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Tuesday 24 May 2022
20 Individuals Indicted in Colombian-Based Drug Money Laundering OrganizationRead the Press Release
UPDATE: This press release was revised on May 25, 2022, to reflect that a 20th individual (REDACTED) was included in the indictment and that the third defendant was taken into custody in Jamaica.
BOSTON – Over a dozen individuals located in Colombia, Jamaica and Florida have been indicted in Boston, Mass. in connection with their alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering organization that laundered more than $6 million in drug trafficking proceeds from Colombian cartels through the United States, Caribbean and European banking systems.
$1 million was seized from corporate bank accounts and other investigative activity. Nearly 3,000 kilograms of cocaine – with a street value of over $90 million – has allegedly been traced back to the money laundering organization. This includes approximately 1,193 kilograms of cocaine seized at sea, 60 miles south of Jamaica, in July 2019, as well as 1,555 kilograms of cocaine seized in nine scrap metal shipping containers at the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia, in March 2019.
This morning, three defendants were arrested in Florida and will make an initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Florida at a later date. Three defendants were also arrested today in Jamaica at the request of the United States. On April 26, 2022, 12 defendants were arrested in Colombia by local authorities at the request of the United States and one defendant was arrested in Orlando, Fla. The United States will seek the extradition of the Colombian and Jamaican defendants to the District of Massachusetts.
According to the charging documents, in or about October 2016, law enforcement began an investigation into a sophisticated money laundering organization located primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia. During an extensive five-year investigation, the organization allegedly laundered over $6 million in drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the United States, including banks in Massachusetts, as well as additional proceeds through banks in the Caribbean and Europe by use of the Colombian Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE). It is alleged that, by using the BMPE, the defendants conspired to conceal drug trafficking activity and proceeds from law enforcement as well as evade currency exchange requirements in the United States and Colombia through the illegal currency exchange process. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants allegedly held roles and responsibilities within the money laundering organization relative to the needs and opportunities of the scheme, such as drug suppliers, peso brokers, money couriers and business owners/dollar purchasers.
According to the charging documents, through the BMPE, Colombian drug trafficking organizations with drug proceeds generated in the United States use third parties – generally referred to as “peso brokers” that are also based in Colombia – who agree to exchange Colombian pesos they control for the drug supplier’s dollar proceeds. Peso brokers then use money couriers in the United States and elsewhere to physically secure the drug proceeds, often in suitcases or bags on the street, and transfer the proceeds into the United States banking system. To avoid detection, peso brokers deposit the drug proceeds into bank accounts in company or individual names intended to appear as legitimate business activity, or through multiple small deposits into different bank accounts which are then consolidated into larger accounts. As a result, Colombian peso brokers control a pool of drug-derived proceeds in United States bank accounts. These dollar proceeds are then purchased by individuals or companies in Colombia seeking to exchange pesos for United States dollars at a favorable exchange rate and in a manner that avoids currency exchange and income reporting requirements. The dollar drug proceeds are transferred at the direction of the purchaser, and often end up in bank accounts of individuals or companies who appear to have no direct involvement in drug trafficking crimes.
The charges of money laundering conspiracy and laundering of monetary instruments each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Luz Angela Bahamon Flórez, Delegate for Criminal Finance for the Colombian Attorney General’s Office; Ricardo Augusto Alarcon Campos, Major General of the Colombian National Police, Anti-Narcotics Directorate; Jervis Moore, Chief of the Narcotics Division for the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests in Colombia and Jamaica. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Addendum
The following defendants have been indicted:
Defendant
Alleged Role
1
Argiro De Jesus Velasquez-Velasquez, a/k/a “El Viejo”
Drug supplier (Colombia)
2
Jose Fernando Sanchez-Villanueva, a/k/a “Picapiedra”
Drug supplier (Colombia)
3
Oscar Ivan Rodriguez-Camargo, a/k/a “El Mono”
Peso broker (Colombia)
4
Willian Faustino Acosta-Calderin
Business owner (Colombia)
5
Manuel Calderin-Calderin
Business owner (Colombia)
6
German Millan-Padilla
Peso broker (Colombia)
7
Abdul Mauricio Harb-Gomez
Peso broker (Colombia)
8
Andres Rached Farah, a/k/a/ “Don Andres,” a/k/a “El Turco”
Peso broker (Colombia)
9
Fernando Carlos Pertuz-Herrera
Money courier (Colombia)
10
Yimmy Rafael Sanchez-Jimenez, a/k/a “El Chiqui”
Peso broker (Colombia)
11
Jaime Humberto Mejia-Bencardino
Peso broker (Colombia)
12
Jose Aliro Abril-Sequera
Business owner (Colombia)
13
Harold Antonio Ayala-Pinedo
Business owner (Colombia)
14
St. Devon Anthony Cover
Money courier (Jamaica)
15
Dennis Raymond Rowe
Money courier (Jamaica)
16
Seivright Donald Afflick
Money courier (Jamaica)
17
Robert Hueton Colespring
Money courier (Florida)
18
Kimali St. George Myers
Money courier (Florida)
19
Dawnett Rochelle Mcgee
Money courier (Florida)
20 REDACTED REDACTED
Monday 23 May 2022
“Operation River Fork” Defendant Sentenced for Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Woonsocket man was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for participating in the distribution of crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Bradley Dewalt, 30, was one of eighteen “Operation River Fork” defendants arrested during an FBI Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation in 2020, in Woonsocket, Providence, and Cranston. The arrests resulted in the recovery of six loaded firearms and more than a kilo of crack cocaine.
On June 2, 2021, Dewalt pled guilty to distribution of crack cocaine. At the time of his guilty plea, Dewalt admitted to the court that, at the direction of another person, he contacted an individual seeking to arrange for the purchase of crack cocaine and sold him 24.64 grams of crack cocaine for $1,150.
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy sentenced Dewalt to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by two years of federal supervised release. Prior to his arrest in this matter, Dewalt was previously convicted and sentenced on assault, drug trafficking, and firearm charges.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni, was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI; Rhode Island State Police; the Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
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York Nurse Sentenced for Stealing Prescription Drugs from A Hospice PatientRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dana Aldinger, age 55, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to one year probation and a $525 fine by United States Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson for theft in connection with health care. Aldinger also permanently surrendered her nursing license.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Aldinger, a former Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Administrator for a personal care home for senior citizens in York, stole and diverted controlled medications for personal use from nursing patients under her care. Aldinger diverted Oxycodone pills prescribed to a Medicare hospice patient on or about August 10, 2019. Aldinger also falsified medical records to conceal her diversion of the medications.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Harrisburg Field Office, and the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations (BNI) of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel S. Dalke prosecuted the case.
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Wyatt Detention Center to Provide Opioid Use Disorder Treatment to Detainees in Treatment Prior to DetentionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today that his office has entered into an agreement with the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility (Wyatt) to ensure that detainees being treated for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) prior to entering the facility will continue to receive that treatment while in Wyatt’s custody, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Individuals who are receiving treatment for OUD are generally considered disabled under the ADA. Accordingly, among other things, the law requires that jails and prisons maintain medications that individuals have already been prescribed to treat OUD. Based on an investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s determined that the Wyatt Facility was not in full compliance with its obligations under the ADA. The investigation determined that Wyatt failed to provide medications used to treat OUD, such as methadone and buprenorphine; and did not provide any individualized medical determination to assess whether each person should be maintained on or withdrawn from such treatment. As a result, individuals who had previously received treatment for OUD under the supervision of a licensed health care professional had to undergo forced withdrawal while incarcerated at Wyatt.
Under the terms of the agreement, Wyatt will adopt non-discriminatory medication management policies at the facility and provide methadone or buprenorphine for individuals with OUD who have been prescribed such medication under the supervision of a licensed health care professional.
“Efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid deaths require every tool at our disposal,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “That means not just vigorous and targeted law enforcement, but also sensible and humane treatment that provides a bridge to recovery. Where medical professionals have determined that OUD treatment is appropriate, the ADA requires jails like the Wyatt to continue to provide it, and I am pleased that, with today’s agreement, the facility has committed to meet this critical obligation to its detainees.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Romero. Those interested in finding out more about the ADA can call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint. The department has issued guidance on the ADA and the Opioid Crisis, available at https://www.ada.gov/opioid_guidance.pdf.
Anyone in the District of Rhode Island may also report civil rights violations directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/civil-rights-enforcement or 401-709-5000.
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Windsor Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Northeast "Grab and Go" Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on May 20, 2022, JAHLIIL PARROTT, also known as “Stretch,” 24, of Windsor, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in an extensive commercial larceny spree.
This case stems from “Operation American Steal,” a long-term multi-agency investigation into numerous “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states. A “grab-and-go” scheme is a type of theft where one or more perpetrators enter a retail store, grab as many items of clothing or other goods as they can carry, leave the store without paying for the merchandise, and depart in a waiting getaway vehicle.
Parrott was part of a network of individuals who in 2019 and 2020 committed more than 50 grab and go thefts from Polo Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Balenciaga, Burberry, Macy’s, Marshalls, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tommy Hilfiger, Sephora and other stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. They then transported the stolen merchandise to Connecticut and sold the items on the internet or the street. Victim retailers suffered more than $100,000 in losses during the scheme.
Parrott participated in at least 34 thefts resulting in losses of more than $98,000. During one of the thefts, he bit a loss prevention officer who apprehended Parrott as he attempted to steal merchandise.
On September 15, 2020, a grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Parrott and seven other individuals. Parrott was apprehended on November 16, 2020. On December 22, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property. He has been detained since August 2021.
Parrott’s seven co-defendants also pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford, New Canaan, Wrentham (Mass.), Auburn (Mass.) and Nassau County (N.Y.) Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Brendan Keefe.
Wayne County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Wayne County man was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jonathan Walker, 45, of Ceredo, admitted to selling what he believed to be heroin from the driveway of his D Street residence to a confidential informant for $2,750 on March 8, 2021. A forensic chemist later determined that the substance sold by Walker was fentanyl.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor 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. 3:21-cr-115.
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Waldorf Man Indicted Federally for Impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal and for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Antione William Tuckson, age 37, of Waldorf, Maryland, for federal charges of false impersonation of an officer and employee of the United States and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment was returned on May 12, 2022, and unsealed upon his arrest on May 20, 2022. A federal criminal complaint was filed on May 19, 2022 charging co-conspirator Nijea Nicole Rich, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland with impersonating a federal officer and conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer. Rich was also arrested on May 20, 2022.
Tuckson and Rich had their initial appearances late on May 20, 2022 in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan ordered that Tuckson be detained pending trial, and ordered that Rich be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
The indictment and criminal complaint were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to the two-count indictment, the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint and other court documents, Tuckson and Rich purported to be and identified themselves as a Deputy United States Marshal. The indictment alleges that Tuckson illegally possessed a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court at the initial appearance and detention hearing, Tuckson allegedly has a history of impersonating law enforcement officers and since December 2020, Tuckson has allegedly used the registered trademark “USMS Special Services,” along with police-style vehicles equipped with red and blue flashing lights, weapons, a fake identification card and badge, and other law enforcement gear to pose as a Deputy United States Marshal.
As detailed in court documents, on March 6, 2022, while working as an armed security guard with a canine companion at a restaurant in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Tuckson allegedly attempted to detain two patrons who had disputed their bill. Court documents allege that Tuckson then falsely held himself out as a Deputy United States Marshal to Prince George’s County Police Department (“PGPD”) officers in an attempt to justify his unlawful possession of a firearm. When confronted by PGPD officers as to Tuckson’s status as a federal officer, Tuckson allegedly had Rich pose as his supervisor within the United States Marshals Service in communications with PGPD. Police arrested Tuckson and recovered a loaded 9mm firearm from Tuckson’s hip during the search incident to his arrest.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, shortly after Tuckson was arrested, Rich, wearing police-style clothing, arrived on the scene and claimed to Prince George’s County Police officers that the canine was her emotional support animal and was also a patrol dog owned by Tuckson. Rich was wearing tan tactical pants, was armed with a handgun, and carried two sets of handcuffs, a radio, and what appeared to be an expandable baton. At one point, Rich allegedly stated to the officers, “You locked up a U.S. Marshal?” Officers contacted the Prince George’s County Animal Services Division (“ASD”), who took custody of the canine.
Early the next morning, Rich allegedly identified herself as a U.S. Marshal and displayed an identification card that said U.S. Marshal to an ASD employee, who was unloading the canine from a van. Rich allegedly told the ASD employee that the man arrested was a U.S. Marshal and that the dog was a working dog and belonged to the Marshals Service. According to the affidavit, Rich arrived in a black sedan that looked like a police vehicle and was wearing a black Kevlar vest. The ASD employee released the dog to Rich.
As detailed in the affidavit and other court documents, U.S. Marshals Service personnel searched its databases and found no record that Tuckson or Rich are or ever were U.S. Marshals or employees of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Law enforcement executed a search of Tuckson’s home on May 20, 2022, and recovered firearms, including an AR-style rifle and a pistol-grip pump-action shotgun.
If convicted, Tuckson and Rich each face a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison for impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Rich faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy. Tuckson also faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment or a criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter L. Cooch, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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U.S. Attorney Names Alfred U. Pavlis as First Assistant U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced that Alfred U. Pavlis will serve the District of Connecticut as First Assistant United States Attorney, the office’s second-ranking position. U.S. Attorney Avery swore in Mr. Pavlis, 64, of Fairfield, this morning in New Haven.
“More than just being an excellent and well-respected attorney with decades of professional experience, Al Pavlis is a person of strong integrity and great judgment with a commitment to equal justice, fairness and the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “We are fortunate that Al has returned to public service, and I am confident that he will engender the trust and respect of every member of the office, our law enforcement partners, community leaders, and all the people of Connecticut.”
For more than 30 years, Mr. Pavlis has been in private practice, most recently at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP in Stamford, representing corporate and individual clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, SEC enforcement actions, and federal criminal investigations involving securities fraud, commodities fraud, accounting fraud, FCPA violations and insider trading.
From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Pavlis was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he investigated and prosecuted narcotics trafficking, organized crime, corruption and securities fraud offenses.
Mr. Pavlis served as a law clerk for the Honorable T.F. Gilroy Daly, Chief U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut, from 1983 to 1985. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Leonard C Boyle, who served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney from June 2018 to March 2021 when he became the Acting U.S. Attorney upon the departure of U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, retired from federal service on May 20, 2022.
“Len Boyle represented the United States of America with dignity and distinction, and he dedicated not only his federal career, but his prior work in state and local law enforcement, to making our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “While all of us in the U.S. Attorney’s Office will miss his everyday presence, wisdom and decency, we thank Len for his dedicated service and wish him a very happy and healthy retirement.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Avery supervises a staff of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, please visit www.justice.gov/ct.
Two Huntington Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Multi-State Drug RingRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Huntington men were sentenced today to prison for their roles in a multi-state drug ring. Donald Duane Cole, 51, was sentenced to five years and 10 months. William Edward Nellons, Jr., 38, was sentenced to three years and 10 months. Three years of supervised release will follow each prison sentence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cole and Nellons participated in a conspiracy with others to distribute drugs in Huntington from at least April 2021 to July 2021. Cole admitted to distributing fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Nellons admitted that he regularly received cocaine and fentanyl which he distributed to others in the Huntington area. At times, Nellons and Cole each received the drugs on consignment and returned proceeds after conducting distributions.
Nellons admitted that he stored approximately 30 grams of fentanyl at Cole’s residence in May 2021 that he distributed during the conspiracy. Cole admitted to possessing approximately 10 grams of crack seized by law enforcement officers while executing a search warrant at his Ninth Avenue residence on July 29, 2021. Cole further admitted that he intended to sell the crack cocaine.
Cole pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Nellons pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Seventeen other individuals pleaded guilty to roles in the multi-state drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in Huntington and distributed fentanyl, cocaine and crack as well as methamphetamine, oxycodone, and heroin.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force. The Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force consists of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department and the Marshall University Police Department with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West. The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus, Ohio, also assisted in the investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the cases.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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 Nos. 3:22-cr-7 and 3:21-cr-109.
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Toledo Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Methamphetamine PillsRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Travis Darnell Brown 40, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick to 12 years in prison after Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 400 pills of methamphetamine, carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on January 3, 2020, officers with the Toledo Police Department initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle near the intersection of Airport Highway and Apple Street in Toledo. Officers identified the driver of the vehicle as Defendant Travis Darnell Brown. While the stop was ongoing, Brown fled the scene and led officers on a vehicle pursuit that eventually ended with his arrest. Officers then searched the vehicle and discovered a firearm on the driver-side floorboard. In addition to the firearm, officers found approximately 400 pills containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine from Brown.
Later, on May 6, 2020, Toledo Police officers stopped a vehicle and identified Brown as the driver. During the search of this vehicle, officers again located a firearm in the back seat.
Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of possession of crack cocaine, aggravated assault, domestic violence and having weapons under disability, all in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
This investigation was conducted by the Toledo FBI and the Toledo Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching.
Texas man admits to smuggling 31 in refrigerated trailerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 37-year-old San Benito man has pleaded guilty to illegally transporting undocumented aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Eric Mendiola admitted to smuggling the individuals while driving an 18-wheeler.
On March 20, Mendiola drove a tractor trailer into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita. A K-9 soon alerted authorities to the presence of concealed humans. Law enforcement opened the doors of the trailer and discovered individuals hiding behind a load of produce.
In the trailer were 19 Mexican nationals, five Columbian nationals, four Guatemalan nationals, two El Salvadorian nationals and one Honduran national. All were determined to be in the United States illegally. In addition, the temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing Aug. 17. At that time, Mendiola faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
Mendiola has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck is prosecuting the case.
Tennessee Corrections Officer Charged with Obstructing Investigation into Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with an InmateRead the Press Release
A Columbia, Tennessee, man was charged today with obstructing an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused an inmate in his custody.
James Stewart Thomas, 31, a corrections officer with the Maury County Jail, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of falsification of records.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Thomas wrote an official report in which he falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at a hospital; falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about those alleged sexual advances by the inmate; and omitted that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after the inmate’s release from the custody of the Maury County Jail.
If convicted, Thomas faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Klopf of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Taunton Man Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl.
Carlos Rivera, 47, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. On Jan. 24, 2022, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Between September 2020 and January 2021, Rivera and a co-conspirator engaged in four separate sales of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in Taunton. Rivera used his residence and his barbershop, Knockout Barbershop, to sell drugs and store drug proceeds. On the morning of Jan. 29, 2021, agents arrested Rivera outside his apartment. An on-site search found that Rivera was carrying approximately 40 grams of fentanyl at the time of his arrest. In total, Rivera and his co-conspirator sold or possessed with intent to sell approximately 152 grams of fentanyl.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Taunton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Rollins’ Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
St. Louis County woman admits $267,000 COVID-19 rental assistance fraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County woman who pretended to be a landlord to get $267,239 in pandemic-related financial assistance pleaded guilty to a felony charge of wire fraud in United States District Court Monday.
Semaj Portis, 42, admitted in her plea agreement and in court that she took advantage of Emergency Rental Assistance and COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grants, designed to help both landlords and their financially struggling tenants.
On Jan. 15, 2021, Portis registered a company called Forever Riding with the Missouri Secretary of State. From that date until October 18, 2021, she filed a total of 52 applications for rent assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which administered the assistance programs. Portis listed herself or Forever Riding as the landlord and submitted fraudulent rental leases, her plea agreement says. Portis was not the landlord for any of the tenants listed in her fraudulent applications. In court Monday, she said she worked as a nurse for 12 years and then as a medical dispatcher.
Portis used the money for vacations, for purchasing real estate and for other personal expenses.
Wire fraud carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. At her sentencing, scheduled for August 26 in front of United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, Portis will also be ordered to repay the money.
United States Attorney Sayler Fleming said, “Financial fraud is particularly egregious when it takes advantage of programs intended to help victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our office and law enforcement have been aggressively investigating and prosecuting these cases.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about rental assistance fraud should contact the FBI at [email protected] or (314) 589-2500.
St. Louis County man sentenced to nearly five years in prison for fentanyl possessionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced a St. Louis County man who possessed fentanyl and a stolen gun and struggled with police to four years and nine months in prison.
Judge Pitlyk said in court that the prison sentence Jarvis L. Fields, 28, faced was longer because he assaulted a police officer during a 2020 arrest.
On April 10, 2020, Fields was the passenger in a vehicle that was being investigated by St. Louis County Police Department officers after a report of shots fired in the 2400 block of Princess Drive in north St. Louis County. The car was displaying license plates that were stolen.
Fields got out of the car while repeatedly ignoring the police officer’s commands. As officers attempted to restrain him, Fields told them he had a gun in a satchel strapped across his shoulder. After a struggle, officers brought Fields to the ground. They were able to secure him only after cutting a strap on the bag and forcibly removing it. Officers found a stolen Glock handgun, 430 clear capsules containing fentanyl and two bags of white powder containing fentanyl in the satchel.
Fields was indicted by a grand jury in December 2020. He was arrested on a warrant by St. Louis County police on May 20, 2021. Police found another pistol and pills containing methamphetamine, alprazolam and hydrocodone, Fields’ plea agreement says.
Fields pleaded guilty in February to a felony charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Bluestone.
Scranton Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Javier Correa, age 40, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Correa admitted to possessing fentanyl, methamphetamine and a firearm in April 2021, during a search of his Scranton residence by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case was investigated by DEA, the Scranton Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Parole officers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Gallagher are prosecuting the case.
The defendant faces a maximum of term of life imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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 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.
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Redding Man Pleads Guilty to Being Serial Arsonist in the Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eric Michael Smith, 41, of Redding, pleaded guilty today to being a serial arsonist in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Smith set at least 11 fires on land in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest between June 2019 and July 2020. Smith used hard to detect ignition sources, such as cigarette lighters and handheld torches, to ignite these fires in remote locations of the national forest. Many of the fires Smith admitted to setting ignited in the early morning hours, making detection and firefighting by authorities potentially more challenging. One of the fires set by Smith in July 2020 burned so close to Interstate 5 near Turntable Bay Road that first responders closed a portion of the highway to prevent the blaze from burning numerous vehicles and residences on the other side of the interstate.
Smith was arrested in late July 2020.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Aug. 22, 2022. Smith faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Recidivist Sex Offender Is Sentenced to 15 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn sentenced Blake Forest Watson, 65, of Nebo, N.C., to 180 months in prison on child pornography charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Cogburn ordered Watson to serve a lifetime under court supervision upon completion of the prison term and to register as a sex offender.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Gregory Forest, Chief U.S. Probation Officer of the U.S. Probation Office in the Western District of North Carolina, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Watson was previously convicted of child pornography in the Western District of Tennessee and was sentenced to 96 months in prison and five years of supervised release. A condition of Watson’s supervised release involved warrantless searches. On July 22, 2021, federal probation officers conducted a warrantless search at Watson’s residence. Court records show that law enforcement located in the residence an unapproved wireless tablet, the background of which was an image of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor female. Law enforcement also retrieved a laptop from the residence. A forensic analysis of the electronic devices revealed that Watson had been using them to receive images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted minors engaging in sadistic and masochistic conduct. In total, Watson possessed in excess of 3,000 images depicting child pornography.
On January 31, 2022, Watson pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI and the U.S. Probation Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis I. Solheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Witness RetaliationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty today to retaliation against a government witness.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from July 2021 through August 11, 2021, David Stanley, 46, of Bolt, admitted to sending multiple intimidating and threatening messages through Facebook Messenger to a witness in a federal criminal case against Stanley’s brother.
Stanley is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Stanley’s brother, Charles Stanley, 51, of Shady Springs, pleaded guilty on February 3, 2022, to aiding and abetting the destruction of an energy facility and awaits sentencing. According to court documents and statements made in court, Charles Stanley admitted to working with others to steal multiple pieces of specialized mining equipment in May and June, 2019, from the energy facility, located in Boone and Lincoln counties, resulting in more than $5,000 in damage.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for conducting the investigation.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson, John File and Negar Kordestani are 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. 2:21-cr-144.
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Pueblo Pintado man appears in court, charged with murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rodgerick Tsosie, of Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an initial appearance in federal court today facing a charge of second-degree murder in Indian Country. Tsosie will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for May 25.
According to a criminal complaint, on May 16, Tsosie was called to intervene in a dispute involving his brother at their mother’s home in Torreon, New Mexico. However, the brother, his girlfriend and three children left the home before Tsosie arrived.
Tsosie allegedly encountered the vehicle in which his brother was traveling eastbound on New Mexico State Road 197 near the Torreon Store in Cuba, New Mexico. Tsosie drove alongside it, travelling east in the westbound lane. Tsosie allegedly fired two shots into the vehicle, one of which struck a 14-year-old victim in the head.
The victim was transported by ambulance and then by a medivac helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the victim was pronounced dead.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Tsosie faces up to life in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
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Postal Employee and Son Charged with Conspiracy Involving Stolen Postal Money Orders Worth over $5 MillionRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Eric R. Olah (619) 546-7540
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 23, 2022
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Postal Service employee Dewayne Morris Sr. and his son and namesake are charged in federal court with multiple felony counts of bank fraud and conspiracy in connection with the theft of $5 million in Postal money order forms.
Morris Sr. is charged along with his son, Dewayne Morris Jr., and four others, with conspiring to convert the stolen money order forms into cash.
According to the indictment, Morris Sr., then a supervisor for post offices in Venice, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey, ordered and received 10,000 blank Postal money order forms. A subsequent audit revealed that approximately 5,100 of those 10,000 money order forms were missing. With a maximum value of $1,000 per money order, the potential value of the missing money order forms is $5.1 million. Contrary to Morris Sr.’s claim to investigators that he properly returned some of the 10,000 money order forms, the indictment alleges that his son, Morris Jr., distributed the missing money orders to co-conspirators.
The indictment further alleges that the money orders Morris Jr. distributed to co-conspirators were materially altered to appear as if they had been paid for and lawfully issued by a post office, when in fact they had not. Morris Jr. also provided co-conspirators with counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing fictious identities. The co-conspirators used those counterfeit documents to open checking and savings accounts at financial institutions throughout the country, deposited the stolen money orders into the accounts, and withdrew the cash proceeds before the financial institutions detected the fraud.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Morris Sr. and Morris Jr. are charged with three counts of bank fraud, each of which carries a statutory maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment. Additionally, Morris Jr. is charged with a fourth bank fraud count and an aggravated identity theft count based on a separate scheme involving the personal identifiable information of others.
“The indictment alleges that this father-and-son duo took advantage of the elder’s insider position to steal millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “We and our law enforcement partners are committed to seeking justice in this case and others like it.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for their hard work on this case.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in our commitment and dedication to investigate financial fraud and prevent the theft of Postal Service products from criminal attack,” said Carroll Harris, Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, in bringing these defendants to justice.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-CR-1037-WQH
Dewayne Morris, Senior Age: 62 Inglewood, CA
Dewayne Morris, Junior Age: 39 Inglewood, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the pecuniary gain/loss
Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine or twice the pecuniary gain/loss
Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028A
Penalty: Mandatory two years in prison
Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2), 982(b) and Title 28 U.S.C. Section 2461(c)
AGENCIES
United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty
Pleasanton Man Sentenced for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Pleasanton man was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant in July 2019 at the residence of Daniel Lee Ogorzolka, 70. Two devices were seized that contained over 25 videos and over 2,000 images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Ogorzolka has remained in federal custody since his arrest on November 27, 2019. He pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography in March 2022. In addition to his prison term, Ogorzolka was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.
“Today’s sentence serves as a strong message to anyone who seeks to sexually exploit and endanger children,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “You will be investigated; you will be identified; and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“HSI San Antonio remains committed in partnering with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other industry partners to identify individuals distributing child pornography on the internet,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Investigating those who prey on our children remains a top concern for HSI and our partners. Together, we continue to dedicate our resources under Operation Predator to identify and investigate those who victimize our most vulnerable population”.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Perryopolis Man Indicted on Charges Involving the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Perryopolis, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges involving the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The two-count Indictment, returned on May 18, 2022, and unsealed today, named Sean Ryan McKenzie, 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, on June 8, 2021, McKenzie attempted to and did use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Further, the Indictment alleges that on March 1, 2022, McKenzie knowingly possessed visual depictions, namely, videos and images in computer graphic and digital files, the production of which involved the use of minors, including prepubescent minors who have not attained 12 years of age, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
For the charge of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, the law provides for a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, or both. For the charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations—Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Owasso Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Applying for Paycheck Protection Program Loans under False PretensesRead the Press Release
An Owasso man who fraudulently applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was sentenced Monday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Olusola Ojo, 43, to 48 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Eagan also ordered Ojo to pay $150,000 in restitution to Stride Bank.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to pursue justice in cases where fraudsters bilk American taxpayers of funds meant to support vulnerable small business owners and their employees,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Olusola Ojo’s four-year prison sentence should send a message that white collar criminals will be held accountable for their illicit behavior.”
On Nov. 18, 2021, a federal jury found Olusola Ojo, also known as Sam Ojo, 42, guilty of bank fraud conspiracy, two counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Ojo, along with two coconspirators, created 12 fictitious business entities that would fraudulently apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans under false pretenses such as the number of employees, payroll expenditures, taxes paid during previous months, details of business ownership, and a false representation of their relationship with one another. During this time, Ibanga Etuk, Teosha Etuk, and Ojo submitted multiple applications for the same businesses to more than ten different banks, without disclosing to those banks that they were submitting duplicative applications. They conspired to obtain loans in the total approximate amount of $5,430,585 and actually obtained funding from banks in the total approximate amount of $995,385.
As part of the conspiracy, Ojo knowingly applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan from Frontier State Bank under false pretenses from April 20, 2020, to April 29, 2020,. The defendant lied about the number of people employed during the previous months of purported operations, the payroll expenditures during the previous months, taxes paid during previous months of operation, ownership of the business, and relationships between the parties in a $300,000 loan application submitted for Quicksold Market, Inc.
From May 8, 2020, to May, 11, 2020, Ojo also applied for a $150,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan from Stride Bank submitted under false pretenses for the Inspired Group LLC.
As part of his crimes, Ojo used another individual’s identity on payroll records summitted to the banks when applying for the loans.
Ojo’s two codefendants previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
Ibanga Etuk, 42, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a total of four years in federal prison— two years for bank fraud and two years for aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay $168,000 in restitution to Chickasaw Community Bank.
Teosha Etuk, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000 to First Liberty Bank.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Office of Inspector General; Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Harrington, Victor A.S. Régal, and David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s COVID response, visit: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. For further information on the Criminal Division’s enforcement efforts on PPP fraud, including court documents from significant cases, visit the following website: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-for
Oregon Marijuana Exporter Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On May 23, 2022, a former resident of Milwaukie, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison for illegally exporting marijuana grown in Oregon to Georgia for resale and laundering the proceeds.
Dante Baldocchi, 30, currently a resident of Altadena, California, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, between January 2017 and June 2020, Baldocchi purchased marijuana in Oregon and arranged to have it shipped via freight to Georgia where he and others sold it to distributors in the Atlanta area and in North Carolina. Baldocchi and his associates shipped portions of the proceeds from Georgia back to Oregon in vacuum-sealed bags and other portions concealed in buckets of drywall spackle.
On June 9, 2020, a federal search warrant was executed on Baldocchi’s then-residence in Milwaukie. Investigators located more than 330 pounds of marijuana grown in Oregon.
On August 19, 2021, Baldocchi and an associate—Hunter Lacaden, 27, of Portland—were charged by criminal information with conspiring to distribute marijuana and commit money laundering. On October 13, 2021, Baldocchi pleaded guilty to both charges.
On September 21, 2021, Lacaden pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute marijuana. On March 28, 2022, he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Jarrett prosecuted the case.
Operators of Monroe County Veterinary Clinic Sentenced to Prison for Failure to Remit Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dr. Karin Breitlauch, age 58, of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, and Linda Breitlauch, age 64, of Stroudsburg Pennsylvania, were each sentenced on May 20, 2022, to 12 months’ plus one day imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for failure to remit payroll taxes from their veterinary business.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Karin Breitlauch is a veterinarian who owns and operates Creature Comforts Veterinary Service in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Linda Breitlauch, her sister, is the comptroller for the business. Between 2013 and 2016, the Breitlauchs withheld federal income taxes from their employees’ paychecks but failed to remit the withholdings to the Internal Revenue Service for tax quarters 2013 through 2016 and failed to pay the employer portion of the payroll taxes. This money included Social Security payments that would benefit their employees. When some employees went to collect their Social Security benefits their earnings while employed at the veterinary clinic were not recorded with the Social Security Administration.
The Breitlauchs were ordered to pay $2,486,495.99 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following their incarceration. Judge Mannion ordered the Breitlauchs to surrender themselves to the Bureau of Prisons on July 29, 2022, to commence their sentence.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
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North Port Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Larry Alan Goldman (64, North Port) to one year and a day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license. As part of his sentence, Goldman will also pay a fine of $25,000.
According to court documents, between February 2020 and August 2021, undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a confidential informant purchased approximately 14 firearms from Goldman’s vendor booth at a flea market in North Fort Myers. During this period, Goldman did not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL) authorizing him to lawfully engage in the business of dealing in firearms. In September 2021, ATF agents visited Goldman at his home and served him with a Notice of Unlicensed Firearms Dealing Violation, and Goldman agreed to stop selling firearms.
Following ATF’s meeting with Goldman, undercover ATF agents purchased two additional firearms from Goldman at the flea market in September and October 2021. On October 19, 2021, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant of Goldman’s residence, as well as a truck and trailer Goldman used to facilitate the sale of firearms. Agents seized approximately 29 firearms and approximately $36,828 in cash. A search of multiple sale firearm purchases made by Goldman between January 2020 and September 2021 revealed that Goldman had purchased approximately 313 firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
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.
Norfolk Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Nicole Peterson, 37, of Norfolk, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Peterson to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On March 30, 2019, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a building in Kearney, Nebraska. The building had been converted into makeshift living quarters by co-defendant, Rodney Randolph. Peterson and Josiah Negley were also present in the building. The search by law enforcement resulted in the seizure of 117 grams of methamphetamine. The three defendants admitted to getting pounds of methamphetamine from Colorado to distribute in Kearney.
Co-defendant Rodney Randolph has pled guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on July 29, 2022. Josiah Negley is awaiting trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on May 31, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Conspiring to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on May 19, 2022 Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ARTHUR JOHNSON, age 45, of New Orleans, Louisiana, to 262 months of imprisonment, five (5) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for conspiring to distribute more than one kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846.
According to court records, on December 27, 2017, FBI Special Agents from the New Orleans Gang Task Force received information regarding the pending delivery of approximately three kilograms of heroin that JOHNSON was purchasing from his Chicago-based supplier. Later that day, surveillance agents observed meetings between JOHNSON and the man delivering the heroin at a Holiday Inn Hotel in New Orleans. During these meetings, JOHNSON paid approximately $187,000 for the heroin.
The next day, FBI agents searched the home in New Orleans East that JOHNSON shared with co-defendant Annice Falkins. During this search, the agents seized 1.3 kilograms of heroin, over $11,000 in cash, numerous items of jewelry, six cell phones, a money counter, and a kilogram press used to package heroin.
JOHNSON and Annice Falkins pled guilty on August 24, 2021. Pursuant to his plea agreement, JOHNSON agreed to forfeit a Mercedes Benz car, $11,543.00 in United States currency, a Rolex watch with about 17.45 carats of diamonds, and five pieces of diamond encrusted jewelry. Falkins is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys David Howard Sinkman and Brandon Long are in charge of the prosecution.
Mortgage Loan Officer Charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Evelisse Hernandez (40, Kissimmee) with four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in federal prison on each bank fraud count and a mandatory consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft counts. The indictment also notifies Hernandez that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $130,000, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, Hernandez, in her capacity as a licensed mortgage loan officer, created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting the financial institution where she worked. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers were approved for mortgage loans, Hernandez falsified the borrower’s income through completely fabricated or inflated monthly child support payments on mortgage loan applications that she signed and certified to the financial institution’s underwriting department. In furtherance of her scheme, Hernandez created fictitious Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage showing the borrowers were entitled to receive non-existent monthly child support payments. Hernandez then used the names of Judges from the Circuit Court of the Ninth District of Florida and forged their signatures on the fabricated Final Judgments of Dissolution of Marriage. Hernandez then created bogus Florida Department of Revenue Statements showing the party purportedly paying monthly child support payments to the borrowers and manufactured phony prepaid debit card statements showing the borrowers purportedly withdrawing the non-existent monthly child support payments. In most cases, the borrowers did not have the children listed or had never been married. Hernandez submitted bogus paperwork to the financial institution to support the false monthly income on the loan applications. Based on Hernandez’s misrepresentations, the financial institution approved and funded the mortgage loans.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Morris County Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for distributing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Igor Michael Terrero, 49, of Succasunna, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of distributing child pornography. Terrero made his initial appearance by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond, with home detention and electronic monitoring.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From Aug. 30, 2021, through April 20, 2022, Terrero shared more than 85 media files, including images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
The charge of distribution of child pornography depicting prepubescent children carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, Philadelphia Division; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; and the Roxbury Township Police, under the direction of Chief Dean Adone, with the investigation leading to the charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. DeSaro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
McKeesport Felon Charged with Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of city/stateMcKeesport, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment, returned on May 19, named Ramon Howard, age 36, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on or about February 11, 2022, Howard possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The defendant is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Maury County Corrections Officer Charged with Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal indictment, unsealed today, charges a Maury County corrections officer with obstructing an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused an inmate in his custody, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Kristen M. Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.
James Stewart Thomas, 31, of Columbia, Tenn., a corrections officer with the Maury County Sheriff’s Office, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on one count of falsification of records. Thomas was arrested at his home earlier today by FBI agents and will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later this afternoon.
According to the indictment, in response to allegations that Thomas had nonconsensual sexual contact with a female inmate in his custody, he wrote an official report in which he falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at a hospital. The report also falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about the alleged sexual advances by the inmate, and the report omitted that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after the inmate’s release from the custody of the Maury County Jail.
If convicted, Thomas faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Klopf and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Maryland man admits to role in drug trafficking and firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Marcus Purnell, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Purnell, also known as “Mo,” 34, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.” Purnell admitted to using a phone to help distribute Eutylone, also known as “Boot,” in November 2020 in Berkeley County.
Purnell faces up to four years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Harpers Ferry Police Department; and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. investigated. The EPDTF consists of the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Ranson Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Martinsburg Police Department.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Marana Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Tyrell Kester, 36, of Marana, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Kester previously pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
On April 22, 2021, federal agents and Tucson Police Department officers conducted surveillance on a residential trailer in preparation to execute a search warrant. Kester parked his car near the trailer and when agents announced their presence, Kester threw several items from his pockets onto the ground, including his car keys and $3,587 in cash. Agents searched Kester’s car and found an AR-type rifle magazine loaded with 25 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition and other loose rounds of ammunition in various calibers in the trunk. Kester is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing ammunition.
This investigation was a collaborative effort between federal law enforcement agencies and is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) initiative in Southern Arizona that is being led by the Tucson Strike Force.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Culver and David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-1114-TUC-RM (MSA)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-078_Kester# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Man Who Possessed a 3D Printed Glock Switch Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a 3D printed Glock switch designed to convert a handgun into an automatic weapon was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Jose Morales-Ramirez, age 20, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 20, 2022 guilty plea to illegal possession of a machine gun.
Evidence during the case at trial showed that police responded to Morales-Ramirez’s residence after receiving reports from neighbors regarding possible gun shots. During a search, police located a Glock conversion device designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun. The Glock conversion device, also known as a Glock switch, had been printed on a 3D printer.
Morales-Ramirez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Morales-Ramirez was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Morales-Ramirez was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Tama, Iowa, Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-0056.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Who Obtained Infant Pornography on Dark Web Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sought out and obtained depictions of child pornography, including infants and toddlers, on the dark web was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Collin Nissen, age 21, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 14, 2021 guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography.
At the guilty plea, Nissen admitted that, between March of 2019 and September of 2020, he received and possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on two cell phones and an SD card. Evidence at sentencing showed that Nissen took steps in order to conceal his identity online for the purpose of obtaining child pornography. He received and possessed sexually explicit photographs and videos of babies and toddlers. He also possessed sado-masochistic depictions of children. When confronted by law enforcement, he stated that he was trying to help find missing children.
Nissen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Nissen was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment and fined $400. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Nissen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-1015.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to 60 months in Prison for Attempting to Use Two Molotov Cocktails on an Occupied National City ResidenceRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Shital H. Thakkar (619) 546-8785
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 23, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Sylvester Andrews Jr. was sentenced in federal court today to 60 months in prison for possessing and ultimately attempting to use incendiary devices known as Molotov cocktails. Andrews attempted to use the Molotov cocktails by throwing them through the window of a National City residence, which was occupied by three juvenile victims who were home alone at the time.
On May 20, 2018, the National City Police and Fire Departments responded to a vehicle fire outside of the victims’ residence. When personnel arrived, they found a vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Fire Investigators ultimately determined that the vehicle fire was set intentionally. A subsequent investigation showed beach towels were doused with liquid, possibly gasoline, and placed on the vehicle prior to the towels being set aflame. The officers also noticed a window at the victims’ residence was broken, and after the car fire was extinguished, they conducted a welfare check. The officers discovered the threejuvenile victims and the Molotov cocktails which had not detonated.
An investigation led by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revealed that Andrews had a dispute with a parent of the juvenile victims. In the early morning hours of May 20, 2018, Andrews went to the victims’ residence and threw both Molotov cocktails through a bedroom window, neither of which ignited fully.
The ATF Forensic Science Laboratory identified the liquid in both Molotov cocktails as gasoline. The use of surveillance cameras, text messages, DNA evidence, and other evidence revealed Andrews’ involvement.
“This defendant’s actions put three children at great risk because of a grown-up grudge, and the price for that is prison,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This is a fitting sentence for an offender who used an explosive device to settle a score.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the National City Police Department, National City Fire, and Carlsbad Police Department for their excellent work on this case.
“ATF has the expertise to determine the origin and cause of fires and explosions under the most challenging and complex circumstances due to its highly trained forensic investigators and its nationwide state-of-art laboratories,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Monique Villegas. “ATF brings a unique set of resources to fire and explosives investigations, which includes special agent certified fire investigators, certified explosives specialists, and chemists among others. ATF will continue to collaborate with its local partners perfecting charges against individuals whose criminal actions devastate lives and destroy personal property.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 20-cr-02942-AJB
Sylvester Andrews Jr. Age: 39 Spring Valley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Malicious Damage to Buildings or Real Property Affecting Interstate, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i);
Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d).
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count
AGENCY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
National City Police Department
National City Fire Department
Carlsbad Police Department
*This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Man Sentenced to 55 Months in Prison for Illegal Sale of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Honorable Daniel Domínguez of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico sentenced defendant Carlos Osorio-Pérez to a near-statutory-maximum sentence of 55 months of prison and three years of supervised release. Osorio-Pérez pled guilty to a conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed business of dealing in firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 922(a)(1)(A).
Osorio-Pérez was the leader of an organization active for years in the Miami and Tampa Field Division areas of responsibility. As part of his plea, he acknowledged that he purchased almost 100 guns in Florida and sent them via the U.S. mail to co-conspirators in Puerto Rico for sale. Osorio-Pérez further acknowledged that he knew that the buyers of several of the guns would use them unlawfully. Intended recipients of the guns included drug-trafficking organizations in Puerto Rico. In WhatsApp conversations, Osorio-Pérez recommended that an unlicensed firearm seller in Puerto Rico talk directly to the “street bosses” and “top dogs.”
On December 14 and 15, 2020, Osorio-Pérez caused to be mailed from Florida to Puerto Rico for illegal sales the following firearms: four (4) Glock pistols; a Zastava AK-47 type pistol; a Mini AK-47 type pistol; and four (4) lower receivers for AR-15 type pistols.
Osorio-Pérez was charged with four other members of the conspiracy. Co-defendant Luz Damariz Pérez-Velázquez was already sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Her roles in the conspiracy included sending money to Florida for the purchase of firearms, receiving the firearms in Puerto Rico through the U.S. mail, and delivering the guns to co-conspirators in order to sell them in Puerto Rico for profit without a license. Members of the conspiracy would use Western Union and Walmart to transfer the proceeds of firearm sales from Puerto Rico to Florida.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Christopher Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanette Collazo, Carlos Cardona, and Jonathan Gottfried prosecuted the case.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threats Against Dr. Anthony Fauci and Other Federal and State Health OfficialsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Thomas Patrick Connally, Jr., age 56, most recently of Snowshoe, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today to making threats against a federal official, specifically for sending emails threatening harm to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the current Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Connally further admitted threatening Dr. Francis Collins, the former Director of the NIH, Dr. Rachel Levine, currently the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as a Massachusetts public health official and a religious leader.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge George Adams, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to Connally’s plea agreement, from December 28, 2020 to July 25, 2021, Connally used an anonymous email account from a provider of secure, encrypted email services based in Switzerland, to send a series of emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the current Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) and the Chief Medical Advisor to President of the United States, threatening to harm and/or kill Dr. Fauci and members of his family. One of the emails threatened that Dr. Fauci and his family would be “dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.” On April 24, 2021 alone, Connally sent seven threatening emails starting at 10:05 p.m.
As detailed in Connally’s plea agreement, also on April 24, 2021, beginning at 9:34 p.m., Connally sent Dr. Francis Collins, the then-Director of the NIH, a series of four emails threatening Dr. Collins and his family with physical assault and death if Dr. Collins did not stop speaking about the need for “mandatory” COVID-19 vaccinations.
As stated in his plea agreement, Connally admitted that he sent the threats to Drs. Fauci and Collins with the intent to intimidate or interfere with the performance of their official duties and with the intent to retaliate against Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins for performing their official duties, including discussing COVID-19 and its testing and prevention.
Connally also admitted sending emails threatening harm to three other individuals. Specifically, on November 24, 2020, Connally sent a series of six threatening emails to Dr. Rachel Levine, then Secretary of Health for the State of Pennsylvania, at Dr. Levine’s email account at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The subject lines and body of the emails threatened Dr. Levine with physical violence and death. Similarly, on August 31, 2020, Connally sent an email threatening physical violence and death for a public health official in Massachusetts. Finally, on April 21, 2021, Connally sent a series of four threatening emails to four individuals who work for a religious institution in Newark, New Jersey. The four emails threatened physical violence and death to a religious leader at the institution.
Investigation revealed that the anonymous encrypted email account was associated with Connally. On July 27, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants at Connally’s rental residence in Snowshoe, West Virginia, as well as on his vehicle seizing five Apple laptops and two cellular telephones belonging to Connally.
Connally faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for threats against a federal official. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for August 4, 2022 at 11:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HHS OIG for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Jessica C. Collins, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man Charged with Threatening and Cyberstalking CongressmanRead the Press Release
A man known for showing up uninvited to political events and attempting to get close to politicians was charged this week for cyberstalking and making multiple threatening statements regarding U.S. Representative Kevin Hern and his family. Hern represents Oklahoma’s first congressional district.
Keith Charles Eisenberger, 39, of Bartlesville, was charged by Criminal Complaint with threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder a United States official; threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder an immediate family member of a United States official, and cyberstalking. The Complaint was unsealed after Eisenberger made an initial appearance late Friday in U.S. District Court.
The Complaint alleges that starting in November 2018 when Representative Hern took office, Eisenberger allegedly began making concerning statements about Hern that became increasingly more violent over time. He did so during visits and phone calls to the congressman’s offices in Washington, DC, and Tulsa and on social media.
Multiple alleged incidents are highlighted in the Complaint to include:
In January 2019, Eisenberger appeared in the Washington, DC offices, yelling and demanding to see Hern. He later allegedly told U.S. Capitol Police special agents that he was angry with the Hern because Eisenberger believed he was elected illegally. He stated that he believed the congressman had been appointed to the seat without Eisenberger being considered for it. He then stated that he’d flown to Washington, DC, on a one-way ticket and would not be returning until the Congressman resigned.
In a social media post dated Nov. 9, 2020, Eisenberger again voiced his anger about the election and further suggested that the congressman and the state of Oklahoma deserved to be “federally executed” and that if that was not feasible then the resignation, death or expulsion of Hern was acceptable.
In a lengthy October 2021 social media video post, he allegedly touted that he was going to assault the congressman, whether it be at a debate, a conference, or elsewhere.
Investigators further allege that in a May 11, 2022, social media post, Eisenberger stated that he hoped to kidnap Hern and his wife. He further wished harm would come to the congressman’s family.
The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This matter will proceed in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, where the Complaint is currently pending. A Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Local man admits to illegally selling firearmsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to unlawfully dealing firearms without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Qusay Waleed Taha admitted to purchasing more than 100 firearms between July 11, 2018, and Aug. 19, 2019, in order to resell for profit. Taha also admitted he repeatedly bought firearms though licensed dealers and sold them to local individuals at gun shows.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Aug. 11. At that time, Taha faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Taha has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.
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.
Lehigh Acres Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Danzavieran Durand Thurman. (35, Lehigh Acres) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Court also ordered Thurman to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.
According to court documents, on October 16, 2020, deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to a hotel in Fort Myers after locating a car in the hotel’s parking lot that had been used in an armed home invasion. Law enforcement had identified Thurman as one of the suspects involved in the armed home invasion. Deputies obtained a search warrant to search the hotel room Thurman was occupying. During a search of the hotel room, LSCO deputies discovered a loaded firearm hidden in a mattress box spring frame. Subsequent forensic analysis of the firearm linked it to Thurman. As a previously convicted felon, Thurman is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Kentucky Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Analogues in Toledo AreaRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Rebecca Gilliam, 34, of Grayson, Kentucky, was sentenced on Thursday, May 19, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick to five and a half years in prison after Gilliam pleaded guilty to her role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and acetyl fentanyl in the Toledo area.
According to court documents, in February 2021, Gilliam and co-defendants Roger Burnett, Ian Collier and Sonya Mayo were arrested following an investigation into narcotics trafficking in Toledo. Authorities arrested the group following a traffic stop in which the defendants admitted to possession of narcotics, including over 180 grams of methamphetamine and over 140 grams of acetyl fentanyl.
Defendant Sonya Mayo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on March 8, 2022. Mayo is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2022.
The matters against Defendants Roger Burnett and Ian Collier remain ongoing. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching.
Kansas Man Sentenced for Counterfeit Currency and Fictitious Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Deantra Lamar Watson, 42, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon to a sentence of time served for Transportation of Fictitious Obligations of the United States, Possession of Counterfeit Currency, and Possession of a Document-Making Implement or Authentication Feature. Watson has been in custody for approximately 9 months. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release, Watson will serve a 5-year term of Supervised Release.
On September 2, 2021, Watson was stopped by deputies in Richardson County, Nebraska. Watson was arrested on state charges and a search was conducted of his vehicle. During the search, officers found $3,434.00 in counterfeit United States currency. Officers also found $4,800 in fictitious United States Treasury checks that were purported Covid Economic Impact Payments. Officers found fictitious driver’s licenses with defendant’s picture, but other individuals’ information. Also in Watson’s possession was a book bag which contained blank white plastic cards with mag strips and chips. Law enforcement also found printed images purporting to be Kansas Driver’s licenses that were printed on paper with an adhesive backing as well as paper images of licenses that could be placed on a white plastic card to create an identification. A printer used to make identification cards on white plastic cards was also found.
“Today’s sentence is a reminder that the United States Secret Service is committed to aggressively investigating and pursuing those who commit financial crimes against citizens of our communities,” said Brandon C. Bridgeforth, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Kansas City Field Office. “The success in this case demonstrates the investigative capabilities of the Secret Service and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners. The Secret Service will continue to work with all our counterparts to effectively identify those victimizing our communities and bring them to justice while protecting the financial infrastructure of the United States.”
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Richard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Omaha Police Department.
KC Man Shot by Police Officer Sentenced for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who was shot by an Independence, Mo., police officer as he attempted to strike the officer with his truck before leading officers on a high-speed chase, was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Isaiah Fulson-Dewberry, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to seven years and six months in federal prison without parole.
On June 29, 2020, Fulson-Dewberry pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Two Independence police officers were dispatched to Pepperwood Apartments on Sept. 1, 2019, on reported prowlers. The officers arrived at the apartment complex in separate vehicles and approached from opposite directions. Fulson-Dewberry, driving a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche (later determined to be stolen), pulled out of a parking space and began driving through the parking lot. When the first officer’s marked patrol vehicle approached, Fulson-Dewberry put the truck in reverse and went back into the parking area, driving up onto the curb into the grass. The truck then drove forward and deliberately rammed the front end of the officer’s vehicle. Two passengers – a white female and a black male – ran from the truck and were never located. The truck backed up again and slammed into a parked truck, pushing it into another parked vehicle, and then rammed into the front of the officer’s vehicle a second time.
The truck backed up again, clipping the front end of the second officer’s patrol vehicle, and then went forward again, hitting the front of the patrol vehicle and pushing it. The officer was outside of his vehicle and Fulson-Dewberry swerved the truck at him. The officer, fearing for his life, fired 10 rounds from his duty weapon into the driver’s side of the truck.
Fulson-Dewbery fled from the apartment complex and a pursuit was initiated. The truck made it onto westbound 39th Street. The truck drove on the shoulder of the road, passing vehicles at a high rate of speed and running red lights at busy intersections. The truck also entered into oncoming traffic, nearly striking two different eastbound vehicles head on. The truck proceeded onto southbound Lee’s Summit Road and attempted to get onto the ramp to westbound I-70, but was traveling too fast and spun out into the ditch just onto the ramp to westbound I-70 from Lee’s Summit Road.
Fulson-Dewberry got out of the driver’s side of the truck and threw a loaded Walther .22-caliber handgun into the grassy area near the truck. Fulson-Dewberry had a gunshot wound that passed through his left calf and entered his right calf, where the bullet lodged. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported for medical treatment.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Fulson-Dewberry has prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine, burglary of a motor vehicle, identity theft, fleeing from law enforcement, and two prior felony convictions for theft.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Marquez. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
KC Man Involved in Shoot-out Pleads Guilty to Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who was involved in a shoot-out at a local gas station pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing a firearm.
Tirrell M. Thompson, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
By pleading guilty today, Thompson admitted that he was involved in a shoot-out at a gas station near 45th and The Paseo on May 6, 2020. A federal marshal witnessed the shooting, in which Thompson pulled a Taurus .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun from his waistband, ducked behind his car, and shot back at another individual who was shooting at him. The marshal also saw Thompson flee from the gas station in a silver vehicle.
A police helicopter identified the fleeing car, which slowed down as Thompson tossed the handgun out of the car near 58th Terrace and Swope Parkway. Police officers arrested Thompson and found the handgun, which had blood on it, in the area where Thompson had tossed it.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Thompson has two prior felony convictions for resisting arrest and a prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.
Under federal statutes, Thompson is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. Foley. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Justice Department Announces Updated Guidance on Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender BiasRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced guidance to help law enforcement agencies (LEAs) recognize, mitigate and prevent gender bias and other biases from compromising the response to, and investigation of, sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence.
“At the Department of Justice, we know that investigating cases involving sexual assault and domestic violence is challenging – it demands thorough investigations and a careful effort to avoid unintentionally worsening the victimization for survivors of these crimes,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “This guidance provides best practices that — when implemented into all levels of policy, training and supervision — help law enforcement provide services free from discrimination on the basis of gender, and therefore handle these cases more effectively.”
The department is committed to reducing violent crime, building strong communities, and ending gender-based violence. The 2022 guidance builds on the first principle of the department’s comprehensive strategy to reduce violent crime by building trust through meaningful law enforcement engagement with, and accountability to, the communities they serve, including survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“When gender bias impacts policing — from ignoring reports of sexual assault, mishandling sexual misconduct investigations or the failure to discipline officers who commit domestic violence — law enforcement’s legitimacy erodes, and survivors’ trust in police is diminished,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our dedication to combatting gender bias in policing is about promoting accountability, and fostering greater trust in investigations of gender-based violence.”
“The guidance announced today reaffirms our commitment to expanding access to justice for all survivors, who deserve respect, compassion and self-determination,” said Office on Violence Against Women Acting Director Allison Randall. “Eliminating gender bias in policing is a key piece in ending gender-based violence, and can have a real, immediate impact on the safety of survivors, their loved ones and, indeed, their entire communities.”
The guidance reflects input from a wide array of stakeholders, including law enforcement leaders, victim advocates, and civil rights advocates, and builds on previous guidance the department issued in 2015. The original 2015 guidance served two key purposes. First, it examined how gender bias can undermine the response of LEAs to sexual assault and domestic violence. Second, it provided a set of eight basic principles that – if integrated into LEAs’ policies, trainings and practices – help ensure that gender bias, either intentionally or unintentionally, does not undermine efforts to keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable. The 2022 revisions to the guidance maintain and build on this framework.
Based on input from stakeholders, the 2022 guidance more thoroughly addresses the need for trauma-informed law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence; provides additional examples of how LEAs can incorporate the guidance principles into their policies and practices; discusses the ways that gender bias can intersect with other forms of bias to disproportionately affect survivors from marginalized communities, including but not limited to communities of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) survivors, immigrant survivors and individuals with limited English proficiency; and expands the discussion of the need to address and prevent officer-committed domestic violence and sexual misconduct to hold offenders accountable and enhance community trust.
In conjunction with the revised guidance, the department’s OVW is launching a new webpage, which hosts a comprehensive, annotated list of resources designed to assist LEAs working to implement the guidance and its core principles. Most of these resources have been developed since 2015 and reflect the work of national law enforcement organizations and other DOJ-funded technical assistance providers.
Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias
Investigation by Tucson Strike Force Leads to Indictment of 13 Members of Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced the unsealing of a 30-count indictment against 13 individuals for charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. On May 4, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned the indictment against the following individuals:
- Jasiel Soloman Corral-Cinco, 32, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
- Eduardo Martinez-Torres, 38, of Tucson, Arizona.
- Carlos Edgardo Rincones Vega, 25, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
- Hector Manuel Cruz, 37, of Tucson, Arizona.
- Angel Ariel-Zubia, 31, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
- Melecio Hernan Garcia, 32, of Rio Rico, Arizona.
- Alejandro Reyes Altamirano, 29, of Tucson, Arizona.
- Ruben Sebastian Felix-Escamilla, 24, of Sonora, Mexico.
- Jesus Castenada, 22, of Tucson, Arizona.
- Jose Flores, 32, of Rio Rico, Arizona.
- Alejandro Linares, 35, of Rio Rico, Arizona.
- Eduardo Linares, 36, of Rio Rico, Arizona.
- Alejandro Melendez, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona.
The indictment alleges that the 13 individuals were members of a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization that was involved in the delivery of large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, counterfeit M-30 oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl, and heroin. The investigation leading to their indictment involved a series of drug transactions in Arizona as well as seizures of drugs at Ports of Entry.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Possess with the intent to Distribute the quantities of drugs alleged in the Indictment carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10,000,000.00 fine.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation was a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local investigators and is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative in Southern Arizona that is being led by the Tucson Strike Force.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Arizona Department of Public Safety led the investigation, with significant contributions from Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshal Service, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Marana Police Department, and the South Tucson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney and Lead Strike Force Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-00980-TUC-RM (LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-079_Corral-Cinco, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.INTERPOL Washington Assists the Republic of Panama to Enhance its Border Security CapabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Project Terminus team in Panama.INTERPOL Washington—INTERPOL Washington, the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—recently partnered with the U.S. Department of State to increase The Republic of Panama’s capacity to screen the illicit international travel of transnational criminals and terrorists. Under the U.S. State Department-funded Project TERMINUS, the Panamanian Government implemented an automated system for uploading its stolen and lost travel documents into INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database. This database serves as a searchable repository containing more than 120 million records accessible to law enforcement and border security authorities in all 195 INTERPOL member countries.
The Domestic SLTD Database (DSD) solution enabled Panama to quickly and easily establish a robust and feature-rich authoritative national database of stolen and lost travel documents to be managed by Autoridad de Pasaportes de Panama and the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Panama City. The SLTD Uploader software solution automates the submission and management of Panama's stolen and lost travel document records in the global INTERPOL SLTD searchable database. This data management and automation solution was made possible by computer hardware and custom software developed, provided, and installed by the USNCB’s Border Security Division. This accomplishment is the culmination of more than three months of active collaboration between the USNCB, the U.S State Department, INTERPOL, and The Republic of Panama.
“Project TERMINUS is providing significant improvements in border security screening capacity for INTERPOL member countries around the world, including in our own hemisphere. Our partnership with the Department of State pays dividends every day as we continue to provide the advanced border security tools necessary to detect and deter transnational criminals. Border security is a collective responsibility among nations, and the USNCB is pleased to be a leader in those efforts,” said USNCB Director Michael A. Hughes.
The Panamanian project is the latest in a series of successful SLTD access improvement projects under the Project TERMINUS initiative, each building on prior lessons learned. In addition to The Republic of Panama, Partner Nations currently receiving assistance under Project TERMINUS include The Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Established in 2015, Project TERMINUS is a partnership between the USNCB’s Border Security Division and the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism. The mission of Project TERMINUS is to extend INTERPOL's I-24/7 secure, global police-to-police communications system in high-risk areas and select host nations globally.
INTERPOL’s SLTD database is a critical tool for combatting terrorism by preventing Foreign Terrorist Fighter (FTF) movements by identifying and interdicting FTFs and other transnational criminals using stolen, lost, or revoked documents such as passports, visas, and identity documents. By ensuring that law enforcement officers have access to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 system, front-line authorities can search and cross-check traveler data in a matter of seconds and share sensitive or urgent police information with their counterparts around the globe in real-time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington, the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB), is the designated United States representative to INTERPOL on behalf of the Attorney General. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies.