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Thursday 9 June 2022
Omaha Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jason L. Bates, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher to 84 months’ imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 37 months for Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. These sentences are to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release, Bates will serve a 5-year term of supervised release.
On April 6, 2020, Bates was contacted by deputies of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in connection with an ongoing investigation. The sheriff deputies located a Smith & Wesson Body Guard .38 caliber revolver in a backpack on the rear floor board behind the passenger seat. At the time of his possession of the Smith & Wesson revolver on April 6, 2020, Bates was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, specifically, methamphetamine. For the Smith & Wesson to have been found in Nebraska on April 6, 2020, it would have had to been transported in interstate commerce.
On July 18, 2020, officers with the Omaha Police Department located Bates at the Hawthorne Suites in Omaha in room 333. There was an active arrest warrant for Bates. Officers located Bates in his rented room and arrested him on his warrant. In the room, officers located suspected methamphetamine, clear plastic baggies, and two scales. Bates admitted to being a methamphetamine user. Bates also admitted to selling methamphetamine to his friends. The suspected methamphetamine was submitted to the Nebraska Public Service Laboratory and found to be 5.92 grams of methamphetamine (actual).
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case 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.
Oelwein Man Found Guilty of Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine twice was convicted by a jury on June 9, 2022, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Justin Michael Buehler, age 39, from Oelwein, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The verdict was returned after about two hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Buehler was distributing methamphetamine to an employee at his workplace. In January 2019, law enforcement agents coordinated with the employee to set up two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Buehler’s home. The agents surveilled the purchases and the purchases were also audio recorded. Buehler had a prior state conviction for his involvement with methamphetamine in 2007.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Buehler remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Buehler faces a possible maximum sentence of up to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a fine of up to $8,000,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Dorval Norwood and Patrick J. Reinert. The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2006.
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North Georgia man charged with killing postal carrierRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Larry Steven Grogan has been charged by a federal grand jury with the murder of U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Asa Wood, Jr. In connection to the murder, Grogan is also charged with assault on a federal employee using a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm.
“Asa Wood dedicated his life to serving his family and his community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His murder is tragic and heartbreaking. The exceptional joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Banks County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the defendant’s arrest, and we are committed to seeking justice for Mr. Wood and his family.”
“The Postal Inspection Service extends our condolences to the family and close friends of Asa Wood, Jr who served his community as a diligent letter carrier and a beloved member of the U.S. Postal Service family,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors were fortunate to work alongside the Banks County Sheriff’s Office to bring a swift resolution to this case by taking a dangerous criminal off the street. The protection of our postal employees is an integral part of our mission, and we are pleased to see justice being served against this defendant who chose to callously take the life of Mr. Wood.”
“We are tremendously grateful for the remarkable collaboration of agencies that emerged during this tragic incident that led to the capture of the perpetrator,” stated Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed. “Mr. Wood was a beloved husband, father and community member. He is greatly missed by all who had the gift of knowing him.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan and the indictment: On August 7, 2021, Asa Wood, Jr., was delivering mail in Commerce, Georgia. He had been a mail carrier for over 20 years. While he was temporarily stopped near a mailbox, Grogan allegedly shot Wood in the left femur and drove away. Asa Wood died in his postal vehicle at the scene.
Residents on the road where the shooting occurred called 911 and provided information that helped identify Grogan as the shooter. Later that day, Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputies encountered Grogan and attempted to stop him. Grogan then exited his car and allegedly shot at the deputies. Banks County deputies successfully arrested Grogan without injury.
Larry Steven Grogan, 50, of Danielsville, Georgia, has been charged with murder, assault on a federal employee using a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Banks County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County man pleaded guilty today to possession of firearms by a person previously convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2019, an officer with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the residence of David Keith Nutter, 55, of Summersville. Nutter admitted that the officer recovered multiple firearms: a Rexio, SRL, .22-caliber revolver; a Harrington and Richardson 20-gauge shotgun; a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22-caliber rifle; and an Ithaca 20-gauge shotgun. Assorted ammunition was also recovered.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Nutter knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior convictions for domestic violence in Canton, Ohio, Municipal Court on July 14, 1998, and for endangering children and domestic violence on a family or household member in the Stark County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas on August 19, 2002.
Nutter is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department for conducting the investigation.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman and third-year law student intern Eric McLain handled today’s plea hearing.
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. 2:21-cr-142.
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New Orleans Felon Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER MAY, age 30, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 8, 2022 to a total of 106 months imprisonment in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
Specifically, the Court sentenced MAY to forty-six (46) months for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and three counts of possessing a firearm and/or ammunition as a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Each count is to be served concurrently with one another. The Court also sentenced MAY to sixty (60) months imprisonment for one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) to be served consecutively to all other counts.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (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 works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating the matter. Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Strauss was in charge of the prosecution.
New Jersey Business Owner Admits Defrauding over 75 Victims of More Than $2.7 Million in Nationwide Scheme to Sell Pesticides Falsely Billed as Registered with EPA and Approved to Kill CoronavirusRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from his sale of more than $2.7 million worth of various unregistered pesticides to numerous victims based on false representations that these products were registered pesticides with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and on EPA’s “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2” that EPA deemed to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus).
Paul Andrecola, 63, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of knowingly distributing or selling an unregistered pesticide in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), one count of wire fraud and one count of presenting false claims to the United States.
“Andrecola not only cheated dozens of people out of millions of dollars, but also endangered the health of those who relied on his fraudulent virucidal products,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting such crimes to the fullest extent possible.”
“Paul Andrecola’s scheme profited on the fears of the American people during the height of public safety concerns about the transmission of COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Our office is dedicated to protecting public health and prosecuting to the full extent of the law those who commit such egregious criminal acts.”
“Today’s announcement represents the largest pandemic fraud case related to the sale of unregistered pesticides charged nationwide,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in New Jersey. “This case underscores EPA’s commitment with our law enforcement partners to hold violators accountable when they undercut the level playing field used by law abiding companies to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.”
According to documents filed in this case, and statements made in court:
FIFRA provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale and use. The purpose of FIFRA is to ensure that pesticides sold in the United States are safe, effective and bear labeling containing true and accurate information. The EPA has responsibility under FIFRA to regulate the manufacture, labeling and distribution of all pesticides shipped or received in interstate commerce.
Under FIFRA, all pesticides must be registered with the EPA before the pesticide can be sold or distributed, and no person may distribute or sell a pesticide that has not been registered with the EPA. Moreover, before pesticide products can legally make claims that they can kill a particular pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2, the claim must be authorized by EPA based on a review of data. In March 2020, at the beginning of the global pandemic, the EPA created a list of EPA-registered products that it deemed to be effective against SARS-CoV-2, titled “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.” The EPA has continued to update this list since its creation.
Andrecola, who owns and operates three companies based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, manufactured various disinfectant products, including liquids and wipes, under the brand name “GCLEAN.” GCLEAN products were unregistered pesticides under FIFRA and none of the products were on EPA’s “List N of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.” Rather, Andrecola placed another company’s EPA Registration Numbers on his company’s products, and falsely marketed that his products were EPA-approved to kill Coronavirus by creating numerous false documents to support his claims. Specifically, Andrecola, or others at his behest, would provide this falsified documentation to potential customers, falsely representing that various sanitizer and wipe products in the names GCLEAN and/or GC200 were EPA-registered products on EPA’s “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2,” to persuade them to purchase the unregistered pesticide products.
From approximately March 2020 through May 2021, Andrecola used these fraudulent representations to make more than 150 sales of unregistered pesticides for a profit of more than $2.7 million The purchasers of these unregistered pesticides included a police department in Delaware, a fire department in Virginia, a medical clinic in Georgia, a janitorial supply company in New York, a school district in Wisconsin, as well as numerous U.S. government agencies (namely, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Moody Air Force Base, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Forest Service).
The count of illegal sale of an unregistered pesticide carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of one year, and a fine of up to $25,000. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and the count of false claims against the United States is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Both the charges of wire fraud and false claims against the United States are each also subject to fines of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross profits to Andrecola, or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to forfeit more than $2.7 million of the proceeds from the sale of the illegal product and to make full restitution for all losses resulting from his commission of the charged crimes.
The government is represented by Trial Attorneys Adam C. Cullman and Matthew D. Evans of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason P. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from EPA’s Office of the Inspector General, Eastern Region; the Homeland Security Investigations Newark Field Office; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office and the Mount Laurel Police Department.
Navy Sailor Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sexually abusing a child.
According to court documents, Travis James Muckelroy, 27, used a social media platform to develop online relationships with children. On various occasions in April and September of 2021, Muckelroy instructed a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl to send him nude photographs or recordings of themselves engaging in sexual acts. He made these requests even after one of the girls informed Muckelroy she was the victim of rape. In addition to these young girls, Muckelroy used the same social media platform to communicate with at least three other suspected minors. Muckelroy had been an enlisted member of the Navy since 2019.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brenda Nevano, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Frederick Franks, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Heck prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-130.
Mississippi Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Helping Clients File False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Gulfport, Mississippi, man pleaded guilty today to preparing false federal tax returns for clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Orland Reed worked at a Gulfport tax return preparation business. Between 2012 and 2014, Reed prepared tax returns for clients that included false household help income, education credits, dependent information and federal income tax withholdings, in an effort to generate larger refunds from the IRS than the clients were entitled to receive. At times, Reed also listed a different tax preparer even though he prepared the returns himself.
In addition to preparing false tax returns, on at least two occasions Reed diverted for his own use clients’ refunds that were sent by the IRS to the tax preparation business in the form of prepaid debit cards. Reed withdrew some of the funds on the cards before delivering them to the clients.
Reed is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for helping his clients file false returns. 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 Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Browns Valley, Minnesota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on June 6, 2022, by Charles B. Kornmann.
Frank Stewart, age 62, was sentenced to twenty seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Stewart was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021. He pled guilty on December 7, 2021.
In the summer of 2019 Stewart joined an agreement or understanding to distribute methamphetamine, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere. During his involvement, he obtained methamphetamine from a co-conspirator and sold it to other co-conspirators. He personally distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Stewart was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Ismael Y. Toovi, 22, of South Cambridge, Minnesota, was sentenced today to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl mixture by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Toovi will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On June 18, 2021, Toovi was a passenger in an SUV, driven by his co-defendant Payton Sausen, which sideswiped a semi-trailer truck on eastbound I-80 in Lancaster County. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department deputies suspected Sausen was under the influence of a controlled substance after her breath test was negative for alcohol. She denied consent to search but agreed to let a K9 do a sniff. The dog indicated on the SUV which was then searched. Officers found a cardboard box in the backseat area containing a total of more than 4,600 small blue pills with markings consistent with those for oxycodone. Additional pills were found scattered around inside the SUV. Testing at the Nebraska Public Service Laboratory showed the pills contained fentanyl and weighed a total of 480 grams (approximately 17 ounces). Text messages found in Toovi’s cell phone and calls made by Toovi and Sausen from the Lancaster County Jail indicated Toovi and Sausen traveled to California to pick up the pills which Toovi intended to sell in Minnesota.
Sausen pleaded guilty to the same charge in April and is scheduled for sentencing on July 15, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mingo County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mingo County woman pleaded guilty today to theft of government benefits and making materially false statements to federal agents.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Diana Cisco, 69, of Delbarton, admitted that she received Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits on behalf of a deceased relative. Cisco knew that she was not entitled to receive these federal benefits. From June 2016 to April 2020, Cisco received $46,356 in federal benefits that she was not entitled to receive and converted those funds to her own use. Cisco further admitted that she did not have a legal right to these Social Security benefits once her relative passed away and that she knew her conduct in taking those benefits was wrong.
Cisco also admitted to providing false information to Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) special agents on March 4, 2022. Cisco initially denied who she was, falsely claiming to be her sister, and further informed the agents that Diane Cisco would be in Columbus, Ohio for at least a month. The federal agents were able to uncover the falsehood through checking vehicle registration records and photographs of Cisco and obtaining statements from individuals who had recently seen Cisco. Confronted again, Cisco admitted that she was not telling the agents the truth and that she was, in fact, Diana Cisco.
Cisco is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $750,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes 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. 2:22-cr-88.
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Mexican National Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography by Coercing Minor to Film HerselfRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Inglewood resident has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for the production of child pornography of a teenage girl whom he had previously sexually molested for years, the Justice Department announced today.
Jorge Coronado Gonzalez, 56, a Mexican national who was residing in Mexico during the criminal conduct, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge Dolly Gee.
After hearing an emotional statement from the victim, Judge Gee said the conduct in this case was “reprehensible,” “cruel,” and “depraved.”
Coronado Gonzalez pleaded guilty on January 11 to producing child pornography, admitting that in January 2020 he coerced and persuaded the then-16-year-old victim to film sexually explicit videos herself. Coronado Gonzalez at the time was in Mexico, where he had moved the year before.
According to court documents, including a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors, the victim in this case was the daughter of a close friend, and Coronado Gonzalez sexually assaulted her under threats of violence to her and her mother for approximately six years. After Coronado Gonzalez relocated to an unknown location in Mexico, he continued to exploit the victim with demands that she send him sexualized photos and videos every day – demands that were backed with threats to kill relatives who also resided in Mexico.
Coronado Gonzalez was arrested in March 2020 at Los Angeles International Airport when he returned to the United States to continue his sexual assaults on the victim. Law enforcement was alerted to the longtime molestation after Coronado Gonzalez posted one of the child pornography images to a social media platform, which led to the victim’s mother learning of the illicit conduct.
Once he completes his prison sentence, Coronado Gonzalez will remain on supervised release for the rest of his life.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Catharine A. Richmond of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Being Part of Cross Country Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Mexican citizen living in Tucson, AZ, pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Ramon S. Araiza-Vega, 29, formerly of Tucson, AZ, pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging him, and 26 other codefendants, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Government advised the Court that the prosecution of Araiza-Vega arose out of a two-year investigation into a drug trafficking organization whose members distributed kilograms of cocaine, sourced from Mexico, throughout the United States (in California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere). The Court was advised that co-conspirators obtained kilograms of cocaine in Los Angeles, California, and sent them to the Western District of Pennsylvania (and elsewhere) through the United States Postal Service. In connection with his guilty plea, Araiza-Vega admitted that he transported kilograms of cocaine from Arizona to Los Angeles, CA, which were intended for redistribution. On May 5, 2020, through court authorized Title III wiretaps, federal agents surveilled Araiza-Vega and codefendant Manuel Silvestre in Los Angeles, CA, believing they were going to conduct a drug transaction; a subsequent search by agents led to the seizure of 26 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $185,000 in U.S. currency.
As part his plea, Araiza-Vega admitted that the quantity of cocaine attributable to him, through his conduct and through the conduct of co-conspirators that was reasonably foreseeable to him, was at least 15 kilograms but less than 50 kilograms. The Court was advised that agents seized in excess of 100 kilograms of cocaine during its two-year investigation into the drug trafficking organization, of which Araiza-Vega admitted to being a member.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2022. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (in Pittsburgh, PA) and the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General led the multi-agency investigation that included members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (in Los Angeles, CA; in Tucson, AZ; in New York, NY; in Nashville, TN; at the Special Operations Division; and in Mexico); the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; the Allegheny County Police Department; the New Castle Police Department; the Monessen Police Department; and the Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Massachusetts Contractor Sentenced for $1.8 Million Payroll Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ipswich man who owned and operated numerous Massachusetts businesses was sentenced yesterday for manipulating his payroll to evade over $1.8 million in taxes.
George Vasiliades, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to one year of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Vasiliades was also ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution and a $200,000 fine. The government recommended a sentence of 30 months in prison.
In December 2021, Vasiliades pleaded guilty to 17 counts of failure to collect, account for and pay over federal employment taxes; 17 counts of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns; and one count of making a false statement to the Social Security Administration.
Vasiliades operated several businesses, including Alpine Property Services, Boston Central Management, Delta Labor Company, Olympic Painting & Roofing and Turnpike General Contracting. Between 2008 and 2013, Vasiliades concealed the true size of his companies’ payroll from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to reduce the cost of doing business and thereby increase his profits. Among other methods, Vasiliades directed certain employees to create shell corporations and then paid employees through these corporations as if they were independent contractors. Vasiliades also paid some employees from bank accounts that were not connected to his corporate payroll reporting software and, as a result, would not be reported as wages to the IRS. In addition, Vasiliades paid part of an employee’s hourly wages or salary in nontaxable, and false, expense reimbursements, such as truck or fuel reimbursements. In total, Vasiliades’ scheme resulted in more than $1.8 million in tax losses.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Criminal Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud; and Carol S. Hamilton, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Man Convicted for $4.1 Million COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Detroit convicted a Michigan man today for a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to obtain more than $4.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Johnny Ho, 41, of Novi, engaged in a conspiracy to submit falsified PPP and EIDL loan applications in order to obtain COVID-19 relief funds that he was not entitled to receive. The evidence showed that Ho, who owned Diva Nails & Spa III LLC, located in Northville, submitted inflated payroll information, and otherwise falsified loan application information. Ho personally submitted two fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications seeking nearly $350,000 in funds that were intended to help small businesses and their employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, Ho and his co-conspirators submitted 29 different fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of 16 businesses totaling over $4.1 million.
Ho was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 27 and faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud counts, and up to 10 years in prison on the money laundering counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson of the SBA-Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the SBA-OIG.
Trial Attorney Patrick J. Suter of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Particka for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Madison Man Charged with Drug & Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A Madison, Wisconsin man is charged with drug and gun crimes in an indictment returned on May 11, 2022, by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison. The charges are announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The indictment charges Michael S. Murphy, 47, with two counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl, one count of distributing heroin, possessing heroin and fentanyl and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment alleges that Murphy distributed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl on October 5 and 13, 2021, distributed heroin on November 30, 2021, and possessed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl as well as crack cocaine for distribution on December 5, 2021. The indictment further alleges that on December 5, 2021, Murphy possessed two 9mm handguns and a .45 caliber handgun, and 9mm, .45 caliber and .380 ammunition, and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment was unsealed following Murphy’s arrest on June 1 in Madison by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued at the time the indictment was returned. Murphy made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison on June 1 and remains in federal custody. A date has not been set for his next court appearance.
If convicted, Murphy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the drug charges, a maximum of 10 years on the charge of being a felon in possession of firearms. The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime has a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and federal law requires that any penalty imposed for this charge be served consecutive to any sentence imposed.
The charges against Murphy are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Macon Man Sentenced as Part of ATF’s Operation United FrontRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A third individual who pleaded guilty to a federal charge resulting from Operation United Front, an ongoing ATF-led investigation into illegal gun possession and drug distribution in Middle Georgia utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), was sentenced to prison.
Jasper Blackshear, 57, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 8 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. Co-defendant Chadrick Purnell, 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison on May 3 after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additionally, co-defendant Jermaine White, 33, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 37 months imprisonment on May 4 after he pleaded guilty to two counts use of a communication facility. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Addressing violent crime in Middle Georgia means utilizing every asset at our disposal, including high-level ballistics technology like ATF’s NIBIN, ” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Nothing is more important than our collective work with our law enforcement and community partners to reduce violent crime and hold those responsible accountable for their crimes.”
“Utilizing technology is a key part of ATF’s strategy to identify and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “The combination of NIBIN and good police work has resulted in the arrest and conviction of these defendants.”
“This conviction shows how gun violators and drug violators frequently run together. Therefore, operations like United Front are successful in ridding our streets of individuals who harm our communities by peddling guns and drugs. Our neighborhoods are made safer when these criminals are brought to justice,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to court documents, law enforcement used data compiled from NIBIN in order to identify locations where shell casings were collected from shooting events in Macon. These shooting events were then overlayed on a map, and teams of confidential informants and undercover agents investigated criminal activity in the areas with high density shootings. From May to July 2021, Purnell, Blackshear and White were under investigation. During this time, undercover agents and confidential informants purchased nine firearms and crack cocaine from Purnell, who is a convicted felon. The firearms included two semi-automatic rifles and a shotgun with an obliterated serial number. In May 2021, undercover agents and confidential informants purchased cocaine from Blackshear four times, one transaction included co-defendant Purnell, and a separate transaction included co-defendant White. Blackshear and White have prior felony convictions. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision and the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the cases.
Londonderry Man Sentenced for Using Residence for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Timothy J. (“TJ”) Slade, 30, of Londonderry, Vermont was sentenced to time served by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in U.S. District Court in Rutland. Slade previously pleaded guilty to the felony charge of unlawfully maintaining his Londonderry residence for drug distribution from September 2016 through July 2017. Chief Judge Crawford also sentenced Slade to three years of supervised release.
The charge against Slade related to an investigation initiated by the Vermont State Police after Keith Johnson died following a heroin overdose in Londonderry in July 2017. The Court accepted the government’s time served recommendation, which was based in part on the age of the offense, the death of a key witness, and Slade’s own drug addiction and recovery in the time since the tragic overdose. According to court records, while there was some conflicting evidence, the government alleged that Slade likely sold heroin to Johnson the evening before his death. The government emphasized that the defendant’s good conduct since July 2017 does not remedy the horrific consequences of opiate trafficking on Vermont communities.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Vermont State Police investigators on this case and stated, “Overdose deaths highlight the risks and damage associated with opiate use and distribution, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to take the prosecution of overdose cases seriously.”
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Slade is represented by Michael Desautels, Esq. of the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Burlington.
Logan County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rodney Alexander Minter, 62, of Logan, admitted that he sold a total of approximately 46 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover informant on five separate occasions in 2020 and 2021. Minter further admitted that on August 9, 2021, he possessed with the intent to distribute 104 grams of methamphetamine and 8 grams of fentanyl.
Co-defendant John Eric Dickson, 59, of St. Albans, was previously sentenced to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. Dickson admitted that he supplied Minter with an ounce of methamphetamine on January 5, 2021, to sell to another individual.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-169.
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Lodi Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking and Possession of Ammunition as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Marcello Marlo Rivera, 48, of Lodi, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2022, a search was conducted at Rivera’s Lodi residence. Agents found several large bags with methamphetamine residue and a trail of residue leading to the toilet and on the toilet seat. They also found drug packaging materials, a digital scale with similar residue, thousands of dollars of cash, and a magazine containing 17 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Rivera is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including for sexual assault and domestic violence.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lodi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rivera faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the drug charge and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the ammunition charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Roger Alan Vaughn, 46, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 15 years’ imprisonment following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), cocaine and marijuana after a prior conviction for a serious felony drug offense, by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Vaughn also received a sentence of 90 months for felon in possession of a firearm. That sentence was ordered to be served concurrent to the sentence for the drug offense. Following his release from prison, Vaughn will serve concurrent supervised release terms of 10 years on the drug offense and three years on the gun charge. There is no parole in the federal system.
On November 1, 2020, a search warrant was executed at Vaughn’s Lincoln residence. During the search, investigators found at least 150 grams (over five ounces) of methamphetamine actual, just under one ounce of cocaine and four pounds of marijuana. They also found a total of nine firearms; consisting of four shotguns, two rifles and three pistols.
In 2004, Vaughn was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, a serious drug felony offense, in the District of Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Las Vegas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Money Laundering CrimesRead the Press Release
A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and money laundering. On March 28, he pleaded guilty to a separate indictment charging him with filing false tax returns with the IRS on behalf of clients, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and impersonating an FBI agent.
According to court documents, King Isaac Umoren, 41, of Las Vegas, owned and operated Universal Tax Services (UTS), a tax preparation business. From 2012 through 2016, Umoren prepared and filed with the IRS tax returns for clients that included false deductions and fictitious businesses, in an effort to generate larger refunds than the clients were entitled to receive. At times, Umoren used the names and IRS preparer tax identification numbers of other UTS employees without their knowledge or consent, making it seem as if they, not he, had prepared the false returns. On Feb. 7, 2016, Umoren posed as an FBI agent, wearing a fake badge and tactical gear, and drove to a client’s house with police lights attached to his vehicle to demand payment of a tax preparation fee. Umoren required his clients to use a refund anticipation check program, which he utilized at times to secretly take fees out of clients’ tax refunds without their knowledge.
In May 2016, Umoren attempted to sell UTS. To induce potential buyers to purchase the company at an inflated price, he provided fraudulent documents — including forged bank statements, fabricated return preparation fee reports, false personal tax returns and other tax forms that had never actually been filed with the IRS — as well as the stolen tax and personal identifying information of approximately 12,000 taxpayers who were not UTS clients. Eventually, Umoren succeeded in inducing a victim to purchase UTS and received more than $3.8 million in the sale. Umoren used the sale proceeds to purchase land in Henderson, Nevada, and an automobile.
Umoren is scheduled to be sentenced on all charges on Nov. 2. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count of helping file a false tax return for others, three years in prison for impersonating a federal agent, 10 years in prison for each money laundering count, 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud counts, and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least two years in prison based on the aggravated identity theft counts. 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 Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Patrick Burns of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Las Vegas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Money Laundering CrimesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and money laundering. On March 28, he pleaded guilty to a separate indictment charging him with filing false tax returns with the IRS on behalf of clients, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and impersonating an FBI agent.
According to court documents, King Isaac Umoren, 41, of Las Vegas, owned and operated Universal Tax Services (UTS), a tax preparation business. From 2012 through 2016, Umoren prepared and filed with the IRS tax returns for clients that included false deductions and fictitious businesses, in an effort to generate larger refunds than the clients were entitled to receive. At times, Umoren used the names and IRS preparer tax identification numbers of other UTS employees without their knowledge or consent, making it seem as if they, not he, had prepared the false returns. On Feb. 7, 2016, Umoren posed as an FBI agent, wearing a fake badge and tactical gear, and drove to a client’s house with police lights attached to his vehicle to demand payment of a tax preparation fee. Umoren required his clients to use a refund anticipation check program, which he utilized at times to secretly take fees out of clients’ tax refunds without their knowledge.
In May 2016, Umoren attempted to sell UTS. To induce potential buyers to purchase the company at an inflated price, he provided fraudulent documents — including forged bank statements, fabricated return preparation fee reports, false personal tax returns and other tax forms that had never actually been filed with the IRS — as well as the stolen tax and personal identifying information of approximately 12,000 taxpayers who were not UTS clients. Eventually, Umoren succeeded in inducing a victim to purchase UTS and received more than $3.8 million in the sale. Umoren used the sale proceeds to purchase land in Henderson, Nevada, and an automobile.
Umoren is scheduled to be sentenced on all charges on Nov. 2. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count of helping file a false tax return for others, three years in prison for impersonating a federal agent, 10 years in prison for each money laundering count, 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud counts, and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least two years in prison based on the aggravated identity theft counts. 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 Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Patrick Burns of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
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La Crosse Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Corey J. Stern, 36, La Crosse, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 90 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Stern pleaded guilty to this charge on March 3, 2022.
On August 10, 2020, La Crosse Police Department (LCPD) officers purchased 17.6 grams of methamphetamine and 4.4 grams of heroin from Stern through a confidential informant (CI) in La Crosse. Two days later, LCPD officers purchased 43.4 grams of methamphetamine from Stern through a CI in La Crosse. Later that day, Stern was arrested. He had $4,803 in cash on his person that included prerecorded buy money from the controlled buys on August 10 and 12.
Stern’s hotel room subsequently was searched pursuant to a warrant, and officers found small quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and LSD, as well as scales and packaging supplies. Stern was interviewed by law enforcement. He admitted to distributing pounds of methamphetamine for several months. He estimated making $2,000 to $,4000 per week from drug sales.
Stern was charged in state court and remained in custody until November 25, 2020, when he was released from custody on a signature bond.
On January 13, 2021, LCPD officers purchased 32.6 grams of methamphetamine from Stern through a CI in La Crosse.
On June 3, 2021, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop for speeding on a vehicle in which Stern was a passenger. The vehicle was searched after a K-9 alerted to the odor of an illegal drug. In a bag on the front passenger floorboard where Stern had been seated, officers found a loaded Glock 45 9mm handgun, three loaded Glock 9mm magazines, and a bag of methamphetamine. A safe in the trunk, opened by a key found in Stern’s wallet, contained additional bags of methamphetamine. A total of 176.1 grams of methamphetamine was located between the bag and safe.
At sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted that Stern continued to sell methamphetamine even after being arrested and released on bond for methamphetamine trafficking charges. He noted that Stern’s conduct escalated in severity over the course of the case itself. Judge Conley explained that Stern continues to be a danger to the community because of his repeated pattern of criminality.
The charge against Stern was the result of an investigation conducted by the Campbell, La Crosse, and Mauston Police Departments, Juneau County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Juneau and La Crosse County District Attorney’s Offices also provided assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Kenton County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Armed Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.- An Erlanger, Ky., man, Brent Crawford, 39, was sentenced to 180 months in prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Crawford’s guilty plea, from February 1, 2020 to January 20, 2021, he conspired with others to distribute 100 kilograms of marijuana. Law enforcement located over 42 kilograms of marijuana in Crawford’s residence, along with more than $33,000, assorted items of jewelry, and a loaded assault rifle. Crawford admitted that he possessed the rifle to protect the marijuana and the proceeds from his drug trafficking.
Crawford pleaded guilty in February 2022.
Under federal law, Crawford is required to serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. After his release, he will be under supervised release for eight years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Director Christopher Conners, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentencing.
FBI and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Bracke represented the United States.
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Justice Department Announces Investigation of the Louisiana State PoliceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP). This civil investigation will assess whether LSP uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color. The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the Department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The Department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation is separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers.
Prior to the announcement, Department officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana will jointly conduct this investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 353-0684. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: /media/872116/dl?inline.
Justice Department Announces Investigation of the Louisiana State PoliceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that is has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP). This civil investigation will assess whether LSP uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color. The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”
"We cannot ignore any allegation of a constitutional violation much less, one alleging a pattern or pratice of unconstitutional policing," stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. "No one should be deprived of the protections of our federal and state constitutions. We are all equal under the law and entitled to just, efficient, consistent, and constitutional law enforcement."
Middle District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Today, this administration will give its best effort into looking into the patterns and practices of the Louisiana State Police and hope to renew faith in the system and provide justice for all.”
“In times of attempting to resolve controversy and conflict, the parties involved must get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Today, the US Department of Justice has pledged to be a conduit between the Louisiana State Police and community stakeholders, so that open lines of communication can start flowing and any concerns will not fall on deaf ears,” stated Western District U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown.
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation is separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers.
Prior to the announcement, department officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana will jointly conduct this investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 353-0684. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: /media/872116/dl?inline.
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Justice Department Announces Investigation of Louisiana State PoliceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that is has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP). This civil investigation will assess whether LSP uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color. The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the Department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The Department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Today, this administration will give its best effort into looking into the patterns and practices of the Louisiana State Police and hope to renew faith in the system and provide justice for all.”
“We cannot ignore any allegation of a constitutional violation much less, one alleging a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing,” stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. “No one should be deprived of the protections of our federal and state constitutions. We are all equal under the law and entitled to just, efficient, consistent, and constitutional law enforcement.”
U.S. Attorney Brown stated, “In times of attempting to resolve controversy and conflict, the parties involved must get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Today, the US Department of Justice has pledged to be a conduit between the Louisiana State Police and community stakeholders, so that open lines of communication can start flowing and any concerns will not fall on deaf ears.”
The investigation is separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers.
Prior to the announcement, Department officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana will jointly conduct this investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 353-0684. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
Jamaican Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Immigration ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Jamaican national pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien, and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Edwin Hugh Douglas, 53, of Kingston, Jamaica, admitted that he was found in a Parkersburg municipal building by ICE agents on December 3, 2021. ICE agents had identified Douglas in the course of an investigation. ICE agents spoke to Douglas, who admitted that he is a citizen of Jamaica and had been previously removed from the United States. Douglas had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States and was arrested.
Fingerprints matched Douglas to a November 9, 2009, administrative removal from the United States to Jamaica. Douglas was also convicted on June 17, 2004, of felony unlawful assault in Wood County Circuit Court. Douglas never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States, nor did he seek to reenter through other legal means.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing, sentencing Douglas to the time he has served in custody since his arrest before remanding him to ICE custody. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-264.
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Ithaca Man Sentenced for Gun and Drug FeloniesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William L. Marshall, age 40, of Ithaca, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 33-months in federal prison in connection with his previous plea of guilty to possessing a loaded semiautomatic handgun as a prior convicted felon, and possessing marihuana with intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Acting Chief of Police John Joly, City of Ithaca Police Department. Marshall was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from federal prison.
In addition to his prison sentence, Marshall was ordered to forfeit $34,064.00 in U.S. currency as drug proceeds that were seized by the Ithaca Police Department during the execution of a search warrant at his Ithaca residence on August 18, 2021. Also seized was a Lorcin .380 semiautomatic pistol loaded with seven live rounds. The handgun was reported stolen from Norfolk, Virginia in 2014. Marshall is a prior convicted felon, having been found guilty after trial in 2002 of the New York State felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree in Tompkins County Court, for which he was sentenced to serve eight (8) years in prison.
This case was investigated by City of Ithaca Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department, and was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (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.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Escape from Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal inmate pled guilty on Thursday to attempting to escape from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina (“FCI Butner”).
According to court documents, Charles Asher, 62, an inmate at FCI Butner at the time of the offense, was found hiding in the bushes on the compound at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 14, 2020, near the exit door of the institution. At the time he was discovered, Asher was required per FCI Butner orders and policy to be in his assigned housing unit. Asher was found with multiple unauthorized items, including: a homemade rope approximately 14 feet in length, grey gloves, a blue mattress cover, and a homemade cardboard replica handgun wrapped with black electrical tape.
Asher pled guilt to the sole count of attempting to escape prison pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 751(a) and faces a maximum penalty of up to five additional years ears in prison when sentenced in the September 2022 term of court.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is investigating the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus is 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. 5:21-CR-00120-BO.
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Holmen Felon Sentenced to 8 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine & Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Benjamin T. Devine, 35, Holmen, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. This prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Devine pleaded guilty to this charge on March 8, 2022.
On August 5, 2021, La Crosse Police Department (LCPD) officers purchased 53.6 grams of methamphetamine from Devine through a confidential informant (CI) in Onalaska, Wisconsin.
On August 16, 2021, LCPD arranged the purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine and a .22 caliber handgun from Devine through a CI. When the CI met with Devine, he did not have the handgun with him, so Devine sold a larger quantity of methamphetamine instead, totaling 55.2 grams. Later that day, LCPD officers executed multiple search warrants connected to Devine. Devine’s vehicle was pulled over and searched. He had $2,105 in cash in his pocket which included prerecorded buy money from the controlled buy earlier that day. In Devine’s vehicle, officers found a total of 397.7 grams of methamphetamine and $5,152 in cash.
At Devine’s residence in Holmen, officers found a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun, a drug ledger, and a small quantity of methamphetamine. Officers found two boxes of ammunition at a storage locker maintained by Devine. Devine’s DNA was identified on the Phoenix Arms handgun.
Devine was interviewed by LCPD officers later that day. He admitted to selling methamphetamine for years. He typically purchased pounds of methamphetamine. Devine knew he was a convicted felon and could not legally possess a firearm.
At the time of these events, Devine was on state supervision for methamphetamine trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His state supervision was revoked and he is currently serving a sentence of 1 year, 5 months, and 25 days in state prison. Judge Conley ordered this federal sentence to run concurrently with the remainder of Devine’s state prison sentence.
At sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted that Devine returned to drug dealing soon after being released from state prison for a similar offense. Judge Conley also noted Devine’s prior history of possessing weapons.
The charges against Devine were the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse, Onalaska, and Prairie du Chien Police Departments, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Henderson Man Sentenced to Six Years After Search Warrant Uncovers Multiple Firearms, Heroin, and CocaineRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Jamey Owens, 51, of Henderson, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Patterson pled guilty to the charges on October 21, 2021.
According to court records and statements made during hearings, on January 13, 2019, Henderson Police Department, through a confidential informant, conducted a controlled buy of cocaine from Owens at his residence on State Street in Henderson. Based on the controlled buy, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence, which they executed on January 15, 2019.
Mr. Owens was present with his girlfriend. Near a couch where Owens had been sleeping, officers found two handguns. In his bedroom, they found a third pistol, and in a second bedroom they recovered a shotgun. Officers found drugs stashed throughout the house, including cocaine, heroin, suspected ecstasy tablets, and marijuana. They also found four digital scales; ink stamps labeled with “BLACK CEASAR” and green glassine bags, both commonly used to package heroin; two glass Pyrex dishes with a white powdery substance; and over $3000 in cash.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Henderson Police Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-0026-M.
Henderson Drug Dealer Sentenced as Career Offender in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Henderson man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On March 16, 2022, Joseph Jones, Jr., also known as “Woo,” pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in May 2020, Jones, 24, was identified as a heroin dealer in Henderson. The Henderson Police Department (HPD) utilized a confidential informant to make controlled purchases of heroin from Jones. On August 26, 2020, HPD responded to a call for service regarding a heroin overdose victim, who was stabilized with medical assistance. The victim reportedly purchased the heroin from Jones. The same day, HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Jones and found him to be in possession of heroin. A search warrant was executed at his residence where more than 1000 doses of heroin and more than 11 grams of marijuana were found, along with two loaded firearms including a Glock 21 .45 caliber pistol and a Diamondback AM2 9mm pistol. Some of the heroin was bound into “bricks” comprising 50 dosage units and carried stamps such as “Devil’s Reject,” Maestro,” “Shell,” “Uranas,” “Takeback,” and “Natural Flavor.”
Jones has a lengthy criminal history, including possession with intent manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and conspiracy to sell or deliver heroin.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00307-BO.
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Hartford Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Steven Anthony Jackson, a 21-year-old from Hartford, Alabama, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Following his 30-year prison sentence, Jackson will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life and will be required to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other federal court documents, Jackson specifically admitted that, in 2019, he enticed a 12-year-old girl to send nude photos to him via computer or smartphone. Jackson pleaded guilty to the charge on April 18, 2022.
This case was investigated by FBI offices in Mobile, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Columbus, Ohio, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Geneva County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; and the Knox County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Great Falls Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman who admitted to embezzling over $600,000 from a local construction company was sentenced today to two and a half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay $611,665.22 in restitution. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing.
Nicole Ann Lopez, 37, previously pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2013, M&D Construction hired Lopez as a bookkeeper/accountant for the business. As part of her duties, Lopez was given access to M&D’s bank account and was given administrator permission over M&D’s Quick Books account.
Between January 2017 and January 2020, defendant Lopez charged over $600,000 on her personal credit card accounts. Her expenses focused mostly on consumer shopping and travel, and included over $80,000 on purchases from Amazon, over $115,000 on general retail purchases, over $46,000 on clothing, over $57,000 on travel, over $34,000 on restaurants, over $24,000 on beauty products, over $12,000 on furniture, and over $7,000 on plastic surgery. None of these purchases was related to M&D’s business operations.
To pay for her personal credit card expenses, Lopez embarked on a scheme to embezzle money from M&D by using her access to M&D’s bank account to direct payments from the M&D business account to her personal credit accounts without the knowledge of or authorization from M&D’s owners. Between January 2017 and January 2020, Lopez directed 72 payments from M&D to her personal credit accounts and embezzled approximately $632,362.65.
Lopez’s embezzlement scheme was discovered when she purchased a small boutique clothing store in downtown Great Falls called Sora & Co., and resigned her position at M&D. To replace her, M&D hired a new accounting firm and a review of M&D’s books determined that over $600,000 was missing. M&D’s accounting firm contacted their bank and learned that the missing funds were paid directly to Lopez’s credit card accounts
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Goulding Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Taking Eagles without a Permit and Possessing a Firearm after being Convicted of a FelonyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Michael Earl Yellow, 56, of Goulding, Utah was sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison by a U.S. District Court Judge for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense. Yellow was also ordered to forfeit a .22 caliber rifle and rifle scope, ammunition, four golden eagle carcasses, and other golden and bald eagle remains and feathers, which were found on the property where he lived. The court noted that Yellow killed approximately 80 eagles and hawks, and did so for pecuniary gain.
According to court documents, Yellow pleaded guilty to the unauthorized taking of bald or golden eagles and to one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Yellow admitted that between August of 2014 and August of 2015, he killed approximately 10 bald or golden eagles knowing that taking or possessing bald or golden eagles or their parts without a permit was unlawful, and that he did not have a valid permit to take or posses bald or golden eagles as required by law.
Under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, at 16 U.S.C. § 668(a), it is illegal to take or possess bald or golden eagles, or their parts, dead or alive, without a permit. In addition, under 18 U.S.C.§ 922(g)(1), it is illegal to possess a firearm after being convicted of a felony.
Assistant United States Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case and officers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation.
Garrian King Charged with Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Garrian King was arrested yesterday in Chattanooga by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and officers with the Chattanooga Police Department for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). This arrest is in connection with the shootings that occurred on June 5, 2022, in Chattanooga.
An initial appearance was held yesterday, in the United States District Court in Chattanooga, before the Honorable Christopher H. Steger, United States Magistrate Judge. Mr. King was detained without bond.
The details of the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by King on June 6, 2022, are outlined in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit, which are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with all of its law enforcement partners to protect our community through the vigorous enforcement of federal criminal gun laws,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Yesterday’s charge is the result of the tireless, around-the-clock work by, and collaboration among, the Chattanooga Police Department, the ATF, and the FBI, which continues unabated.”
“Immediate deployment of all resources typically yields the best results. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners in order to bring those responsible to justice and secure the safety and freedom of all Chattanoogans,” said Chattanooga Police Department Chief Celeste Murphy.
“The ATF takes pride in working with our local, state, and federal partners to bring justice to individuals who illegally possess firearms and willingly cause harm in the communities that we live in. These individuals put the lives of everyday citizens at risk, and we will work diligently to mitigate these senseless acts of terror,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
“The FBI values the partnership we have with the Chattanooga Police Department, ATF, and the United States Attorney's Office to target offenders who illegally possess firearms in Chattanooga. Through this ongoing collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement, we will continue to focus our resources on the most violent and egregious offenders endangering our communities, “said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico.
This prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation by the Chattanooga Police Department, the ATF, and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office extends its appreciation to the Chattanooga Mayor’s Office for its support of collaboration among local and federal law enforcement to achieve the mutual goal of addressing violent crime in the City of Chattanooga.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Poole will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that King has only been charged and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Four Former Prison Officials Sentenced for Smuggling Contraband to Federal InmatesRead the Press Release
Four former prison officials have been sentenced to prison for smuggling drugs and other contraband into Leavenworth Detention Center (Leavenworth), a privately run, maximum-security federal prison in Kansas.
Janna Grier, 36, of Horton, Kansas, was sentenced to two years in prison today for conspiracy to solicit bribes and provide contraband to inmates of a federal prison. According to court documents, Grier used her position as a correctional officer at Leavenworth to smuggle contraband into the prison and also solicited other prison officials to use their positions to smuggle contraband into Leavenworth.
Jeane Arnette, 61, of Leavenworth, was sentenced to six months in prison today for conspiracy to provide contraband to inmates of a federal prison. According to court documents, Arnette used her position as a nurse at Leavenworth to smuggle contraband — including cell phones — into the prison.
Jacqueline Sifuentes, 26, of Laredo, Texas, and Cheyonte Harris, 29, of Raytown, Missouri, each used their position as a correctional officer at Leavenworth to smuggle contraband — including methamphetamine, marijuana, and tobacco — into the prison in exchange for bribes from inmates and their associates. Sifuentes was recently sentenced to 14 months in prison, and Harris was recently sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge William J. Hannah of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Chicago Field Office, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Charles A. Dayoub of the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and DOJ-OIG investigated the cases.
Trial Attorneys Rebecca M. Schuman, Jacob R. Steiner, and Lauren Castaldi of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the cases.
The cases are part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat prison corruption. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section recently obtained convictions against two other former Leavenworth Detention Center correctional officers for similar conduct. See United States v. Willie Golden, Case No. 2:21-cr-20061 (D. Kan.); and United States v. Angelica Grant, Case No. 2:22-cr-20010 (D. Kan.). Separately, the Public Integrity Section has obtained convictions against four former North Carolina prison officials who smuggled contraband, including narcotics, into a state facility in exchange for bribes. See United States v. Ollie Rose, III, Case No. 4:20-CR-96 (E.D.N.C.); United States v. Kenneth Farr, Case No. 4:21-CR-9 (E.D.N.C.); United States v. Warren Reed, Case No. 4:21-CR-36 (E.D.N.C.); and United States v. Jeremy Chambers, Case No. 4:21-CR-38 (E.D.N.C.).
Fort Thompson Man Indicted for Assault, Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison Ramsdell announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.
Roland Hawk, Jr., age 20, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 6, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 28, 2021, in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, Hawk assaulted a victim with a pistol as the victim was sleeping. The Indictment further alleges that the serial number on the pistol had been removed.
The charges are merely accusations and Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Crow Creek Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date been set for July 26, 2022.
Fort Pierce Rap Artist Lil Polo Da Don Sentenced to Prison for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Ronell Bernard Bryant III, 28, of Fort Pierce, Florida was sentenced Monday to 37 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, after having been convicted at trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the court record, including evidence presented at trial, on July 9, 2020, law enforcement officers located a model FN Five-seveN pistol in the trunk of a car being driven by Bryant. The pistol was surrounded by other property belonging to Bryant. Agents located the gun case and ammunition for the pistol in the bedroom of the house where Bryant had parked. Agents also later located images depicting Bryant in possession of the same FN Five-seveN pistol. Bryant is a South Florida rap artist who goes by the stage name Lil Polo Da Don.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ken J. Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, announced the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Funk and Christopher Hudock prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William T. Zloch is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
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-14017.
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Former Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts CEO Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export United States Defense Articles including to the People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
For Further Information, Contact:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kareem A. Salem (619) 546-8904 and John Parmley (619) 546-7957SAN DIEGO – Joe Sery, former owner and chief executive officer of Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo to conspiring to commit offenses against the United States, including the unlawful exportation of defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List from the United States to the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of India, and elsewhere, without first obtaining a valid license or approval for such export from the U.S. Department of State, in violation of federal export laws pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
According to his plea agreement, Sery admitted that, while the CEO of Tungsten Heavy Parts and Powder, he was educated and trained on the requirements of U.S. export control laws, which prohibit the unlicensed export of items and data contained on the U.S. Munitions List. Sery entered into contracts with various defense contractors related to munitions and obtained ITAR-controlled technical data from them. Thereafter, knowing it was unlawful, he provided this information to a foreign national, his brother, who took the technical data to the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of India, and elsewhere at Sery’s direction. Sery also permitted his brother full access to THPP’s file system while overseas, knowing that it contained export-controlled technical data.
“As CEO of a company with multiple defense contracts, Sery was entrusted with controlled information that he knew he had to protect, yet he completely disregarded security regulations and allowed sensitive data to be sent to China, India and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “He is now being held accountable.” Grossman commended the prosecutors and Homeland Security Investigations and Defense Criminal Investigative Service agents who diligently pursued this case.
“This individual willfully violated the law that prevents controlled technical data from falling into the hands of Americas’ adversaries,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “This guilty plea should serve as a reminder that HSI and our law enforcement partners will diligently investigate and bring to justice anyone attempting to disregard our federal export laws.”
“Mr. Sery’s guilty plea is an acknowledgement of his role in a scheme to illegally export critical defense information and technology,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “As exemplified in this case, DCIS and our law enforcement partners will ensure all appropriate actions are taken to investigate and successfully prosecute those who engage in illicit activities that threaten our nation’s defense.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 21CR2898-GPC
Joe Sery Age: 77 San Diego, CA
CHARGE
Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States (to wit: Exportation of Defense Articles Without a License- Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371; Title 22 U.S.C., 2778(b)(2), (c); Title 22 CFR Sections, 120, 121.1 , 123.1, 127.l(a)(4)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCIES
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Services
U.S. Army, Criminal Investigation Division
National Security Division, Department of Justice
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Civil Rights Violations and Stealing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced to 38 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for stealing controlled substances in the course of his duties and violating citizens’ civil rights through unconstitutional searches and seizures, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
From September 2017 through October 2019, Ty Raymond Jindra, 29, a former police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department (“MPD”), abused his position in order to obtain controlled substances including tramadol, methamphetamine, and fentanyl marked as oxycodone by deceiving his partners and others present at scenes, as well as the MPD.
As part of his scheme, Jindra diverted controlled substances he lawfully recovered for his own purposes using various means. Jindra diverted controlled substances by failing to inform his partner or others on scene that he confiscated controlled substances, failing to place the controlled substances into evidence at the MPD, and failing to report the recovery or diversion of the controlled substances. On some occasions, Jindra would contrive opportunities to interact with or search an individual, vehicle, or residence so that he could surreptitiously recover controlled substances and divert them to his own use. At times, Jindra conducted searches beyond the scope warranted under the circumstances in an attempt to recover controlled substances for himself.
On November 2, 2021, following a 10-day trial, Jindra was convicted of three counts of acquiring a controlled substance by deception and two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Jindra was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with substantial assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle E. Jones and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber M. Brennan.
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Florida Man Known as “the Monkey Whisperer” Sentenced for Trafficking Protected PrimatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, aka “the Monkey Whisperer” (58, Parrish), to five years’ probation, to include eight months home confinement, for one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered Hammonds to pay a $90,000 fine to the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service Lacey Act Reward Fund. Hammonds had pleaded guilty on March 2, 2022.
According to court records, Hammonds owned and operated The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, a business engaged in the breeding and selling of wildlife. From September 2017 until February 2018, Hammonds conspired to sell a capuchin monkey to a celebrity client in California, even though that buyer could not lawfully possess a capuchin monkey in California. Hammonds facilitated the transportation of the capuchin monkey from Florida to California through individuals who were not permitted to possess a capuchin monkey in either state. The client paid over $12,000 for the animal. Law enforcement later seized that capuchin monkey from the client’s California residence.
In addition, Hammonds illegally sold cotton-top tamarins, which are primates listed as an endangered species, to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. To conceal his unlawful wildlife trafficking, Hammonds submitted false records to a law enforcement officer and attempted to persuade a witness to lie to a law enforcement officer by saying that they had purchased the cotton-top tamarins at a flea market. Hammonds had been previously convicted in Florida state court for similar conduct in 2012.
“In a number of states, it is illegal to buy, sell and own exotic pets,” said Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement. “The illegal wildlife trade jeopardizes the future for many species, and we thank the U.S. Department of Justice, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their work on this case.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
Federal Jury Convicts Man of Robbery and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
Denver – A federal jury convicted David Houston Vargas, age 30, for his role in robbing two stores using a firearm, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to facts presented at trial, on November 14, 2020, the defendant committed two armed robberies, one at a Foot Locker store in Lakewood, Colorado, and another at a DSW store in Westminster, Colorado. In both robberies, he brandished a revolver in order for him and his co-defendant to grab merchandise from the stores. The defendant told one store employee something to the effect of, “This is my first time…don’t do anything stupid.” Later that evening, the defendant got into a car chase with an Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy, while his co-defendant in the car he was driving repeatedly fired shots at the deputy using the defendant’s revolver. Vargas was identified and arrested several days later.
The Honorable Judge R. Brooke Jackson presided over the four-day trial. The jury returned its verdict on June 3, 2022. Vargas faces over 20 years in prison when sentenced on September 16, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Lakewood Police Department, the Westminster Police Department, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Celeste Rangel, Melissa Hindman and Elizabeth Young.
Case number: 21-cr-00024-RBJ.
Federal Jury Convicts Atlanta Man for His Role in Supplying Eutylone to Charlotte Area Drug TraffickersRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has convicted Kenneth Jerome Watkins, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Eutylone, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. presided over the three-day trial, which ended yesterday.
According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, Watkins along with his co-defendant, Steven Lamar Cloud, and others, was involved in a conspiracy to traffic Eutylone. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Eutylone is a schedule I synthetic cathinone, marketed by drug dealers as MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly) and it is frequently abused by youths and young adults. In August and October 2020, Watkins arranged to supply Cloud with pills containing Eutylone. As trial evidence established, Cloud arranged for drug couriers to travel to Atlanta to pick up the pills from Watkins. On October 24, 2020, a trooper with the Georgia State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle driven by one of Cloud’s couriers who was returning to Charlotte. Over the course of the traffic stop, the trooper seized over five pounds of pills and more than $4,000 in cash.
Watkins is currently in federal custody. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Eutylone carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date for Watkins has not been set. Cloud has also pleaded guilty to federal drug offenses and he is awaiting sentencing.
This case is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol for the investigation and coordination in this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- June 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Joseph Scott Bennett. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age. Bennett, 36, of Ramona, was charged with being a felon in possession of an AJ Stevens Arms Company .410 shotgun and 65 rounds of ammunition. Bennett was previously convicted of lewd molestation in Washington County in 2006. Bennett is further charged with sexually abusing a child younger than 12 years old from Jan. 1, 2016, to July 15, 2019. The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-174
James Arthur Berry. Assault of a Spouse by Strangling in Indian Country. Berry, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting the victim by strangling her on April 22, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-159
Tye Dean Lewis Ross Cody. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country (second superseding). Cody, 21, of Nowata, was allegedly speeding and unlawfully passed another vehicle. Cody’s vehicle struck one motorist’s vehicle as he attempted to pass it and then collided head-on with a second vehicle, killing Leonard Logan Ladd. The incident occurred on May 28, 2020, in Nowata County. The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-63
Colton John Durr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Durr, 23, of Claremore, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock 9mm caliber pistol and eight rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Claremore Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-171
Keith Charles Eisenberger. Cyberstalking; Threatening to Kidnap and Assault a Member of Congress; Threatening to Kidnap and Assault the Spouse of a Member of Congress. Eisenberger 39, of Bartlesville, is charged with cyberstalking U.S. Representative Kevin Hern from Nov. 27, 2018, to May 11, 2022. He is further charged with threatening to kidnap and assault Hern and his wife on May 11, 2022. Eisenberger was initially charged by criminal complaint in May. The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-175
Bradley Wayne Gillum. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Gillum, 27, of Locust Grove, is charged with stabbing the victim in the abdomen with a knife on May 5, 2022. The FBI, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, and Locust Grove Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-160
Elga Eugene Harper. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. On May 4, 2022, Harper, 40, of Tulsa, is alleged to have held an elderly woman against her will and physically and sexually assaulted her. The victim had previously hired Harper to help around her house. The victim suffered extensive injuries to her face, head, neck, arms, hands, legs and continues to receive treatment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-170
Kovon Daylan Hemphill. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On Nov. 11, 2021, Hemphill, 30, of Tulsa, attempted to stab the victim, a Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office deputy, with a knife. The defendant allegedly resisted arrest, pulling out a pocket knife and attempting to stab the deputy. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Brasher is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-176
Aubrey Tyrone Elliot Lewis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Lewis is charged with being a felon in possession of an Intratec 9 mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and 29 rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-161
Stephen Boyd Mosby. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On May 17, 2022, Mosby, 52, of Claremore, allegedly assaulted the victim when he brandished and discharged his firearm in the victim’s presence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-176
Forrest Sensei Mullin. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Mullin, 27, of Afton, is charged with strangling his intimate/dating partner on July 2, 2019. The FBI and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-162
Shannon Don Onthehill. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country. Onthehill, 47, of Claremore, allegedly strangled a dating partner, causing her to lose consciousness, on Jan. 18, 2020. The FBI and Claremore Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan H. Heatherman is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-159
Soledad Perezchica, Christian Perezchica. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Soledad Perezchica, 46, and Christian Perezchica, 26, both of Tulsa, allegedly aided and abetted each other to attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine. They are further charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine and with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Finally, they are charged with using and maintaining a residence for the purpose of possessing with intent to distribute the two drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-179
Christopher Scott Royce. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Drug Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Royce, 42, of Broken Arrow, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Marlin, 30/30 caliber lever-action rifle; a Mauser bolt-action rifle; a Iver Johnson .22 caliber bolt-action rifle; a Ruger .22 caliber revolver; a Ruger .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Taurus .22 caliber pistol and 22 rounds of ammunition. He is further charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Lastly, he is charged with maintaining a place in Broken Arrow for the purpose of distributing the drug. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-163
Bryant Danilo Sosa. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Sosa, 23, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting an intimate partner by stabbing her with a knife on May 22, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A Childress is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-154
Misty Dawn Sparkman. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Sparkman, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with stabbing the male victim in the neck and chest with a knife on Feb. 16, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-168
Johnny Lee Summers. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country; Witness Tampering by Threatening Physical Force. Summers allegedly sexually assaulted an intimate partner between February 2021 and January 2022. During that time, he also strangled the victim. He is further alleged to have enticed and sexually abused a female minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Finally, in January 2022, Summers threatened to use physical force against his intimate partner in an effort to stop her from speaking with law enforcement about the child enticement allegation. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-155
Garrin Michael Thompson. Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (superseding). From March 4, 2022, to March 7, 2022, Thompson, 48, of Catoosa, is alleged to have taken a child from Oklahoma to Texas, where he sexually abused the child. He is also alleged to have sexually abused a second minor younger than 12 years of age from 2007 to 2009. Finally, he is charged with enticing a third minor victim to engage in sexual activity from 2000 to 2001. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cheryl Baber and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case. 22-cr-118
Devan Miguel Velasco. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Child Neglect in Indian Country. Velasco, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting two victims by brandishing and pointing a firearm at them on May 13, 2022. He also allegedly endangered a young child by failing to provide appropriate supervision and failing to protect the child from exposure to his illegal acts. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-155
James Dean Wright. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Wright, 59, of Tulsa, allegedly discharged a firearm at the victim, a Tulsa Police Officer. Wright is also charged with being a felon in possession of 62 rounds of ammunition. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 22-cr-167
Federal Agent Charged with Making False Statements in Connection with a Personal Relationship with a Victim WitnessRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a three-count indictment today against Melissa Saurwein, 43, of Martinez, charging her with making false statements, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Saurwein, who is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, made false statements to the Office of the U.S. Attorney and to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to conceal a personal romantic relationship she had with a witness in a case that was previously prosecuted in the Northern District of California, United States v. Job Torres Hernandez, 4:17-cr-462-JSW. The judgement in that case was vacated on the motion of the government due to the conduct of Saurwein. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the United States District Court in San Francisco.
This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey B. Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Saurwein faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Essex County Man Convicted of Knifepoint RobberyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal jury convicted an Essex County, New Jersey, man for his role in the knifepoint robbery of a Harrison, New Jersey, taxi company, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Alfuquan Turner, 46, of Newark was convicted on June 7, 2022, of Hobbs Act robbery following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On Sept. 23, 2019, Turner walked into the Harrison Cab Company armed with a knife and covering his face with a plastic bag. He demanded money from the cab company’s dispatcher. After the victim informed Turner that there was no money in her office, Turner continued his threats and demands. Ultimately, after Turner attempted to stab the victim and the victim fought back, Turner took the victim’s cell phone and attempted to leave. When the victim tried to get her phone back, Turner hit her in the face, pushed her to the ground, and asked her if she wanted to die. Turner then choked the victim until she lost consciousness, after which he stole her jewelry, cell phone, and other items.
The count of Hobbs Act robbery is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesse Levine in Newark; investigators of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under the direction of Superintendent Edward Cetnar; officers of the Harrison Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Strumolo; and investigators of the N.J. Transit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Christopher Trucillo, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sophie E. Reiter.
Elyria Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack Cocaine and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Demarcus P.A. Boone, 26, was arrested and charged by law enforcement authorities with the Elyria Police Department (EPD) following an investigation into Boone’s drug trafficking activities in the Elyria area. In April 2021, authorities with the EPD began an investigation into Boone after receiving information from a confidential source that Boone was trafficking heroin and fentanyl.
On May 7, 2021, authorities executed a search warrant at a known residence of Boone and obtained quantities of fentanyl and cocaine hidden inside the insulation of a basement wall. Authorities later located Boone at another residence, and he was arrested. Law enforcement officers again searched Boone and the other residence where he was staying and obtained quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. Additionally, inside the residence, officers discovered a firearm belonging to Boone.
Boone is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of illegal conveyance of drugs and possession of heroin.
The Elyria Police Department and the FBI investigated this case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Kolansky.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., an initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers in Lorain County.