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through relationships 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 specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI Baltimore and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali and James T. Wallner, 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 Wilmington Meth Dealer Receives 113 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Terrance Fred Tracy, Jr, 36, of Wilmington was sentenced today to 113 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon. On March 8, 2022, he pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Tracy was the target of an investigation that began in June of 2020. On September 24, 2020, Tracy was arrested at the Best Western Hotel in Wilmington on an outstanding warrant for arrest for a probation violation. During the arrest, officers located a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine in Tracy’s waistband. Officers then conducted a search warrant of the hotel room where Tracy was staying and located methamphetamine, ammunition, a digital scale, and other drug paraphernalia.
The investigation revealed that between June 9, 2020, and September 24, 2020, Tracy was responsible for distributing more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and possessing three firearms, one of which had an extended magazine.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the cases and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case.
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.
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. 7:21-cr-00141-M.
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28 July 2022
Wheeling man admits to methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Steven Kyle, of Weirton, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Kyle, also known as “Young Boi,” 31, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Kyle admitted to selling methamphetamine in May 2021 in Ohio County.
Kyle faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
West Peoria Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A West Peoria man, Jesse Slater, 29, of the 2300 block of West Sherman Avenue, was sentenced on July 27, 2022, to 60 months imprisonment for convictions of one count of transfer of obscene matter to a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. The sentences are to be served concurrently and followed by 10 years of supervised release.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Joe B. McDade, the government presented evidence that Slater used his LG cell phone to send obscene matter to children and to store child pornography materials. In June 2021, Snapchat submitted a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material being possessed or transmitted using their platform. Law enforcement officers found that Slater sent videos of child pornography using Snapchat and frequently used online platforms, including Snapchat and Omegle, to engage in sexual chats with children as young as seven years old. In the chats, Slater asked the children to send him videos of the children without their clothes on. He also sent video of himself masturbating to two of the children.
At the hearing, Judge McDade called the details of the video “shocking,” but he said that they should be public so that people know what is happening to children online and protect them from exploitation.
Slater was indicted in December 2021. He entered a guilty plea in March 2022 and has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since then.
The statutory penalties for transfer of obscene matter to a minor are up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine and a maximum lifetime sentence of supervised release. The possession of child pornography charge carries penalties of up to a 20-year term of imprisonment, a maximum $250,000 fine and 5 years to life of supervised release, along with special assessment fines under two separate statutes.
The Illinois State Police, Peoria Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated the case, with assistance of the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Slater was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Wenham Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wenham man pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to obtain Paycheck Protection Program funds made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by submitting false applications.
James Joseph Cohen, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Oct. 26, 2022. Cohen was charged on June 29, 2022.
Between April 2020 and September 2021, Cohen submitted six false applications to financial institutions and to the Small Business Administration to obtain pandemic-related relief funds on behalf of companies that he controlled. In the applications, Cohen falsely misstated the revenues of the companies, the persons employed, or amounts paid to those employees in the 12-month period preceding the application. In total, Cohen fraudulently obtained approximately $1.2 million in pandemic relief funds based upon these false submissions.
The charge of bank fraud provides a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
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.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins Announces New Office LeadershipRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins today announced the appointments of Nadine Pellegrini to serve as Chief of the National Security Unit and Rilwan Adeduntan to serve as Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit.
“AUSA Pellegrini and AUSA Adeduntan have beyond proven their individual leadership ability and commitment to public service,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins. “With their legal acumen and extensive prosecutorial experience handling complex and impactful criminal investigations, AUSAs Pellegrini and Adeduntan will serve to be invaluable resources for my Office and the law enforcement community, strengthening our efforts to serve and protect Massachusetts residents on all fronts. I am supremely confident in each of their abilities to lead their respective units and execute the priorities of the Department of Justice.”
Ms. Pellegrini has more than 24 years of experience serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Notably, Ms. Pellegrini served as one of the lead prosecutors in the high-profile six-month Boston Marathon bombing trial, U.S. v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, with thousands of exhibits and dozens of witnesses. Her extraordinary work and dedication in the investigation and subsequent prosecution, secured a conviction and sentencing that brought accountability and justice to hundreds of victims, survivors and the City of Boston.
Over the course of her esteemed career, Ms. Pellegrini has tried hundreds of criminal cases in both the state and federal judicial system. She previously served as Chief of the Major Crimes Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where she oversaw a wide range of federal criminal violations and managed nearly a dozen criminal prosecutors. More recently, in the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, Ms. Pellegrini prosecuted and tried numerous complex narcotics trafficking and money laundering cases as well as cases involving the trafficking of endangered and threatened species and international wildlife.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Pellegrini was an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General where she served as Chief of Special Prosecutions Division, prosecuting public corruption, environmental and general crimes. She has also served as the Director of Advocacy for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Ms. Pellegrini began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in New York. There, she served as Chief of the Violent Felony Offense Bureau and supervised the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes and oversaw approximately a dozen attorneys and investigators. Ms. Pellegrini is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Albany Law School and Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Center for Animals and Public Policy.
Tested trial veteran Mr. Adeduntan joins the office from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he served as Deputy Chief of the distinguished International Narcotics & Money Laundering Section. As Deputy Chief, he led prosecutors assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in the investigation and prosecution of international drug kingpins and high-level narcotics traffickers. Just before joining the District of Massachusetts, Mr. Adeduntan prosecuted and secured the successful conviction of two leaders and an associate of a violent drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating in Miami’s Little Havana in a two-month jury trial with over 40 witnesses and more than 1,000 exhibits.
During his time in Southern District of Florida, Mr. Adeduntan also served as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section. In this role, he led prosecutors assigned to a wide range of crimes such as sex trafficking, Hobbs Act Robbery, obstruction of justice and violent gang activity. Mr. Adeduntan also served as a member of the Special Prosecutions and Major Crimes Section for four years. During this period, he tried 13 jury trials, conducted numerous long-term investigations, and led teams to combat Southern Florida street gangs engaging in criminal conduct. Notably, Mr. Adeduntan received the Florida Gang Investigator’s Association Prosecutor of the Year award in 2020. He also secured a guilty verdict against an individual on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Mr. Adeduntan began his tenure in Southern District of Florida in the Appellate Division.
Mr. Adeduntan is not new to Massachusetts, having served with distinction as Special Counsel and Special Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Governor Baker in 2015. During that time, he oversaw the Governor’s Drug Lab Task Force. Previously, he served as a highly regarded and well respected Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County for over seven years and tried more than 50 jury trials. Mr. Adeduntan is a graduate of the University of Georgia and New England Law Boston.
Two New Jersey Men Admit Health Care Fraud Conspiracy Targeting State Health Benefits ProgramsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Two New Jersey men pleaded guilty today to defrauding New Jersey state and local health benefits programs and other insurers by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced.
John Sher, 40, of Margate, New Jersey, and Christopher Broccoli, 50, of West Deptford, New Jersey, both pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to superseding informations charging them each with one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Sher and Broccoli were part of a criminal conspiracy in which state and local government employees were recruited and compensated to receive medically unnecessary compound prescription medications. Sher and Broccoli caused the pharmacy benefits administrator to pay out millions of dollars for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications for individuals they recruited into the scheme. Sher directly received $327,897 and Broccoli directly received $150,315 from the scheme.
Sher and Broccoli were previously charged in March of 2019 alongside others in an indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and other offenses. Conspiracy leader William Hickman pleaded guilty in June of 2020 to defrauding New Jersey health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $50 million. Conspirator Michael Sher pled guilty in March of 2018 to defrauding New Jersey health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $7 million. Conspirators Brian Pugh and Thomas Schallus both pleaded guilty on July 14, 2022, to conspiring to commit health care fraud as part of the same scheme. Charges remain pending against co-defendant Thomas Sher, who is set to proceed to trial before Judge Kugler in Camden federal court on August 15, 2022. The charges and allegations against him are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
John Sher and Broccoli each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing for Sher is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2022, and for Broccoli, Dec. 6, 2022.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James in Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina O. Hud of the Criminal Division, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Desiree L. Grace, and Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Unit R. David Walk Jr.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Straw Purchasing Dozens of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Geryiell Lamont Walker, II has been sentenced to 60 months in prison, and Jeffrey Paul Jackson has been sentenced to 48 months in prison, for their roles in a scheme that illegally straw purchased dozens of firearms over a one-year period, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between approximately May 2020 and May 2021, Walker, 23, Jackson, 32, and their co-defendant Sarah Jean Elwood, 34, conspired together to illegally purchase dozens of firearms from various Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) in the State of Minnesota and to provide these firearms to individuals whom they knew could not lawfully possess them. As part of the straw purchasing scheme, Elwood, who at the time had a permit-to-carry firearms, would go to various FFLs and purchase multiple firearms on behalf of Walker and others, who requested the firearms through Jackson and often provided the funds in advance of, or immediately after, the purchases. In making the purchases, Elwood knowingly misrepresented to the licensed dealers that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when in fact she and her co-defendants knew she was not. Walker, Jackson, and others helped arrange the deals, which included a $100 fee for each straw purchased gun. In total, the defendants illegally straw purchased approximately 95 firearms, including approximately 62 firearms in May 2021 alone. To date, 18 of these firearms have been recovered by local and federal law enforcement at various crime scenes or in the possession of persons legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Walker was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Ann D. Montgomery. Jackson was sentenced on April 26, 2022. Elwood is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2022.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who is legally permitted to purchase firearms from an FFL, but who then unlawfully provides the purchased firearm to another person who is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. By making a straw purchase, the buyer enables a prohibited person – typically a convicted felon – to illegally obtain a firearm and avoid the national background check system.
This case was made possible in part by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Two Marysville, Washington residents indicted for fentanyl distribution and gun possessionRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two residents of Marysville, Washington, were indicted this week following their arrest last week at a makeshift fentanyl pill lab in their rental home garage, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jose Eduardo Garnica, 34, and Lauren Malina Wilson, 29, are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on August 18, 2022. Both are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Garnica remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac. Wilson was released this week to the custody of her mother, with active GPS monitoring.
According to the criminal complaint, the pair came to the attention of law enforcement on June 17, 2022, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Los Angeles inspected a package shipped from China to Garnica’s Marysville address. The package was labeled “furniture parts,” but in fact it contained dies for use in a pill press that would make pills that appear to have the markings of oxycodone pills. Further investigation of Garnica and Wilson revealed numerous unusual cash transactions and the purchase of 11 firearms in a three-month span of 2020. In fact, when law enforcement searched the home last week, agents seized more than 20 guns and 27 kilos of fentanyl. Many of the guns were assault weapons or guns with extended magazines. One of the firearms had been reported stolen. Law enforcement also seized 50,000 rounds of ammunition.
Guns SeizedThursday morning, July 21, 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI executed search warrants at the Marysville residence and seized the pill press and other materials for making fake oxycodone pills in the garage. Both Garnica and Wilson were arrested at the scene. Officers called a hazmat team to secure the lab due to the potentially deadly nature of fentanyl powder.
In court filings regarding detention, prosecutors told the court that the couple had access to $400,000 in cryptocurrency as well and multiple financial transactions that triggered bank reporting requirements.
If convicted each defendant faces a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence on the drug counts due to the amount of fentanyl involved. The gun charge is punishable by a consecutive five year sentence – meaning each defendant faces a mandatory 15-year prison sentence if convicted.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI with assistance from the Washington State Patrol, National Guard Civil Service Team, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Custom and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, the Snohomish County Drug Task Force, and the Skagit County Drug Task Force.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
garnica-wilson_indictment.pdf Drugs SeizedTwo Colorado Men Accused of 10 Violent Take-Over Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jonathan Gullette, age 24, of Aurora, and co-defendant, Jerome Bravo, age 37, of Denver, have been indicted for committing ten armed bank robberies from January through March 2021.
According to the superseding indictment unsealed today, the two are accused of a pattern of violent, armed “take-over” bank robberies where they entered the banks, held occupants at gunpoint, and forced employees to turn over cash. The suspects are also suspected of committing two armed carjackings prior to two of the bank robberies.
The victim bank are as follows:
- January 6, 2021- KeyBank on East Arizona Place in Aurora.
- February 4, 2021 – BBVA Compass 800 North Broadway in Denver.
- February 8, 2021 – KeyBank located on East Dartmouth Avenue in Aurora.
- February 8, 2021 – KeyBank East Smoky Hill Road in Centennial.
- February 9, 2021 – BBVA Compass on East Bellview in Denver.
- February 18 2021 – FirstBank on East Evans Avenue in Denver.
- March 1, 2021 – KeyBank on East Hampden Avenue in Denver.
- March 17, 2021 – FirstBank on East Hampden Avenue in Denver.
- March 31, 2021 – KeyBank East 1st Avenue in Denver.
- March 31, 2021 – BBVA Compass on North Yarrow Street in Arvada.
Bravo is detained and pending trial before Judge Daniel D. Domenico. Gullette has not been apprehended.
Indictments are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department and Arvada Police Department.
If anyone has any information about a bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you may remain anonymous by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Case number: 21-cr-226-DDD