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Wednesday 15 June 2022
Two California Men Found Guilty of Federal Crimes for Participating in Massive International Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two California men were found guilty by a jury today of federal criminal charges for participating in an extensive, long-lasting, multimillion-dollar conspiracy – much of it committed by Nigerian nationals – that perpetrated a wide variety of frauds, including business email compromise (BEC) fraud, romance scams, elder fraud and fraud using malware.
George Ugochukwu Egwumba, 47, of Cypress, and Princewell Arinze Duru, 33, of Sacramento, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Egwumba was found guilty of one count of aggravated identity theft. Duru was found guilty of one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.
According to evidence presented at their seven-day trial, members of the conspiracy – many of whom were based in Nigeria – used middlemen to connect with their fellow co-conspirators located in the United States. The U.S.-based middlemen assisted in receiving and laundering the proceeds of the frauds either through U.S. bank accounts, money transmitting services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or cryptocurrency.
In exchange, the middlemen and those who assisted with the laundering of illicit proceeds received a percentage of the fraudulently obtained funds.
At the center of the conspiracy were Valentine Iro, 33, of Carson, Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 41, of Gardena – both Nigerian citizens – and Chuks Eroha, 41, who is believed to have fled to Nigeria in 2017, shortly after the FBI executed a search warrant in this case. This trio of middlemen connected the fraudsters with the money launderers, sometimes with other middlemen in between, and often used the same bank accounts for laundering funds. Iro and Igbokwe have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in this case.
Egwumba acted as another middleman, receiving bank account information from Iro and Eroha to pass to other fraudsters, and also worked to commit fraud himself by using malware and other cybercrime tools. Egwumba exchanged text messages with Iro and Eroha, in which he asked for and received bank account information that could be used to receive stolen money.
LokiBot and NanoCore remote access trojan malware and other cybercrime tools were found on Egwumba’s computers, along with messages in which he discussed using these tools to attempt to commit fraud.
Duru helped Igbokwe and others in receiving and laundering the fraudulently obtained money, both by opening fraudulent business bank accounts and using money transmitting services and cryptocurrency wallets.
Duru registered a fraudulent business in Sacramento County and then used that company to open two business bank accounts at different banks. Duru gave the bank account information to Igbokwe so it could be used to receive fraud proceeds. One victim was deceived into depositing approximately $25,600 into one of Duru’s business bank accounts.
The conspiracy involved the laundering of at least $6 million in fraudulently obtained funds and the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million.
United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner scheduled an October 17 hearing for these defendants, at which time both will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.
So far, prosecutors have secured 19 guilty pleas in this case. Additional defendants have been arrested in Nigeria, and others are believed to be at large.
The FBI investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sue Bai and Victoria Degtyareva of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
The FBI in 2017 issued a report on the rise of BEC schemes, and published a recap of 2018’s Operation WireWire, which was an international effort to disrupt international BEC scams. An FBI public service announcement that warns of the dangers of BEC schemes encourages businesses to “trust but verify.”
Three Charged with Stealing Cash and Cigarettes in Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging STEVEN GALARZA, 24, of Seymour; EFRAIN DELEON, 58, of New Britain; and GILBERTO DELEON, 56, of New Britain, with committing eight robberies of convenience stores and smoke shops across Connecticut earlier this year.
As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between February 27 and March 22, 2022, Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon, using facsimile firearms that are designed to appear similar to real firearms, robbed the following retail locations of cash, cigarettes and other items:
- February 27 – Scott’s Village Mobil Gas Station, 843 Farmington Avenue, Farmington
- March 2 – Mystic Mobil Gas Station, 66 Whitehall Avenue, Mystic
- March 3 – Shell Gas Station, 168 Bridge Street, East Windsor
- March 3 – Food Bag, 960 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington
- March 5 – Valero Gas Station, 1 Main Street, Ellington
- March 5 – Sunoco Gas Station, 446 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor
- March 8 – Smoker’s Discount World, 636 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield
- March 16 – Cove Smoke Market, located at 841 Cove Road, Stamford
The indictment charges each of the defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and eight counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. If convicted, Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Galarza, Efrain Deleon and Gilberto Deleon were arrested on April 19, 2022, on a federal criminal complaint emanating from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Efrain and Gilberto Deleon are detained and Galarza is released on a $50,000 bond.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and the Farmington, Stonington, East Windsor, Southington, Windsor, Wethersfield and Stamford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Keefe and Rahul Kale.
Therapist’s ex-wife charged with defrauding Medicaid and stealing patient informationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Katy resident has been indicted for defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities took Kay Le Farmer into custody today. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Dena Hanovice Palermo at 1 p.m.
On June 9, a federal grand jury returned the 22-count indictment which was unsealed upon her arrest today.
According to the charges, Farmer is the former office manager for her ex-husband - a therapist and Medicaid provider. Following their separation, Farmer allegedly used her ex-husband’s provider number to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid for counseling services that were never provided.
From 2013 until 2018, Farmer allegedly submitted or caused the submission of approximately $617,983.86 in claims for psychotherapy services that were not provided. The indictment alleges Farmer was paid approximately $432,924.69 on those claims.
In 2017, Farmer even used her employment at a pediatrician’s office to obtain patient information, according to the allegations. She then allegedly submitted more fraudulent claims to Medicaid under her ex-husband’s provider number.
According to the charges, Medicaid monies were deposited into accounts Farmer controlled.
If convicted, Farmer faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count of health care fraud.
The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado recognizes June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Cole Finegan encourages the citizens of Colorado to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2022, and to remain vigilant on behalf of our older family, friends, and loved ones who are at increased risk of abuse and fraud.
Older persons are at higher risk of exploitation, emotional and physical abuse, neglect, financial frauds, and scams, which can be perpetrated against them by strangers and trusted friends and family alike. In addition to exploiting close relationships, abusers can contact older adults by phone, email, mail, social media, and the internet. Staying connected with older adults, encouraging trust and transparency regarding their relationships and contacts, and reducing social isolation are some of the most powerful tools in our community arsenal for combatting abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
These intentional and negligent acts affect millions of older adults every year, with wide-reaching implications on victims’ physical and emotional health, their finances, and their dignity and sense of trust. Unfortunately, the unprecedented challenges of the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated vulnerabilities that tend to disproportionally impact older adults.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado remains steadfastly committed to supporting and coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat abuse of our elder citizens. Schemes to defraud these citizens with tactics such as social security and tax imposter scams, tech support scams, lottery scams, and romance scams are priorities the Office continues to investigate and prosecute on an ongoing basis.
Last year, this Office secured a sentence of 108 months in prison and more than $880,000 in restitution against a defendant who targeted an elderly woman in Estes Park, Colorado by way of a lottery scam. His co-defendant is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
The Department of Justice maintains a robust set of resources to educate yourself and your loved ones about these issues at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. You may also report suspected elder fraud by calling the Denver FBI field office at (303) 629-7171.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations in order to raise the public consciousness to these too often underrecognized and underreported violations of human rights.
Texas Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Texas man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.
Tanner Houghton, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, June 14, to 25 years in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 14, 2021, Houghton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Co-defendant Brittany Brannan, 35, also from Texas, has pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.
Houghton and Brannan were arrested on Dec. 27, 2020, after attempting to flee from law enforcement officers.
A Stone County, Mo., sheriff’s detective was conducting surveillance at a Branson West, Mo., hotel and saw Houghton and Brannan leave the hotel and drive to a convenience store in Reeds Spring, Mo. A sheriff’s deputy activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop Houghton, who was driving a 2001 Dodge Dakota, but Houghton rapidly sped away through a circle driveway. The driveway, however, was blocked by the detective’s vehicle. Houghton put his car in reverse and struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The officers drew their weapons and ordered Houghton and Brannon to get out of their vehicle.
When officers searched Houghton’s vehicle, they found a loaded Smith and Wesson .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a box of ammunition below the center console. They also found a loaded Amarillo Armory multi-caliber semi-automatic rifle, numerous loaded magazines, and numerous boxes of ammunition inside a duffle bag in the back seat. Officers found another duffle bag in the front passenger floorboard that contained approximately 292 grams of pure methamphetamine, 39.8 grams of heroin, and 128 fentanyl tablets.
According to court documents, Houghton had absconded from parole in Texas with Brannan. They were part of a large drug-trafficking organization, purchasing at least two pounds of methamphetamine twice a month for six months to a year, as well as varying amounts of fentanyl.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Branson West, Mo., Police Department.
Tekamah Man Sentenced to 96 Months on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tanner Joel Leichleiter, 32, of Tekamah, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for being a drug user and addict in possession of 10 firearms, to include an assault rifle. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Leichleiter to 96 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Leichleiter will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Leichleiter previously pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of firearms on August 23, 2021.
On April 20, 2020, Leichleiter’s co-defendant, Nora Gilda Guevara-Triana, requested that Leichleiter take her two grandchildren, ages 4 and 7, without car seats or shoes from Tekamah to Kansas to teach their mother a lesson. Leichleiter loaded the children into the vehicle, along with marijuana, a pit bull, and 10 firearms that were scattered throughout the vehicle. Drugs and guns were within reach of the children throughout the interstate trip. An Amber Alert was issued and Leichleiter was located with the children after a farmer in the area recognized Leichleiter and his vehicle from the alert. Guevara-Triana was found guilty by a jury of the kidnapping and previously received a sentence of 100 months in federal prison on February 23, 2022.
At his sentencing hearing, Leichleiter disputed that the circumstances of his firearm possession amounted to child abuse for a sentence enhancement, but the United States District Judge disagreed and found that Leichleiter had “no regard” for the children’s safety and that his case was an extreme example of illegal firearms possession.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tekamah Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff, and Wichita Police Department.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing Underage Girls to Send Him Sexually Explicit ImagesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for persuading or attempting to persuade more than a dozen underage girls to send him sexually explicit images of themselves.
THOMAS VIVIRITO admitted in a plea agreement that in 2018 and 2019 he used Instagram, Snapchat, and text messaging services to persuade or attempt to persuade the minor girls, some of whom were as young as 12 years old, to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Vivirito admitted that in some instances he instructed the victims on what type of sexually explicit conduct should be portrayed in the visual depictions of themselves.
Vivirito, 27, of Oak Brook, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal child pornography charge. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall imposed the sentence Friday after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Naperville, Ill., Police Department, and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“Victim by victim, and message by message, defendant groomed and attempted to groom over a dozen young girls over social media,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Chung and Christine M. O’Neill argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “With each new victim, each sexual message, and each explicit image received or downloaded, defendant robbed young girls of their childhood and wreaked trauma in their lives.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Statement of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today made the following statement in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including by advancing elder justice. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of exploitative practices targeted at seniors.
“Over the past 15 months that I have served as Attorney General, the Justice Department has worked to expand our capacity to prevent elder abuse, prosecute perpetrators of that abuse, and protect and support elderly survivors.
“To these ends, our Elder Justice Initiative coordinates programmatic efforts to prevent and respond to elder abuse, including by developing training and resources for our partners at all levels of government and beyond. Our grantmaking components have also funded the development of coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches to advancing elder justice, including Multidisciplinary Teams.
“In addition, Elder Justice Coordinators in each of our 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide are working to successfully prosecute cases of elder abuse, including by supporting our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force, which was launched and is led by the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, brings together attorneys, agents, and analysts from across the federal government to disrupt and prosecute foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors.
“And we continue to expand our capacity to protect and support survivors of elder abuse. This includes a training and technical assistance program to develop and expand statewide Elder Justice Coalitions and our Abuse in Later Life Program, which supports organizations dedicated to assisting older individuals and advancing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary solutions to elder abuse.
“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Department of Justice joins our partners across America and around the world in reaffirming our commitment to preventing and ending elder abuse in all of its many forms.”
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
St. Charles man sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for possessing thousands of images of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a St. Charles man to six and one-half years in prison for possessing thousands of images and hundreds of videos containing child pornography.
Marcus E. Gardner, 48, was also ordered to pay $78,000 in restitution to victims who have been identified by law enforcement in the approximately 11,000 images and 500 videos of child sexual abuse investigators found on Gardner's computer and external hard drives.
Gardner pleaded guilty in March to a charge of possession of child pornography. He admitted being one of the customers of an overseas website that offered child pornography for a fee. Gardner accessed the website 1,132 times between Sept. 2, 2015 and Dec. 3, 2018 and purchased child pornography at least twice, agents with Homeland Security Investigations determined. They also determined that the website had collected the equivalent of at least $19 million in profit from users paying to access and download content.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Charles County man sentenced to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Judge John A. Ross on Wednesday sentenced a St. Charles County man to seven years in prison for selling methamphetamine.
Adam Lee Jones, 41, pleaded guilty in January to a felony charge of possession with the intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.
Between May and July of 2020, members of the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a total of five undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Jones. In addition, on July 15, 2020, Jones had approximately one ounce of actual methamphetamine when his car was stopped by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Spearfish Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Spearfish, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft of Government Funds was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Christi Marie Johnson, age 37, was sentenced to five years of probation, $16,594.50 in restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 9, 2021. She pled guilty on March 9, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from incident between on or about June 15, 2017, and May 7, 2018, when Johnson willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, and converted to her own use money from departments and agencies of the United States, namely Title II program benefits payments made to her deceased stepfather, to which Johnson knew she was not entitled. Title II is administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
South Florida Producer of Child Pornography Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced 23-year-old Keivon McBride to 40 years in prison for recording children as young as 12 engaged in sex acts and posting the videos for sale on the internet.
The children ranged in age from 12 to 17. McBride had sex with some of them in the back seat of his car and at his home. He recorded the illegal sex acts with his cellular telephone and often paid the children “hush money” to keep quiet. McBride sent one child a sex toy. At McBride’s direction, the child sent him a video of herself using the toy. In addition to sharing sexually explicit videos of children on social media messenger applications, McBride labeled some of the videos with QR codes and posted them for sale online.
In March, McBride pled guilty to producing and distributing child pornography.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami announced the sentence that U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II imposed yesterday.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-60095.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Lyle Walter Iron Horn, age 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Iron Horn was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on February 20, 2021, in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in which Iron Horn assaulted an individual with shod feet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Iron Horn was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Salt Lake City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Producing and Transporting Child Exploitation MaterialsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Joel Lehi Organista, 29, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts related to the production and transportation of child pornography. The court ordered the federal prison sentence to run concurrently with a sentence ordered by the State of Utah arising from the same investigation. Organista was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
In the plea agreement, Organista admitted to owning a Dropbox account which was used for downloading between 10 and 150 child exploitation images depicting prepubescent minors. In addition, Organista admitted to using Snapchat to contact minor children and soliciting them to perform sexual acts for him via video chat, including an incident which occurred between Organista and a 13 year-old victim, where the victim performed sexual acts for Organista via video chat.
The case originated in January of 2021, after law enforcement received multiple tips that devices and accounts attributed to Organista were receiving and downloading images containing child pornography. A search warrant was executed at Organista’s residence in June of 2021, and Organista has been in custody since that time.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah Attorney General’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.
Rosebud Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Commission of a Felony Offense Against a Minor While Required to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Alton Bear Heels, age 30, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Bear Heels was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in April 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, when Bear Heels knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years. In addition, at the time of the above-described conduct, Bear Heels was a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by virtue of a conviction under Indian tribal law.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Bear Heels was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Jesse James Leader Charge, age 27, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Leader Charge was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2022.
Leader Charge was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in October 2019. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. Between May 6, 2021, and September 14, 2021, Leader Charge failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Leader Charge was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 21, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Shady Spring residence of Larry Wayne Meadows, 70. Officers found approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, several grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, and a large assortment of prescription pills. Meadows admitted that he possessed these drugs with the intent to distribute them. Meadows further admitted to possessing four firearms that officers also found inside his residence.
Meadows is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-99.
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Punxsutawney Man Pleads Guilty to Obscenity Charge in Project Safe Childhood CaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of transporting obscene writing over the internet, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Dominic Runco, age 69, pleaded guilty to one count of Importation or Transportation of Obscene Matters in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 1462 before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about October 28, 2020 to on or about November 25, 2020, Runco knowingly sent obscene writing describing in explicit and graphic detail the sexual abuse of children to other individuals over email and in a chatroom.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 5 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Dominic Runco.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Admitted to Sexually Abusing Five Minor Victims and Recording the Sexual Abuse over 13 YearsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Garnell Eugene Graves, age 58, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty yesterday to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child in relation to the sexual abuse of five minor victims.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Not only did Graves inflict abuse on generations of victims, molest minor victims, and sexually abuse children for over a decade, but he also threatened to sexually abuse other children if the victims attempted to end the cycle of abuse,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “Our office will continue to obtain justice for child abuse survivors and actively prosecute predators who abuse the most vulnerable among us.”
"Mr. Graves displayed horrific and disturbing behavior victimizing innocent children over and over again," said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything in our power to hold perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm."
According to his guilty plea, from 2007 to 2020, Graves sexually abused five minors between the ages of 6 and 13 years old. Beginning in 2007, Graves frequently sexually abused Minor Victim 1 and continued to sexually abuse Minor Victim 1 until she was 13 years old. When Minor Victim 1 was approximately 8 and 9 years old, Graves showed Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 1’s friend adult pornography and asked the two children to participate in sex acts like those conducted in the video with him. Over the course of several years, Graves engaged in oral and vaginal sex with Minor Victim 1 and, in some instances, Graves recorded the sexual encounters. At times, Graves showed Minor Victim 1 the videos of the abuse. Graves also often gave Minor Victim 1 gifts, including a smartphone, in exchange for her “forgiveness” and to encourage her not to inform her mother.
Additionally, Graves placed a hidden camera in Minor Victim 1’s bedroom and recorded videos of Minor Victim 1 in various stages of undress. Approximately 10 videos of this conduct were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 2 when Minor Victim 2 was 12-years-old. On three occasions, Graves photographed himself sexually abusing Minor Victim 2, who appeared to be sleeping at the time of the abuse. The images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Similar to his conduct with Minor Victim 1, Graves showed pornography to Minor Victim 3 and Minor Victim 4 on a social media platform and told the victims of his desire to do the same conduct with them.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 3 from age 6 through age 13. In at least one instance during an interaction with Minor Victim 3, Graves told Minor Victim 3 that they would get married and have children in the future. Graves also showed Minor Victim 3 pictures of him and Minor Victim 1 engaging in sex acts when Minor Victim 1 was a minor. In order to conceal his conduct and prevent Minor Victim 3 from disclosing Graves’ abuse to others, Graves provided Minor Victim 3 with food, money, and other gifts. After Minor Victim 3 tried to end the abuse, Graves threatened Minor Victim 3 by telling her that if she stopped, he would abuse Minor Victim 5. Graves’ abuse of Minor Victim 3 included oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
On at least 11 instances between 2014 and 2017, Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 3 and produced videos and images of that abuse. The videos and images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
Graves sexually abused Minor Victim 4 when she was between 9 and 10-years old. In 2017, Graves produced ten images Minor Victim 4 laying on a bed with her genitals exposed. The images were located on Graves’ digital devices.
When Minor Victim 5 was approximately 6 or 7 years old, Graves entered the room where she was sleeping and took her to another room. Graves proceeded to sexually abuse Minor Victim 5 by rubbing his genitals on Minor Victim 5’s genitals. After the encounter, Graves instructed Minor Victim 5 not to tell anyone.
In 1991, Graves was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor child in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Additionally, in 1998, Graves was convicted of sexual offense in the third-degree in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Graves faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and maximum of 50 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of sexual exploitation of a child followed up by up to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, and the BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Phoenix Man Sentenced for Lying to Purchase FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Bobby Lee Seely, Jr., 48, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 80 months in prison. Seely previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.
In September 2020, Seely made the false statement when he attempted to purchase a pistol from a federally-licensed firearms store in Arizona. When Seely attempted to purchase the pistol, he stated on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form that he was not prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, Seely was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition because he had previously been convicted of a felony offense as well as a domestic violence misdemeanor.
“Federal law doesn’t just prohibit felons from possessing firearms,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence, including where the victim is a spouse or intimate partner, also preclude gun ownership and possession in America. And for good reason: victims are more vulnerable when their abusers have firearms.”
Following his arrest in this matter, agents searched a storage unit owned by Seely and recovered a privately made firearm or “ghost gun” that was loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Agents also found over 100 rounds of ammunition.
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-0643-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 094_Seely# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Parmelee Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact by Force was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Justis Running Bear, age 23, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Running Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 13, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 28, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, when Running Bear did knowingly engage in sexual contact with the victim by use of force.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Running Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Owner/Manager of Key West Labor Staffing Companies Convicted of Immigration Fraud, Money Laundering and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted a man who operated labor-staffing companies in Florida with conspiracy to harbor non-resident aliens and induce them to remain in the country, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
Mykhaylo Chugay and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in southern Florida, including General Labor Solutions LLC, Liberty Specialty Service LLC, Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC, between August 2007 and July 2021. At trial, the government proved that Chugay, through these staffing companies, facilitated the employment of individuals in hotels, bars and restaurants in Key West and other locations, even though the employees were not authorized to work in the United States.
The government also proved that Chugay and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS out of more than $10 million in Social Security and Medicare taxes that should have been collected and paid over in connection with the employment of these workers. In addition, the government proved Chugay conspired to encourage workers to enter the United States and remain in the country, in violation of immigration laws. The government also proved that Chugay and others sent checks and wires totaling more than $11 million in proceeds from the illegal scheme to conspirators in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Chugay was convicted at trial on all counts. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22 and faces maximum penalties of five years in prison on the tax conspiracy, 10 years in prison for conspiring to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States and 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy. 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 Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations provided substantial assistance at trial.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty, Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., and Paralegal Robert Resto of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Clark of the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.
Owner of Lumberton Tax Preparation Business Arrested for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Emmanuel Wesner Jean, owner of Jean Tax Services (JTS), a tax preparation business located in Lumberton, N.C., was arrested today on charges of tax fraud. In the criminal complaint, which was unsealed today, Jean is charged with aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).
“Tax fraud is a crime that victimizes all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Working closely with IRS Criminal Investigation, we will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases.”
According to the allegations in the complaint, Jean falsified the federal income tax returns of at least two JTS clients without their knowledge, by claiming false tax information that minimized their tax liabilities and maximized their refund amounts. The clients learned that Jean claimed these credits on their tax returns when they were subsequently audited by the IRS and required to repay the monies they received. The complaint also alleged that Jean falsified a return prepared as part of an undercover investigation by the IRS.
Jean was arrested at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport attempting to board a flight to Haiti. At his initial appearance today, Jean was ordered to be held in custody pending further proceedings. Jean faces a statutory maximum penalty of 36 months in prison if convicted.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:22-MJ-1121-BM.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 97 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Larry Brye, 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court, in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and hydrocodone, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Brye to 97 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Brye will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Between May and August of 2020, law enforcement conducted five controlled buys from Brye in which he collectively sold fentanyl, marijuana, and methamphetamine. On August 19, 2020, officers executed a search warrant at Brye’s Omaha residence and located cocaine, hydrocodone, alprazolam, tramadol, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl mix, and a cutting agent. Officers also located two handguns. Brye was not permitted to possess firearms because of a 2018 federal felony conviction for being a user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Brye also has convictions for theft, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault and battery.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
North Carolina Nail Salon Owner Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Compelling a Victim’s Labor for Almost Two YearsRead the Press Release
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced defendant Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina, to 15 years in prison and ordered her to pay $75,000 in restitution to the victim. A federal jury previously convicted the defendant of forced labor on Jan. 8, 2021, following a five-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendant compelled the victim’s labor for almost two years through a variety of coercive means. The defendant physically, emotionally and verbally punished the victim when she disobeyed the defendant or otherwise failed to perform the required labor to the defendant’s satisfaction. As an example, the defendant falsely claimed that the victim owed her a debt of $180,000, made her sign a debt contract, and threatened to go to the police if the victim did not continue to work to pay off the fabricated debt. The defendant beat the victim with nail salon tools, including cuticle clippers, nail files and brooms leaving the victim with scars, bruises and marks. She also threatened to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family by threatening to tell them information that would negatively impact the victim’s relationship with her family. The defendant’s scheme caused the victim to continue working for the defendant until a particularly violent assault led her to report the defendant to the Davidson Police Department.
“This defendant used psychological coercion, debt bondage and violence to break down the will of one of her employees, exploit her vulnerabilities and force her to work long hours under threat of serious harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There continues to be no place for such cruel conduct in our society, and the Department of Justice remains committed to identifying and eliminating human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking is human suffering and it has no place in modern society,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina. “As our nation prepares to commemorate Juneteenth, it’s difficult to grasp that there are still people in our communities subjected to a life of servitude, compelled to work long hours for little or no pay, abused physically and mentally by those who ‘employ’ them. Traffickers who use their victims as commodities, take advantage of their needs and exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Luong’s egregious criminal conduct is a form of human trafficking that not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also subjected the victim to unspeakable harm, including physical and mental abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Thankfully, HSI and its law enforcement partners have put an end to Luong’s activity and she is facing appropriately severe consequences. Pursuing human traffickers and protecting their victims remains a top priority of HSI.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney King and Special Agent in Charge Martinez announced today’s sentence. The case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Davidson Police Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit assisted with sentencing and restitution in this matter.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
New York Man Sentenced to Twenty-Four Months’ Imprisonment for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marlon Valoy De La Rosa, age 23, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced on June 8, 2022, to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $19,138.01 in restitution by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on January 4, 2020, at approximately 4:30 AM, Steelton Borough Police observed De La Rosa along with two other individuals tampering with a U.S. Mail blue collection box in the Borough of Steelton, Pennsylvania. One individual, later identified as Enrique Reyes, used what appeared to be a white rope with an object attached to it to “fish” into the mailbox’s opening while a second individual, later identified as Josue Peguero, stood nearby as a lookout. De La Rosa drove the vehicle in which the individuals arrived and left the scene.
Following a traffic stop, the individuals were found to be in possession of numerous debit cards in different names, none of which matched De La Rosa, Reyes, or Peguero. De La Rosa possessed a receipt from a fraudulent ATM transaction using a stolen check and a stolen, washed check belonging to a different individual.
The investigation showed that De La Rosa, Reyes, and Peguero had conducted multiple fraudulent debit card transactions in New York City just prior to traveling to the Harrisburg area and had also recently traveled to the Boston area, where they had gone mail fishing and obtained additional checks from the mail. Their debit card transactions involved the use of stolen, altered checks and debit cards belonging to other people. The investigation further determined that the three had been involved in the stealing of checks and the depositing of these checks in a fraudulent manner for several months leading up to the time of their arrest.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Steelton Borough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.
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New Britain Man Charged with Illegal Gun and Ammunition PossessionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging LUIS JAVIER LOPEZ, 23, of New Britain, with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
The indictment alleges that, on February 26, 2022, Lopez possessed a loaded Taurus G3 9mm pistol and a magazine containing 9mm ammunition.
It is further alleged that Lopez has been previously convicted in state court of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Lopez with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lopez has been detained since his arrest on related state charges by Hartford Police on February 26, 2022.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Angel M. Krull.
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.
Nail Salon Owner Is Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Compelling A Victim's Labor for Almost Two YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina, to 15 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay $75,000 in restitution to the victim. A federal jury previously convicted the defendant of forced labor on Jan. 8, 2021, following a five-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Luong compelled the victim’s labor for almost two years through a variety of coercive means. The defendant physically, emotionally and verbally punished the victim when she disobeyed the defendant or otherwise failed to perform the required labor to the defendant’s satisfaction. As an example, the defendant falsely claimed that the victim owed her a debt of $180,000, made her sign a debt contract, and threatened to go to the police if the victim did not continue to work to pay off the fabricated debt. The defendant beat the victim with nail salon tools, including cuticle clippers, nail files and brooms leaving the victim with scars, bruises and marks. She also threatened to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family by threatening to tell them information that would negatively impact the victim’s relationship with her family. The defendant’s scheme caused the victim to continue working for the defendant until a particularly violent assault led her to report the defendant to the Davidson Police Department.
“This defendant used psychological coercion, debt bondage and violence to break down the will of one of her employees, exploit her vulnerabilities and force her to work long hours under threat of serious harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There continues to be no place for such cruel conduct in our society, and the Department of Justice remains committed to identifying and eliminating human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking is human suffering and it has no place in modern society,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina. “As our nation prepares to commemorate Juneteenth, it’s difficult to grasp that there are still people in our communities subjected to a life of servitude, compelled to work long hours for little or no pay, abused physically and mentally by those who employ them. Traffickers who use their victims as commodities, take advantage of their needs and exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Luong’s egregious criminal conduct is a form of human trafficking that not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also subjected the victim to unspeakable harm, including physical and mental abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Thankfully, HSI and its law enforcement partners have put an end to Luong’s activity and she is facing appropriately severe consequences. Pursuing human traffickers and protecting their victims remains a top priority of HSI.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney King and Special Agent in Charge Martinez announced today’s sentence. The case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Davidson Police Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit assisted with sentencing and restitution in this matter.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
Multiple Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison After All Being Caught in a House with Five GunsRead the Press Release
Three Waterloo men who were found in a house with five guns and another felon were sentenced on June 10, 2022, to federal prison. The fourth man is set to be sentenced next month.
All four individuals, Qunshaundes Davion McNealy, age 27, William McNealy III, age 22, Sahjit Mcyle Phillips, age 23, and William Rashad Burt, age 28, all from Waterloo, Iowa, each pled to being a felon in possession of at least one firearm. Evidence in this case showed that, on July 6, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a search at a residence in Waterloo and located all four individuals along with five guns and evidence of marijuana trafficking.
Qunshaundes Davion McNealy was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing Qunshaundes McNealy, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed at least three firearms, including a stolen firearm, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with offenses of possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver and carrying weapons. He has multiple prior convictions, including Burglary, Assault Domestic Causing Bodily Injury, Assault Causing Serious Injury, and Harassment.
William McNealy III was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing William McNealy, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed more than three firearms, including two stolen firearms, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with the offense of carrying weapons. At the time of his arrest, he was on parole for a 2017 conviction for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon from Black Hawk County.
Sahjit Mcyle Phillips was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. In sentencing Phillips, the court found he possessed a firearm with an extended magazine, possessed more than three firearms, including a stolen firearm, and that he possessed the firearms in connection with the offense of carrying weapons. Phillips was on parole for a 2017 conviction for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon from Black Hawk County and was on supervised release on a 2017 federal conviction for Theft of a Firearm from a Licensee. The court revoked Phillips’ term of supervised release in the 2017 federal conviction and imposed an additional term of 10 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively to the new case for a total of 110 months’ months imprisonment.
All three men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. There is no parole in the federal system.
William Rashad Burt is currently set for sentencing before Judge Williams on July 6, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
All four men are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 21-cr-2064 and 17-cr-2001.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
McLaughlin Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Theresa White Lightning, a/k/a, Theresa Red Fox, age 37, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
White Lightning was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 8, 2021. She pleaded guilty on December 6, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 27, 2020, in McLaughlin in which White Lightning assaulted two Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers while they were performing a lawful arrest.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
White Lightning was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Sentenced for Attempted Robbery of an ATMRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRISHUN GARY, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. GARY was sentenced to 3 years of probation, 6 months to be served on home confinement and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The defendant was also ordered to pay $39,324 in restitution.
According to court records, on or about February 5, 2020, GARY and others attempted to break into an ATM located in the drive-through of a Capital One Bank using sledgehammers, crowbars, chains, and a truck. Just prior to this robbery attempt, GARY and others were observed in the same truck attempting to break into an ATM at Hancock Whitney Bank.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
Lower Brule Woman Sentenced for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Esther Flute, a/k/a, Esther Flute-Rencountre, age 61, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Flute was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2021. She pled guilty on March 7, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 2, 2021, in Lower Brule. Flute used two weapons to cause multiple wounds to the victim in an extended assault, which resulted in the victim’s death.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Flute was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lake County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Coercing, Engaging in Sexual Activity with A Child and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images over the InternetRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Eric Lance Reynolds (42, Mount Dora) to life in federal prison for coercing and enticing a child to engage in sexual activity and for distributing child sexual abuse material. Reynolds was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release, register as a sex offender, pay $24,797 in restitution to the victim of the offense, and forfeit the Apple iPhone that he used to commit these child sex offenses. Reynolds had pleaded guilty on March 22, 2022.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, over the course of several years, Reynolds repeatedly sexually abused a prepubescent child to whom Reynolds had access. Specifically, on November 29, 2019, Reynolds used the internet to communicate with a registered sex offender, Jonathan Boudreau. During these online communications, Reynolds offered to allow Boudreau to participate in the sexual abuse of this child, in exchange for money to purchase a video game for the child. On that date, and on at least six other occasions from approximately 2017 to 2020, Boudreau and Reynolds sexually abused the child together, and forced the child to wear a blindfold during the encounters. On one occasion, Reynolds allowed a third individual to participate in the sexual abuse of the child. In total, Reynolds sexually abused this child victim between 15 and 50 times.
A search of Reynolds’ iPhone revealed that Reynolds was also engaged in the distribution and trading of child sexual abuse material with other individuals online. The FBI conducted a forensic review of his devices and discovered six videos and 47 images depicting the sexual abuse of infants and prepubescent children.
On December 21, 2021, Boudreau was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material as a registered sex offender.
“No amount of prison time can erase the horrors this man inflicted on an innocent child. But the community can be assured, he will never victimize another child again thanks to the exemplary work of our special agents and task force officers who work tirelessly investigating crimes against children,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Kingman Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Monday, James Steele Saunders, 60, of Kingman, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 12 months and 1 day in prison. Saunders previously pleaded guilty to Tax Evasion.
Saunders evaded paying taxes for 15 years. Between 2003 and 2013, Saunders failed to file timely income tax returns with the IRS. In 2009, an IRS revenue officer was assigned to collect taxes owed by Saunders for tax year 2003 and to solicit the filing of tax returns for tax years 2004-2008. Saunders did not cooperate with the IRS and failed to pay what he owed. In 2014, Saunders began to funnel his income through third parties in an attempt to deceive the IRS. He continued this practice until February 2018.
In addition to his prison sentence, the Court ordered Saunders to pay $180,079 in restitution to the IRS, which represents the federal income taxes Saunders failed to pay for tax years 2008 through 2017.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Stone, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00331-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 093_Saunders# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Justice Department Sues American Health Foundation and Its Affiliates for Providing Grossly Substandard Nursing Home ServicesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against American Health Foundation (AHF), its affiliate AHF Management Corporation, and three affiliated nursing homes — Cheltenham Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (Cheltenham), The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place (Wilmington Place) and Samaritan Care Center and Villa (Samaritan) — for providing grossly substandard skilled nursing services between 2016 and 2018. AHF is a nonprofit corporation that is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, and owns and controls nursing homes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa. Cheltenham is a 255-bed nursing home located in Philadelphia; Wilmington Place is a 63-bed nursing home located in Dayton, Ohio; and Samaritan is a 56-bed nursing home located in Medina, Ohio.
In its complaint, the United States alleged the three AHF nursing homes provided grossly substandard services that failed to meet required standards of care in various ways. For example, the United States alleged the defendant facilities failed to follow appropriate infection control protocols and did not maintain adequate staffing levels. The United States also alleged that Cheltenham housed its residents in a dirty, pest-infested building; gave its residents unnecessary medications, including antibiotic, antipsychotic, anti-anxiety and hypnotic drugs; failed to safeguard residents’ personal possessions; subjected residents to verbal abuse; neglected to provide residents with activities or stimulation; and failed to provide needed psychiatric care. The United States similarly alleged that Wilmington Place and Samaritan failed to create and maintain important medical records, and that Wilmington Place repeatedly gave its residents unnecessary medications, including antibiotic, antipsychotic, anti-anxiety and hypnotic drugs, while also failing to ensure that its residents had the prescriptions they actually needed.
“Nursing homes are expected to provide their residents, which include some of our most vulnerable individuals, with quality care and to treat them with dignity and respect,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will not tolerate nursing homes — or their owners or managing entities — who abdicate these responsibilities and seek taxpayer funds to which they are not entitled.”
The United States’ complaint provides specific allegations of how grossly substandard care harmed nursing home residents. For instance, the complaint alleged that one Cheltenham resident was admitted with a history of self-harm and was hospitalized after slashing his wrists while in the facility’s care. Yet when this resident returned to Cheltenham, the facility again ignored additional warning signs and failed to provide him with needed psychiatric services. Mere weeks after being readmitted to Cheltenham, the resident committed suicide by hanging himself from a bedsheet in one of Cheltenham’s shower rooms.
The complaint is the result of an effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. This matter is being handled by Fraud Section attorneys Ben Young and Susan Lynch.
The case is captioned United States v. American Health Foundation, Inc.; AHF Management Corporation; AHF Montgomery, Inc. d/b/a Cheltenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and AHF Ohio, Inc. d/b/a/ The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place and Samaritan Care Center and Villa, No. 2:22-cv-02344 (E.D. Pa.).
The United States’ complaint stems from an investigation that the Department of Justice initiated as part of its National Nursing Home Initiative. The department launched the initiative in March 2020 to identify and investigate nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care. The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The claims in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Jackson Township for Discriminatory Ordinances Targeting Orthodox Jewish Religious SchoolsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department announced an agreement today with Jackson Township, New Jersey, and the Jackson Planning Board to settle allegations that they violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when they passed and applied a series of discriminatory zoning ordinances that intentionally targeted the Orthodox Jewish community by prohibiting religious schools and associated dormitories.
The proposed consent order, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and must still be approved by the court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States filed in May 2020 alleging that the Jackson Township and the Jackson Planning Board passed zoning ordinances that broadly prohibited religious schools and banned schools with dormitories, both of which are important to providing religious education within the Orthodox Jewish community. The complaint alleged that the intent of the ordinances was to prevent Orthodox Jewish schools from opening in the township and thereby dissuade members of that community from living in or moving to Jackson.
“RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act protect the rights of religious communities to worship and obtain housing in communities free from discrimination and unequal treatment,” Philip R. Sellinger, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, said. “This office remains steadfast in its commitment to enforce the nation’s civil rights laws, and as the proposed consent order demonstrates, we will continue to take steps to protect the civil rights of the Orthodox Jewish community and all communities throughout this district.”
“Zoning restrictions that intentionally target religious communities have no place in our society,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Federal civil rights laws provide strong protections to ensure that religious communities are treated equally and not subjected to discrimination because of their beliefs. This resolution reaffirms that members of the Orthodox Jewish community — as with people of all faiths – are welcome in our communities and have the right to practice their religion free of discrimination.”
The complaint alleges that in 2017, Jackson Township enacted two ordinances that banned dormitories and severely restricted where religious schools could locate. These ordinances were enacted in response to the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community in Jackson and surrounding areas and amid public comments arguing that the ordinances should be enacted to prevent the Orthodox Jewish community from living in or moving to Jackson. Township councilmembers voted unanimously to enact the ordinances.
The consent order requires Jackson Township to repeal the remaining active discriminatory ordinance and replace it with an ordinance that will allow religious elementary and secondary schools, religious higher learning institutions, and religious residential schools. The consent order also requires that the new zoning ordinance treat religious schools equally with non-religious institutions that operate in the township. The consent order requires the township to train its officials and employees on the requirements of RLUIPA and the FHA, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA and FHA complaints, pay a civil penalty of $45,000, and pay $150,000 into a settlement fund from which aggrieved persons can seek payment.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions, or discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, and familial status, may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at 1-833-591-0291, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339 Individuals may also submit a complaint through the Civil Rights Division’s complaint portal or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio, Senior Civil Rights Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, and Trial Attorneys Ryan G. Lee and David K. Gardner, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Race Discrimination Suit Against Groveport, Ohio, Board of EducationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement with the Groveport Madison Local School District Board of Education (the Board) in Groveport, Ohio. The settlement resolves the department’s complaint alleging that the Board violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it discriminated and retaliated against former Groveport Madison High School Assistant Principal Amon-Ra Dobbins. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion and prohibits retaliation against employees for opposing employment practices that are discriminatory under Title VII.
“No employee should face discipline or reprisals for filing a complaint regarding a dress code policy that may be causing harm to Black students,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We stand with those brave employees who oppose discrimination in the workplace and who work to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of their jobs. This consent decree reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ensuring that no person should face retaliation for standing up against discrimination.”
“We are confident that the consent decree will lead to the development and equitable enforcement of policies that protect and promote the civil rights of all involved,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “The consent decree provides a path for the school district and school board to achieve Title VII-compliant policies, procedures, and training.”
According to the complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dobbins was unfairly disciplined after he complained that the school district’s dress code policy was being implemented in a manner that discriminated against African-American students. The complaint alleges that the school district began to retaliate against Dobbins for complaining, and ultimately terminated his employment. Under the terms of the consent decree, if approved by the court, the Board will develop and submit to the United States for approval, its discrimination and retaliation policies, complaint investigation procedures, and proposed trainings that will be used by the Board and school district. The consent decree also requires the Board to provide training for all Board and school district employees on these policies and provides for future annual training. The Board will also pay Dobbins $200,000 in back pay and compensatory damages.
The Cleveland Field Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Dobbins’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Department of Justice as an enforcement action. More information about the EEOC’s jurisdiction is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.
The enforcement of Title VII and other federal employment discrimination laws is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and its work is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
The case was brought by Trial Attorneys Ejaz Baluch Jr. and Jeffrey Morrison of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section.
Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Against Jackson Township, New Jersey, for Discriminatory Ordinances Targeting Orthodox Jewish Religious SchoolsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Township of Jackson, New Jersey, and the Jackson Planning Board to settle allegations that the Township and Planning Board violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when they passed and applied a series of discriminatory zoning ordinances that intentionally targeted the Orthodox Jewish community by prohibiting religious schools and associated dormitories.
The proposed consent order, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and must still be approved by the court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States filed in May 2020 alleging that the Township and Planning Board passed zoning ordinances that broadly prohibited religious schools and banned schools with dormitories, both of which are important to providing religious education within the Orthodox Jewish community. The complaint alleged that the intent of the ordinances was to prevent Orthodox Jewish schools from opening in the Township and thereby dissuade members of that community from living in or moving to Jackson.
“Zoning restrictions that intentionally target religious communities have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Federal civil rights laws provide strong protections to ensure that religious communities are treated equally and not subjected to discrimination because of their beliefs. This resolution reaffirms that members of the Orthodox Jewish community — as with people of all faiths — are welcome in our communities and have the right to practice their religion free of discrimination.”
“RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act protect the rights of religious communities to worship and obtain housing in communities free from discrimination and unequal treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “This office remains steadfast in its commitment to enforce the nation’s civil rights laws, and as the proposed consent order demonstrates, we will continue to take steps to protect the civil rights of the Orthodox Jewish community and all communities throughout this district.”
The complaint alleges that in 2017, Jackson Township enacted two ordinances that banned dormitories and severely restricted where religious schools could locate. These ordinances were enacted in response to the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community in Jackson and surrounding areas and amid public comments arguing that the ordinances should be enacted to prevent the Orthodox Jewish community from living in or moving to Jackson. Township councilmembers voted unanimously to enact the ordinances.
The consent order requires Jackson Township to repeal the remaining active discriminatory ordinance and replace it with an ordinance that will allow religious elementary and secondary schools, religious higher learning institutions and religious residential schools. The consent order also requires that the new zoning ordinance treat religious schools equally with non-religious institutions that operate in the Township. Finally, the consent order requires the Township to train its officials and employees on the requirements of RLUIPA and the FHA, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA and FHA complaints, pay a civil penalty of $45,000, and pay $150,000 into a settlement fund from which aggrieved persons can seek payment.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions, or discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status, may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at 1-833-591-0291, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339. Individuals may also submit a complaint through the Civil Rights Division’s complaint portal or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website.
The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio for the District of New Jersey, Senior Civil Rights Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, and Trial Attorneys Ryan G. Lee and David K. Gardner of the Civil Rights Division.
Illegal Firearms Possession Leads to Federal Charges for North Alabama MenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama announces the latest results of the continued collaborative work by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime in Alabama by keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prohibited due to previous felony convictions. In recent weeks, fourteen individuals across North Alabama faced separate charges in federal court for illegally possessing firearms.
“Community safety is threatened when violent, prohibited people possess firearms. Keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prohibited due to prior felony convictions is a priority of federal, state, and local law enforcement in Alabama,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “I’m grateful for the teamwork and common purpose that our local and federal law enforcement agencies share in addressing the drivers of violence in our communities,” added Escalona.
Four North Alabama men appeared in federal court last week on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Monday, June 6, 2022, Brandon Keith Jackson, 38, was sentenced by Judge Anna Manasco to 15 months for one count being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson pleaded guilty to one count in February. Jackson illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol in May 2019.
Freddie Green, 49, Birmingham, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to 51 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Green pleaded guilty to one count in January. Green illegally possessed a Century Arms rifle in May 2020.
Anthony Rego Torres, 26, Blountsville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Torres pleaded guilty to two counts in February. Torres illegally possessed a Savage Arms .22 rifle in December 2020 and a Taurus Spectrum .380 caliber pistol and Taurus Ultra-Lite .38 Special Revolver in August 2020.
Ervin Deangelo Fields, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fields illegally possessed a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol in Jefferson County in June 2021 and a Canik 9 mm pistol in January 2021. Fields is scheduled for sentencing on August 17, 2022.
Additionally, six individuals were arraigned in federal court on Thursday, June 9, 2022, on indictments that were handed down by the grand jury in May 2022. These individuals were charged with being felons in possession of firearms.
Jonathan Peter Smith, 44, was charged with illegally possessing a Ruger .38 caliber revolver, and a Ruger 9mm pistol in November 2021 in Calhoun County.
Aaron Elisher Quarles, 31, of Birmingham, was charged with illegally possessing a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol in September 2020 in Jefferson County. Quarles is also charged with possession of a stolen firearm.
Zsaquon Dean Averette, 25, of Madison, was charged with illegally possessing an American Tactical .45 caliber pistol in March 2022 in Jefferson County.
Dexter Sherrod Pearce, 33, of Birmingham, was charged with illegally possessing a 9mm, Glock 17 handgun in February 2022 in Jefferson County.
Donald Joseph Boteler, Jr, 47, of Odenville, was charged with illegally possessing a Diamondback 9mm pistol in December 2021 in St. Clair County.
Allquan Cortex Patton, 37, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with illegally possessing a Glock 9mm pistol in February 2022 and a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol in March 2022 in Tuscaloosa County.
Also in May 2022, a federal grand jury indicted the following individuals with being felons in possession of firearms.
Anthony James Perkins, 29, of Arab, was charged with illegally possessing an American Tactical, Omni Hybrid, .223/.556 caliber pistol in January 2022 in Cullman County.
Scottie Ray Guffey, 56, of Fyffe, was charged with illegally possessing an a FIE Model Tex 22 caliber revolver, and a High Standard Model Sport King Carbine A102 22 caliber in January 2020 in DeKalb County.
Antonia Dynell Bates, 31, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with illegally possessing a Glock .40 caliber pistol and a Canik 9mm pistol in November 2021 and a Glock .40 caliber pistol in May 2022 in Tuscaloosa County.
Joseph Salter Reaves, 57, of Decatur, was charged with illegally possessing a Beretta 9mm pistol, a Remington .22 caliber rifle model 34, a J. Stevens Arms Company 12-gauge double-barrel side by side shotgun model 315, and approximately 80 rounds of Speer 9 mm ammunition in December 2021 in Madison County.
David Randall Holder, Jr., 37, was charged with illegally possessing a J.P. Sauer and Sohn .357 caliber revolver, a Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Sarsilmaz 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Heckler and Koch .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Canik 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Ruger .380 caliber rifle, a CBC .22 caliber rifle, a Remington .410 caliber shotgun, a Remington .28 caliber rifle, and a Keystone Sporting Arms .22 caliber rifle in December 2020 in Jackson County. Holder is also charged with theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer, Mark Anthony Dover d/b/a The Pawn Shop, in December 2020.
"These sentences and indictments for illegal firearms possession should be a lesson for every person who is prohibited due to a previous felony conviction or other circumstance,” said United States Attorney Escalona. “If you have been convicted of a felony or are a domestic abuser, you are prohibited by federal law from having a firearm, as well as ammunition. If you have been previously convicted of a felony and don’t want to end up in federal prison, stay away from all guns and ammunition,” recommended Escalona.
Federal firearms restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) include prohibitions on the right to possess firearms by people who have been previously convicted of a felony, have been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, are subject to a domestic protection from abuse order, are drug users/addicts, are undocumented noncitizens, or are fugitives from justice, among other restricted groups of people.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Stevens Point Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Lorenzo Miner, 30, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on January 12, 2022, he possessed a Radical Firearms RF-15.
If convicted, Miner faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Stevens Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
Marathon County Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
Kou Yang, 27, Weston, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 30 and September 8, 2021.
If convicted, Yang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard is handling the prosecution.
Marathon County Man Charged with Drug Crimes
Lawrence E. Lavergne, 40, Rothschild, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment alleges that on February 21, 2022, Lavergne distributed methamphetamine and that he possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
If convicted, Lavergne faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the distribution charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years on the charge of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The charges against Lavergne are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Federal Prison Inmate Charged with Possessing Contraband
Matthew S. Kirst, 28, formerly of Muskegon, Michigan, is charged with possessing a prohibited object while an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that on September 28, 2021, Kirst possessed strips containing Buprenophine, a Schedule III controlled substance.
If convicted, Kirst faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Frederick County Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Overcharging the U.S. Postal Service Under His Company’s Contract to Perform Maintenance and Repair Services at Postal Service FacilitiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Liberto, age 47, of New Windsor, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention, and three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his company’s contract to perform repairs at U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities. Judge Bennett also ordered Liberto to pay restitution of $941,629.17 and to pay a fine of $100,000. Judge Bennett further ordered that $100,000 in restitution and the $100,000 fine must be paid by the time Liberto reports to prison on September 10, 2022. The sentence was imposed on June 10, 2022.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
According to his plea agreement, between 2013 and 2018, Joseph Liberto, who was President and 50% co-owner of Sierra Construction LLC, in Frederick, Maryland, contracted with EMCOR-CSC to provide repair services to USPS facilities. EMCOR acted as the clearing house responsible for receiving service calls for needed maintenance and repair work on its customers’ facilities, including the USPS, and assigning such work to service providers, such as Liberto and Sierra. Liberto admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud EMCOR and the USPS by fraudulently concealing Sierra’s use of subcontractors to carry out maintenance work it was assigned to perform, inflating the number of hours and cost of repairs, and providing false documents to EMCOR, in order to overcharge the USPS. Sierra obtained more than $940,000 through these fraudulent overbillings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Contract Fraud Investigation Division of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jefferson M. Gray and Matthew Phelps, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Franklin County Sex Offender Sentenced to 189 Months for Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Shannon Macauley, age 56, of Fort Covington, New York, was sentenced today to 189 months in prison for possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Macauley admitted that he possessed 614 photographs and 109 videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Macauley had previously been convicted in state court of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct of minors, including six counts of sodomy with victims under the age of 15.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Macauley to 15 years of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment. Upon release from prison, Macauley will also be required to register to as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Anderson as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney's offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Four Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl Pills from Southwestern U.S. to ClevelandRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging four men with trafficking fentanyl pills from the Southwestern United States to be distributed in Cleveland.
Named in the indictment are Derrean Wall, 29, and Cortez West, 31, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dayareon Crofton, 22, and Floyd Head, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona. Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In addition, Defendant Wall is charged with three additional counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, in January 2022, postal inspectors in Arizona seized a package suspected of containing narcotics addressed to a location in Cleveland, Ohio. Investigators later learned that the package contained approximately 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills. After investigating the origins of the package, it is alleged that authorities identified Defendants Dayareon Crofton, Floyd Head and Cortez West as participants in a drug trafficking conspiracy that shipped and couriered large quantities of fentanyl pills to Defendant Derrean Wall in Cleveland. Over the course of the next three months, Crofton, Head, and West were arrested, each carrying approximately 2kg of fentanyl pills. All three were arrested while en route to Cleveland, Ohio.
On April 27, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at locations in Warrensville Heights and Cleveland known to be associated with Wall. During the execution of the warrant, court documents state that authorities encountered Wall at the addresses and obtained two loaded pistols, a loaded rifle, heroin, methamphetamine and large quantities of fentanyl.
If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations.
In all cases, sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, will be less than the maximum. All four defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cleveland Metroparks Police Department and the Summit County Drug Unit investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting this case.
Four Big Island Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor today sentenced Dwayne P. Gouveia, 58, of Waimea, Hawaii, to ten years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gouveia was previously sentenced by the Court in 2005 to ten years imprisonment for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Judge Gillmor also sentenced Gouveia’s co-conspirators in methamphetamine trafficking:
- Maximillian Oleksiak, 46, of Keaau, sentenced on November 1, 2021, to 110 months imprisonment;
- Billie Jack Peridot Kawelo, 43, of Keaau, sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 60 months imprisonment; and
- Malia Broome, 45, of Kamuela, sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 48 months imprisonment and a fine of $5,000.
According to information presented to the court, the four defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine on the Island of Hawaii during spring 2020. On May 20, 2020, special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and officers of the Hawaii County Police Department interrupted a distribution of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine by Kawelo and Broome to Oleksiak. The drugs had been supplied by Gouveia to Broome earlier that day. In addition to the methamphetamine, agents and officers seized almost $20,000 in cash and arrested Kawelo and Broome on that date. The cash has since been forfeited to the government. Evidence collected by the government demonstrated that the four defendants had been working together to distribute pound and multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine multiple times per week for approximately two months preceding the May 20, 2020 seizures and arrests. Additionally, in January 2018, agents and officers intercepted a shipment of approximately one pound of methamphetamine intended for Oleksiak in a transaction unrelated to the conspiracy.
“Methamphetamine remains our state’s dominant drug trafficking problem, as this prosecution of four Big Island residents demonstrates,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. “We will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who deal large quantities of methamphetamine across our state.”
“These sentences are the result of HSI’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking in Hawaii,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge John F. Tobon. “We are committed to investigating the individuals and organizations involved in distributing these substances to our communities.”
HSI and the Hawaii County Police Department conducted the investigation that resulted in the prosecution, with assistance from the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan prosecuted the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 63 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Andrew Thompson, age 49, of Fort Wayne, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, on his plea of guilty to the sale of firearms to a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Thompson was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in late 2018 through early 2019, two individuals working with law enforcement, each of whom had previously been convicted of a felony offense, purchased a total of five firearms from Thompson. Thompson admitted he sold or traded the firearms for drugs. At least twenty other firearms originally purchased by Thompson have been recovered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois and other locations from prohibited persons, traffic stops and search warrant executions.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Nokes.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Vice President of Discovery Tours Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
The former Vice President of Discovery Tours Inc., a business located in Mayfield Village, Ohio, that offered educational trips for grade school and high school students, pleaded guilty in federal court today to devising a scheme to take payments for trips and then using the funds for personal expenses.
Joseph A. Cipolletti, 47, of Hudson, Ohio, pleaded guilty to an 18-count indictment that charged him with wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud and false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.
According to court documents, Cipolletti was employed as Vice President of Discovery Tours, Inc., a business that offered educational trips for students to destinations such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Court documents state that as Vice President, Cipolletti managed the organization’s finances, general ledger entries, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Cipolletti also had signature authority on Discovery Tours’ business bank accounts.
Court documents state that from June 2014 to May 2018, Cipolletti, as Vice President, devised a scheme to defraud parents and other student trip purchasers by diverting payments intended for these trips to his own personal use on items such as home renovations and vehicles.
As a result of Cipolletti’s actions and subsequent attempts to cover up the scheme, in May 2018, Discovery Tours abruptly ended operations and filed for bankruptcy. Student trips to Washington, D.C. were canceled for dozens of schools across Ohio and more than 5,000 families lost the money they had previously paid for trip fees.
In addition, on December 10, 2018, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cipolletti knowingly made statements under oath in and in relation to his organization’s bankruptcy status. Cipolletti claimed that he did not owe his business any money when, in fact, and as he then knew, he had embezzled more than $600,000 from his place of business and made false entries in the general ledger.
The total amount of loss will be determined by the Court at sentencing.
Cipolletti is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Summit County, Geauga County, and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Offices for their cooperation with this matter.
Former Savannah resident sentenced to federal prison for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former Savannah resident has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after he admitted sharing images of child sexual abuse.
Luis Carrasquillo, 40, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 121 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Carrasquillo also was ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Luis Carrasquillo shared horrific images of children who were subjected to sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will be relentless in identifying pedophiles and holding them accountable.”
As described in court documents and testimony, agents from Homeland Security Investigations received a cybertip in November 2019 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, alerting them that images of child sexual exploitation were being shared from a Savannah location. Investigators narrowed the origin of the illegal file uploads to Carrasquillo’s Savannah apartment, and he was arrested in August 2020 after he had moved to San Juan. Investigators determined Carrasquillo shared multiple images depicting sexual abuse of children, some of them as young as toddlers.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to Carrasquillo and others like him who delight in the viewing and sharing of these despicable images of children being abused,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its partners are prioritizing the protection of our most vulnerable populations and we will continue to hold these criminals accountable.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland.
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Federal agent charged with sexually groping passengerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer is now in custody for allegedly violating a passenger’s civil rights and obstruction, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Law enforcement arrested Christopher Edwards Dowell, Conroe, today. He is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 1 p.m.
A federal grand jury returned the sealed two-count indictment June 9, which was unsealed today upon his arrest.
The charges allege Dowell deprived a female of her civil rights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. While conducting a secondary inspection, he allegedly touched the victim’s breasts without her consent. He then engaged in obstruction by attempting to cover up the incident with information he submitted in the secondary inspection report, according to the indictment.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for obstruction as well as another year for the violation of civil rights. The obstruction and civil rights charges also carry potential fines of $250,000 and $100,000, respectively.
The Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Suh is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal Jury Convicts Gary Hammonds on Three Counts of Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Following a three-day trial in United States District Court, Greeneville, Tenn., a jury convicted Gary Lynn Hammonds, 53, of Kingsport, Tenn., of knowingly distributing child pornography, knowingly receiving child pornography and knowingly possessing child pornography involving a child less than 12 years of age.
Sentencing is set for October 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Hammonds faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison as to each offense and a five-year minimum mandatory sentence for counts one and two.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Hammonds possessed over 1,000 videos and images containing child pornography on a laptop computer and external hard drives that were found in his home. Hammonds distributed child pornography online using peer-to-peer file sharing software. The investigation was initiated by a Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) investigator who identified an internet user on a peer-to-peer file sharing network who was actively sharing child pornography online. The Kingsport Police Department used the information to obtain a search warrant for the defendant’s residence. Officers executed the search warrant on July 20, 2018, and seized a number of devices.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The Kingsport Police Department, Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations participated in the investigation that resulted in the indictment and subsequent conviction of Hammonds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily M. Swecker and Meghan L. Gomez represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education click on the link for “Publications & Resources.”
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Two Men for Conspiracy to Steal Mail and Possession of a Postal KeyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment today charging two local men with conspiring to steal mail from authorized depositories of the United States Postal Service and unlawfully possessing a postal key that opened official mail receptacles.
According to the indictment, on June 8, 2022, Angel Martin, 23, and Brandon King, 20, engaged in a conspiracy to steal mail from United States Postal Service’s collection boxes on Hunsinger Lane and Billtown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of this conspiracy, Martin and King unlawfully possessed an “arrow key,” which is a special key used to open official mail collection boxes.
Martin and King are both charged with conspiring to steal from an authorized depository for mail matter, post office, letter box, and mail receptacle, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and unlawful possession of a key suited to locks on authorized receptacles for the deposit and delivery of mail matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704. If convicted, each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Both defendants will be scheduled to make their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Jeffersontown Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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