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23 June 2022
Federal Prison Inmate Charged with Attempting to Obtain ContrabandRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) in Sandstone has been indicted for attempting to obtain contraband in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on two separate dates in February and March 2022, Nickolas William Mihelic, 39, an inmate at FCI Sandstone, unlawfully attempted to obtain methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Mihelic is charged with two counts of attempting to obtain contraband in prison. If convicted, he faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Mihelic will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before a Magistrate Judge at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Inmate and Texas Woman Indicted for Attempt to Smuggle Drugs into Prison by Labeling Packages as “Legal Mail”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Anthony Minor, 34, an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, and Tilisha Morrison, 33, of Irving, Texas, charging them with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to provide contraband in a prison, and conspiracy to commit identity fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Morrison is also charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, three counts of providing contraband in a prison, and three counts of identity fraud.
According to court documents, Minor and Morrison worked together to smuggle narcotics into USP Atwater—the facility where Minor is currently serving a federal prison sentence. At Minor’s direction, Morrison mailed packages containing concealed narcotics to various USP Atwater inmates three times between October 2021 and January 2022. Morrison marked each of the packages as “legal mail” from actual criminal defense attorneys in Dallas. In each package, Morrison included a piece of forged letterhead purportedly from the attorney listed as the sender.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Banco Popular Employee Sentenced to 12 Months for Fraudulent Use of ATM CardsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Natasha Seetaram, 39, of St. Thomas, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to 12 months and one day of incarceration, followed by four years of supervised release for bank fraud.
According to court records, Seetaram formerly worked at a St. Thomas branch of Banco Popular where she used her position as a bank employee to issue debit cards in the names of two unknowing bank customers. After issuing the ATM debit cards, Seetaram used the cards for her own personal benefit by making fraudulent ATM withdrawals and purchases in the amount of approximately $43,000.00 in St. Thomas and Jacksonville, FL. The two victims were subsequently reimbursed by the bank and Seetaram was ordered by the court to pay restitution to the bank in the amount of $43,418.76.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Erie County Man with 2008 Conviction for Receiving Child Sex Abuse Materials Indicted Again on Similar ChargesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Wattsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Troy Eugene Anderson, 41, 10960 Backus Road, Wattsburg, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, in and around February 2021, Anderson received images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, from in and around June 2018 to in and around February 2021, Anderson possessed and accessed with intent to view visual images and videos in individual computer files depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Anderson has a prior federal conviction for receipt of child sexual abuse material for which he was sentenced to 71 months in jail and 5 years of supervised release in August 2008.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un reclutador de informática que resuelve unas acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado un acuerdo conciliatorio con Technology Hub Inc., una compañía de contratación y reclutamiento en el ámbito de la informática con sede en Virginia. El acuerdo resuelve las acusaciones de que Technology Hub había discriminado tanto a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. como a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. que contaban con permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, con base en su estatus migratorio o ciudadanía durante su proceso de reclutamiento.
«Ni empleadores ni agencias de contratación pueden excluir a solicitantes de trabajo al promocionar o implementar preferencias ilícitas basadas en la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio de uno», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles está comprometida a hacer cumplir la ley para garantizar que los que están buscando un trabajo queden protegidos de la discriminación ilícita».
Con base en su investigación, el Departamento concluyó que en al menos cuatro ocasiones, Technology Hub buscó e investigó a solicitantes con base en la preferencia de la compañía y sus clientes por trabajadores con cierto estatus migratorio o ciudadanía. Las prácticas de la compañía perjudicaron a trabajadores que no acataban esas preferencias al disuadirles de solicitar un trabajo. Por ejemplo, la investigación reveló que en al menos tres ocasiones, Technology Hub excluyó a asilados, refugiados y nacionales de los EE. UU. al promocionar vacantes solamente para ciudadanos y residentes permanentes legales de los EE. UU. Más aún, el Departamento concluyó que en al menos una ocasión, Technology Hub discriminó a trabajadores en este país al promocionar un puesto que buscaba solamente a trabajadores con visas H-1B.
La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) protege a ciudadanos estadounidenses, nacionales no ciudadanos de los EE. UU., refugiados, asilados y residentes permanentes legales recientes de la discriminación en el empleo por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía. Por lo general, la INA prohíbe que los empleadores y reclutadores restrinjan puestos de trabajo con base en la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio a menos que así lo requiera una ley, un reglamento, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental. Conforme la INA, los empleadores y otras entes que reclutan o recomiendan por comisión a trabajadores solo pueden restringir puestos con base en la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio si así lo requiera una ley, un reglamento, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental. Los empleadores y sus reclutadores están vulnerando la INA si implementan las preferencias discriminatorias ilegales de un cliente.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo conciliatorio, Technology Hub pagará una sanción civil que asciende a $12,000 a los Estados Unidos; revisará sus políticas y procedimientos; capacitará a los empleados y agentes relevantes acerca de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA y se someterá a la supervisión durante un período de tres años con el fin de garantizar su cumplimiento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía o bien por la nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación. El sitio web de la IER tiene información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en la contratación y el reclutamiento.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1‑800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1‑800‑237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Visualice este comunicado de prensa en inglés.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un reclutador de informática radicado en California que resuelve una acusación de discriminación relacionada con la contrataciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha firmado un acuerdo conciliatorio con SpringShine Consulting, Inc., una compañía de contratación en el ámbito de la informática con sede en California. El acuerdo resuelve acusaciones de que SpringShine había discriminado a trabajadores en este país debido a su estatus de ciudadanía al pedir solicitudes para oportunidades de empleo únicamente a personas que buscaban patrocinio de una visa laboral temporal.
«Se debe hacer rendir cuentas a aquellos empleadores que, en contra de la ley, desalienten a solicitantes por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía o que reserven ciertas oportunidades laborales únicamente para solicitantes que requieren ser patrocinados para poder trabajar en los Estados Unidos», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles garantizará que los trabajadores queden protegidos de tal discriminación ilegal».
El Departamento inició una investigación después de que un individuo se quejó de un anuncio que SpringShine había colgado en su sitio web de reclutamiento que pedía la entrega de solicitudes únicamente de consultores informáticos experimentados que requerían ser patrocinados para poder recibir una visa laboral temporal basada en el empleo. El anuncio estaba dirigido exclusivamente a trabajadores que buscaban el patrocinio de la compañía de visas H-1B, sin ninguna indicación que trabajadores de otro estatus de ciudadanía, tales como ciudadanos de los EE. UU, nacionales de los EE. UU., residentes permanentes legales, asilados o refugiados también serían considerados para oportunidades de empleo. SpringShine mantenía que el anuncio no estaba asociado con una oferta de empleo sino que era una herramienta de reclutamiento cuya meta era reunir un conjunto de consultores cualificados para satisfacer las necesidades laborales de sus clientes previstas para el futuro. No obstante, con base en su investigación, el Departamento concluyó que (1) la compañía se ofreció para patrocinar a uno de los solicitantes que había respondido al anuncio, (2) el anuncio reflejaba una preferencia por parte de SpringShine por satisfacer sus necesidades de contratación con trabajadores con visas H-1B y (3) el anuncio perjudicaba a trabajadores en este país al desalentar a muchos de ellos, de maner ilícita, de entregar una solicitud. En virtud de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés), a los empleadores, por lo general, no se les permite discriminar en los procesos de reclutamiento o contratación con base en el estatus de ciudadanía.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo conciliatorio, SpringShine pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos que asciende a $17,000 y asegurará que sus anuncios de empleo y prácticas de contratación no incluyan o implementen preferencias ilícitas por candidatos con cierto estatus migratorio o ciudadanía. Además, SpringShine capacitará a sus empleados que formen parte del proceso de reclutamiento y contratación en cuanto a la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; , prácticas documentales injustas o represalias e intimidación.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Aprenda más sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en el sitio web de la IER. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Dubuque Felon Sent Back to Federal Prison for Domestic AbuseRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who displayed a baseball bat during an argument with his girlfriend was sentenced on June 21, 2022, to 18 months in federal prison. John Michael Gronen, age 24, received the prison term after he admitted that he repeatedly violated the terms of his supervised release from federal prison, including by committing new law violations of domestic abuse. At the time of the domestic abuse incident, Gronen was serving a three-year term of supervised release that followed his release from federal prison in 2020. Gronen had pled guilty in 2017 to making a false declaration before a grand jury and received a 27-month prison sentence. He started his three-year supervised release term in late 2020.
Evidence presented at the supervised release hearing showed that, on June 1, 2022, Dubuque Police Department officers responded to a phone call from Gronen’s girlfriend. During the call, Gronen’s girlfriend repeatedly pleaded with him to put down a baseball bat that he was holding.
After the officers arrested Gronen, he made a number of calls from local jails asking two other persons to relay messages to the victim and also to encourage the victim to change her story about the bat. During the supervised release hearing, however, Gronen admitted he displayed the bat during the argument.
Gronen was drinking hard liquor at the time of the domestic incident, which was a violation of the terms of his supervised release. He broke a window during the argument and knocked over a chair in which the victim was sitting. Previously, Gronen was also arrested for other alcohol-related offenses while on supervised release, including drunk driving and public intoxication.
Gronen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. During the revocation hearing, the judge referred to Gronen as an “extreme danger to the community.” Gronen was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek with the assistance of the Dubuque Police Department. At the revocation hearing, Judge Reade commended the Dubuque Police Department’s procedures for investigating domestic violence cases.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-31-LRR.
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Dover Man Sentenced for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Bruce M. Jarvela, III, 25, of Dover, was sentenced on June 21, 2022, to 15 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews pronounced the sentence.
Jarvela pled guilty to one count of Enticement of a Minor to Produce Child Pornography on October 18, 2021.
According to publicly filed documents and statements made in open court, Jarvela used social media to lie about his identity and offer money in exchange for pornography—though he never paid. Jarvela got pornography from dozens of adult women. He also got pornography from three known minor females—two of whom were younger than 15. He enticed these minors into creating videos of themselves performing humiliating sexual conduct. When one of these minors decided she had had enough, Jarvela contacted her via text message, threatened her, and tried to coerce her into making more pornography.
Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Use of technology and social media is ubiquitous among today’s young people. While much good can come from such interconnection, dangerous predators exploit this environment. We are committed to prosecuting unscrupulous adults who victimize children to obtain child pornography. I urge parents and children alike to be wary of sharing information with on-line strangers to avoid falling prey to individuals like the defendant.”
“Jarvela used social media to exploit and extort young people, even going so far as to threaten those who refused him. With this sentence, Jarvela is off the streets, no longer able to prey on others. HSI is committed to uncovering online predators and, with our partners, we’re working tirelessly to make the internet a safer place for children,” said William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, and the Caroline County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham L. Robinson of the District of Delaware.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Defendants Sentenced for Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two defendants who were involved in the production and distribution of child pornography, have each been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays.
Dustin Patrick Wyble, 37, of Sunset, Louisiana, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison. Katie-Sue Fory Walz, 33, also of Sunset, was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in prison. Both Wyble and Walz were each ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,000. Following their release from prison, they will serve 15 years of supervised release. In addition, mandatory sex offender registration was ordered for both defendants.
According to evidence presented to the court, Wyble began communicating through the internet chat application, KIK, with an undercover agent in February 2020. During these chats, Wyble provided images of a prepubescent child exposing their private parts in the image. Through their investigative efforts, law enforcement agents were able to determine where Wyble lived and went to his residence to speak with him. Wyble eventually admitted to using KIK in order to send images of child pornography to other users. A search warrant was obtained for Wyble’s residence and agents seized several electronic devices that Wyble admitted were used to send images through the KIK application. A forensic examination of the devices revealed that Wyble used the devices to store numerous child pornographic images and used his KIK account to administer group chats to share child pornographic images among the group’s users. The investigation also revealed that Wyble and Walz produced some of the images recovered.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Louisiana State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and Robert C. Abendroth.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –A federal judge this week sentenced a convicted felon for three counts of illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
United States District Court Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala sentenced Demarcus Marshall, 27, to 120 months in prison. Marshall pleaded guilty to the charges in January. According to the plea agreement, Marshall illegally possessed a firearm on three occasions.
On September 9, 2020, Birmingham Police Officers responded to a domestic call where Marshall’s girlfriend was the victim. When officers arrived, they recovered a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol from Marshall.
On September 30, 2020, a Homewood Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle where Marshall was the passenger and observed Marshall holding a pistol. Officers recovered a Taurus .40 caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. The officers also recovered a Springfield Armory 9mm pistol in the front passenger glove box loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition. They also recovered loose rounds of ammunition throughout the vehicle.
On June 22, 2021, Marshall approached a woman and assaulted her by hitting her in the face with his fist and throwing her to the ground. The female got away from Marshall and got into her car. As she drove away, Marshall chased after the car and fired two rounds from a handgun at the vehicle. No one was hit by the rounds. A Birmingham Police Officer recovered a .40 caliber shell casing from the ground near where Marshall had fired. Later that day, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with four occupants. Marshall was in the back seat and when officers approached, Marshall was attempting to conceal a firearm under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The officers instructed him to stop moving but he did not comply until he completely concealed the item. The officers recovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, digital scale, and miscellaneous controlled substances.
“To reduce the gun violence occurring in our communities, we partner with other law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute those who persistently violate federal gun laws and commit acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “We are grateful for the coordinated work of our federal, state, and local partners in bringing this offender to justice.”
“The ATF recognizes that we are most successful when we work with our state, local, and federal partners. Our ability to protect the American families, increases by having a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy in place. We will continue to focus our efforts to decrease violent crime and hold individuals accountable who continuously cause harm in the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
“While the FBI investigates a host of crimes, fighting violent crime and being effective partners to state and local law enforcement is at the core of who we are, and we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the fight against violent crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Operation Safe Families Initiative, which was launched in October 2020. Operation Safe Families focuses on fighting domestic violence in the Northern District of Alabama. Annually, offenders with a history of domestic violence commit more than half of all homicides committed in Jefferson County. Through Operation Safe Families, the U.S. Attorney’s Office works with federal, state, and local law enforcement to use federal firearm laws to combat domestic violence.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and our partners prioritize protecting victims and the community from people who commit domestic violence with a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The presence of a firearm within a domestic violence situation increases the threat of death to the victim by 500%. Moreover, escalating community violence in Jefferson County is being driven by people who have a history of domestic violence, with 74% of solved homicides in 2021 being committed by someone with a history of domestic violence,” added U.S. Attorney Escalona.
FBI investigated the case along with ATF, the Birmingham Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Peoples and Darius Greene prosecuted the case
Convicted Felon Indicted for Forcibly Interfering with Deputy U.S. Marshals and Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Cleate Wilson (40, Tampa) with forcibly resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with two Deputy United States Marshals and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted on both counts, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Wilson that the United States intends to forfeit an H&K 9mm firearm and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
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.
Clearfield Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison and a Life-time Term of Supervised Release for Producing and Possessing Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Clearfield, PA has been sentenced in federal court on his conviction of production and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Jackson Martin III, 46. On June 21, 2022, Martin was sentenced to 35 years in prison followed by a life-time term of supervised release.
In connection with the guilty pleas, the court was advised that from December 2018 to September 1, 2019, Martin produced images of a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct using materials that were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Further, from January 8, 2019, to November 24, 2019, Martin possessed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which were produced using prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The computer graphic files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Clearfield Borough Police Department, and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Martin and Downs.
This case was brought as a 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.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Federal Prison for Setting Fire to Police Vehicle During Civil UnrestRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for setting fire to a Chicago Police Department vehicle during a period of civil unrest in downtown Chicago in 2020.
On May 30, 2020, TIMOTHY O’DONNELL ignited a piece of cloth with a lighter and placed the cloth into the fuel filler of the marked CPD vehicle while it was parked in the 200 block of North State Street in Chicago. The fire spread throughout the vehicle and destroyed it. O’Donnell set the fire while wearing a “Joker” mask that partially covered his face. The vehicle was unoccupied, and no injuries were sustained.
At the time of the fire, Chicago Police officers were in the downtown Loop neighborhood of Chicago investigating reports of disorder and unrest.
O’Donnell, 33, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of interfering with law enforcement during the commission of civil disorder. U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood imposed the 34-month prison sentence after a hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. CPD provided valuable assistance.
“The defendant’s crime was extremely serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Durkin argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “He added to the chaos of an already chaotic night for no reason other than to live out his own fantasies.”
Charlotte Doctor Is Indicted for $11 Million Durable Medical Equipment SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte doctor is facing federal charges for her role in a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme that defrauded federal benefits programs of more than $11 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Sudipta Mazumder, 46, of Charlotte, is charged with one count of health care fraud and six counts of making false statements relating to health care matters.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General for the region including North Carolina, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, during 2019 and 2020, Mazumder was a doctor in Charlotte who worked as an independent contractor for a Delaware-based telemedicine company. During the relevant time frame, Mazumder allegedly signed fraudulent orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, specifically knee braces, resulting in the submission of thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare and TRICARE totaling approximately $11,436,873. The indictment alleges that Mazumder falsely stated in those orders that she performed medical examinations of Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries and falsely certified that the braces were medically necessary.
According to allegations in the indictment, contrary to her claims, Mazumder never examined the Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries. Instead, Mazumder allegedly had little or no interaction with the beneficiaries and made no medical determination whether the devices were medically necessary or the beneficiaries needed the DME. Mazumder received from the telemedicine company unsigned orders for orthopedic braces for the beneficiaries, which she signed and returned to the telemedicine company in exchange for $20 for each purported assessment that she performed.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The health care fraud charge carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. The charge of making false statements relating to health care matters carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count.
Mazumder’s initial appearance has been scheduled for July 12, 2022, in federal court in Charlotte.
The investigation was handled by the FBI and HHS-OIG with the assistance of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Charleston Man Indicted for Firearm and Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a three-count indictment against Perry JaQuan Jackson, 23, of Summerville, South Carolina for felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment alleges that on March 3, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Perry Jackson for multiple outstanding arrest warrants. Officers searched Jackson’s vehicle and located a loaded Glock 19 9mm handgun, $7,740 in cash, over 300 grams of marijuana, and three digital scales. Jackson is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a previous conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
Jackson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted and 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 North Charleston Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
United States 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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California Man Indicted for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly surreptitiously filming an 11-year-old Massachusetts girl as she changed in her bedroom.
Jacob Guerrero, 24, of Woodland, Calif., was indicted on one count of sexually exploiting a child. Guerrero was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 14, 2022. He remains in federal custody.
“Mr. Guerrero is alleged to have targeted and followed young innocent children in our communities – one of whom being an 11-year-old girl he allegedly preyed upon and exploited for the purposes of producing child pornography,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Child exploitation is one of the most heinous crimes and perpetrators will be aggressively pursued by this office. We will not hesitate to exhaust every resource necessary to identify and prosecute those who seek to sexualize and harm our most vulnerable population, our children.”
“Jacob Guerrero is an accused child predator who went to great lengths to sexually exploit an innocent, 11-year-old girl. The conduct we allege in this case is horrific, and it’s also a prime example of how a child can be victimized in their very own home,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “While we are grateful to have put a stop to Mr. Guerrero’s behavior, the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and arrest others like him who seek to commit crimes against children.”
On or about March 17, 2021, it is alleged that Guerrero recorded a video of an unclothed 11-year-old girl while she changed in her bedroom at her home in Norfolk, Mass. Guerrero allegedly climbed to the top of a garage attached to the victim’s home and stood just outside the victim’s second floor bedroom window as she changed. In the two weeks leading up to that recording, it is further alleged that Guerrero conducted surveillance of the victim’s home and made notes on his phone regarding the time of day that the victim and her siblings arrived home, showered and changed clothes each night. Guerrero allegedly recorded similar notes for the children residing in several other Massachusetts homes.
According to the charging documents, this case arose following an investigation into allegations that Guerrero, while dressed in a wig and women’s clothing, attempted to surreptitiously record minor females in bathrooms and changing rooms at the Wrentham Outlets using pen cameras affixed to his shoes.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of sexually exploiting a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Wrentham Police Chief William McGrath made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
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.
Bronx Gang Member Charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, and RacketeeringRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging BOSS TERRELL with murder and other crimes related to his membership in the “WashSide” gang based in the Bronx. TERRELL was charged with the June 26, 2020 murder of Tyrone Almodovar in the Morrisania neighborhood in the South Bronx. TERRELL was arrested today and presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s charges, as alleged, will hold Boss Terrell accountable not only for his murder of Tyrone Almodovar, but for the rash of crimes he committed with his fellow WashSide gang members. Our Office will continue to root out gang violence in our communities.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The NYPD and our law-enforcement partners will never tolerate violent gangs and the havoc they wreak in our communities. We remain focused on the small number of people who are responsible for the crime and disorder in our city, and we are using every means available to get them off our streets. As demonstrated by this case, gun violence remains a deadly concern in our communities – and any person who threatens the safety of those communities will be held fully accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, and everyone else who worked on this important investigation.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Boss Terrell’s alleged crimes left a ripple effect by spreading fear and violence throughout the Bronx community. DEA and our law enforcement partners are focused on safeguarding our communities from gang violence and drug trafficking and this arrest is one step in that direction.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
BOSS TERRELL was a member of “WashSide” or “Wash,” a gang based in the Bronx whose members and associates, from 2015 to 2022, conspired to commit various crimes with the gang, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, interstate transportation and sale of stolen property, access device fraud, wire fraud, and narcotics trafficking. Among other things, the gang members sold crack, robbed and stole from commercial establishments in the New York City area and in other states, and profited from the use of stolen credit cards and debit cards. Gang members also used guns, and committed acts of violence, including murder, against rival gang members. Members of WashSide promoted and celebrated, including in music and on social media, WashSide’s crimes.
The crimes TERRELL committed with WashSide included the following:
- On June 26, 2020, TERRELL and other members of WashSide participated in the shooting that killed Tyrone Almodovar in the Bronx.
- On July 29, 2020, TERRELL shot at and attempted to murder rival gang members in the Bronx.
- Between June and August 2020, TERRELL conspired with other members of WashSide to rob multiple commercial establishments in the New York City area and in other states.
* * *
TERRELL, 21, of the Bronx, New York, was charged with the offenses listed in the chart set forth below.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and NYPD and thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
Life in prison
2
Murder in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1) and 2
Mandatory life in prison or death
3
Use of a firearm for murder
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j) and 2
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 5 years in prison
4
Attempted murder and attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), (a)(6), and 2
10 years in prison
5
Use of a firearm for a crime of violence
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii) and 2
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison
6
Robbery conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1951
20 years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Boswell Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Possessing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Boswell, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Michael Knisely, age 31.
According to information presented to the court, from on or about April 16, 2021, Knisely possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Ms. Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Cambria County Drug Task Force, and Cambria County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Knisely.
Bay Village Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Bay Village man pleaded guilty today to an Information charging him with filing a false income tax return.
According to court documents, in April 2018, Douglas Fischback, 58, of Bay Village, Ohio, falsely understated his income on his tax return for the year 2017 by approximately $86,427.
Fischback is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2022.
This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.
Armed Foley Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced to 61 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Jimmie Lee Avera, 35, was arrested by Foley police on May 6, 2021, on an outstanding warrant for possessing drug paraphernalia. Police subsequently executed a search warrant at a house on Lake South Drive that Avera shared with his codefendant, Caitlan Reid Bentley. During that search, police seized more than six pounds of marijuana, three guns, numerous rounds of assorted ammunition, digital scales and plastic baggies, and $41,000 in banded-up cash.
Text messages and other electronic data recovered from Avera’s cell phone showed that from at least August 2019 through May 6, 2021, he had agreed with Bentley and others to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana from the house on Lake South Drive. Avera admitted to police that he had previously served time in Florida state prison for a robbery conviction involving what he described as a “drug deal gone wrong.” Avera further admitted that he knew he was not supposed to possess the guns found in his house because he is a convicted felon.
Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Avera to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Avera to pay $200 in special assessments and ordered that Avera’s guns and ammunition be forfeited to the United States.
In November 2021, Bentley pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine. Judge Steele sentenced her to time served (one day in custody), with a three-year term of supervised release to follow.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
ADA settlement with Atlanta YMCA ensures equal opportunities for children with diabetesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with The Villages at Carver Family YMCA located in Atlanta, Georgia, to resolve allegations that the YMCA violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to reasonably modify policies and procedures for a child with diabetes.
“After-school programming provides opportunities for children to socialize with other children, and these programs are necessary for parents and caregivers who work and need a safe place for the children to go after school,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Children with diabetes should have an equal opportunity to participate in these after-school programs, and we commend the YMCA for working cooperatively with my office to achieve this goal.”
This matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. The complainant alleged that the Atlanta YMCA violated the ADA by denying a child the opportunity to participate in the YMCA's after-school program because of her diabetes. The YMCA refused to provide daily insulin injections to the child, which left her unable to attend the after-school program.
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation. The Atlanta YMCA is a private entity that operates childcare facilities that are places of "public accommodation" within the meaning of Title III of the ADA.
Based on the Agreement, the YMCA will adopt a non-discrimination policy to ensure ADA compliance. The YMCA will also provide mandatory training for all employees who work in the after-school program. Additionally, the YMCA will pay $5,000 in compensation to the complainant.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aileen Bell Hughes, Special Counsel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo Jo, Civil Rights Unit, U.S. Attorney’s Office.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
2 Cincinnati men sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for armed carjackingRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Two Cincinnati men were sentenced in U.S. District Court to more than 11 years in prison each for their roles in an armed carjacking.
Eric Lang, 32, was sentenced to 137 months in prison, and Garry Holmes, 38, was sentenced to 180 months in prison.
According to court documents, Lang and Holmes conspired to commit the carjacking after Lang saw their victim at a convenience store in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati. Lang and the victim knew each other from prison and talked about meeting up for a future drug transaction.
Lang and Holmes created a plan to steal the victim’s car at the drug meetup. On Jan. 10, 2020, the defendants, along with others, instructed the victim to drive to a parking lot away from main roadways. The co-conspirators pointed guns at the victim and had the victim lie face down on the ground while they stole the victim’s 2008 Mercedes Benz.
As the assailants drove away, individuals shot at the victim, striking him several times. The victim was shot in the head and legs, causing serious bodily injury, including permanent nerve damage in the legs and blindness in one eye.
Law enforcement officers recovered multiple shell casings at the scene and those casings were entered into the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). Agents learned via NIBIN that two firearms were fired at the carjacking on January 10 and that one of the firearms had been used in multiple shootings in January 2020. Law enforcement officers recovered that firearm from Holmes on March 3, 2020, after NIBIN showed the firearm was used in a shots fired incident the night before in Avondale.
As a convicted felon, Holmes was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Meagan W. Myers and John Zachary Kessler of the Cincinnati City Solicitor’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
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16 KC Metro Area Residents Indicted for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sixteen residents of Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kansas, and Independence, Mo., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
Ublester Molina, 26, Kevin O. Alarcon, 25, Rocky Orozco, 30, Salvador Valdivia, 40, Stephen Manning, 33, Carlos Ramos, 21, Joel Vargas, 30, Danzell Walker, 31, Gerald Knight, 43, Tatiana Ray, 29, and Ana Morales, 27, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Robert Manley Jr., 30, Bernard Kelly, 35, and Miranda Sanchez, 40, all of Kansas City, Kan.; Christian Love-Barker, 26, and Tyreece Dickerson, 34, both of Independence, Mo.; were charged in a 19-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, June 21. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following the arrests of most of the defendants in a metro-wide law enforcement operation this morning.
The federal indictment alleges that 13 of the defendants (with the exceptions of Ray, Morales, and Sanchez) participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, as well as methamphetamine and fentanyl, from Jan. 1, 2019, to June 21, 2022. According to the indictment, Orozco, Manley, and Valdivia were leaders of the conspiracy.
Orozco, Manley, Valdivia, Ray, Morales, and Sanchez are also charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy from Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 9, 2020. They allegedly engaged in financial transactions that involved the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
In addition to the conspiracies, various defendants are charged in seven separate counts related to drug trafficking and nine separate counts related to using their cell phones to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime.
Walker is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He allegedly was in possession of a Springfield .40-caliber handgun on Aug. 16, 2021.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence
.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Moeder, Patrick Edwards, and Mary Kate Butterfield. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
22 June 2022
Waterbury Heroin Trafficker Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES GRANT, also known as “Bobo,” “Bo,” and “Jimbo,” 58, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and crack in the Waterbury area. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones used by members of the organization, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs. The investigation revealed that Grant received heroin and cocaine from other members of the conspiracy, converted some of the cocaine into crack, and then sold the drugs to other distributors and users.
On March 1, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Grant and 16 others. On January 24, 2022, Grant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”).
Grant has been detained since January 21, 2021.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and Brendan Keefe through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Roberts Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
Uniontown Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
A Uniontown man pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, to attempting to coordinate a murder-for-hire plot. Scott Allen Renninger, 53, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.
According to court documents, from October to November 2020, Renninger met with an individual, posing as a “hitman,” and discussed offering the individual money in exchange for the murder of a victim.
Court documents state that Renninger and the individual had frequent contact, and Renninger provided the individual with a photograph of the victim, license plate information and other materials that disclosed the victim’s house number and street address. On one occasion, Renninger stated to the individual that they needed to figure out a way to communicate, possibly using disposable phones and confirmed his desires to make the victim “disappear.”
During subsequent meetings, Renninger and the individual again discussed the plot and agreed upon a price of $20,000 for the murder.
On November 17, 2020, federal authorities announced the arrest of Renninger at his residence without incident. The victim was unharmed.
Renninger is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Brad J. Beeson.
U.S. Attorney Young Taps Veteran Homicide and Fraud Prosecutor Jay Mccormack as First Assistant U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young has announced that Jay McCormack has been appointed to serve the District of New Hampshire as the First Assistant United States Attorney, the office’s second-ranking position. As the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, McCormack will supervise the Criminal and Civil Divisions, and the overall operations of the office.
“Mr. McCormack is a seasoned and dedicated prosecutor, who has demonstrated great leadership throughout his career in public service,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “His vast array of experiences and national contacts will be a tremendous asset to the people of New Hampshire. I am confident that he will continue to lead by example.”
Mr. McCormack is a career prosecutor with over a dozen years of state and federal prosecutorial experience, and most recently prior to his appointment was a Trial Attorney in the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In that position, Mr. McCormack specialized in white-collar and complex investigations involving health care fraud, opioid diversion, securities fraud, COVID-19 and Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud.
Previously, Mr. McCormack was an Assistant Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where he specialized in criminal and civil health care fraud investigations. Prior to that, Mr. McCormack served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office where he investigated and prosecuted homicide and public integrity matters statewide.
Mr. McCormack graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 2009. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with Concentrations in Finance and Economics from the University of Richmond in 2004.
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Two Tucson-Based Narcotics Distributors Sentenced to Lengthy Prison TermsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Jamaar Charles Samuels, 39, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 72 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Last summer, Judge Rash sentenced Samuels’ co-defendant, Patrick Michael La Fever, 60, also of Tucson, to 97 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release. Both men previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and, in La Fever’s case, the conspiracy included the distribution of heroin.
On April 24, 2020, La Fever was arrested as he attempted to smuggle approximately 1.56 kilograms of heroin into the United States from Mexico through the vehicle lane at the port of entry in Nogales, Arizona. La Fever was released from custody pending further investigation of the incident. Over the following months, La Fever continued to distribute narcotics. In October and November 2020, he engaged in a series of transactions involving the sale of approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, in total.
La Fever was again arrested on November 12, 2020, during an enforcement operation jointly conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). At the time of this second arrest, La Fever was in possession of drugs, two firearms, 457 rounds of ammunition, a sword, brass knuckles, and approximately one pound of high explosives.
During the investigation into La Fever’s conduct, law enforcement officers identified Samuels as one of La Fever’s drug associates. Samuels was subsequently arrested and, at the time he was taken into custody, he was found in possession of drugs, over $3,000 in cash, and a stolen firearm.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, HSI, DEA, AZDPS, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00920-SHR(LCK) & CR-21-03031-SHR(LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-098_Samuels# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two Iowa City Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Iowa City men were sentenced in federal court for firearms charges.
Olajude Liron Krebs, age 22, was sentenced on Wednesday June 22, 2022 to 27 months in prison for Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, Making False Statements During a Firearm Purchase, and Conspiracy. Krebs must serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Dwayne Vadim Scott, age 28, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to 18 months in prison for Conspiracy. Following his prison sentence, Scott must serve a 3-year term of supervised release.
For approximately one year, Krebs, Scott, and others conspired to illegally obtain firearms. Krebs and Scott used straw purchasers, including John Vest-Walker, to illegally purchase firearms on their behalf. In April 2022, Vest-Walker was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Law enforcement recovered one of the guns Krebs obtained from Vest-Walker at the residence of a convicted felon. Just one day after Vest-Walker purchased another gun, Scott sold that illegally purchased firearm to a third-party. Two of the guns Krebs and Scott obtained through a second straw purchaser were later recovered in Indiana and Illinois.
Krebs obtained a permit to purchase firearms and quickly purchased five firearms and made false statements in connection with those purchases. Law enforcement recovered one of those firearms from Krebs while he was under the influence of marijuana.
Scott trafficked the firearms he obtained to other people who were also prohibited from possessing them. At least one firearm was recovered by law enforcement following a shots-fired incident.United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Two Individuals Indicted for Fatal Shooting in Connection with Marijuana Deal in BrooklynRead the Press Release
On June 15, 2022, a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, New York returned a 14-count superseding indictment charging Marcus Ricketts, also known as “Blaise,” and Mark Goulbourne, also known as “Short Man,” with causing death through the use of firearms in connection with the December 3, 2021 murder of an individual in Brighton Beach, New York. The superseding indictment, which was unsealed last night, also charges Ricketts, Mark Goulbourne and four additional defendants—Jonathan Goulbourne, also known as “Bobcat,” Romeo Desmond Jonas, also known as “Tee,” Chevonne Williams, also known as “Chevy,” and Amari Webber, also known as “Smooth”—with Hobbs Act robbery, drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and one defendant, Juvanie Crossgill, also known as “Geo,” with serving as an accessory to the murder.
According to court filings, the defendants are members and associates of an armed robbery crew, operating since at least July 2020, targeting marijuana trafficking businesses in Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx.
Ricketts, Jonathan Goulbourne and Jonas are in custody on the underlying indictment and will be arraigned at a later date. Crossgill was arrested on June 15, 2022, arraigned the following day and released on bail. Yesterday, Williams and Webber were arrested in Georgia and will be removed to the Eastern District of New York to make their initial appearances. Mark Goulbourne remains at large.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants’ robbery and drug trafficking activity exploded into violence with three persons shot, one of them fatally, demonstrating the lethal combination of guns and narcotics plaguing our communities,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold these drivers of violent crime accountable and take away their means to wreak havoc.”
Mr. Peace thanked the Kings County District Attorney's Office for their assistance.
“The violence plaguing the streets of our city must be addressed by stopping the violent criminals who are killing each other over illegal drugs. Innocent people are being harmed by these rivalries, and fear now dictates how we go about our lives. It has to stop. When the FBI New York and our law enforcement partners arrest and prosecute these criminals, we get closer to a safer community,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“Today, New York City is safer because of the exceptional effort and steadfast dedication of everyone involved in this investigation and indictment,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners remain focused on the small number of people who are responsible for the crime and disorder in our city, and we are working tirelessly to identify them and get them off our streets. As demonstrated by this case, the deadly combination of drug trafficking, illegal guns, and brutal violence is a grave threat to our communities – and will never be tolerated. I want to thank the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the New York Field Office of the FBI, and everyone else who contributed to this important investigation.”
On December 2, 2021 and into the early morning of December 3, 2021, the defendants convened at an Airbnb in Brighton Beach, which had been rented for one night by the victim and his nephew, with several of the defendants posing as buyers in a wholesale marijuana transaction. On December 3, shortly after midnight, the victim’s nephew and two male associates carried in four very large duffle bags of marijuana, approximately the size of hockey equipment bags. Two hours later, a shootout ensued, leaving the victim fatally wounded and his nephew with a gunshot wound to the leg. During the exchange of gunfire, Jonas was also shot in the abdomen.
Mark Goulbourne and Ricketts fled the scene with firearms in hand, and Ricketts with one of the duffle bags, which he transported on the handlebars of a stolen Citi Bike. Mark Goulbourne retreated to a neighboring intersection, where he called his brother Jonathan Goulbourne, moments before entering an approaching car. The car quickly reversed back up the street to the Airbnb. Mark Goulbourne ran to the door with a firearm still in hand and peered inside, before reentering the car, which sped away.
Inside the Airbnb, the NYPD found the victim’s body and recovered two firearms, 15 shell casings, a money counting machine, a vacuum sealing machine, a bag containing real and counterfeit U.S. currency, and a duffle bag, inside of which were smaller, vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana. In the vicinity, the NYPD recovered two additional firearms, as well as two duffle bags, inside of which were smaller, vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana. The approximate weight of the marijuana recovered is 140 pounds. The fourth duffle bag was not recovered.
If convicted, Ricketts, Mark Goulbourne, Jonathan Goulbourne and Jonas all face up to life imprisonment. Ricketts, Mark Goulbourne and Jonathan Goulbourne face mandatory minimum sentences of 17 years’ imprisonment, and Jonas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment. Williams and Webber each face sentences of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and Crossgill faces a sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara McGrath and Chand Edwards-Balfour are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Gwyneth Hochhausler.
The Defendants:
MARCUS RICKETTS (also known as “Blaise”)
Age: 45
JamaicaMARK GOULBOURNE (also known as “Short Man”)
Age: 48
JamaicaJUVANIE CROSSGILL
Age: 27
JamaicaJONATHAN GOULBOURNE
Age: 43
Brooklyn, New YorkROMEO JONAS
Age: 34
Atlanta, GeorgiaAMARI WEBBER
Age: 31
Douglasville, GeorgiaCHEVONNE WILLIAMS
Age: 43
Dallas, GeorgiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-106 (LDH)
Tulsa Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a ChildRead the Press Release
A man who sexually abused a child for almost two years, starting when she was approximately six, was sentenced in federal court.
“Edward Parson repeatedly targeted, intimidated and sexually assaulted a vulnerable child,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “He’ll now spend the remainder of his life in a federal prison where he can no longer prey upon children."
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Edward Joseph Parson, 31, of Tulsa, to life in prison on June 10, 2022. In December, Parson was convicted by a federal jury of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Beginning in approximately 2017 and continuing through most of 2018, Parson repeatedly sexually abused the child.
"Mr. Parson's abhorrent crimes against a child were facilitated by the cowardly silence of individuals who attempted to conceal his despicable acts," said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. "The FBI applauds the caregivers who disclosed these crimes to law enforcement. Alongside our police partners and federal prosecutors, the FBI will continue to protect our children from predators."
In a court documents prosecutors described the repeated sexual abuse inflicted on the child and explained how Parson kept the child quiet and afraid for some time. According to the child’s testimony, Parson would hit her on the face and arms, “grab her by the neck until her body became tired,” and harm her pet. Prosecutors further explained that when the child first disclosed the sexual abuse to an adult, Parson convinced the adult to remain quiet about the abuse. He continued his attempts to discredit the victim when she disclosed to others. Unfortunately, the first adults she spoke to tried to silence her.
Five months later, when she was safely placed with new caregivers, she disclosed a portion of the abuse again. Her new caregivers called authorities. The victim was later interviewed by child specialists at the Children’s Advocacy Center. During those interviews she disclosed multiple instances of physical abuse and extensive sexual abuse. According to a child sexual abuse expert who testified at trial, children often do not disclose sexual abuse immediately. When children do disclose, they frequently do so in pieces over time as they become more comfortable and as they are met with acceptance and support.
Prosecutors further discussed in court documents the long-term effects of childhood trauma. They stated that the impact of the abuse the victim suffered would likely ripple across her life.
When a child suffers numerous adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), it may eventually lead to altered brain chemistry and architecture, depression, anxiety, chronic diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, unhealthy future sexual experiences, or other struggles in adolescence and throughout adulthood. The trauma can also lead to decreased life expectancy. ACE’s include verbal, sexual, and physical abuse; neglect; domestic violence; household substance abuse; household mental illness; incarcerated household members; the death of a loved one; parental separation or divorce; community violence and more.
According to the CDC, enhanced primary care, victim-centered services, treatment to address ACEs, and other early supports can help lessen the long-term effects of ACEs.
Learn more about ACEs and strategies to prevent or lessen their effects here.
The defendant and victim are citizens of the Cherokee Nation and the crimes occurred within the nation’s reservation. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chantelle D. Dial and Vani Singhal prosecuted the case.
Tifton Man Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Heroin to South Central GeorgiaRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Tifton, Georgia, resident was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison resulting from his role actively trafficking large quantities of heroin into South Central Georgia from sources in metro Atlanta.
Joshua Gannon Deanda, 24, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on June 21 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat felons caught distributing deadly opioids will be held accountable for their criminal actions, which gravely harm people and the overall well-being of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Federal, state and local agencies successfully stopped the flow of narcotics into South Central Georgia from this active illegal drug pipeline. Their continued good work is making a difference.”
“This poly-drug trafficker brazenly continued his drug trafficking activities despite having a prior felony conviction,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Hopefully this arrest will send a clear message to him and others who may choose to follow this same perilous path: DEA and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue and ultimately prosecute drug traffickers.”
According to court documents, DEA agents worked with a Cooperating Source (CS) in October 2020 that named Deanda as a courier and distributor of a large shipment of drugs from Atlanta to Tifton containing one or two kilograms of heroin and approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine. Under investigation, Deanda was monitored on Nov. 5, 2020, traveling from his home in Tifton to Atlanta, where he stopped for a short period of time. On his return trip to Tifton, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to pull Deanda over for a traffic violation at a weigh station on I-75. Deanda briefly stopped his vehicle, but he did not exit the vehicle when commanded. Instead, he drove away; during the pursuit, Deanda reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a maneuver to stop Deanda’s vehicle, which collided with several objects and stopped. Deanda and a passenger fled the scene but were later apprehended.
Agents and investigators found two semiautomatic guns inside Deanda’s wrecked vehicle, both stolen at different times out of Tift County, Georgia. A search of the nearby area where Deanda fled resulted in agents finding a bag containing 267.4 grams of pure methamphetamine, a digital scale, packaging materials, a black tray and an extended capacity magazine. The top bullet in the extended magazine matched the ammunition that was seized from the Glock pistol inside of Deanda’s vehicle. Agents also found various cell phone photos and text messages corroborating the found contraband and illegal drug trafficking activities.
Agents subsequently executed a search warrant at Deanda’s residence, finding a block of 350.97 grams of heroin. Additional quantities of heroin and methamphetamine were found, along with a handgun, a sawed-off shotgun and an SKS-type semi-automatic rifle with an obliterated serial number.
Deanda has a prior felony conviction and had an active warrant for his arrest at the time of the incident.
The case was investigated by the DEA and the Mid-South Narcotics Task Force (MSNTF), with assistance from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim prosecuted the case.
Three Members of Sonoma Motorcycle Gang Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Earlier today, a federal jury found Jonathan Nelson, a/k/a Jon Jon; Brian Wayne Wendt; and Russell Taylor Ott, a/k/a Rusty, guilty of murder in aid of racketeering as part of their participation in a criminal enterprise involving their membership in the Sonoma County charter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HASC), announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. The verdicts follow a nine-week trial before the Honorable Edward M. Chen, United States District Judge.
“The jurors found that these members of a violent motorcycle gang killed one of their own and engaged in a conspiracy to commit many other serious criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Hinds. “This office is laser-focused on removing from our neighborhoods those elements who use violence to achieve illegal goals. Today’s verdicts are the result of an intense multi-year investigation and should serve as notice to all such criminal enterprises that this office will devote the resources necessary to bring them to justice.”
“Today’s verdict marks a milestone in an investigation that spanned nearly eight years and involved multiple agency partners, including the Santa Rosa Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Each agency involved in this investigation provided crucial expertise and resources, making a guilty verdict possible,” said Special Agent in Charge Ragan. “Criminal acts perpetrated by the convicted members of the Sonoma County and Fresno County Hells Angels adversely affected our communities, and their presence infested our citizens with worry. Today’s verdict is a step toward removing their violent and criminal ideals from our community.”
On October 10, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted eleven members and associates of the HASC, charging the defendants with being part of a conspiracy whose members furthered the aims of the enterprise by engaging in a broad swath of criminal activity including murder, narcotics distribution, assault, robbery, extortion, illegal firearms possession, and obstruction of justice. As set out in the indictment, the Hells Angels is a transnational violent outlaw motorcycle gang and the HASC is a subset of the gang whose members primarily operate in Sonoma County, Calif. while working cooperatively with other Hells Angels chapters to engage in criminal activity. The trial that led to today’s verdict focused on the activities of Nelson, 46, of Santa Rosa; Wendt, 45, of Tulare; and Ott, 69, of Santa Rosa. In finding all three defendants guilty, the jury concluded that each conspired to further the aims of the criminal conspiracy and each played a role in carrying out the July 15, 2014, murder of former HASC member Joel Silva.
The focus of the trial was the murder of Joel Silva; at trial, the government submitted evidence describing the role of each defendant in the murder. At the relevant time, Nelson was the president of the HASC, Wendt was the president of the Hell’s Angels Fresno chapter, and Ott was a former president and well-respected member of the HASC whom Silva trusted. According to the trial evidence, Nelson, Wendt, and Ott each concluded for varied reasons that Silva had been creating problems for HASC and that he had to be killed. Nelson arranged with Ott, a long-tenured member who lived near Silva and was close with his family, to have Silva killed in Fresno. Nelson arranged for Ott to take Silva to Fresno. Silva understood that he probably would have to fight with Wendt to resolve his problems with the club and agreed to travel with Ott to Fresno. However, after the two arrived at the Fresno Hells Angels clubhouse, Wendt shot Silva in the head. On the morning of July 16, 2014, Silva’s body was delivered to a local crematory and was incinerated.
In addition to the Silva murder, the evidence at trial included proof that HASC engaged in witness intimidation, extortion, drug trafficking, and robbery. For example, witnesses testified that HASC created a reputation for threatening anyone who goes to the police about HASC activity. In addition, testimony was introduced demonstrating that the defendants threatened the lives of witnesses and their families to make clear harm will come to anyone who cooperates with law enforcement.
In sum, the jury convicted all three defendants of participating in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3); and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5). In addition, Nelson also was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(2), and use or possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).
The defendants face a mandatory life sentence in prison. Further, additional fines, forfeitures, and restitution may be ordered; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The defendants were remanded to federal custody pending sentencing. Judge Chen scheduled the defendants’ sentencing hearings for October 13, 2022.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lina Peng, Ajay K. Krishnamurthy, and Kevin Barry are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
Tampa Bay Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Related to COVID Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Melinda Sue Hernandez (33, Ruskin) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Hernandez faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, as well as a consecutive two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft count.
According to the plea agreement, from approximately June 2020, through April 2021, Hernandez and her co-defendant, Aloysius Moodie, Jr. (33, Tampa), obtained personal identifying information of others and used that information to submit, or caused to be submitted, false and fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to various state workforce agencies to obtain UI benefits. These UI benefits were then transferred to bank accounts or loaded onto debit cards issued in the names of other persons. Hernandez and her co-defendant then used, and attempted to use, the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs. Law enforcement calculated the total intended loss caused by the fraudulent UI claims at more than $1.5 million, but less than $3.5 million.
Moodie was indicted on March 29, 2022.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Pizzo.
In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits.
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
Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to $400,000 COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with filing a fraudulent loan application in order to obtain over $400,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds.
Adley Bernadin, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28, 2022. Bernadin was arrested and charged on March 17, 2022.
In May 2020, Bernadin submitted a fraudulent application on behalf of a purported home health care company for a PPP loan of over $400,000. In the application, which he submitted through a Small Business Administration approved lender, Bernadin misrepresented information about the purported home health care company’s employees and payroll expenses and falsified a tax form in an effort to qualify the business for the PPP loan. For example, Bernadin reported that the purported home health care business had a monthly payroll of $175,200, which was false.
After receiving the PPP funds, Bernadin did not use money for the purported home health care company’s business. Instead, he made mortgage payments on his home and wrote checks to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division and Raquelle Kaye of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 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.
Stacey Edward Williams, Jr. Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Distribution of Drugs Resulting in an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 22, 2022, Stacey Edward Williams, Jr., 42, currently of Sevierville, Tennessee and formerly of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
In November 2021, following a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted Williams of eight separate counts, including a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, multiple counts of possession and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), the distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl resulting in death, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). Williams was also ordered to serve six years on supervised release, in the event he is released from prison notwithstanding his life sentence. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,890.10 to the family of the victim for funeral and related expenses.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Williams sold heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl to confidential informants on several occasions in 2018. The evidence further showed that Williams distributed drugs to a Kodak, Tennessee resident, which resulted in his death on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2018. Finally, the evidence showed that on March 27, 2019, agents seized quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, a firearm and ammunition, and over $10,000 in cash from Williams.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet Jr. made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Williams include the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (“SCSO”) and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) with the participation and assistance of the Sevier County Street Crimes Unit, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brent N. Jones and Anne-Marie Svolto represented the United States at trial.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice program that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.
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St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty, During Criminal Trial, to Shipping Drugs into Minnesota Correctional FacilitiesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty, during his criminal trial, to attempted distribution of a drug analogue, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2021, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (“DOC”) initiated an internal investigation into the introduction of narcotics into multiple DOC facilities, including Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Faribault, and Rush City prisons. Investigators identified Walter Davis, a/k/a “Disney,” 40, as the source. On April 12, 2021, Davis attempted to mail six letters to DOC inmates that contained news articles printed on high-quality Strathmore cotton paper soaked in MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid substance which produces hallucinogenic effects when consumed. Investigators intercepted and seized the letters. Investigators obtained search warrants for two residential locations Davis frequented. Following a search of the first location, Davis’s primary residence in Eagan, investigators recovered two baggies of fentanyl, $3,000 in cash, digital scales, and a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver. A search of the second location, an apartment in Maplewood, yielded over 400 grams of fentanyl, digital scales, a spray bottle containing MDMB-4en-PINACA, a package of Strathmore cotton paper, and a loaded Rossi .357 caliber Magnum revolver.
On June 15, 2022, Davis went to trial before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright. On June 17, 2022, three days into the trial, Davis pleaded guilty to all counts, including one count of attempted distribution of a controlled substance analogue, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison K. Ethen, Lauren O. Roso, and Ruth S. Shnider are prosecuting the case.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 144 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Arsenio Harrison, 30 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. on his plea of guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Harrison was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in June of 2021, Harrison robbed a cell phone store in South Bend and attempted to rob a convenience store in Mishawaka. During the South Bend robbery, the store clerk was restrained with zip ties, and Harrison stole cell phones and cash. During the Mishawaka attempted robbery, one of the clerks sustained serious injuries. Harrison brandished a firearm at the clerks during each incident.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department and the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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.
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Sixth Venezuelan Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine on Board a Vessel Subject to U.s. JurisdictionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Alexis Fuentes, 33, one of eleven Venezuelan nationals apprehended at sea off the coast of St. Croix, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The sentencing date for Fuentes is scheduled for October 19, 2022. For his conviction, Fuentes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 25, 2019, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Donald Horsley intercepted a suspicious 55-foot vessel named La Gran Tormenta displaying Venezuelan nationality indicia approximately 38 nautical miles south of St. Croix. Occupants of the La Gran Tormenta failed to respond to USCG’s efforts to engage in questioning of the crew, and upon detection, the La Gran Tormenta changed course and began jettisoning packages. Thereafter, the USCG requested and received permission to stop the vessel from Venezuela, the flag state of the vessel. The USCG personnel then attempted a right-of-visit boarding which was ineffective because crew of the La Gran Tormenta disregarded the USCG’s instructions. Eventually, USCG personnel disabled the La Gran Tormenta and a counter-drug boarding team later encountered 11 persons, including Fuentes. The USCG Cutter Donald Horsley boarding crew subsequently retrieved two bales from the water. The two jettisoned bales contained brick-shaped objects which tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 49 kilograms.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Rhode Island Man Convicted of Bank Fraud Conspiracy that Operated in South Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Rhode Island man was convicted for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted financial institutions in southern New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Olayinka Peter Olaseinde, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island, was convicted on June 21, 2022, of one count of bank fraud conspiracy and three counts of bank fraud following a five-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Olaseinde was part of a Nigerian-based, multi-layered criminal organization that engaged in a bank fraud conspiracy in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Rhode Island, from June 2016 to March 2020. Members of the group acquired business checks that were stolen from the United States mail, altered the payee on the checks to a fraudulent name and deposited the checks into bank accounts that had been opened with counterfeit foreign passport documents and counterfeit U.S. visas that matched the names on the altered checks. Members of the group also opened credit card and bank accounts using stolen personal information of real victims, took cash advances on these fraudulent credit card accounts, and deposited fraudulent checks into these identity theft bank accounts. After the banks credited all or a portion of the funds to the accounts, the defendants withdrew the funds from ATMs or purchased money orders, using debit cards associated with the fraudulent accounts.
Olaseinde’s role in the conspiracy included making deposits of stolen and altered, or otherwise fraudulent, checks into several of these accounts and making purchases and withdrawing funds from the accounts.
Each of the four counts on which he was convicted carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bellmawr Office, Philadelphia Division Office, and Washington, D.C., Division Office, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, Philadelphia Division, and Inspector in Charge Charles B. Wickersham, Washington Division Office; special agents of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Cherry Hill Office, and Newark Division Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; HSI Philadelphia Division Office, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; HSI Maryland Division Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso, Baltimore, Maryland; HSI Rhode Island Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Millhollin, Boston Division Office; and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), under the direction of R. Mike Escott, Resident Agent in Charge, Philadelphia Resident Office, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
Five other conspirators have pleaded guilty; one of them has been sentenced by Judge Hillman and the others are awaiting sentencing. Charges against six other defendants remain pending.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Askin and Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the pending complaints and indictments against the conspirators are merely accusations, and the defendants in those cases are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Repeat Felon Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Leonard Williamson Jr., 34, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on February 7, 2021, Williamson fled from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers after they attempted to arrest him for several outstanding warrants. While fleeing from police, Williamson threw a bag containing crack cocaine on the ground. Officers recovered the cocaine, and Williamson was in possession of $4,942 in cash at the time of his arrest. Williamson has several prior felony convictions, including dealing and possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. The jury in this case also returned verdicts of not guilty to firearms charges.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Chief Randal Taylor, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. As part of the sentence, Judge Hanlon ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pamela S. Domash and Peter A. Blackett who prosecuted this case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Randolph County man charged with having large amount of methRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – William Thomas DeSantis, of Montrose, West Virginia, was indicted today on a meth charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
DeSantis, 31, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine.” DeSantis is accused of working with others to sell more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” from December 2020 through June 2021 in Randolph County.
DeSantis is facing at least five years and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Destruction of Energy FacilityRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the destruction of an energy facility, a known mine located across Boone and Lincoln counties.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Charles Stanley, 51, of Shady Spring, admitted to working with others to steal multiple pieces of specialized mining equipment from the known mine in 2019. These thefts forced the mine to shut down for a period of two weeks as the mine was unable to function without the stolen pieces of equipment. The thefts also resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to the mine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-4.
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Pine Ridge Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
McKinley Two Bulls-Hunter, age 24, was indicted on May 19, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on June 15, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, at least five years, up to life, of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between April 2021 and July 2021, in Pine Ridge, Two Bulls-Hunter knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a minor female. The charge is merely an accusation and Two Bulls-Hunter is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Blair is prosecuting the case.
Two Bulls-Hunter was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set of August 23, 2022. ###
Owners of Grand Rapids Trucking Company Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Pay $1,000,000 in Related Civil Case, in Connection with Covid-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
DMR Transportation Falsified Financial Records To Receive A Second-Draw Loan Under The Paycheck Protection Program
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Semsi Salja and Anes Suhonjic, the owners of Grand Rapids-based trucking company DMR Transportation (“DMR”), pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to commit bank fraud in connection with a $290,855.00 loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In a related civil case, DMR, Salja, and Suhonjic agreed to pay a total of $1,000,000.00, including a substantial civil monetary penalty under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (“FIRREA”).
In 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) to provide emergency federal assistance to the millions of Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the PPP, the CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. In December 2020, Congress enacted the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses Act, which reopened the PPP to first-time borrowers and, subject to stricter limitations and conditions, authorized second-draw PPP loans to borrowers that previously received a PPP loan. Borrowers were eligible for second-draw PPP loans if, among other things, they experienced a revenue reduction of 25% or greater in 2020 relative to 2019.
In its second-draw PPP loan application, DMR knowingly and falsely certified that it realized the required 25% reduction in gross receipts between the second financial quarter of 2019 and the second financial quarter of 2020. DMR also submitted falsified quarterly balance sheets and other false financial records that were signed by Salja and Suhonjic alongside the application. In September 2021, DMR sought forgiveness of its second-draw PPP loan by falsely certifying that its second-draw PPP loan proceeds were used to pay eligible business expenses when, in fact, DMR held that money in reserve.
“The PPP involved a limited pool of funds to help small businesses wracked by the disruption of a global pandemic,” United States Attorney Mark Totten said. “By fraudulently obtaining a second PPP loan, DMR took, for itself, hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have been used to help deserving companies. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these cases.”
“By illegally taking additional money from the Paycheck Protection Program, these defendants harmed the owners and employees of small businesses struggling through the pandemic,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable anyone taking advantage of a global pandemic to line their own pockets.”
“Today’s guilty plea and FIRREA civil penalties hold the defendants responsible for their roles in fraudulently obtaining a second loan under a federal relief program created to assist small businesses who were struggling as a result of the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Enstrom of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG). “The FDIC-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who seek to abuse such programs and undermine the integrity of our Nation’s banks.”
Salja and Suhonjic face a maximum of five years in prison. United States District Judge Jane M. Beckering will determine their sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those statutory provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement or judgment proceeds. The whistleblower case is captioned, United States ex rel DePouw v. DMR Transportation, et al., No. 1:21-cv-548 (W.D. Mich.).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davin M. Reust and Adam B. Townshend represented the United States. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case.
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Owner of Lighthouse Properties Sentenced to Prison Time for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The former owner of Lighthouse Properties of Virginia was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison in connection with an embezzlement scheme in which he stole more than $550,000.
Timothy Darrell Penick, 39, of Forest, Virginia, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of wire fraud.
“This defendant violated the trust of his clients through his fraudulent behavior,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful for the work of the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that brought him to justice and will provide the victims in this case with restitution for the crimes committed against them.”
“Mr. Penick implemented exceptional measures to prevent the unraveling of his scheme. Through this joint investigation by the FBI, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office’s in the Western District of Virginia, he is no longer able to defraud clients of their hard-earned money and will be held responsible for his criminal activity,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “ We encourage those who believe they’ve been victimized by a similar scheme to contact law enforcement via https://tips.fbi.gov/.”
According to court documents, Penick owned and operated Lighthouse Properties since 2011 and provided real estate management services to clients, including homeowners’ associations and individual property owners. Beginning in June 2018, Penick devised a scam to defraud multiple clients by gaining direct access to their bank accounts and then transferring their funds into accounts controlled solely by Penick. He used these funds for his personal benefit and enjoyment and completely without authorization by his clients.
To conceal the misuse of client funds, Penick created fraudulent bank account statements that omitted transactions from the client accounts into his accounts and then presented these fake bank statements to clients and their representatives.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet is prosecuting the case.
Oshkosh Man who Described Himself as the “Next Mass Shooter” Indicted on Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 22, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Whittier P. Ives (age: 53) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for unlawfully possessing a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 922(g)(4), and 924(a)(2).
According to the indictment, Ives is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a court-ordered mental health commitment issued by a Winnebago County judge in April of 2022 and due to prior felony convictions in the State of California. According to court documents, on June 4, 2022, an individual contacted the Omro Police Department and reported that Ives was loading ammunition, magazines, and a long gun into his vehicle. Ives showed the individual a picture of a person on his phone and stated that he was “going to kill him, along with another person and a bunch of other people.” Ives stated he knew these individuals were, at that time, in a “club in Appleton.” Ives further stated that he “had nothing to live for” and “will be the next mass shooter.”
After receiving the tip, Omro law enforcement officers observed a vehicle matching the description of Ives’ vehicle. A traffic stop was initiated, and a search of the vehicle uncovered boxes of ammunition and numerous magazines. In addition, officers recovered a Shield Arms multicaliber SA-15 semi-automatic rifle.
If convicted of possessing the firearm, Ives faces up to ten years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Omro Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Green Bay Resident Agency. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Oahu Schoolteacher Detained on Charge of Sexually Exploiting Minor StudentRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield yesterday ordered Alden Bunag, 33, of Honolulu, detained in custody pending trial or other disposition of a charge filed in a criminal complaint that he distributed child pornography. The ruling in United States District Court in Honolulu followed Bunag’s arrest last week at an Oahu high school where he was working as a summer schoolteacher.
Bunag is charged with distributing child pornography between November 2019 and October 2021. According to the criminal complaint and affidavit, law enforcement agents reviewed at least two video recordings of Bunag's sexual conduct with a then-13-year-old former student, at least one of which he sent to another person in Pennsylvania. Agents further reviewed numerous images and videos identified as child pornography that were sent to others.
“The sexual abuse of children – a reprehensible crime – is especially exploitative when committed by a teacher against a minor student victim,” said Clare E. Connors, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii. “Recording such crimes and distributing the images to others compounds and perpetuates the victimization.”
"The FBI will vigorously hunt predators such as Alden Bunag who prey on our keiki.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “Bunag has been detained in what is an especially egregious and serious case as he was a teacher within Hawaii's Department of Education whose young victims may be unaware of what happened to them. Individuals with information, or those who believe they are a victim, are urged to immediately contact the Honolulu FBI at (808) 673-2705 or [email protected]. These tip lines were specifically set up for this investigation as we believe there may be more victims out there who may assist in our investigation."
If indicted and convicted on this charge, Bunag a faces minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to 20 years. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter is handling the prosecution.
Northborough Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $360,000 from Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Northborough man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to wire fraud and money laundering charges after embezzling approximately $366,477 from a non-profit organization in Sturbridge.
Kyriakos Kapiris, a/k/a Rick Kapiris, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2022. Kapiris was indicted in October 2021.
From April 2015 to May 2020, Kapiris worked as the Information Technology Manager at a non-profit organization. As part of his responsibilities, the organization provided Kapiris access to two company credit cards to purchase equipment and services as needed. Beginning in 2016, Kapiris used the two company credit cards to purportedly purchase equipment from two vendor accounts on the web app Square and one account on Amazon. In reality, Kapiris created the three vendor accounts to embezzle the funds and fabricated sales invoices for purportedly purchased equipment to conceal the scheme. Kapiris used the names of legitimate Massachusetts companies for the two Square accounts and created the Amazon account in the name of a company that he controlled, “NetworkingPlus.”
Kapiris linked the three vendor accounts to several of his own personal accounts at Bank of America into which he transferred the fraudulent proceeds. Kapiris then used the stolen funds for personal expenses including a $19,250 payment to a home contractor.
The charges of wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Sturbridge and Northborough Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office and Nicole Dapcic of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.
North Versailles Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Role in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A former resident of North Versailles, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years imprisonment and eight years supervised release on his conviction of federal narcotics laws United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Jason Malos, age 38.
According to information presented to the court, Malos participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Malos’s communications implicating him in the conspiracy were obtained through court-authorized interceptions of his communications. A search warrant of his residence revealed further evidence of his participation in the conspiracy, including several firearms.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroeville Police Department, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Malos.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
North Fort Myers Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Timothy Crawley (66, North Fort Myers) to seven years in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Crawley was also sentenced to a 20-year term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Crawley had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022.
According to court documents, from March 8, 2014, through September 22, 2021, Crawley knowingly possessed child sex abuse images and videos that he searched for and downloaded from the internet. Crawley collected and stored these visual depictions involving prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on his laptop and various hard drives.
Between August 2021, through September 2021, the FBI connected to Crawley’s computer and viewed a list of files that Crawley had available for sharing using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program and downloaded files depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct from Crawley’s computer. On September 22, 2021, the FBI executed the search warrant for Crawley’s residence in North Fort Myers, Florida, and among the property seized were Crawley’s laptop and hard drives. During an interview with agents, Crawley admitted to downloading child sex abuse materials for approximately one year and provided some of the various search terms that he had used to search for child sex abuse materials over the internet and save it to his computer and external hard drive. A subsequent forensic analysis of the hard drives revealed in excess of 30,000 images and over 900 videos depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.