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Thursday 12 May 2022
Federal Inmate Charged with Possession of A WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Clayvon Givens, age 33, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood (FCI Allenwood), was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Givens was found in possession of metal razor on March 15, 2022.
The charges stem from an investigation by officers at FCI Allenwood and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
The defendant faces a maximum of five years of incarceration and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts 9 Defendants for Sex Trafficking and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 13-count indictment charging nine defendants with narcotics conspiracy. Named in the indictment are:
• Lairon Graham a/k/a Shah a/k/a Uncle Shah a/k/a Unc – 64, Buffalo, NY
• Kimberly Udrea – 34, Buffalo, NY
• Thomas Degree a/k/a Tommy – 57, Fairborn, GA
• Joseph Ward – 58, Buffalo, NY
• Jordan Davis a/k/a Little Corn a/k/a Baby Corn – 26, Tonawanda, NY
• Johnny Williams a/k/a Double R – 29, Buffalo, NY
• Jamie Washington – 29, Buffalo, NY
• Patrick Schrecengost a/k/a Country – 41, Buffalo, NY
• Anthony Graham a/k/a Uncle Tony – 69, Buffalo, NYIn addition, defendants Lairon Graham, Kimberly Udrea, Jordan Davis, Johnny Williams, Jamie Washington, Patrick Schrecengost, and Anthony Graham are charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force or coercion. Lairon Graham is also charged with interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, enticing travel to engage in prostitution, and possessing and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Narcotics conspiracy carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life for defendant Lairon Graham, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the remaining defendants. Sex trafficking carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, between June 2020, and October 2021, the defendants conspired to sell fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, using residences at 60 Liddell and 454 Davey Streets in Buffalo to manufacture, distribute, and use these illegal narcotics. During this same time period, the defendants are accused of conspiring to entice a victim to engage in commercial sex acts using force and threats of force. Defendant Lairon Graham also allegedly forced two other victims to engage in sex trafficking, including taking one of the victims to Pennsylvania to engage in commercial sex acts.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Gramaglia; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Karn, Jr.; and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard.The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Fayetteville Daycare Owner Convicted of Drug and Gun Charges - Faces at Least 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – On May 10, 2022, Reshod Jamar Everett, 36, of Cumberland County, was found guilty by a federal jury on six felony drug and firearm offenses. The charges arose from Everett’s armed drug trafficking operation that he ran from his home, which he also operated as a daycare center. Agents seized drugs, more than $65,000, and eight loaded firearms from the home, including loaded, high-powered rifles.
“Armed drug trafficking poses a significant danger to the community, particularly when loaded guns and drugs are stored at an in-home daycare,” said Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “I am proud of our trial team and investigative partners with the Fayetteville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service,” Easley said.
Everett was convicted of the following charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol;
- Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana and a quantity of cocaine, and aiding and abetting;
- Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a quantity of tramadol;
- Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, and aiding and abetting; and
- Two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and information presented at trial, Reshod Everett was charged by Superseding Indictment on August 18, 2021.
In 2018, investigators with the Fayetteville Police Department determined that Everett was distributing large amounts of controlled substances in the Fayetteville area, including from an apartment in Fayetteville.
On July 16, 2018, agents conducted a traffic stop of a Cadillac driven by co-defendant Alvin Milton Davis as it left the apartment complex. In the vehicle, agents found marijuana, cocaine, and a loaded handgun with an extended magazine.
The same day, agents obtained a search warrant for the apartment and seized more than 36 pounds of marijuana, more than 300 grams of cocaine, and a loaded CZ Scorpion firearm. The apartment was leased by Reshod Everett, with Alvin Davis listed as an authorized occupant.
Investigators then determined that Everett’s primary residence was on Ronald Reagan Drive in Fayetteville, and that he and his wife operated an in-home daycare in the residence.
On July 17, 2018, agents obtained a search warrant, and in the house, agents seized more than $65,000, eight firearms, ammunition, and THC edibles. The firearms included handguns and high-powered rifles, including a PS90 rifle and a loaded DPMS Arms rifle with the selector switch set to “fire.” A witness testified that the PS90 rifle was powerful enough to pierce body armor.
In a detached shed, agents seized almost 300 grams of concentrated THC wax, tramadol, and drug packaging materials.
Investigators then identified a storage unit used by Everett. A search warrant was issued for the storage unit, and on July 18, 2018, it was found to contain more than 65 pounds of marijuana.
Witness testimony established that Everett was responsible for more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than five kilograms of cocaine, as well as a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Co-defendant Alvin Milton Davis, III, was previously convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 11 years.
Sentencing for Everett is scheduled to occur during the court’s August 22, 2022 term of court.
The Defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, and the Internal Revenue Service assisted at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Lemmon and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:20-CR-333-D-1.
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Fallen Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Honored During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – National Police Week is a week set aside to honor and remember law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty while serving in federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and National Police Week is held annually to commemorate fallen officers. One of the events held during the week is the inclusion of the names of fallen officers on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.
This year, the names of 619 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial. This number includes 472 officers who died in 2021 (319 were COVID-19 related), plus 147 officers who died in previous years and were verified to be line of duty deaths.
The fallen officers being memorialized include 10 members of the law enforcement community from Missouri. Three of these officers were from the Western District of Missouri: Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans, Independence Police Department, was shot and killed on September 15, 2021, during an encounter with an armed suspect; Sgt. John Bullard Jr., Independence Police Department, died on August 11, 2021, after presumably contracting COVID-19 at work; and Lt. Leslie Lentz, Missouri Department of Corrections, died on July 1, 2021, after being exposed to COVID-19 at work.
The names of these 619 officers will join the over 22,600 names already engraved on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. They will be formally dedicated during the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil to be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2022. You can register and watch the Candlelight Vigil live by going to https://NLEOMf.org/RegisterCV.
FCI Schuylkill Inmate Charged with Possessing Cellphone in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tremec Jeffries, age 46, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute-Schuylkill in Minersville, PA, was charged by a criminal information with unlawfully possessing a cell phone in federal prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the information alleges that on April 27, 2022, Jeffries possessed a cell phone. Federal law makes the possession of a cell phone by a prison inmate illegal out of security concerns that arise from unmonitored calls.
The matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case.
Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 1 year of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
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Eighty Months Imposed on Oakland Man Involved in Shootout While Burglarizing Marijuana Grow WarehouseRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Vernell Thrower pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court today to 80 months (6 years, 8 months) for attempting to possess marijuana plants with the intent to sell them, for carrying a firearm during and in relation to that crime, and for the unlawful possession and transfer of a machine gun, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon, and United States Marshal Service (USMS) Acting United States Marshal Mark Kolc. United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentence.
Thrower, 30, a resident of Oakland, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in two separate cases. The earlier crime occurred during the late evening of August 1 and early hours of August 2, 2017. In his plea agreement, Thrower admitted that he and two others broke into a Richmond warehouse containing a large marijuana grow late on August 1. Once inside, they cut 200 marijuana plants and stuffed them into trash bags. As the three carried the bags of marijuana plants to their vehicle outside, a car pulled up on the street outside of the warehouse’s gate. Its occupants began shooting at them. Thrower ran back inside. Thrower admitted firing two shots from the warehouse’s garage back towards the location of the gunfire. He eventually escaped, but without the marijuana plants they cut. Thrower admitted he had intended to distribute the 200 marijuana plants had they made away with them. Thrower also admitted he carried a black handgun during the attempted theft because he knew that stealing marijuana plants from a grow house created a potential for violence.
Thrower further admitted in his plea agreement that three months later, on November 2, 2017, he sold a machine gun. On that date, Thrower possessed a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition and traveled to Makin Road in Oakland to sell it. Thrower admitted he knew the semi-automatic Glock pistol had a “Glock switch” installed in it that converted it into a fully automatic machine gun, that is, a firearm capable of shooting multiple bullets by one pull of its trigger. After Thrower arrived on Makin Road, he sold the fully automatic Glock machine gun to another person for $1,600.
Thrower also admitted he knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm because he had previously been convicted of a felony. In a memo filed for sentencing, the government pointed out that Thrower’s prior felony convictions included a 2011 home invasion robbery in which the victim was threatened with a gun and another conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In addition to the 80 month federal prison sentence, United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered that Thrower serve a four year period of supervision following his release from prison. Thrower was in custody at the sentencing hearing and begins serving his sentence immediately.
Daniel Pastor, Sloan Heffron, Amani S. Floyd, and Frank Riebli are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the cases, with the assistance of Andy Ding, Helen Yee, Pat Mahoney, and Veronica Hernandez The prosecutions are the result of investigations by ATF, DEA, and USMS, with the assistance of the Oakland Police Department, Richmond Police Department, San Leandro Police Department, San Ramon Police Department, and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States, by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Six Years for Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN- John Thomas Ward, 38, of Gibson County, has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on March 17, 2021, Gibson County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Milan Highway for a welfare check of suspicious persons in the area. The deputy observed John Ward and a female standing next to two vehicles. Ward was changing the tire on one of the vehicles. Through conversation with Ward and the female, the deputy determined that the female had an active order of protection against Ward.
The deputy also detected a strong odor of marijuana and asked for consent to search both vehicles. The parties consented, and the deputy recovered a Ruger, Model LC 9, 9mm pistol in a holster on the floorboard of one vehicle. Ward advised he owned the firearm and that he was a convicted felon. The firearm had an altered serial number; it was later determined that the firearm was stolen.
Ward had previously been convicted on five separate occasions of Domestic Assault including one felony Aggravated Domestic Assault with a Deadly Weapon. At the time of this offense, he was actively under an Order of Protection prohibiting him from being in the presence of the female at the scene.
“The Department of Justice is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms related crimes," said Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney.
On February 1, 2022, Ward entered a guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
On May 6, 2022, United States Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Ward to 80 months incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Shutting Down Fake CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card OperationRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio entered a consent decree permanently enjoining a Columbus-area woman from producing and selling fake Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination cards.
In a civil complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the government alleged that Tiffany Keller, 39, of Junction City, Ohio, produced and sold fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards in violation of Section 1140 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1320b-10. The complaint alleged that Keller advertised her services on a blog that discussed how to make fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards and offered to print fake cards for $40 per card and ship them to paying customers via priority mail. Keller sold more than 77 fake cards.
“Printing, selling and distributing fake vaccine cards undermines important efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to working with our federal partners to root out this kind of unlawful activity.”
“During this time of a national emergency, individuals should not capitalize on the situation for their own greed,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “This type of fraud is particularly problematic as it could endanger the health of others.”
“Manufacturing and selling fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards can undermine critical public health measures and put the health of Americans at risk,” said Acting Chief Counsel Robert DeConti of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to illegally profit from the pandemic.”
It is a violation of federal law for individuals to reproduce, reprint, or distribute any item consisting of a form, application, or other publication of HHS for a fee without express authorization from HHS. HHS-OIG is authorized to impose a civil money penalty of up to $11,506 for each violation.
Under the terms of the consent decree and final judgement, Keller admitted that the allegations in the complaint are true and agreed to be permanently enjoined from, among other things, (1) engaging in prohibited acts related to the misuse of HHS departmental words, symbols, or emblems; (2) reproducing, reprinting, distributing, selling or offering for sale fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards; and (3) using any means, including but not limited to blogs and social media platforms to advertise or solicit the sale of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. Should Keller violate the terms of the consent decree, the order also subjects her to the imposition of civil money penalties in the amount of $442,981 for her violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1320b-10(a)(2)(B), as specified in the complaint.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. Run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international actors committing civil or criminal fraud and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Information about fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards can be reported to HHS OIG by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or 1-800-447-5477. Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The government is represented by Trial Attorneys Yolanda D. McCray Jones of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, Christopher Reimer of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J.T. Downey of the Southern District of Ohio. HHS-OIG provided substantial investigative support.
Diamond Bar Man Arrested on Indictment Charging Him with Using His Car to Intimidate Demonstrators at ‘Stop Asian Hate’ RallyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Diamond Bar man was arrested today on federal charges alleging that he disrupted a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March 2021 by deliberately running a red light, blocking the path of demonstrators lawfully using a crosswalk and yelling racial epithets at them.
Steve Lee Dominguez, 56, is charged in a federal grand jury indictment with two counts of bias-motivated interference with federal protected activities.
Dominguez is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the indictment that was unsealed today, on March 21, 2021, a “Stop Asian Hate” rally occurred in Diamond Bar. The rally was a protest against the increase in hate crimes and hate incidents against members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community both locally and nationally – including the murders of six Asian American women five days earlier in Atlanta.
A group of rally participants assembled at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue, carrying American flags and large signs in support of their cause. The demonstrators had gathered peacefully and lawfully crossed the streets using the marked pedestrian crosswalk when they had the right of way.
During the rally, Dominguez was driving a black Honda four-door sedan and was stopped at a red light at the intersection. Dominguez allegedly yelled, “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs at the demonstrators. Dominguez then allegedly deliberately drove his car through the intersection’s crosswalk at the red light, made an illegal U-turn and cut off the route of several rally participants lawfully crossing the street.
One of the victims was an Asian woman carrying a sign that read, “Stop Asian Hate.” Another victim was a minor Black female rally participant who carried a sign that read, “End the Violence Against Asians.” Another person who was cut off in the crosswalk was a 9-year-old child, and Dominguez’s car narrowly missed coming into contact with her and other victims, according to the indictment. No injuries were reported.
Dominguez allegedly then pulled his car over some distance away from the intersection, got out of the car and continued to yell racial epithets and threats at the demonstrators. He then called the police, identified himself as “John Doe” and falsely reported to police that the rally participants were blocking the street and he had to run a red light “because they were about to trample my car,” the indictment alleges. He also allegedly requested that police “get some control out” at the intersection.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of the two charges in the indictment, Dominguez would face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to the scene and assisted in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Veronica Dragalin of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting this case.
Any member of the public who has information related to this incident or other hate crimes is encouraged to call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565 or report tips online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
Defendant convicted in Arizona-to-Ohio drug conspiracy sentenced to more than 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court here to 150 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy involving shipments of narcotics from Arizona to Ohio.
Dawit Mamay, 24, is one of four defendants charged federally in a narcotics conspiracy involving at least 17 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl. As part of this case, law enforcement seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from co-defendant Ermias Golla’s residence in the Short North.
According to court documents, from September 2020 through April 2021, Mamay and others shipped drugs via Priority Mail with false shipper and recipient names and/or addresses. Co-conspirators also shipped drug proceeds back to Arizona from Ohio. The defendants used the United States Postal Service tracking system.
For example, one package that Mamay mailed in early October 2020 that was intercepted by law enforcement contained more than 6,000 grams of fentanyl.
A second parcel mailed to Golla that month was also intercepted by law enforcement and contained more than 6,000 grams of methamphetamine that lab tested at 96 percent purity.
Mamay’s three co-defendants have each agreed to plead guilty to federal narcotics charges.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kent Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit division; and Jeffrey Krafels, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office, announced the sentence imposed on May 10 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty is representing the United States in this case.
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Cybercriminal Sentenced to Federal Prison for Decrypting the Credentials of Thousands of Computers Across the World and Selling Them on A Dark Web WebsiteRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Glib Oleksandr Ivanov-Tolpintsev (28, Chernivtsi, Ukraine) to four years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic in unauthorized access devices and computer passwords. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $82,648, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
Ivanov-Tolpintsev was taken into custody by Polish authorities in Korczowa, Poland on October 3, 2020, and extradited to the United States pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and the Republic of Poland. Ivanov-Tolpintsev pleaded guilty on February 22, 2022.
According to court documents, the “Marketplace” was a dark web website that illegally sold login credentials (usernames and passwords) to servers located across the world and personally identifiable information (dates of birth and Social Security numbers) of U.S. residents. Once purchased, criminals used these servers to facilitate a wide range of illegal activity that included ransomware attacks and tax fraud. In total, the Marketplace offered more than 700,000 compromised servers for sale including at least 150,000 in the United States and at least 8,000 in Florida. Marketplace victims spanned the globe and industries, including local, state, and federal government infrastructure, hospitals, 911 and emergency services, call centers, major metropolitan transit authorities, accounting and law firms, pension funds, and universities.
Ivanov-Tolpintsev controlled a “botnet,” which is a network of computers infected with malware and controlled as a group without the owners’ knowledge. He used the botnet to conduct brute-force attacks designed to decrypt numerous computer login credentials simultaneously. During the course of the conspiracy, Ivanov-Tolpintsev boasted that his botnet was capable of decrypting the login credentials of at least 2,000 computers every week. Ivanov-Tolpintsev then sold these hacked credentials on the Marketplace. From 2017 through 2019, Ivanov-Tolpintsev listed for sale thousands of login credentials of servers on the Marketplace, including more than 100 in the Middle District of Florida. Marketplace buyers paid at least $82,648 for servers listed by Ivanov-Tolpintsev.
This case was investigated by Tampa Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit in Washington, D.C. This investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation by the Polish National Police, the Polish Prosecutor’s Office, and the Polish Ministry of Justice. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Craig Wilkins Pleads Not Guilty to Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Craig Wilkins, 37, of Rutland, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to charges that he possessed two handguns as a convicted felon and that he possessed fentanyl and cocaine base with intent to distribute them. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle ordered that Wilkins be held without bail pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to court records, on October 31, 2021, Rutland police officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a grocery store parking lot after a citizen reported that two people appeared to be unconscious inside a vehicle. When officers arrived, the two occupants – Craig Wilkins, who was in the driver’s seat, and a female who was in the rear – were conscious but appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Wilkins was asked to step out of the car for questioning and when he did so a round of ammunition fell to his feet. Wilkins is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has prior Vermont felony convictions for distributing narcotics.
Authorities impounded the automobile and obtained a state court warrant to search it. In a backpack, which was on the front passenger seat, and in the glove compartment, officers recovered two handguns, about 177 grams of cocaine base, and about 15 grams of fentanyl. Federal agents obtained a warrant for Wilkins’ arrest on April 12, and a federal grand jury in Burlington indicted Wilkins on the drug and gun charges on April 21.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely an accusation, and that Wilkins is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
If convicted, Wilkins faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
The case was investigated by the Rutland Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Wilkins is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. https:/www.justice.gov/psn
Conway Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a one-count indictment against Demetrice Trayvon Campbell, 28, of Conway, South Carolina, for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The indictment alleges that in January 2021, Campbell knowingly possessed a Colt .45 caliber pistol after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
Smith faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment followed by up to 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He is currently detained pending trial.
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.
The case was investigated by the Horry County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Waller is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Construction Company Agrees to Pay $2.8 Million to Resolve Allegations of Small Business Subcontracting FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hensel Phelps Construction Company (Hensel Phelps), a large construction company headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, has agreed to pay $2,804,110 to resolve allegations that it improperly manipulated a federal subcontract designated for a business owned and operated by a service-disabled veteran, announced Carla B. Freedman, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
“This settlement holds accountable another large company for scheming to obtain a contract set aside for a veteran-owned small business,” said United States Attorney Freedman. “Working closely with our colleagues in the Eastern District of Washington and our agency partners, we have returned millions of dollars to taxpayers over the past three months while demonstrating the serious consequences for those who divert contracting opportunities away from veterans.”
Federal government contracts and subcontracts may be reserved, or “set aside,” for various categories of small businesses, such that only eligible small businesses in a particular socioeconomic category are eligible to bid on, receive, and perform the contracts. One such category is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), which is reserved for small businesses owned, controlled, and operated by veterans of the United States military who incurred a disability in the course of their military service to the United States. Large businesses that perform on large federal prime contracts must develop and implement small business subcontracting plans designed to subcontract portions of the work to SDVOSBs and other types of small businesses.
Hensel Phelps is a general contractor and construction company that performs large scale private construction and public works projects nationwide, including in New York and Washington States. In 2011, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees construction of many federal buildings, awarded Hensel Phelps a contract to construct the Armed Forces Retirement Home’s New Commons/Health Care Building in Washington, D.C. The Armed Forces Retirement Home provides retirement communities and residential facilities for veterans. As a condition of the contract, Hensel Phelps was required to have and implement a small business subcontracting plan to provide contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs and other types of small businesses.
During the course of the contract, Hensel Phelps negotiated with another large business, identified in the settlement agreement as “Company 1,” to provide kitchen and food service equipment for the Armed Forces Retirement Home. In the settlement agreement, Hensel Phelps admitted that it negotiated the entire subcontract, including all of the equipment, installation, and other needed kitchen work, including pricing, with Company 1, which was not an SDVOSB. Hensel Phelps further admitted that after it had fully negotiated the work with Company 1, rather than executing the subcontract with Company 1, Hensel Phelps instead entered into a subcontract with an SDVOSB, identified in the settlement agreement as “the SDVOSB,” providing for the same work and using the same terms and pricing that had been agreed upon between Hensel Phelps and Company 1, but including an additional 1.5% fee for the SDVOSB. Hensel Phelps further admitted that it should have known that the SDVOSB was merely a passthrough for Company 1, which was providing all of the work on the subcontract, including the bonding, purchasing, and installing of all of the equipment, and that the SDVOSB’s role was limited to providing its SDVOSB status and making it appear as though an SDVOSB was performing the work.
In February 2022, Trimark USA, LLC, an equipment vendor headquartered in Mansfield, Massachusetts, paid $48.5 million to resolve admissions and allegations that TriMark subsidiaries improperly manipulated and obtained contracts set aside for SDVOSBs nationwide, including the Armed Forces Retirement Home subcontract. In the same settlement, former TriMark executive Kimberly Rimsza paid an additional $100,000 penalty to resolve her individual liability.
“Taking advantage of contracts intended for companies owned and operated by service-disabled veterans demonstrates a shocking disregard for fair competition and integrity in government contracting,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “Together with the landmark TriMark settlement, we have returned over $50 million to the public and provided accountability for these critical programs. I want to especially commend our strong partnership with the Northern District of New York and the stellar investigative work done by the case agents. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue small business fraud and ensure fair contracting opportunities for our small business community, which is critical to a safe and strong Eastern Washington.”
“Fraudulent schemes that take advantage of contract opportunities set aside for disabled veterans cheat the government and deserving bidders. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to preserve the integrity of federal contracting,” said GSA Inspector General Carol Fortine Ochoa.
“Protecting Department of Defense (DoD) contracts intended for small businesses owned by disabled veterans of the United States military is a priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “We will continue to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to hold companies accountable for circumventing SDVOSB requirements.”
This case began in April 2022, when a whistleblower, a company known as Fox Unlimited Enterprises, LLP, filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, Case No. 1:22-cv-355. When a whistleblower, or “relator,” files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $630,925 of the settlement.
The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Syracuse Post of Duty; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New York Field Investigations Office; the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud Detachment 6, Rome, New York; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Syracuse Fraud Branch Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Spokane and Buffalo Resident Agencies; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Resident Agency Northeast. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Katz of the Northern District of New York and Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene of the Eastern District of Washington handled this matter on behalf of the United States.
Consent Decree Approved Between the United States and Baltimore-Based Pharmacy and Pharmacist Alleged to Have Illegally Dispensed Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett approved the United States’ consent decree with Ketan K. Dankhara, a Baltimore-based pharmacist, and Falls RX, LLC d/b/a Ultra Care Pharmacy Baltimore (“Ultra Care”), resolving the United States’ civil allegations that Dankhara and Ultra Care violated the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) in illegally dispensing controlled substances.
The consent decree was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Jarod A. Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division.
“Under the Controlled Substances Act, pharmacists and pharmacies assume a critical gatekeeping function to prevent the diversion of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Just as prescribers cannot use their prescription pad as a blank checkbook to write prescriptions for controlled substances, the CSA and its regulations make clear that pharmacists have a corresponding responsibility to ensure the legitimacy of the prescriptions they fill. We will hold responsible those in the supply chain—manufacturers, distributors, prescribers, and retail pharmacies—who violate the CSA and illegally distribute controlled substances, fueling Maryland’s drug addiction epidemic.”
“Our pharmacists play a key role in the proper dispensing of controlled substances, helping patients, and protecting us all against the dangers of drug diversion,” stated Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division. “When pharmacists ignore ‘red flags,’ their dispensing contributes to the opioid epidemic. We at the DEA are working hard, every day, to investigate such behavior, and keep our communities safe.”
The Government alleges that shortly after Ultra Care opened for business, Dankhara knowingly filled fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, ignoring red flags that should have acted as warning signs that the prescriptions were not legitimate. More specifically, on several occasions between at least May and September 2020, an individual came to Ultra Care and attempted to fill controlled substance prescriptions for a number of people at the same time, many of whom had never previously been to the pharmacy. At least several dozen of these prescriptions were fraudulent. Some of the fraudulent prescriptions were for the same drug, strength, and quantity, and were from the same prescriber and some were prescribed by an OB/GYN to individuals who were biologically male. Notwithstanding these red flags, Dankhara made no attempt to determine whether the prescriptions were legitimate, nor did he otherwise resolve the red flags. Further, on at least one occasion, Dankhara indicated on a fraudulent prescription that he spoke with the prescriber when, in fact, Dankhara later admitted that he had no such conversation. The Government alleges that Ultra Care is liable for these deficiencies.
Under the consent decree, in addition to paying a $15,000 civil monetary penalty, Dankhara and Ultra Care are required to identify certain red flags—including when a patient presents prescriptions written in the names of other people without a valid justification, and when the patient is biologically male and presents prescriptions from an obstetrician or gynecologist. Before filling prescriptions bearing those red flags, the consent decree requires Dankhara and Ultra Care to document in detail any indications of abuse or diversion and the steps they took to ensure that the prescription was valid and was issued for a legitimate medical purpose, and that the prescription would not be abused or diverted for illegitimate purposes. Under the consent decree, if the DEA determines that Dankhara or Ultra Care have violated any provision of the consent decree and/or if Dankhara or the Pharmacy do not implement the corrective action the DEA orders, the DEA can order Dankhara and Ultra Care to cease ordering, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances immediately.
The consent decree is not an admission of liability by Ketan Dankhara or Ultra Care, nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
The Court’s approval of this consent decree should remind pharmacists and pharmacies that the Department of Justice intends to use all tools at its disposal—both criminal and civil—to combat the controlled substances epidemic which continues to plague the United States, including here in Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA Washington Division’s Office of Diversion Control, Baltimore District Office for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant United States Attorney Alan C. Lazerow, who handled the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Connecticut Man Sentenced to 36-Month Prison Sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that yesterday Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford sentenced Shiquan Mangual, 28, of Hartford, Connecticut, to a 36-month period of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, upon Mangual’s conviction by guilty plea of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
According to court records, Mangual was arrested by the FBI on June 9, 2021, in connection with a search of a farmhouse in Randolph, Vermont. During the search agents found several firearms, including a loaded handgun, distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, as well as more than $7,500 in United States currency. Mangual has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service during the pendency of the prosecution.
This case was investigated by the FBI, working with the Vermont State Police, the Montpelier Police Department, the Northfield Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration in Connecticut.
Mangual was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth. The Assistant United States Attorney handling the prosecution was Michael Drescher.
Chalmette Man Sentenced for Role in Airline Baggage ScamRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DONMONICK MARTIN, age 30, of Chalmette, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 11, 2022 for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to court documents, MARTIN conspired to defraud commercial airlines through the submission of false claims for reimbursement for lost baggage. In January 2021, MARTIN’s co-conspirator Pernell Jones, Jr. (“JONES”) took a flight to New Orleans under a fictitious identity. Shortly thereafter, MARTIN went into Louis Armstrong International Airport, assumed the same fictitious identity, and falsely told American Airlines that his bag had been lost on the flight. According to MARTIN’s plea documents, on four occasions, MARTIN agreed to accept fraudulent baggage reimbursement funds from airlines on JONES’ behalf to help JONES evade detection. In November 2021, JONES pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. JONES is set to be sentenced on May 19, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced MARTIN to three years of probation with two months of home detention. MARTIN was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,466.89. Judge Milazzo also imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans would like to acknowledge the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Dallas Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
California Man Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for His Role as A Courier for A Nationwide Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced David Sandoval, age 21, of Anaheim, California, yesterday to 60 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release, for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that moved large quantities of Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine from California to various major Midwest and East Coast cities.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on January 28, 2019, while in route to a drug exchange in Pottsville, PA, Sandoval was arrested and found to be in possession of two large duffle bags containing approximately 3 kilograms of Heroin. Further investigation revealed that Sandoval, a courier for the drug trafficking organization, had made numerous prior trips from California to major East Coast cities like New York and Boston, each time transporting a significant quantity of controlled substances, which he would then pass on to co-conspirators in those cities for local distribution.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St. John.
The case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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California Man Indicted in Texas for Sending Threatening Messages to University PresidentRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Rossmoor, California, man with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Jeremy David Hanson, 44, was named in the indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2022 in Sherman charging him with interstate transmission of threatening communications.
According to the indictment, on March 3, 2022, Hanson is alleged to have sent a threatening email to the President of the University of North Texas (UNT) in response to an event that happened the day before. The indictment states that student protests occurred on the UNT campus following the speaking engagement of a political candidate who supported outlawing sexual reassignment surgeries for children.
“Jeremy Hanson is accused of sending numerous death threats and hate-filled messages related to the LGBTQ community, which the FBI acted swiftly to disrupt,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “These abhorrent threats were intended to incite fear and intimidation and have no place in our society. The FBI will continue to protect the American people from threats of violence and find justice for victims.”
If convicted, Hanson faces up to five years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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CEO of Cryptocurrency and Forex Trading Platform Charged with Fraudulent Scheme Involving over $59 MillionRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging EDDY ALEXANDRE, the leader of a purported cryptocurrency and forex trading platform called EminiFX, with commodities fraud and wire fraud offenses. As alleged, ALEXANDRE solicited more than $59 million in investments from hundreds of individual investors after making false representations in connection with the EminiFX trading platform. ALEXANDRE was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Eddy Alexandre allegedly induced his clients to invest over $59 million with promises of huge passive income returns via his own proprietary trading platform called EminiFx. In reality, no such technology existed, as Alexandre is alleged to have invested very little of their money – most of which he lost – and transferred most of it to his own personal accounts to pay for luxury items for himself. As in any of the financial markets, the foreign exchanges offer high return potential, but investors should beware of the downside risks of false claims and get rich quick schemes that oftentimes are too good to be true.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, Mr. Alexandre solicited millions of dollars from unwitting investors to whom he ‘guaranteed’ weekly returns of 5% through his trading platform using a new technology he refused to disclose. As with many greedy actors who have preceded him, he then used significant portions of the investor funds he solicited to buy expensive luxuries for himself. Today's action again demonstrates the FBI's commitment to pursuing fraudsters like Mr. Alexandre and guaranteeing they face the consequences of their actions in the federal criminal justice system.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
From in or about September 2021, up to and including in or about May 2022, ALEXANDRE, operated EminiFX, Inc. (“EminiFX”), a purported investment platform that ALEXANDRE founded, and for which he solicited more than $59 million in investments from hundreds of individual investors. ALEXANDRE marketed EminiFX as an investment platform through which investors would earn passive income through automated investments in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange (“FOREX”) trading. ALEXANDRE offered his investors “guaranteed” high investment returns using new technology that he claimed was secret. Specifically, ALEXANDRE falsely represented to investors that they would double their money within five months of investing by earning a 5% weekly return on their investment using a “Robo-Advisor Assisted account” to conduct trading. ALEXANDRE referred to this technology as his “trade secret” and refused to tell investors what the technology was. Each week EminiFX’s website falsely represented to investors that they had earned at least 5% on their investment, which they could withdraw or re-invest.
In truth and in fact, and as ALEXANDRE well knew, EminiFX did not earn 5% weekly returns for its investors. ALEXANDRE did not even invest the vast majority of investor funds entrusted to him, and ALEXANDRE sustained over $6 million in losses on the limited portion of funds that he did invest, which he did not disclose to his investors. Instead of using investors’ funds as he had promised, ALEXANDRE misdirected at least approximately $14,700,000 to his personal bank account and failed to invest the vast majority of the investors’ funds. For example, ALEXANDRE used $155,000 in investor funds to purchase a BMW car for himself and spent an additional $13,000 of investor funds on car payments, including to Mercedes Benz.
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ALEXANDRE, 50, of Valley Stream, New York, is charged with one count of commodities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and also thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Folly and Jared Lenow are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boston Man Charged with Pandemic Fraud, Identity Theft, Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to fraud, identity theft, firearm and drug offenses.
Jammy Alphonse, 28, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. Alphonse was previously arrested and charged in August 2021 with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon following a shooting in Cambridge, Mass., in July 2021. Alphonse has remained in custody since that date.
According to the charging documents, beginning in or around May 2020, Alphonse conspired to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits, which were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Specifically, Alphonse conspired to submit false PUA claims in other persons’ names and using other persons’ personally identifiable information. It is alleged that Alphonse and his co-conspirators created email accounts for the purpose of submitting fraudulent PUA claims from Alphonse’s Everett residence and other locations. The fraudulently obtained funds were then directed into accounts held in Alphonse’s name or in the name of a co-conspirator.
Additionally, in February 2021, Alphonse allegedly submitted an application to rent a property in East Boston using the name, Social Security number and date of birth of another person. As a result, Alphonse resided in that apartment from approximately February 2021 through Aug. 6, 2021, when he was arrested on a federal firearms offense. A search of the apartment recovered a loaded Glock model 43X, 9-millimeter firearm, 47 rounds of ammunition and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, among other things.
The charge of wire fraud conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, up to four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Billings man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted trafficking methamphetamine after a officers found the drug during a traffic stop near Big Timber was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Melvin Louis Weasel Boy, 47, pleaded guilty in September to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in November 2019, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper made a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Big Timber of a Cadillac Escalade that matched the description of a stolen vehicle and had mismatched license plates. The officer arrested Weasel Boy, the driver, for driving a stolen vehicle. During a search of Weasel Boy, law enforcement found a plastic bag containing about two ounces of meth. The government further alleged that when Weasel Boy was subsequently arrested in February 2021 for violations of pretrial release, law enforcement found a stolen, loaded gun, with an extended, loaded magazine, and meth in the car he was driving.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Torske prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Highway Patrol.
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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Baltimore Man Facing Federal Charges for Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Access Device Fraud in Relation to an Alleged Counterfeit Card Encoding SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Leroy Holmes, age 61, of Baltimore, Maryland, for the federal charges of bank fraud, identity theft, and access device fraud in connection with a scheme to re-encode gift cards with the stolen financial information of multiple victims, then use the cards to purchase fuel for truckers at half price, in exchange for cash. The indictment was returned on May 10, 2022.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.
According to the seven-count indictment, from October 2019 to March 2022, Holmes allegedly defrauded financial institutions by creating and using credit and debit card information encoded on gift cards to make fraudulent purchases without authority from cardholders or financial institutions. Holmes allegedly re-encoded gift cards to charge as credit and debit cards using the real banking information of victims at gas stations where he sold gas to truck drivers for half price.
As alleged in the indictment, some of the counterfeited credit and debit cards created and used by Holmes contained unemployment insurance benefits provided to victims from the state of California and were used without each victim’s knowledge or permission. According to the indictment, Holmes used, created, or possessed at least 594 counterfeit credit and debit cards, resulting in a loss of at least $170,000.
If convicted, Holmes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for bank fraud, 15 years in federal prison for access device fraud, and two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, USPIS, the Secret Service, the Department of Labor-OIG, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Ray, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. For more information about resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Alice man gets 30 years for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 41-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for forcing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.
Mauricio Ruiz pleaded guilty Jan. 7.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva G. Ramos handed Ruiz a sentence of 360 months, noting the case’s “horrific facts.” At the hearing, the court heard emotionally-moving victim impact statements detailing how Ruiz continuously tormented the minor. Ruiz will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Ruiz will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
At the time of his plea, he admitted to recording illicit videos and images over the course of several years with a minor victim. He raped the minor on multiple occasions and recorded the events. He also threatened to kill members of her family if she ever told anyone.
On Oct. 30, 2020, law enforcement arrested Ruiz at his workplace after learning he was sexually assaulting the girl. The investigation revealed Ruiz possessed more than 34 images and 20 videos of sexual abuse on his work computer.
Ruiz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Smith and Dennis E. Robinson prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Agents Seize over $2 Million in U.S. Currency and More Than 10,000 Diverted Oxycodone PillsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Investigators from the DEA Criminal Diversion Group, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the Barbourville Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Manchester Police Department arrested twelve people, and seized approximately 10,000 diverted oxycodone pills and over $2,000,000 in U.S. Currency, as the result of an investigation into a Louisville-based drug trafficking operation.
In connection with this investigation, a federal grand jury sitting in London returned an indictment charging Jose Luis Barata Vazquez, Alexey Barata Hernandez, Yoleisys Reyes Castillo, Dioslen Jimenez Ortiz, Kaid Rogers, Allison Renee Rogers, Michael King, Christopher King, Floyd Barker, Sheila Barger, and Samuel Barger with conspiring, together and with others, to distribute oxycodone in Madison, Estill, Clay, and Laurel counties, from September 2019 to March 2022. The grand jury also returned an indictment charging Franklin Hammons, in a related case, with conspiring with others to distribute oxycodone in Knox County, from April 2012 to April 2022.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, supervised release of up to 3 years, as well as forfeiture of any assets used to facilitate these crimes or that constitute the proceeds of these offenses. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; and Vic Brown, Executive Director of Appalachia HIDTA, jointly announced the indictment. Assistant United States Attorney W. Samuel Dotson is representing the United States.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Active Duty Mayport Sailor Arrested and Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse VideosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Adam Lee-Fucci Ferenbach (34, Atlantic Beach) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing child sexual abuse videos. Ferenbach faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Ferenbach was arrested at his residence on May 6, 2022. Ferenbach is currently an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy, stationed at Naval Station Mayport.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2022, agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a federal search warrant at Ferenbach’s residence in connection with an ongoing child exploitation investigation. Agents seized a cellphone that contained several videos in the device’s photo application depicting young children being sexually abused located.
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
10 Alleged Drug Traffickers Charged in Operation Tulia TakedownRead the Press Release
Eight alleged methamphetamine traffickers were arrested in Tulia, Texas on Tuesday in Operation Tulia Takedown, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. Two additional defendants who were already in state custody have also been charged federally.
During Tuesday’s bust, agents and officers also seized five firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, 1.4 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.6 pounds of marijuana, and 93 Xanax pills.
The defendants were charged in an eight count indictment unsealed Thursday. Those charged include:
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Manuel Socorro Urenda, aka “Bossman,” charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
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Jamie Catina Haddock, aka “Jamie Hurt,” charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Gilbert Lee Basaldua, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Santiago James Carrasco (already in custody), charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Rojelio “Roy” Reyes, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Gabriel Trevino, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Raul Mancha Montoya, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Lydia Delgado Hawthorne, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Jim Bob Been, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
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Cayetano Vela Medrano (already in custody), charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
“FBI Dallas’ criminal investigative focus is to target any criminal enterprise that drives violence and threatens to destroy neighborhoods, from rural towns to sprawling cities,“ said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Through our extensive partnerships and task forces we’re sending a direct message to offenders that committing continual criminal incidents will not be tolerated, and that we will deploy our collective strength to ensure the safety and security of our communities.”
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Mr. Urenda and Ms. Haddock face up to life in federal prison; the remaining defendants face up to 20 years.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Amarillo Police Department, the Tulia Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Randall County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Pinkham is prosecuting the case.
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Wednesday 11 May 2022
Wisconsin’s U.S. Attorneys recognize National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, Richard G. Frohling and Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, recognize 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 U.S. Attorney General Merrick 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.”
“Police Week is an opportunity for us to honor local, state, federal, and Tribal law enforcement officers, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “We appreciate these brave men and women who are committed to protecting the safety of all Wisconsinites.”
“Every day, members of law enforcement put their lives on the line to make our communities great places to live and work,” stated U.S. Attorney Frohling. “My colleagues and I at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are incredibly grateful for the daily sacrifices made by these brave men and women. We must always remember, honor, and support the officers and the families of all officers who have been injured or killed in service to their communities and to their 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 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. 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.
The names of the 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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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Wisconsin's U.S. Attorneys Recognize National Police WeekRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – In honor of National Police Week, Richard G. Frohling and Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, recognize 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 U.S. Attorney General Merrick 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.”
“Police Week is an opportunity for us to honor local, state, federal, and Tribal law enforcement officers, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “We appreciate these brave men and women who are committed to protecting the safety of all Wisconsinites.”
“Every day, members of law enforcement put their lives on the line to make our communities great places to live and work,” stated U.S. Attorney Frohling. “My colleagues and I at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are incredibly grateful for the daily sacrifices made by these brave men and women. We must always remember, honor, and support the officers and the families of all officers who have been injured or killed in service to their communities and to their 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 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. 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.
The names of the 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.
Vermont U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
May 11, 2022 - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, county, and local law enforcement officers in Vermont. 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.”
U.S. Attorney Kerest stated “I, along with members of my office, take this opportunity to recognize the dedication and courage of our law enforcement partners. Every day in Vermont, our federal, state, county, and local officers show up and diligently and compassionately perform their jobs and keep our communities safe. Law enforcement officers regularly face uncertain and dangerous situations, putting themselves in harm’s way to confront violence and protect victims of crime. Their work is not easy, and while it is vital to the safety of all Vermonters, it often goes unrecognized. My office commends and thanks each of them for their commitment and valor. National Police Week also is a time to think about officer wellness. Law enforcement officers regularly face highly stressful situations. The pressures of responding to unknown circumstances take a toll even absent a public health emergency. I encourage everyone to get in touch with a police officer this week and convey gratitude for their sacrifices.”
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 from 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, underscoring the added dangers that officers have faced during the pandemic. 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 attacks1 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 619 fallen officers were added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial. Their names 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.
United States Attorney Will Thompson Recognizes Police Week 2022Read the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Will Thompson 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.”
In conjunction with National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia will hold its annual Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston. This annual event recognizes the exemplary work of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers alongside whom the United States Attorney’s Office stands as a proud partner.
“Our law enforcement officers need our support each and every day, and National Police Week allows us to show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice,” Thompson said. “We offer homage to those officers who have given their lives to keep our communities safe. Paying that ultimate price has earned our eternal gratitude.”
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.
The Southern District of West Virginia did not record any line of duty deaths among law enforcement in 2021. But the names added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in 2022 include 147 officers who died in years prior to 2021. Among those names is that of George William Spangler of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, whose watch ended on Feb. 19, 1927.
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.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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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.
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland and United States Attorney Robert J. Troester Recognize Police WeekRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland and United States Attorney Robert J. Troester recognize 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 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."
"Every day, members of law enforcement serve in perilous conditions to maintain the Rule of Law," stated U.S. Attorney Troester. "They do so selflessly to uphold an oath they took to help maintain social order in our community. It is with great honor and pride that we all recognize this week—and every week—the men and women who comprise our law enforcement family, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
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. The Memorial also includes an additional 147 names of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in previous years.
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.
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/watch?v=tKDK1khLW6Y. 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.
United States Attorney Breon Peace Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Breon Peace recognizes 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,” stated U.S. 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.”
“These are challenging times for the brave members of law enforcement who, at great risk to themselves from gun violence, COVID-19 and other threats endemic to their profession, answer the call of duty every day to protect the communities in our district,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This week, join me in honoring and thanking these selfless men and women for their public service, and their families, too, who share in the sacrifices made for our benefit.”
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 the Coronavirus, including Lieutenant Robert John Van Zeyl of the Suffolk County Police Department, Sergeant John Lowry of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and Police Officers Leonardo Chavez and Marze Murray, Jr., of the New York City Police Department’s Transit Bureau.
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 the 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.
US Attorney Darcie McElwee Joins Others in Honoring Police WeekRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine – Today marks the start of National Police Week, a time to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. This year, the week will be 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 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.”
“I was honored to join with law enforcement from around the state earlier this week for the annual observance at the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dedicated to Maine law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “It was an opportunity to pay tribute to officers who lost their lives protecting Maine, though this year was made particularly somber with the addition of a new name.”
The Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Augusta includes the names of 88 law enforcement officers. The name of Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy Luke Gross was added this year after he lost his life while giving assistance to a motorist in Trenton, Maine in 2021.
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 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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U.S. Attorney’s Office in EDVA Commemorates National Police WeekRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber will recognize 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.
“I am grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement officers, who serve under increasingly challenging and dangerous conditions,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “National Police Week is a time to express our gratitude while honoring their sacrifice. I hope that this week is a chance for everyone to reflect on the many positive contributions of law enforcement agencies to our communities and seek out a partnership of trust and collaboration with them.”
“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.
Here in the Eastern District of Virginia, Frederick Henry “Butch” Cameron Jr. of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office died on January 12, 2021, from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Fairfax County Judicial Center. EDVA also remembers Police Officer George Gonzalez of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, who was killed in the line of duty on August 3, 2021.
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.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins Local, State and Federal Agencies, Public to Honor Fallen Heroes During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia is joining with local, state and federal agencies during National Police Week to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement officers. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17.
“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 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.”
“We must never forget those fallen officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, upholding a standard of justice and peace that benefits us all,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia will continue to honor their legacy by doing our part to preserve justice for all people. Please join with us this week to remember our fallen heroes and to thank our law enforcement officers for their dedication to our communities.”
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. 44 fallen Georgia officers are named in the NLEOMF 2022 Roll Call and will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C. Please visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/facts-figures/roll-call-of-heroes/ for more information and to view the names of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the 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.
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.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes National Police Week, May 11-17, 2022Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year’s commemoration 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.”
“All of us at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are inspired everyday by the extraordinary courage and dedication of our law enforcement partners who repeatedly put their lives on the line to protect our communities. National Police Week is a longstanding tradition that affords all of us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of law enforcement and honor those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. We offer our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to everyone in law enforcement as well as their families and loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Asphaug.
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, celebrated every year on May 15, 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.
According to 2021 statistics reported by the FBI through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty by felonious acts and 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased by more than 58 percent in 2021. Additionally, in 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths, outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and marking the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. LEOKA statistics can be found on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
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 5:00 PM PDT. The vigil can be streamed live online on the NLEOMF YouTube channel. A full schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III 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 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.”
“Our office is proud to work alongside all of our law enforcement partners who bravely serve the residents of the Eastern District of Tennessee,” said U.S. Attorney Hamilton. “We express our deepest gratitude and pay tribute to those who serve, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”
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 Shier Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV recognizes 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.”
“Making the commitment to serve your community is the first of many sacrifices that members of law enforcement choose to make when they enter their public service,” said U.S. Attorney Shier. “The work that follows is demanding, persistent, and hazardous – but also absolutely critical to making our communities safer and more resilient. National Police Week reminds us to collectively reflect on the sacrifices of members of law enforcement and allows us to show our sincere appreciation for the essential service they provide to our communities.”
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. Seven officers, who died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Kentucky, will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C.
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 Roger Handberg Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Roger Handberg 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.”
“Every day, thousands of law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect citizens from harm, enforce our nation’s laws, and preserve the peace,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “Our Office salutes the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and supports those who continue to serve the people of Florida and across America.”
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. Thirty officers have died in the line of duty in the Middle District of Florida.
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 Prim Escalona Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Prim Escalona 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.”
“This week, we celebrate the men and women in law enforcement, especially those in the Northern District of Alabama, who devote their lives to public service,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Our law enforcement partners often put their lives on the line without hesitation. Let us all take a moment to recognize the sacrifices of every member of law enforcement, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while courageously acting in the line of duty. To the families of these brave men and women, you have our unending gratitude and support.”
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. Six officers have died in the line of duty in the Northern District of Alabama.
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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[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 Mark Totten Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
May 11, 2022— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Mark Totten 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 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.”
“Every day our law enforcement officers enter harm’s way to protect the communities they serve. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these officers and their families for their singular commitment to protect the people they serve.”
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. According to NLEOMF one officer died in the line of duty in the Western District of Michigan. The officers name will be added to the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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 attacks1 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.
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.
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.
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U.S. Attorney LaMarca Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Darren LaMarca 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 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.”
“I am honored to express my appreciation and heart-felt thanks to all law enforcement across the nation and especially within the State of Mississippi,” said Darren J. LaMarca, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “I am humbled at the sacrifices made in this profession and in the fulfillment of the need for policing. For without our law enforcement community, there is no peace.”
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. Three officers died in the line of duty in the Southern District of Mississippi in 2021.
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.
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 Ihlenfeld recognizes police weekRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld 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.”
“All of us at the United States Attorney’s Office are grateful for the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers across West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “These brave men and women put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe and for that we are all blessed.”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.
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 Evans Recognizes Police Week at District Commemorative EventsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. This year, National Police 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 Evans said, “Every year during Police Week, our nation celebrates the selfless contributions from our brave men and women in law enforcement from around the country, and especially in the Eastern District of Louisiana, by recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe. We owe it to these officers and their families to never forget that sacrifice and we want them and their families to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation. Our brave men and women in law enforcement, on the federal, state, and local levels, made the selfless choice to protect and serve with full knowledge that they could one day find themselves in harm’s way while doing their jobs. This week we should all take some time to reflect and honor the fallen and also those in law enforcement who continue to dutifully serve the public.”
To commemorate Police Week, U.S. Attorney Evans participated in the FBI New Orleans Field Office Fallen Officers Recognition Ceremony and in the upcoming days U.S. Attorney Evans will address attendees at the St. Tammany Parish Law Enforcement Memorial 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. According to Officers Down Memorial Page, 4 officers have died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2021.
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 attackswere 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.
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 Easley Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Michael Easley will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, 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.”
“In taking an oath to preserve and protect, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe,” said Easley. “We recognize and appreciate their sacrifice and commitment every day. This week, we take the opportunity, across the country, to honor those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. We also express our deepest respect and admiration for the families of these fallen heroes.”
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. Nine officers have died in the line of duty in the Eastern 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 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 Easley Announces Multi-Agency Initiative to Address Violent Crime in Rocky MountRead the Press Release
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley today announced a new multi-agency initiative to combat violent crime in the Rocky Mount area that includes a task force of local, state, and federal law enforcement. The new Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative was launched in collaboration with Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell earlier this week, in advance of the summer months when shootings typically increase.
“Rocky Mount is a place of great promise, brimming with growth and opportunity. But that opportunity will not be fully realized until we unite as a community to stop the violence,” said Easley. “Since April 30, Rocky Mount has seen four homicides and three other shootings, including one earlier this week that wounded an innocent 9-year-old boy. Our state, local, and federal partners are committed to doing all we can, in conjunction with community stakeholders, to stop this wave of gun violence. First and foremost, that means getting illegal guns off the streets and bringing those responsible for the violence to swift justice – for the victims and for the community at large.”
Chief Hassell stated, ““We believe this Violent Crime Action Plan will protect our community at a time when our citizens are understandably concerned. We appreciate the support and assistance from our federal partners and Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Atkinson and Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. By working together, we can reduce violent crime and make sure that our community is safe.”
“The ATF stands with the Rocky Mount community in its push against gun violence. We are bringing our resources and expertise for a systematic and coordinated effort to target the most violent offenders on the streets,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office have agreed to devote officers to the VCAP effort. These resources will supplement the work of the Rocky Mount Police Department and other partners in the investigation and prosecution of gun violence in Rocky Mount.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone commented, “The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is working collaboratively with the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Rocky Mount Police Department and federal agencies to reduce the violence in Rocky Mount. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to safer communities by enforcement of gang, gun and drug violations.”
“Edgecombe County is grateful for the assistance and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocky Mount Police Department and other local municipal police departments, the District Attorney’s Office and state and federal partners,” stated Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson. “As law enforcement officers, we are here to make a positive difference in the lives of our citizens, and ensuring their safety is paramount. We look forward to continuing proactive efforts to counteract criminal behavior and ensure safe communities.”
U.S. Attorney Easley stated, “The coordinated effort these agencies bring to this initiative will make Rocky Mount a safer place to live, work, and do business.”
VCAP is a three-pronged approach drawing on close partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the community, to combat violence.
Focused and Strategic Enforcement:
- Designating lead prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office to prioritize the review of all gun crime cases with local and federal law enforcement for accelerated action.
- Sustained, proactive, and coordinated efforts to identify and prosecute the most significantly violent repeat offenders and dangerous criminal organizations in the Rocky Mount area.
- Focusing on the sources of crime guns, including the prosecution of gun traffickers, straw purchasers, suppliers of guns to juveniles, and those using non-serialized “ghost guns” in crimes.
Inter-Agency Coordination and Intelligence-Led Policing:
- Analyzing crime data to identify trends, patterns, and “hot spots” to deploy resources where they are needed most.
- Leveraging federal Task Force Officers to bring federal technology and resources to address local gun violence.
- Increasing the use of Crime Gun Intelligence (CGI) through the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to identify and prosecute the serial trigger-pullers driving gun violence in local communities.
Community Engagement:
- Raising awareness through youth education. EDNC is working with the Rocky Mount Police Department to introduce programs, such as “Educating Kids about Gangs and Guns,” into Nash and Edgecombe County Schools in hopes of engaging students, law enforcement, and educators in life-saving conversations.
- Engaging with local offender re-entry programs, such as the Nash Edgecombe Wilson Re-entry Council, in their ongoing work to help returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society following incarceration through employment, transportation, and housing-related support.
- Meaningful community engagement by law enforcement, hearing from the communities most affected by violence to better partner in stopping it through supporting prevention, intervention, and reentry services.
The new task force ensures that Rocky Mount will have the full range of enforcement tools available to stop the violence. Participants will include representation from the Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Edgecombe County Sherriff’s Office, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Marshal’s Service. Prosecutors from the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are also engaged in the effort.
This initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is 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. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Pays Tribute to Fallen Law Enforcement Officers in Observance of National Police WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In observance of National Police Week, United States Attorney Dena J. King recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement and pays tribute to the officers who have fallen in the line of duty. 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.”
“Each and every day, our brave men and women in law enforcement do their best to protect us from harm and apprehend those who violate the law, so that our communities can be safe and continue to grow stronger and more just. National Police Week is an opportunity to recognize our federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement officers for their courage, dedication and commitment to serving their fellow citizens, and to pay tribute to the fallen officers who laid down their lives for us. It is also a time to extend our gratitude and support to our fallen heroes’ families and loved ones, and to reaffirm our commitment to all those who wear the badge and serve our communities with honor and dignity,” said U.S. Attorney King.
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 which 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Eight officers have died in the line of duty in the Western District of North Carolina.
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.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, 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.”
“The Western District of Virginia has mourned the death of several law enforcement officers this year, like so many other districts across the country,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “Police Week gives us all a moment to pause, remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our communities, and thank those who continue to protect and serve.”
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. Four officers have died in the line of duty in the Western District of Virginia in 2021.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff recognizes the dedication, 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 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.”
“Our law enforcement officers fulfill a critical role in ensuring the protection of an orderly society and back that commitment with their very lives,” said United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Here in the Western District of Texas we extend our deepest respect and gratitude to our law enforcement partners and join Attorney General Garland, along with the entire Department of Justice, in publicly thanking them for their service and sacrifice.”
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 falls on May 15 each year, 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 nationwide died in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. According to the Officer Down Memorial site, 34 officers died in the line of duty in the Western District of Texas.
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 by 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. 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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