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Tuesday 17 May 2022
El Salvador man indicted on illegal immigration chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Emerson Corvera, a citizen of El Salvador, was indicted today on an illegal reentry charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Corvera was convicted in June 2016 in the Northern District of Florida for transporting women for prostitution. The indictment alleged that at least 26 women were sold “by the session” as a part of the conspiracy. Corvera was removed from the United States by ICE after that conviction. Corvera was indicted this week on one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien Previously Convicted of an Aggravated Felony.” He is accused of being in Berkeley County illegally in April 2022.
Corvera faces up to 20 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 Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Decatur County Man Sentenced for Resisting Arrest by a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN- Anthony Ray Phoenix, 37, of Decatur County, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for resisting arrest by a federal officer. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in November of 2019, officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating and apprehending Anthony Ray Phoenix on active warrants for fleeing from patrolmen. Additionally, the Marshals determined Phoenix was wanted for a Tennessee State Probation violation, assault, and battery in Kentucky, resisting arrest in Texas, and a probation violation in Idaho. Phoenix was known to be affiliated with the Aryan Nation Gang as well.
On December 2, 2019, members of the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, along with local law enforcement and special agents of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, located Phoenix at a residence in Decatur County, Tennessee. Upon approach, Phoenix was observed in a white Ford Expedition parked outside of the residence.
Phoenix fled from law enforcement officers through the backyard, a barbed-wire fence, and down a road at a high rate of speed before turning around and heading back through the same backyard towards the residence. Phoenix continued traveling at a high rate of speed, through another fence, into the original backyard and directly toward a Deputy U.S. Marshal and a Special Agent with the Tennessee Department of Corrections. With a fence to the Deputies’ right and the residence behind, the Deputy Marshal had no way to escape and in fear for his safety, fired his weapon in the direction of the vehicle.
Phoenix was subsequently taken into custody; all parties were uninjured. While interviewed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agents, Phoenix admitted knowing law enforcement officers were pursing him, as he attempted to evade arrest.
On January 25, 2022, Phoenix pled guilty.
At sentencing, the Government sought, and the Court found, an increase in sentence because Phoenix created a substantial risk of bodily injury by driving his vehicle towards the Deputy Marshal and the TDOC Special Agent to evade apprehension by fleeing.
On May 9, 2022, Chief United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Phoenix to 100 months incarceration with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
"Law enforcement are public servants that place their lives on the line every day, enforcing laws throughout our communities. Sadly, physical danger is part of what it means to wear a badge. But trying to hurt a Deputy United States Marshal has serious consequences. We are glad our Deputy Marshal wasn’t seriously injured, and this case has concluded," said United States Marshal Tyreece Miller.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Tennessee Department of Correction, Decatur County Sheriff's Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Cleveland Man Sentenced to Prison for Starting Fire in Rebol Restaurant During May 30 Demonstrations and Unrest in Downtown ClevelandRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Michael Sloan, 27, of Cleveland, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese to 43 months, or more than three and a half years, in prison after Sloan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson during the May 30, 2020, demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland.
“Hijacking a constitutionally-protected assembly in order to pursue a personal agenda that included arson and destruction of property is a corruption of our rights and freedoms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Those who cause violence, chaos and destruction of property will be held accountable.”
“As Americans, we all have the right to participate in peaceful protests,” stated Travis S. Riddle, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “That is not what happened here. The defendant set fire to a business to spread chaos and fear, and he is being held accountable for that violent act upon our community.”
According to court documents, on May 30, 2020, Sloan participated in a demonstration in downtown Cleveland to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later that day, Sloan arrived outside of Rebol restaurant, which had already been damaged and looted. Video recordings taken from that day showed Sloan entering and exiting Rebol restaurant multiple times over the course of twenty minutes and conversing with unknown persons outside of the restaurant. According to court documents, Sloan’s actions in this twenty-minute period included surveying the scene inside Rebol, conspiring to set a fire and actually setting a fire on Rebol’s east service counter.
Video recordings showed Sloan starting and then feeding the fire with napkins, papers and other combustibles. Video also showed Sloan continuing to feed the fire for several minutes until the fire began burning without the need for additional fuel and created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Cleveland Police arrived several minutes later and extinguished the fire before it could do additional damage. Sloan fled the area on foot.
Investigators later identified Sloan as the subject who caused the fire thanks, in part, to tips received from the public after images and video were released to the media.
This investigation was conducted by the ATF with the assistance of the Cleveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Suzana K. Koch.
Career Offender Sentenced to over 10 Years for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jerry Moore, 36, has been sentenced to 125 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on August 11, 2020, members of Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit conducted a traffic stop of Moore’s vehicle after observing him engaged in a hand to hand drug transaction at a gas station parking lot. A search of the vehicle revealed 78.5 grams of marijuana, 5.6 grams of cocaine, 34.16 grams of methamphetamine, 13.979 grams of fentanyl, and ammunition.
While on release for the above offense, a second traffic stop was conducted of a vehicle in which Moore was the driver. A subsequent search revealed 30.73 grams of methamphetamine, 24.36 grams of marijuana, and 12. 39 grams of fentanyl.
In September 2021, a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against Moore charging violations of possession with intent to distribute and for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
On January 20, 2022, the defendant pled guilty to the nine-count indictment.
On May 13, 2022, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Moore to 125 months imprisonment, to be followed by four years supervised release. Moore was determined to be a career offender. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, a defendant who is convicted of a controlled substance offense and has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense is subject to an enhanced penalty. Prior to the commission of this offense Moore had been convicted
of Robbery and Criminal Attempt Voluntary Manslaughter. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit.
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Camden County Man Admits Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man with four prior felony convictions today admitted to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and to illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Tyquan Burrell, 30, of Camden, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to two counts of an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Oct. 1, 2020, law enforcement officers executing a search warrant at Burrell’s residence found 2,521 wax folds and three sandwich-sized clear plastic bags containing more than 300 grams of fentanyl, approximately $34,000 in U.S. currency, and a loaded handgun in a bedroom used by Burrell. That same day, Burrell was arrested in Camden County, New Jersey. A search incident to arrest found him to be in possession of 418 wax folds containing fentanyl.
The possession with intent to distribute fentanyl charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The charge of illegally possessing a firearm carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21, 2022.
This prosecution is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Camden. The Camden VCI was formed in January of 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Camden County Police Department for purpose of combatting violent crime in and around the Camden area. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to investigate and prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the Camden County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals, The U.S. Probation Office, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Parole Board, the New Jersey State Police, the Rutgers University Police Department, and the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay; the Gloucester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David J. Harkins; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; and the Winslow Township Police Department under Chief George M. Smith, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Camden County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sherriff Gilbert L. “Whip” Wilson; special agents of the ATF, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; and officers of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, for their assistance with the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
Californian charged with smuggling over $114,000 in taxiRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old woman from California was residing in Atlanta, Georgia, has been indicted for smuggling cash into Mexico from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Today, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Rosa Maria Zuniga-Sagrero. She is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker for her arraignment in the near future.
According to the complaint originally filed in the case, Zuniga-Sagrero attempted to pass through a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint while a passenger in a taxi.
Authorities referred the vehicle to secondary inspection, at which time she allegedly made a negative declaration for having in excess of $10,000. However, A search of Zuniga’s jacket pockets revealed three sealed packages and a total of $114,294 in her purse, according to the charges.
If convicted, Zuniga faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
California Man Pleads Guilty in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Michael Wright pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Wright, age 44 of San Diego, California, pled guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing to occur on September 7, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Farrell Police Department, the Mercer Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office led the investigation that resulted in the conviction in this case.
Burien, Washington, seafood broker sentenced for illegally shipping potentially tainted clamsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A Burien, Washington, seafood broker was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 90 days in prison, and three years of supervised release, for smuggling goods from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jeffrey Hallin Olsen, 52, owner of Absolute Seafoods LLC, falsified documents and lied to authorities about disposing of 46 cases of potentially tainted geoduck from Alaska. U.S District Judge John C. Coughenour sentenced Olsen’s company, Absolute Seafoods LLC, to probation and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
“Mr. Olson chose to gamble with the lives of customers across the globe – putting them at risk of shellfish poisoning,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “We’ll likely never know if any of the Chinese customers became ill from these clams, but a prison sentence is justified by the danger of his conduct and his repeated lies to authorities, claiming he had destroyed the potentially harmful geoduck.”
According to records filed in the case, on February 20 or 21, 2019, Olsen purchased 2,500 pounds of geoduck from various Alaska divers. The geoduck were mixed together in crates for shipping, and were picked up at Sea-Tac Airport, to be trucked to Vancouver B.C and shipped to Hong Kong. Olsen produced a U.S. Department of Commerce Export Health Certificate stating that the geoduck met health requirements.
One day after the purchase, but before the geoduck were exported, one of the divers notified Alaska state officials that he had mistakenly harvested his geoduck from an area that had not been approved for harvest. The area had not been tested for the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, which has been a recurring problem in Alaskan waters. An Alaska Wildlife Trooper notified Olsen that he needed to destroy the shipment as it was unsafe to consume. Olsen told the trooper he would destroy the geoduck.
Instead of destroying the geoduck, Olsen illegally shipped most of the geoduck to Hong Kong for human consumption. Olsen shipped an additional 10 cases of potentially tainted geoduck to a buyer in Oakland, California. Olsen prepared false shipping paperwork that falsely identified the contents of the crates as “fresh Yelloweye.”
Olsen falsely told Alaskan officials that he had destroyed the geoduck and provided them with a bill from the King County garbage transfer station as proof the geoduck had been destroyed. However, investigators reviewed surveillance video from the transfer station showing that at the time of the receipt, Olsen only disposed of a small amount of household waste. Investigators also retrieved video showing Olsen personally delivering the crates for shipment to Oakland.
The case was investigated by NOAA Fisheries Enforcement, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police and the Alaska Department of Public Safety, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans – Canada.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson.
NOAA photo Potentially tainted geoduck NOAA photoBronx Man Involved in Brazen Burglary Ring Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER J. SANTIAGO, 27, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a brazen burglary ring that resulted in the theft of millions of dollars in vehicles, phones, ATMs and other merchandise from numerous locations in Connecticut, New York and elsewhere.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Santiago was a member of a theft ring that, between June 2020 and January 2021, primarily burglarized car dealerships and mobile phone stores in Connecticut and New York. From dealerships they stole vehicle key fobs and vehicles, and from mobile phone stores they stole cell phones, electronics and other merchandise. Conspiracy members also stole ATMs from check cashing businesses and burglarized video game stores. Santiago and his associates committed more than 180 burglaries and stole more than $4 million in property.
Santiago and his associates often burglarized multiple locations in one night and, on numerous occasions, escaped from police by engaging the police in high-speed chases that had to be terminated for safety reasons. An apparent tally found on Santiago’s phone after his arrest indicated that he had engaged police in 89 chases.
The investigation also revealed that Santiago and some of his associates possessed firearms during the conspiracy.
On January 15, 2021, when investigators sought to conduct a court-authorized search of Santiago’s residence, Santiago’s pit bull attacked an FBI agent and badly wounded his arm. Santiago was arrested, and a search of the residence revealed approximately 20 new cell phones in boxes, approximately 40 vehicle key fobs, a police radio, a glass-punch device, two firearms and a substantial amount of ammunition.
On February 16, 2021, Santiago and three co-conspirators were charged in a 13-count superseding indictment. A fourth co-conspirator was subsequently charged.
Santiago has been detained since his arrest. On February 22, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen property.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of approximately 30 local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Ray Miller.
Boston Man Sentenced for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for passport fraud.
Gustavo Vallejo, 47, a Dominican national living in Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to one year of probation with two months of home confinement. On Feb. 2, 2022, Vallejo pleaded guilty to making false statements in a United States passport application.
In July 2011, Vallejo allegedly submitted an application for a U.S. Passport using the personal identifying information of a United States citizen.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Boise Man Sentenced to over 6 Years for Transporting Women for Prostitution and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Boise man was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison for transporting women for prostitution and money laundering.
According to court records, between July 2019 and June 2021, Dannie Carr, 37, of Boise, Idaho, was the manager of a businessengaged in the interstate prostitution of two women, primarily between Idaho and Washington. Carr coerced the women to engage and remain in the prostitution business by perpetrating domestic violence upon them. Carr recruited customers for the women by placing online advertisements for sexual services and reserved hotel rooms for the women to meet customers. Between January 2019 and May 2021, Carr made, or caused the victims to make, 480 hotel reservations in Washington, California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, for the victims to provide sexual services.
As part of Carr’s business, the women received proceeds from sexual services through an online payment service, and then transferred the proceeds to Carr. The online transactions contained false notations that were designed to conceal the nature and source of the proceeds. In total, Carr laundered between $250,000 and $550,000 in proceeds from his prostitution business. Law enforcement determined that Carr used some of the laundered proceeds to purchase jewelry. Law enforcement later seized the jewelry from Carr’s Boise residence. Carr did not report the income he made from the prostitution business to the Internal Revenue Service and failed to file tax returns for the 2018 through 2020 tax years.
“We are proud of the partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement that led to this important prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. “We will spare no effort to investigate and hold accountable anyone who would seek to profit through abuse and exploitation of another.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Carr to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to forfeit the jewelry that was purchased with illegal proceeds.
“Human trafficking is a real and growing threat across the Pacific Northwest. Those engaged in this type of crime will find the same fate as Mr. Carr,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “We are thankful for our partnerships across the region both with law enforcement and the community which facilitate the rescue of the victims of human trafficking as well as the prosecution of those responsible.”
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Department of Homeland Security – Center for Countering Human Trafficking, United States Customs Border Protection – National Targeting and Tactical Center, Transportation Security Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Idaho State Police – Idaho Criminal Intelligence Center, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Port of Seattle Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department (Washington), which led to charges.
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Birmingham Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Gulf Shores ArsonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer has sentenced Cameron Dashawn Ford, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 108 months’ imprisonment on federal arson charges.
According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in June of 2021, Ford started a fire in an act of revenge against his then-girlfriend at the Lighthouse Condominium complex in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The condominium complex was occupied by guests at the time, and the act of arson was extremely dangerous to the community. As part of his guilty plea, Ford admitted that he had live-streamed himself setting the fire on social media.“Thanks to the quick work of the Gulf Shores Fire Department, the damage from Ford’s crime was limited,” said United States Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Working with our partners at ATF, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who endangers our community in this manner.”
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives works collaboratively with our state, local and federal partners to investigate fires and crimes of arson. These violent acts needlessly jeopardize the safety and security of our community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French. “We will always be persistent in our efforts to pursue those individuals who recklessly perform acts that exhibit lack of self-control and total disregard for human life.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gulf Shores Fire Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Baker Woman Charged in Federal Court with Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Presentation of False and Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned an eleven-count indictment charging Bridget Rogers White, age 47, of Baker, Louisiana, with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for herself and others.
The indictment alleges that White operated an income tax preparation business out of her Baker residence from at least January of 2015 through June of 2018. Through that business, White routinely prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for herself and others. On numerous occasions, from 2016 to 2018, White allegedly aided and assisted in the preparation of false returns that included fictitious businesses, business expenses, and education credits, among other false items.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Gardner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Monday 16 May 2022
Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to her role in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Jessica Hughes, of Orange, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine). U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2022. Hughes was charged along with 17 others in July 2020.
According to court documents, following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, law enforcement began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in the Fitchburg area led by co-conspirators Pedro Baez and Anthony Baez. Beginning in July 2019, intercepted electronic communications revealed that Pedro and Anthony Baez worked together and with others to distribute a fentanyl and heroin mixture and crack cocaine on a regular basis to individuals in the Fitchburg area who then redistributed that mixture to others. Hughes was a regular drug customer of the DTO and routinely purchased both a fentanyl/heroin mixture and crack cocaine from Pedro Baez.
Over the course of the investigation, agents seized over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and over 50 grams of crack cocaine, as well as a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000.
Hughes is the 13th defendant to plead guilty in the case. In December 2020, Anthony Baez was sentenced by Judge Hillman to 13 years in prison. Co-defendants Pedro Baez, Amanda Ford, Monica Troche, Branny Taveras, Shastaalena Blair, Valerie Lucier, Pablo Vidarte Hernandez, Kevin Martinez, Ricky Figueroa, Hector Matos and Rafael Hidalgo Rodriguez have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, a term of supervised release of up to life and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Massachusetts State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wolf Point meth dealer sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking drugs on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community and around the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Marlina Nannett Martinez, 24, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
Court documents filed by the government alleged that Martinez distributed meth and fentanyl pills. When law enforcement searched her residence in October 2020, they found an out-of-state fentanyl supplier, approximately 15 grams of meth that Martinez tried to conceal, a rifle, and fentanyl pills sitting in the open on a table. There was a young child in the residence. Individuals reported to law enforcement in interviews that they had bought illegal pills and meth from Martinez.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Wasilla Man Sentenced for Killing Harbor SealRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Wasilla man was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon to two years of probation, 100 hours of community service, a hunting restriction, abandonment of his interest in a firearm and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
According to court documents, Paul Gil, 41, shot at and killed a harbor seal using an AR15-style firearm in the waters of Prince William Sound in October 2017. He then transported the dead seal to his residence where he was photographed skinning the seal. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) biologist identified the animal in the photograph as a harbor seal which is a marine mammal protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA confirmed that Gil was not authorized to take a marine mammal.
“We are committed to protecting Alaska’s unique and highly vulnerable marine mammal species from illegal takes and exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The senseless killing of protected species, such as the harbor seal, impacts the viability of its population. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases so future generations can see and experience these animals in their natural habitat.”
“Harbor seals are an important part of Alaska’s marine ecosystem,” said Jon Kurland, Alaska Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Shooting seals is prohibited by federal law unless specifically authorized or exempted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, such as the exemption for non-wasteful subsistence use by Alaska Natives. This case was a collaborative effort between the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and the National Park Service. I would like to thank our agents and officers and our partner agencies for their contributions to this important case.”
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Hattan, NOAA Office of General Counsel, prosecuted the case.
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Washington, D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Committing an Armed Robbery and Two Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Rashaun Onley, age 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to federal charges of committing an armed commercial robbery, carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Don Hayes of the City of Alexandria, Virginia Police Department; Chief Charles “Andy” Penn of the Arlington County, Virginia Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.
According to his guilty plea, in the early morning of February 5, 2021, Onley and a co-defendant entered a convenience store in Silver Spring, Maryland, selected some items from the shelves, and approached the counter. Onley grabbed a convenience store employee, Victim 1, by the shirt, struck Victim 1 in the head, led Victim 1 behind the counter, and forced Victim 1 to his knees. Onley then brandished a black semiautomatic handgun and ordered Victim 1 and Victim 2, another employee, to open the cash register. Victim 2 opened the cash register and Onley and the co-defendant removed the cash from the register and fled. Officers with the Montgomery County Police Department (“MCPD”) recovered video surveillance footage showed Onley and his co-defendant committing the robbery.
Also on February 5, 2021, at approximately 4:57 p.m., in Alexandria, Virginia, three men carjacked at gunpoint a dark gray Volkswagen Tiguan with Pennsylvania registration plates (“Volkswagen”). Victim 3, the driver, reported that he had just parked his vehicle when one suspect told Victim 3 to get out of the vehicle, while a second suspect pointed a black handgun at Victim 3. Victim 3 began to get out of the car but was grabbed by a suspect and pulled away from the vehicle. All three suspects fled in the Volkswagen. Victim 3 reported that his iPhone was still inside the vehicle.
As detailed in Onley’s plea agreement, a little more than one hour later, Onley, his co-defendant, and Co-Conspirator 1 carjacked at gunpoint Victim 4, who was driving a Lexus ES300 (“Lexus”) in Silver Spring. Onley approached Victim 4 first with a gun in his hand and stated, “I’m gonna blow you up, give me your money and keys.” Onley’s co-defendant, who also was armed with a gun, approached Victim 4 and demanded his car keys. Co-Conspirator 1 was driving the Volkswagen. Fearing for his life, Victim 4 handed over his property. Onley’s co-defendant drove the Lexus away, while Onley got into the front passenger seat of the Volkswagen and fled the scene. A short time later the Lexus was located abandoned nearby.
According to the plea agreement, approximately two minutes after the carjacking of the Lexus, Onley and the co-defendant approached Victim 5, who was sitting in a Mercedes ML350 sport utility vehicle (“Mercedes”). Onley ordered Victim 5 to “get out” while he pointed a gun at her. Victim 5 exited in fear for her life, while Onley and his co-defendant took Victim 5’s vehicle and fled the scene. MCPD officers interviewed Victim 5 and obtained surveillance footage relating to the carjacking.
Less than 30 minutes later, Onley and his co-defendant were seen arriving in the Volkswagen on surveillance video capturing the outside of the co-defendant’s residence, an apartment building located in Washington, D.C. They both were wearing the same clothing visible in the surveillance videos of the Silver Spring carjacking of the Mercedes and in the robbery of the convenience store. A short time later, Onley exited the building and stood on the front porch, where he removed a mobile phone from his pocket, smashed the phone on the concrete porch, and threw the phone in the front dirt or lawn area of the building. Law enforcement recovered the smashed phone two days later and confirmed that it was the iPhone belonging to Victim 3 that was left inside of the Volkswagen.
Later that evening, the carjacked Mercedes parked in front of the Volkswagen. Onley and his co-defendant came out of the apartment building, went to the driver’s side of the Mercedes, and spoke with the three occupants of the vehicle. After a few minutes, the three occupants exited the Mercedes, got into the Volkswagen, and drove away. Onley and his co-defendant went back into the apartment building.
That same evening, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) saw the carjacked Volkswagen traveling in Washington D.C. After a pursuit, the occupants of the Volkswagen, including Co-Conspirator 1, bailed out of the vehicle. MPD located and arrested Co-Conspirator 1. The Maryland license plate from the carjacked Mercedes was also located a short distance away.
On February 17, 2021, the Mercedes was recovered from the street in front of the co-defendant’s apartment building.
Late in the evening of February 26, 2021, the co-defendant and Onley were ‘livestreaming’ and posting on social media about being at a hotel party in Arlington, Virginia. Law enforcement established surveillance on Onley and his co-defendant at the hotel and continued to monitor the co-defendant’s social media account, where they were able to see semiautomatic handguns in the hotel room. MCPD officers apprehended Onley and the co-defendant in the hotel room. Prior to being apprehended, the co-defendant threw a bag from the hotel room window, which law enforcement promptly recovered. The contents of the bag included two loaded firearms and 21 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Onley and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Onley will be sentenced to between 12 years and 16 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for August 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Onley has been detained since his arrest.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the City of Alexandria Police Department and the Arlington County, Virginia Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Washington Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $3.2 Million Dollars for Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Nan Ma, 39, of Washington, Utah, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge in St. George, Utah, to serve 33 months in federal prison for failing to file financial reports with the United States Treasury after bringing currency in excess of $10,000 back into the United States from China. Ma was also ordered to pay $2,563,337 million dollars in restitution to Sound Vision Technology (“SVT”), which is a high-end audio business in Hurricane, Utah, and ordered to pay $777,879 dollars in restitution to the IRS for outstanding federal tax obligations.
Ma was accused by federal prosecutors of using his position and authority as the officer in charge of production at SVT to solicit and obtain kickbacks for his personal benefit from Chinese companies. In exchange for the kickbacks, Ma was alleged to have awarded lucrative contracts to these companies to manufacture and sell products to his employer. Over the course of his scheme, Ma caused SVT to overpay for its products by approximately $2,563,337.09.
Ma, who is a Chinese citizen with legal permanent resident status in the U.S., took this money for himself and purchased a series of larger and larger homes, expensive vehicles, and townhomes in the St. George area. He also had significant amounts of cash tucked away in various bank accounts. These assets have been forfeited and it is anticipated that the proceeds from the forfeiture will be applied to pay restitution to SVT.
Ma concealed the source of the funds he was getting through the alleged kickbacks by making false representations to his employer about the origin of his new-found wealth.
In the plea agreement, Ma agreed to forfeit any ill-gotten gains, and admitted that in September of 2019, he travelled to China and obtained Chinese Yuen currency worth $47,934 in U.S. Dollars and that he brought this money from China into the United States without filing a report with the United States Treasury. In so doing, Ma violated a federal law requiring that anyone who brings more than $10,000 of foreign currency into the U.S. to file a report with the U.S. Treasury.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Murray from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Washington County Man Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Connor Frazier, 34, of Barre, Vermont was arraigned today on an indictment that alleges Frazier unlawfully possessed child sexual abuse materials, also known as child pornography, on or about July 1, 2021. At today’s hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Frazier to be released on conditions of pretrial supervision pending trial.
The federal case arises from the same circumstances underlying a pending state criminal case against Frazier that was filed in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit, in July 2021.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Frazier will be presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. If convicted, Frazier would face a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing child sexual abuse materials. Any sentence ultimately imposed would be advised by the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
The prosecutor in the federal case is Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher. Frazier is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Vermont.
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 Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (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.
United States Marshals Service “Operation Washout” Nets 152 Arrests and 62 Firearms SeizedRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – After a final arrest last weekend, federal authorities are releasing the
results of a month long, large scale, multi-agency, law enforcement operation led by the U.S.
Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, operating primarily throughout March
2022. The operation resulted in more than 150 arrests, including three individuals being charged
with homicide in St. Clair County in connection with one of the firearms seized.Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked countless hours concentrating
their efforts on known gang members, wanted subjects, and other known violent
offenders. Operation Washout (OWO) is a United States Marshals initiative deployed to local areas
to bring immediate relief from violent, gang related crime. The goal is to foster safer
communities by investigating and arresting fugitives and members of criminal
organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.The detail yielded 153 arrests with 55 of those subjects being identified as gang members. Also
seized were 62 firearms, $42,974 in U.S. Currency, two vehicles, and 26.9 kilograms of narcotics.
Enforcement operations were focused on Madison and St. Clair counties, in addition to
the Centralia region.“Federal law enforcement is at its best when coordinating our resources to focus on those who
present the biggest threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “I
credit the U.S. Marshals Service for their excellent work. They perform an incredibly valuable
service to the community by searching for and apprehending the most violent offenders in the most
dangerous areas.”“This operation is a great example of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners
working together to have a significant impact on reducing violent crime in our communities,” said
Jeremy Wyatt, Acting United States Marshal. “Thank you to all of the law enforcement officers
that participated in this operation and put it on the line every day to ensure a safer community
for everyone.”
Participating agencies included U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau
of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI), Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections – Parole
(IDOC), St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit (DTU), St. Clair County Probation, Granite City Police
Department, Alton Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Centralia Police
Department, St. Clair, Madison, Jefferson, Effingham, Marion, and Clinton County
Sheriff’s Departments.U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers Honors and Remembers Fallen Law Enforcement Officers During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers they left behind.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. According to National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund, in 2021, 472 U.S. law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, including 319 who succumbed to COVID-19.
In 2021, the following six officers died in the line of duty in the Southern District of Indiana, and their names were read and added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C.
- Gregory J. Ferency, FBI Task Force Officer and Terre Haute Police Detective
- James A. Driver, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- Anthony W. Hinshaw, Losantville Town Marshal
- James R. Hirtzel, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
- Robert W. Nicholson, Clark County Sheriff’s Office
- John D. Starks, Clark County Sheriff’s Office
“We honor those law enforcement officers who gave their lives in service of their communities and our thoughts are with their families,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “We must never lose sight of the danger and difficulties that law enforcement officers face on our behalf. Without them, we cannot protect the public and maintain the rule of law. We are forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.”
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins Recognizes Police Week in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“During National Police Week, we pay tribute to the bravery and selflessness displayed by law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives serving our country and our communities,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “We honor the memory of these brave officers, and the service of all law enforcement officers, by continuing to uphold the laws of the United States in a fair and impartial manner. On behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, I am honored to extend my gratitude to all law enforcement officers for their service to our country.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston Recognizes Law Enforcement Partners for National Police WeekRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, NC - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is officially observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022, and events are planned in the district from May 10 to May 19.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“The law enforcement partners we have on the local, state, and federal levels in the Middle District of North Carolina are among the best in the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston. “Every day, these men and women serve their communities with the utmost dignity and respect, often putting themselves in harm’s way for public safety. We thank them for their service this week and honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty while protecting others.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Five officers died in 2021 from injuries sustained in the line of duty in the Middle District of North Carolina.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial were read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C. Those who wish to view the vigil online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Law enforcement officers sacrifice so much for our community to keep us safe from the criminal element. I want to offer my appreciation for their tireless work, and I ask everyone to recognize their contribution to a safe society. Please continue to support law enforcement throughout the year and thank them for their service.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.s. Attorney Chung Joins Attorney General Garland in Recognizing Police WeekRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Cindy Chung will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
“The men and women who protect our communities have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives to guarantee our safety,” stated U.S. Attorney Chung. “We here at the USAO could not do our work without the hard work, collaboration, and sharing of information from our Western Pennsylvania law enforcement partners. Our Chiefs, deputies, troopers, and officers not only react to crime but disrupt and de-escalate tense and potentially violent situations. They also engage with their communities to build positive relationships with the citizens they serve.”
U.S. Attorney Chung today visited the Western Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Officer Memorial on Pittsburgh’s North Shore to place a wreath in honor of those who have sacrificed their lives for their communities. She also presented commendations to officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and tactical medics involved in de-escalation efforts. On May 19th, U.S. Attorney Chung will visit the Warren County Sheriff’s Department to honor a Deputy Sheriff for de-escalating a standoff stemming from a domestic violence incident. Later that evening, she will attend the Beaver County Police Memorial Ceremony Candlelight Vigil at sundown. On May 20th in the morning, she will recognize four individuals involved in the investigation and prosecution of a Brownsville man for producing and possessing images of his sexual assault of children.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial were read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
Two Years in Federal Prison for Drug User with a Loaded Handgun in Dubuque Cell Phone Store BathroomRead the Press Release
A man who was found under the influence of methamphetamine in a Dubuque cell phone store bathroom with a loaded handgun was sentenced May 12, 2022, to two years in federal prison.
Austin Matthew Oberbroeckling, age 27, from Farley, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 5, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user.
In a plea agreement, Oberbroeckling admitted that, in August 2019, the Dubuque Police Department received a call of a suspicious individual at a Dubuque cell phone store. A responding officer arrived and found Oberbroeckling inside the bathroom near the sink. A .40 caliber handgun loaded with 14 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber was located on the tank of the toilet. Oberbroeckling had red and watery eyes, poor balance, and seemed to be lethargic and twitching. His Blood Alcohol Content was only .01, but later testing of his urine determined that Oberbroeckling had methamphetamine and biproducts of heroin and fentanyl in his system.
Oberbroeckling also admitted in the plea agreement that in August 2021 he was present at a hotel in Dubuque where drug paraphernalia was seen by hotel staff. When hotel staff told Oberbroeckling that the police would be called, Oberbroeckling and another occupant took some items and left the hotel. Hotel staff, and then police, found two shotguns in the room and various items of drug paraphernalia. Police found Oberbroeckling’s vehicle still parked outside the hotel the next day and obtained a search warrant for it. Inside the vehicle officers found a bag containing a shotgun with a shortened (sawed-off) barrel. Oberbroeckling admitted he possessed the sawed-off shotgun found in his vehicle.
Oberbroeckling was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Oberbroeckling 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.
Oberbroeckling is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21‑CR‑1026‑CJW‑MAR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Two New Yorkers plead guilty in scheme to bribe Amazon employees for inside information and platform manipulationRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two significant players in a scheme to bribe Amazon employees and contractors pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to various federal charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Nilsen, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit violations of the Travel Act and filing a false tax return. Kristen Leccese, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit violations of the Travel Act. Both are New York residents. Sentencings are scheduled for September 9, 2022, before the Honorable Richard A. Jones.
In all, three of six defendants have now pleaded guilty in a multimillion-dollar scheme to manipulate the Amazon Marketplace.
According to the plea agreements filed in the case, Nilsen, Leccese and their associates conspired to pay bribes to get Amazon employees and contractors to misuse their access to Amazon networks and confidential information. They sought to obtain various unfair competitive advantages for certain merchants on the Amazon Marketplace by, among other things, interfering with Amazon’s ability to monitor the safety and authenticity of goods sold and impairing the accuracy of information posted on the Marketplace. In the two plea agreements, Nilsen and Leccese admit they conspired to pay bribes: to obtain confidential Amazon business information; to get suspended third-party sellers and product listings reinstated on the Marketplace; to circumvent Amazon restrictions and limitations on certain products; to gain access to restricted product categories by misrepresenting the source of goods; to manipulate customer reviews; and to surveil and attack other merchants and product listings.
Nilsen also pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. In 2018 and 2019 he failed to file tax returns on behalf of his Amazon consulting company, and in 2017 he filed a false tax return significantly underreporting his and his company’s actual taxable revenue. For tax year 2017, he admits the tax loss to the U.S. is $44,178.
Conspiracy to commit violations of the Travel Act is punishable by up to five years in prison. Conspiracy to commit Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years in prison.
On February 11, 2022, defendant Rohit Kadimisetty was sentenced to ten months in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.
Two defendants, Ephraim Rosenberg, of Brooklyn, New York, and Hadis Nuhanovic, of Acworth, Georgia, remain scheduled for trial in October 2022. Defendant Nishad Kunju, of Hyderabad, India, has not been arraigned on the indictment.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Nicholas Manheim.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Alien Smuggling Involving Flight from Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Andrew Ryan Lozinski, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 30 months in prison. Lozinski previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens while Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
On October 1, 2021, officers from the Nogales Police Department saw five suspected undocumented noncitizens climb into Lozinski’s car. A patrol officer called nearby U.S. Border Patrol agents who attempted to conduct an immigration traffic stop. Instead of stopping, Lozinski led agents on a highspeed chase, reaching speeds close to 100 miles per hour. At one point during the chase, Lozinski told the five passengers to get out, but two became entangled in a seatbelt and were dragged a short distance, resulting in injuries to each of them. Lozinski was eventually apprehended after officers used a spike strip and Lozinski crashed his vehicle into a fence on the side of the road.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Nogales Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2773-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-072_Lozinski# # #
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.Three Men Jailed and Fined for Illegally Wading into the Brooks RiverRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Three men have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of $9,000 for illegally leaving the Brooks Falls viewing platform and entering a closed area of the Brooks River at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park by U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble.
David Engelman, 56, of Sandia Park, New Mexico, and Ronald J. Engelman II, 54, and Steven Thomas, 30, both of King Salmon, Alaska, pleaded guilty to leaving the Brooks Falls viewing platform and wading into the Brooks River below Brooks Falls. While in the river, David Engelman was captured on a livestream camera taking selfies of himself in front of feeding brown bears. For their sentence, David Engelman and Ronald Engelman each received a sentence of one week in prison, a fine of $3,000 and one year of probation. Steven Thomas received a sentence of 10 days in prison, a fine of $3,000 and one year of probation. The $9,000 in fines were directed to be paid to the Katmai Conservancy, a non-profit that will administer the funds to the park for law enforcement and other purposes. In addition to these terms, each defendant is prohibited from entering any national park for one year.
In imposing the sentences, Magistrate Judge Scoble stated concerns of deterring others, the economic impact of tourism to Katmai National Park if someone had been injured or a bear killed for injuring one of the men. The court also noted the dangerousness of their conduct as well as the impact on those who witnessed the actions of the defendants and had their experiences in the park ruined by their actions. Magistrate Judge Scoble characterized the defendants’ actions as “drunken capering, and a slap in the face to those who were there.”
“The conduct of these three individuals not only endangered other visitors and wildlife officers at Brooks Falls, they also potentially endangered the life of the bears.” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We are committed to working with Alaska’s National Park Service to ensure everyone who visits our parks can have a safe experience in seeing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.”
“These individuals behaved carelessly and put themselves at great risk. Brown bears are fierce, territorial predators, especially when concentrated in order to feed on migrating salmon,” said Mark Sturm, superintendent of Katmai National Park and Preserve. “Things could have easily ended very badly.”
Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwestern Alaska protects over four million acres of land and coastal resources including the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and the Brooks River area which is particularly notable for a rich habitat that supports one of the world’s highest concentrations of salmon and brown bears. The park and preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history integrated on the landscape and offers unique opportunities to explore vast wilderness and immense volcanoes, watch brown bears fish for salmon and trout, and many other activities.
The National Park Service, Katmai National Park and the National Park Service–Investigative Services Branch, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.
Starkville Man plead guilty to a scheme involving more than $6 million in COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Starkville man pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of more than $6 million in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Christopher Paul Lick, 47, of Starkville devised a scheme to defraud, and to obtain PPP funds, by filing false and fraudulent loan applications with banks providing loans as part of the Paycheck Protection Program. Lick admitted to overstating the number of employees and payroll expenses of his purported businesses to receive PPP funds. Rather than use the PPP funds for his businesses, Lick admitted to purchasing a home valued at more than $1 million and to using the PPP funds for personal investments in the stock market.
“The amount of PPP fraud and EIDL loan fraud committed in this district and nationwide is staggering,” stated United States Attorney Clay Joyner. “The CARES Act loan programs were intended to help small businesses and families struggling to survive during a difficult pandemic. Unfortunately, far too many individuals like the defendant abused these programs for their own personal benefit. Today’s guilty plea is a significant step in bringing to justice those who abused these programs, but it is only the first step. Our office will continue to prosecute violations of the CARES Act—large or small—in an effort to recover as many stolen taxpayer dollars as possible.”
Lick is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2022, before Senior District Judge Glen Davidson and faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Oxford Resident Agency is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Levy and AUSA Sam Wright are prosecuting the case.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
South Florida “Master” Sentenced to 50 Years after Producing Child Pornography of Boy Under 12Read the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Lake Worth, Florida man and registered sex offender who produced child pornography with a Colorado woman with whom he shared a dominant-submissive relationship has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The Colorado woman was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison.
In November 2019, Robert Dunn and Tonya Bagley began chatting on social media and developed a consensual, online “master-slave” relationship. Bagley and Dunn, both in their early forties, agreed that Bagley would photograph herself performing oral sex on a young boy. Bagley, who was in Colorado, did so and sent the child sexual abuse images to Dunn in Lake Worth, Florida through a social media messenger application.
A CyberTip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children led law enforcement to Dunn’s Lake Worth home on March 10, 2020. There, they found child pornography images on his electronic devices and learned of his relationship with Bagley. Bagley was arrested at her home in Colorado. In addition, the law enforcement investigation led to the rescue of a child.
On December 17, 2021, Dunn plead guilty in this case to conspiring to produce, producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman handed down Dunn’s 50-year sentence. Previously, Dunn was sentenced to serve six years in Florida state prison in a separate case in which he was charged with soliciting the parent of a child using an online message board.
On December 10, 2020, Bagley pled guilty in West Palm Beach federal court to conspiring to produce child pornography and transmitting information about a minor. On May 19, 2021, U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced Bagley to 20 years in a federal prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the matter. Grand County Colorado Sheriff’s Office assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller prosecuted the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney William T. Zloch handled asset forfeiture.
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 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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 20-cr-80069 and 20-cr-80085.
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Six men indicted for illegal firearms possession, drugsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Six defendants are among those facing federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.
The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.
“Our aggressive stance toward those who illegally possess firearms is a key part of our effort to reduce violent crime in the Southern District,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Identifying and removing illegally possessed guns from our streets automatically makes our communities safer.”
In the past four years, more than 755 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the May 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Davonta Johnson, 31, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, relating to a prior conviction for domestic violence;
- Melvin Jamarcus Lanier, 42, of Statesboro, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
- Quentin Van Walker, 34, of Dublin, Ga., charged with Distribution of Heroin; Possession of Stolen Firearms; Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking crime;
- James Wayne Cooper Jr., 37, of Waynesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Jeffrey J. Haynes, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- Johnathan Nathaniel Heyward, 28, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- Derek Hayes, 51, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms. Savannah Police officers arrested Hayes after finding two pistols in his vehicle during an October 2020 traffic stop, and later determined the pistols had been stolen. Hayes has a 20-year history of arrests and convictions for violent crimes.
- Lannie Howard Morris III, 38, of Twin City, Ga., was sentenced to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Morris escaped police after a December 2020 attempted traffic stop and chase, and then was arrested Jan. 26, 2021, by deputies from the Emanual County Sheriff’s Office after another brief chase. Multiple firearms were found in both vehicles after the incidents, along with drugs and other paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, Morris was on parole from a previous state felony conviction.
- Larry Bennett Jr., 25, of Savannah, was sentenced to 44 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Bennett in January 2020 when they found him in possession of two pistols during a traffic stop.
- Asim Simmons Jr., 22, of Savannah, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Simmons in January 2021 after a traffic stop when they found him in possession of a loaded pistol. At the time of his arrest, Simmons was on parole from a prior conviction for robbery.
- Joseph Deon Cuyler, 29, of Wrightsville, Ga., was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The U.S. Marshals Service and Wrightsville Police arrested Cuyler April 15, 2021, on an outstanding felony warrant and found him in possession of a handgun.
- Vesenta Cornelius Watson, 46, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. Watson sped away from an attempted Richmond County Sheriff’s Office traffic stop in November 2021 and threw a duffel bag from the window of his vehicle. After taking Watson into custody, deputies retrieved the bag and found a pistol and illegal drugs inside.
- Thomas Kevin Robinson, 41, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police responding to a shoplifting call in April 2021 chased Robinson in his vehicle and on foot, and found a pistol that he had dropped while running.
- Pernell D. Scott, 33, of Hephzibah, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Scott after an October 2019 traffic stop when he was found in possession of a pistol.
- Akil Shawron Brown, 21, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. Savannah Police officers charged Brown, who was out on bond pending adjudication of felony charges on the state level, after learning he was in possession of a pistol while being treated at a Savannah hospital.
- Michael Jordan Sharp, 30, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sharp was on parole from a felony conviction on state charges for sale of methamphetamine when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision found a pistol while searching his residence.
- Deon McWhorter, 36, of Brunswick, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brunswick Police officers found McWhorter asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, which was parked in the roadway, in August 2020; while taking McWhorter into custody, offices found a pistol in his pocket.
- Shaquille Green, a/k/a “OC,” a/k/a “Scrill Rip Chop,” 28, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police arrested Green in October 2021 after investigating a report of a man brandishing a pistol during a youth football game.
- Timothy Mario Mitchell, 24, of Savannah, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Mitchell in August 2020 after a brief chase when a pistol fell from the waistband of Mitchell’s shorts.
- Joe Welcome, 34, of Pooler, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. During a September 2020 traffic stop, Savannah Police officers found two bags belonging to Welcome in a vehicle in which he was a passenger. One bag contained a loaded pistol, while the other held ammunition.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Jeremiah L. Johnson, John P. Harper III, and Marcela C. Mateo, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard, with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Recovery Unit.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Six Charged with Trafficking More Than 1,750 Pounds of Cocaine; Investigation Led to Discovery of Cross-Border TunnelRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Lawrence A. Casper (619) 546-6734, Paul Benjamin (619) 546-7579, James Redd (619) 546-9661
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 16, 2022
SAN DIEGO – A federal drug investigation has resulted in the discovery of a sophisticated cross-border tunnel and charges against six people for conspiring to distribute 1,762 pounds of cocaine.
The subterranean passageway, stretching from Tijuana, Mexico to a warehouse in Otay Mesa just east of the Port of Entry, is estimated to be about 1,744 feet long, 61 feet deep and 4-feet in diameter, with reinforced walls, a rail system, electricity and a ventilation system.
The defendants include Mario Jaramillo of Huntington Beach; Adrian Enriquez of Perris, Calif.; Juan Cruz of San Ysidro; and Vanessa Ramirez, Luz de Luna Olmos and Manuel Perez of San Diego. All are charged with cocaine trafficking; Olmos and Ramirez are also charged with methamphetamine and heroin trafficking. In addition to the 1,762 pounds of cocaine, authorities seized 164 pounds of methamphetamine and 3.5 pounds of heroin.
READ the complaintThe tunnel was discovered just after midnight on Friday by U.S. law enforcement officials from Homeland Security Investigations who were conducting surveillance on a National City residence that was previously used as a stash house in a cocaine smuggling event on March 2. That event had resulted in the arrest of one person and the seizure of 28 kilograms of cocaine.
According to the federal complaint, at about 11:45 a.m., officials observed as Olmos and Ramirez drove away from that National City residence in a silver Nissan Frontier pickup truck to Harbor Freight Tools store in Chula Vista, where they retrieved large cardboard boxes from a dumpster and put them into the pickup truck.
The women then entered the Harbor Freight Tools store and purchased wheeled carts that are typically used to move heavy items, the complaint said. They later returned to the residence in the pickup truck and removed the boxes from the back of the pick-up bed and carried them inside the residence. At about 1:20 p.m., Olmos left the residence and drove to a Walmart store, where she purchased additional cardboard boxes and transported them back to the residence.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., Ramirez drove the pickup away from the residence to a warehouse located at 9986 Via De La Amistad, Unit A, in San Diego. The warehouse is approximately 300 feet north of the U.S.-Mexico border fence.
Ramirez drove the pickup into the bay of the warehouse and the roll-up door was shut immediately after. At approximately 4:40 p.m., the warehouse door opened. Ramirez exited the warehouse in the pickup and drove back to the residence with law enforcement conducting surveillance.
In the hours that followed, law enforcement officials saw five other cars come and go from either the residence, the warehouse or both. Those vehicles were ultimately stopped by law enforcement, drugs were seized from the vehicles and the residence, and defendants associated with the cars and or residence were arrested.
Upon searching the warehouse, agents uncovered the sophisticated cross-border tunnel exit point carved out of the cement floor.
“There is no more light at the end of this narco-tunnel,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “We will take down every subterranean smuggling route we find to keep illicit drugs from reaching our streets and destroying our families and communities.”
Grossman thanked the prosecution team, HSI San Diego Costa Pacifico Money Laundering Task Force, and its partners from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Customs and Border Protection for their excellent work on this case. “This tunnel was discovered because of the patience and tenacity of federal agents who are passionate about protecting their communities from the scourge of drug addiction and related violence.”
“The San Diego law enforcement community has multiple investigative task forces that highly prioritize tunnel detection- exemplified by this tunnel discovery by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego led Costa Pacifico Money Laundering Task Force,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “The San Diego law enforcement community throughout the years has consistently shown its ability to detect and remediate tunnels while bringing those responsible to justice.”
There have been 90 subterranean passages discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993. Of those, 27 were considered sophisticated. The last tunnel discovered in the Southern District of California was in March 2020.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt.
The discovery of the tunnel resulted from an ongoing investigation by members of the San Diego Costa Pacifico Money Laundering Task Force, which include Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border
Protection and the United States Attorney’s Office.DEFENDANTS Case Number 22mj01680
Mario Jaramillo 55 Huntington Beach
Adrian Enriquez 31 Perris
Manuel Perez 49 San Diego
Juan Cruz 48 San Ysidro
Vanessa Ramirez 31 San Diego
Luz de Luna Olmos 43 San Diego
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1: Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (all six defendants) – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841 and 846;
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of life in prison and $1 million fine
Count 2: Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (Olmos and Ramirez) – Title 21 U.S.C. Sections 841 and 846;
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of life in prison and $1 million fine
Count 3: Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (Luz de Luna Olmos & Vanessa Ramirez) – Title 21 U.S.C. Sections 841 and 846;
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of life in prison and $1 million fine
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
United States Border Patrol
*The charges and allegations contained in a complaint or indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of Two Victims and a Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jeffrey Darnell Moore, age 53, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (heroin) and two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) Resulting in Death, as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 13, 2022.
Each charge of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison and/or a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, per charge.
The charge of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Moore was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2020.
On or about November 2, 2018, in the District of South Dakota, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the distribution of said fentanyl resulted in the death of Victim #1.
On or about June 15, 2019, in the District of South Dakota, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the distribution of said fentanyl resulted in the death of Victim #2.
Beginning on a date unknown and continuing until on or about July 20, 2020, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together, with others known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.
Moore was also charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, but was found not guilty of that charge.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and sentencing will take place August 1, 2022. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shreveport Man Found with Stolen Firearm is Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Lovoriss Montray Powell, 39, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 72 months (6 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
On May 9, 2020, a trooper with the Louisiana State Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and Powell was identified as the driver and sole occupant. The trooper asked for permission to search the vehicle and Powell gave consent. During the search, the trooper found a loaded 9mm firearm under the driver’s seat. Powell was arrested and later admitted that he had put the firearm under the seat and knew that because he had prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from having a firearm. An investigation by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined that the firearm was stolen. Powell’s prior felony convictions are for simple burglary (2000), accessory after the fact armed robbery (2001), illegal use of a weapon (2002), and domestic abuse battery (2010).
“This defendant has multiple felony convictions and chose to illegally possess a stolen firearm,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Given the epidemic concerning the illegal possession of firearms in the Shreveport area, I want it to be clear that the United States Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute those who violate federal firearm laws and will seek sentences of imprisonment.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and Louisiana State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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Shasta County-Based “Joined Inc.” CEO Pleads Guilty in Retirement Fund Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maurice “Buddy” Shoe, 59, formerly of Palo Cedro, pleaded guilty today to one count of embezzlement from his employees’ retirement funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Shoe was the CEO of Joined Inc., a now defunct corporation based in Shasta County that provided student recruiting and retention services to Christian colleges and universities throughout the United States. The company provided a 401(k) retirement benefit plan for its employees. From February through November 2015, Shoe embezzled approximately $124,902.03 from the employee retirement benefit fund, protected under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), by withholding funds from employees’ paychecks for 401(k) contributions, but failing to forward those contributions to the 401(k) plan.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, San Francisco Regional Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
Shoe is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Shoe faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 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.
Río Piedras Man Charged and Arrested for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Magistrate Judge Marshal D. Morgan authorized a criminal complaint against 33 year-old Gilberto E. Raffols-Cuevas, a.k.a. “Tito”, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with production of child exploitation material, coercion and enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The arrest follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, from April 1 to April 28, 2022, Gilberto E. Raffols-Cuevas knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a female minor to engage in sexual activity. The man was arrested at his residence without incident.
The criminal complaint alleges that Raffols-Cuevas was having sexually explicit conversations with a 10-year-old female and that Raffols-Cuevas requested naked pictures from her. The victim sent pictures to the defendant and Raffols-Cuevas demanded more pictures and more sexually explicit. When the female minor did not comply, Raffols-Cuevas threatened that he would upload her images to his Instagram accounts and that he would share them with an unimaginable amount of people. The defendant also sent pictures of his penis to the female minor. Since the female minor did not comply with the defendant’s request, he sent pornographic material to another female minor.
Raffols-Cuevas had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Morgan on May 13. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.
If convicted, Raffols-Cuevas faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years up to 30 years in prison for the production of child exploitation material, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life, followed by a supervised release term up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Daynelle M. Álvarez-Lora, of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is in charge of the prosecution of this case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and a vital U.S. asset in combatting transnational crimes and threats. One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission. HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse and help make the internet a safer place for children.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Rosebud Man Charged with Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Escape from Custody.
Marlow Poor Thunder, age 27, was indicted on May 10, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 12, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $250,000 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The indictment alleges that on March 29, 2022, following a furlough to attend a medical appointment, Poor Thunder failed to report to the Winner City Jail as ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
The charge is merely an accusation and Poor Thunder is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.
Poor Thunder was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Renton, Washington, resident sentenced to 16+ years in prison for murder in Olympic National ForestRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 25-year-old Renton, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 200 months in prison for second degree murder for the brutal beating death of a 21-year-old woman, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The victim, a resident of California, had traveled to the Seattle area to meet up with Alejandro J. Aguilera Rojas. The two traveled to the Sequim, Washington, area on February 10, 2020. The murder occurred in the Olympic National Forest.
In his sentencing remarks U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle described the brutal nature of the crime and the wide-reaching devastation felt by the victim’s family. Speaking to Aguilera Rojas, Judge Settle noted: “if you take a life in the manner you took here, there will be significant consequences.”
“This cruel and coldhearted attack robbed a family of a young and vibrant daughter, sister and niece,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Law enforcement, prosecutors, and our specially-trained crime victim advocates have worked diligently to get justice for the family of this young woman.”
According to records in the case, Aguilera Rojas was having a relationship with the victim–a relationship hidden from his wife and family. The victim had traveled to the Seattle area to visit Aguilera Rojas. The victim’s friends and family members reached out to Aguilera Rojas, who gave them conflicting information about the victim’s whereabouts. A friend of the victim reported her missing to law enforcement when she did not contact them after February 10, 2020. The victim’s body was found off a logging road in Olympic National Forest on February 14, 2020. There were signs she had been beaten and stabbed. A broken and bloody tequila bottle and knives were located near where the victim’s body was discovered. There was no identification on the body.
Law enforcement reviewed surveillance video at a Sequim convenience store and determined a woman and a man, later identified as Aguilera Rojas, had visited the store. Law enforcement was able to determine that Aguilera Rojas’ cell phone and the victim’s phone had been in the area of the murder on February 10 and 11 and that both phones had then travelled back to the area of Aguilera Rojas’ residence, after the victim had been killed and left in the Olympic National Forest.
The autopsy of the victim by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death as a homicide and the cause of death by multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.
Aguilera Rojas was interviewed by law enforcement on February 19, 2020. He made a number of different statements about his relationship with the victim and what had happened. Aguilera Rojas was booked into Clallam County Corrections where he remained until being taken into federal custody. Because the murder occurred on federal land in the Olympic National Forest, the case was prosecuted in federal court.
Aguilera Rojas pleaded guilty to second degree murder in December 2021.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, with significant assistance from the Washington State Patrol.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca S. Cohen and Ye-Ting Woo.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender convicted in Rhode Island state court in 1999 on charges of first and second degree child molestation and sentenced to fifteen years to serve in state prison, was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison, following his conviction in federal court in October 2019 on a charge of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In January 2019, Peter R. Medeiros, 59, of Pawtucket, while on state probation, was found by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) to have downloaded 268 image files of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors, some as young as infants, and images depicting sadistic/ masochistic/ violent sexually explicit conduct.
The ICAC Task Force was alerted to Mr. Medeiros’ online activities by virtue of a Cybertip Report sent by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Medeiros was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime federal supervised release. The court ordered Medeiros to pay $3,000 restitution to each victim depicted in the images he possessed that requested compensation.
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Pittsburgh Drug Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court on Friday to 37 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction for charges of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Timothy Robinson age 26, formerly of the Brighton Heights section of the City of Pittsburgh.
According to the information presented to the court, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers observed a picture on social media that depicted Robinson holding a firearm with an extended magazine. Officers recognized the decoration of the hotel room where the photo was taken and proceeded to that hotel. They seized a stolen firearm equipped with an extended magazine during a search of the hotel room, and Robinson admitted that the firearm was his. Robinson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony drug conviction.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Robinson.
Philadelphia Man Indicted for Armed Carjacking of Food Delivery DriverRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Arnell Moore, 18, of Philadelphia, PA was charged by Indictment with carjacking and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in the City of Philadelphia earlier this year.
Court documents allege that on the night of March 18, 2022, the defendant and at least two accomplices called in a food delivery order to an abandoned residential property in Northeast Philadelphia, and then carjacked the unsuspecting delivery driver at gunpoint when he arrived. The police recovered the stolen vehicle a few days later, and a subsequent search of Moore’s bedroom led to the recovery of the phone used to make the delivery order as well as a loaded semi-automatic firearm, which is alleged to have been used during the carjacking.
“The charges announced today against this defendant exemplify the type of rapid results we have promised to deliver through the Carjacking Task Force and the ‘All Hands On Deck’ initiative,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “As alleged, Moore and his accomplices set up an innocent delivery driver and stole his vehicle, which he relies on for his livelihood. Enough is enough – if you commit a serious violent crime like an armed carjacking in our city, you can expect the feds to show up on your doorstep.”
“ATF is standing true to our decree by holding violent offenders accountable,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Our mission is to combat violent firearm crimes, and this is exactly the type of case our task force is set out to investigate. If you commit a carjacking, you will be investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the ATF, FBI and our local, state, and federal partners.”
The swift action to investigate and federally charge these defendants is the result of the newly formed Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force, which is comprised of members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Unit; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Philadelphia Police Department. The goal of the task force is to stem the wave of armed carjackings and violent crimes through investigative and enforcement techniques meant to identify and refer for federal prosecution all who terrorize innocent victims through commission of these offenses within Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
If convicted on all charges, the defendant faces a mandatory seven years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Newcomer.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Orthotic Brace Suppliers Convicted in $6.5 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Dallas, Texas, convicted the owners and operators of four orthotic brace suppliers in Texas and Arkansas today for a $6.5 million illegal kickback scheme, including violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bruce Stroud, 40, Bobbi Stroud, 39, husband and wife and residents of Prosper, Texas, and Kenric Griffin, 52, of Frisco, Texas, jointly owned and operated four orthotic brace suppliers: New Horizons Durable Medical Equipment, Striffin Medical Supply, 4B Ortho Supply, and Grace Professional DME.
The evidence showed that between January 2017 and April 2019, the Strouds and Griffin, through their companies, caused approximately $12.5 million to be billed in claims to Medicare for unnecessary braces based on brace orders received in exchange for illegal kickbacks. Medicare paid the defendants approximately $6.5 million for those claims. The defendants concealed the scheme by entering into numerous sham agreements with purported marketing companies that characterized the illegal payments for doctors’ orders as “marketing” expenses.
The Strouds and Griffin were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to offer and pay illegal health care kickbacks, and seven violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The defendants are all scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7. Each defendant faces a total of up to 55 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; and Major William Marlowe of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) made the announcement.
The HHS-OIG, FBI, and MFCU investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Carlos A. López and Darren C. Halverson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Oklahoma City Hospital Pays over $1.1 Million to Settle Allegations of Submitting False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, LLC ("OHHS"), has paid $1,151,770.50 to settle civil claims stemming from allegations it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
OHHS is an Oklahoma limited liability company that owns and operates the Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, which is an acute care hospital located in Oklahoma City. Following an internal review and audit, OHHS discovered irregularities regarding its billing of certain services, and proactively contacted the United States to self-disclose the issues. Thereafter, the United States investigated the disclosures and issues raised by OHHS. Throughout the investigation, and to its credit, OHHS cooperated with the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in the investigation.
The voluntary disclosure and investigation revealed that from June 1, 2013, through May 31, 2019, OHHS submitted claims to Medicare for Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation ("ICR") services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Before billing Medicare for these services, OHHS was required to have a physician complete and sign an individualized treatment plan ("ITP") for the patient. If the patient was going to receive ICR for longer than 30 days, a physician must complete and sign updates to the ITP every 30 days thereafter. The United States alleges that claims for ICR services submitted by OHHS to Medicare for payment violated the False Claims Act because a physician did not complete and/or sign ITPs and/or ITP updates for certain Medicare beneficiaries.
To resolve the claims, OHHS agreed to pay $1,151,770.50 to the United States. In reaching this settlement, OHHS did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald R. Gallegos and Scott Maule prosecuted the case.
North Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA —Deontrae Clyde Smalls, 37, of North Charleston, has pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and no contest to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented to the Court revealed that Smalls was stopped by Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies after running a red light. Smalls was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and deputies immediately smelled marijuana when they approached the driver’s side window. After searching the vehicle, deputies found a loaded .40 caliber handgun and marijuana, packaged in 26 small bags, inside the dashboard of the vehicle. Smalls also had more than $1,000 in cash in his pocket at the time of arrest. Smalls is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior drug distribution conviction for which he served five years. During the stop, Smalls told deputies he knew he was not supposed to possess a gun.
Smalls faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks accepted the plea and will sentence Smalls after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville is prosecuting the case.
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New York Doctor Admits Buying and Selling Oncology Medication for ProfitRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York doctor today admitted using his medical license – and allowing others to use his medical license – to purchase prescription oncology medications under false pretenses for the purpose of selling them for profit, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jon Paul Dadaian, 53, of New York, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with unlawfully selling prescription cancer medication, which had been previously purchased using his medical license and under the representation that such medication was to be used to treat his patients.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
While operating his medical practice in Elmwood, New Jersey, Dadaian befriended two individuals who owned and operated two businesses that were wholesale distributors of prescription drugs. At the request of these individuals, and in return for approximately $130,500 in payments, Dadaian used his medical license – and allowed others to use it – to purchase expensive prescription drugs, primarily, cold-chain biologic infusion medications that typically are used to treat cancers, macular degeneration, and autoimmune diseases. By recruiting and using Dadaian and his medical license to purchase the drugs, the two individuals were able to obtain prescription drugs from the pharmaceutical manufacturers’ authorized distributors that they would not otherwise have been permitted to purchase. They were then able to sell them at a profit through their two businesses. By using Dadaian and his medical license to purchase their prescription drugs, these two individuals also obtained discounted community physician pricing for the prescription drugs with respect to some of the drug purchases. The discounted community physician pricing was based upon specialized discounts that the pharmaceutical manufacturers only offered to treating physicians and others similarly situated. The two individuals and their businesses would not have been qualified to receive this favorable pricing if they had attempted to purchase the prescription drugs directly from the pharmaceutical manufacturers.
In purchasing the drugs, Dadaian and the two individuals made numerous false and misleading representations to the pharmaceutical manufacturers and authorized distributors, including that Dadaian purchased the drugs to use to treat his patients, and that the drugs would not be resold or redistributed. In actuality, none of the drugs were administered to Dadaian’s patients, but were ultimately sold to customers of the two businesses for a profit. The scheme ran from June 2012 through April 2018, during which tens of millions in prescription drugs were purchased in Dadaian’s name and using his medical license.
The sale of prescription drugs purchased by a healthcare entity is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine. In his plea agreement, Dadaian also agreed to make restitution for the full amount of any loss resulting from his offense. Sentencing for Dadaian is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian G. McClune; and special agents of U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig and Sara Aliya Aliabadi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
New Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Named for the Middle District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary has named Shanelle Booker as the Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Division Chief for the Middle District of Georgia, making her the first woman to serve as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney and the first Black woman to hold both positions for the District.
Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker will supervise the Criminal, Civil and Administrative Divisions. In addition, she will serve as the Criminal Chief, replacing long-time Criminal Chief and federal prosecutor Michael Solis, who has accepted a position with the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) within the Department of Justice.
“Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker is a selfless and dedicated prosecutor, who has demonstrated great leadership and judgement throughout her career seeking justice on behalf of all people. It is my honor to name her to this new role within the Office, where she will undoubtedly continue her legacy of seeking equal justice under the law for our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I also want to thank Michael Solis for 33 years of outstanding service to the Middle District of Georgia and wish him well on this new phase with the Department of Justice.”
Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker has served as a federal prosecutor with the Middle District of Georgia since 2015. During her tenure, she has prosecuted high-profile violent crime, child exploitation, sex trafficking, public corruption and fraud cases. She was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in 2020, and she also serves as the Office’s liaison for the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Task Force, a team that coordinates and enhances efforts to pursue criminal offenders who target and attempt to victimize senior citizens. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, she clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Brian S. Miller with the Eastern District of Arkansas and was the Managing Attorney and Assistant Public Defender with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit Defender’s Office in Brunswick, Georgia.
A resident of Macon, Georgia, Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker is active in the community with a special focus on volunteering with young people, including mentoring juvenile girls committed to the Macon Regional Youth Detention Center through the Girl Squad Mentoring Program and working with Just the Beginning Foundation to inspire law careers among underrepresented students. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is a board member of the Central Georgia Empowerment Fund, a philanthropic fund that seeks to build capacity and financial sustainability of non-profit organizations that serve the African American community and address the most pressing needs facing African Americans in the Central Georgia region.
Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker is an adjunct professor at Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she has taught criminal justice classes since 2020.
Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Booker received her Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Hampton University and her Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois.
Mitchell Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on May 12, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Mason Means, age 23, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Means was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 21, 2021, and pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021. The charge stems from Means, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, illegally possessing a Cobra, model CA-380, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which was found after Means came into contact with law enforcement in March 2021 in Pine Ridge.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Means was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking, Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 10, 2021, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department observed several individuals engaging in what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug deals. When officers approached the group, Albert Walter Bratton, 26, attempted to flee on foot, but officers were able to apprehend him. After Bratton was taken into custody, officers recovered a Glock model 43, 9 mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, which Bratton had removed from his waistband. Officers later recovered two baggies that Bratton possessed containing a total of approximately 10 grams of crack cocaine, divided into several smaller baggies for distribution.
Bratton pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of an investigation led by the Minneapolis Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.
Mexican Springs man pleads guilty to manslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Quinten Smith, 22, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty today in federal court to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Smith will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Smith on Oct. 19, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Sept. 24, 2021, Smith and other family members went to the home of the victim, identified as John Doe, to confront him for allegedly assaulting Smith’s mother. When they arrived at the home, a physical altercation ensued. During the fight, Smith stabbed the victim multiple times in the back with a pocketknife. Smith and the others fled the home immediately.
John Doe, who was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was found deceased in his home later that day. The killing occurred on the Navajo Nation.
Smith faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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