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15 June 2022
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Race Discrimination Suit Against Groveport, Ohio, Board of EducationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement with the Groveport Madison Local School District Board of Education (the Board) in Groveport, Ohio. The settlement resolves the department’s complaint alleging that the Board violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it discriminated and retaliated against former Groveport Madison High School Assistant Principal Amon-Ra Dobbins. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion and prohibits retaliation against employees for opposing employment practices that are discriminatory under Title VII.
“No employee should face discipline or reprisals for filing a complaint regarding a dress code policy that may be causing harm to Black students,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We stand with those brave employees who oppose discrimination in the workplace and who work to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of their jobs. This consent decree reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ensuring that no person should face retaliation for standing up against discrimination.”
“We are confident that the consent decree will lead to the development and equitable enforcement of policies that protect and promote the civil rights of all involved,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “The consent decree provides a path for the school district and school board to achieve Title VII-compliant policies, procedures, and training.”
According to the complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dobbins was unfairly disciplined after he complained that the school district’s dress code policy was being implemented in a manner that discriminated against African-American students. The complaint alleges that the school district began to retaliate against Dobbins for complaining, and ultimately terminated his employment. Under the terms of the consent decree, if approved by the court, the Board will develop and submit to the United States for approval, its discrimination and retaliation policies, complaint investigation procedures, and proposed trainings that will be used by the Board and school district. The consent decree also requires the Board to provide training for all Board and school district employees on these policies and provides for future annual training. The Board will also pay Dobbins $200,000 in back pay and compensatory damages.
The Cleveland Field Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Dobbins’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Department of Justice as an enforcement action. More information about the EEOC’s jurisdiction is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.
The enforcement of Title VII and other federal employment discrimination laws is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and its work is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
The case was brought by Trial Attorneys Ejaz Baluch Jr. and Jeffrey Morrison of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section.
Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Against Jackson Township, New Jersey, for Discriminatory Ordinances Targeting Orthodox Jewish Religious SchoolsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Township of Jackson, New Jersey, and the Jackson Planning Board to settle allegations that the Township and Planning Board violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when they passed and applied a series of discriminatory zoning ordinances that intentionally targeted the Orthodox Jewish community by prohibiting religious schools and associated dormitories.
The proposed consent order, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and must still be approved by the court, would resolve a lawsuit the United States filed in May 2020 alleging that the Township and Planning Board passed zoning ordinances that broadly prohibited religious schools and banned schools with dormitories, both of which are important to providing religious education within the Orthodox Jewish community. The complaint alleged that the intent of the ordinances was to prevent Orthodox Jewish schools from opening in the Township and thereby dissuade members of that community from living in or moving to Jackson.
“Zoning restrictions that intentionally target religious communities have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Federal civil rights laws provide strong protections to ensure that religious communities are treated equally and not subjected to discrimination because of their beliefs. This resolution reaffirms that members of the Orthodox Jewish community — as with people of all faiths — are welcome in our communities and have the right to practice their religion free of discrimination.”
“RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act protect the rights of religious communities to worship and obtain housing in communities free from discrimination and unequal treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “This office remains steadfast in its commitment to enforce the nation’s civil rights laws, and as the proposed consent order demonstrates, we will continue to take steps to protect the civil rights of the Orthodox Jewish community and all communities throughout this district.”
The complaint alleges that in 2017, Jackson Township enacted two ordinances that banned dormitories and severely restricted where religious schools could locate. These ordinances were enacted in response to the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community in Jackson and surrounding areas and amid public comments arguing that the ordinances should be enacted to prevent the Orthodox Jewish community from living in or moving to Jackson. Township councilmembers voted unanimously to enact the ordinances.
The consent order requires Jackson Township to repeal the remaining active discriminatory ordinance and replace it with an ordinance that will allow religious elementary and secondary schools, religious higher learning institutions and religious residential schools. The consent order also requires that the new zoning ordinance treat religious schools equally with non-religious institutions that operate in the Township. Finally, the consent order requires the Township to train its officials and employees on the requirements of RLUIPA and the FHA, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA and FHA complaints, pay a civil penalty of $45,000, and pay $150,000 into a settlement fund from which aggrieved persons can seek payment.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions, or discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status, may contact the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at 1-833-591-0291, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339. Individuals may also submit a complaint through the Civil Rights Division’s complaint portal or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website.
The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio for the District of New Jersey, Senior Civil Rights Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, and Trial Attorneys Ryan G. Lee and David K. Gardner of the Civil Rights Division.
Illegal Firearms Possession Leads to Federal Charges for North Alabama MenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama announces the latest results of the continued collaborative work by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime in Alabama by keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prohibited due to previous felony convictions. In recent weeks, fourteen individuals across North Alabama faced separate charges in federal court for illegally possessing firearms.
“Community safety is threatened when violent, prohibited people possess firearms. Keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prohibited due to prior felony convictions is a priority of federal, state, and local law enforcement in Alabama,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “I’m grateful for the teamwork and common purpose that our local and federal law enforcement agencies share in addressing the drivers of violence in our communities,” added Escalona.
Four North Alabama men appeared in federal court last week on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Monday, June 6, 2022, Brandon Keith Jackson, 38, was sentenced by Judge Anna Manasco to 15 months for one count being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson pleaded guilty to one count in February. Jackson illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol in May 2019.
Freddie Green, 49, Birmingham, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to 51 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Green pleaded guilty to one count in January. Green illegally possessed a Century Arms rifle in May 2020.
Anthony Rego Torres, 26, Blountsville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Torres pleaded guilty to two counts in February. Torres illegally possessed a Savage Arms .22 rifle in December 2020 and a Taurus Spectrum .380 caliber pistol and Taurus Ultra-Lite .38 Special Revolver in August 2020.
Ervin Deangelo Fields, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fields illegally possessed a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol in Jefferson County in June 2021 and a Canik 9 mm pistol in January 2021. Fields is scheduled for sentencing on August 17, 2022.
Additionally, six individuals were arraigned in federal court on Thursday, June 9, 2022, on indictments that were handed down by the grand jury in May 2022. These individuals were charged with being felons in possession of firearms.
Jonathan Peter Smith, 44, was charged with illegally possessing a Ruger .38 caliber revolver, and a Ruger 9mm pistol in November 2021 in Calhoun County.
Aaron Elisher Quarles, 31, of Birmingham, was charged with illegally possessing a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol in September 2020 in Jefferson County. Quarles is also charged with possession of a stolen firearm.
Zsaquon Dean Averette, 25, of Madison, was charged with illegally possessing an American Tactical .45 caliber pistol in March 2022 in Jefferson County.
Dexter Sherrod Pearce, 33, of Birmingham, was charged with illegally possessing a 9mm, Glock 17 handgun in February 2022 in Jefferson County.
Donald Joseph Boteler, Jr, 47, of Odenville, was charged with illegally possessing a Diamondback 9mm pistol in December 2021 in St. Clair County.
Allquan Cortex Patton, 37, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with illegally possessing a Glock 9mm pistol in February 2022 and a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol in March 2022 in Tuscaloosa County.
Also in May 2022, a federal grand jury indicted the following individuals with being felons in possession of firearms.
Anthony James Perkins, 29, of Arab, was charged with illegally possessing an American Tactical, Omni Hybrid, .223/.556 caliber pistol in January 2022 in Cullman County.
Scottie Ray Guffey, 56, of Fyffe, was charged with illegally possessing an a FIE Model Tex 22 caliber revolver, and a High Standard Model Sport King Carbine A102 22 caliber in January 2020 in DeKalb County.
Antonia Dynell Bates, 31, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with illegally possessing a Glock .40 caliber pistol and a Canik 9mm pistol in November 2021 and a Glock .40 caliber pistol in May 2022 in Tuscaloosa County.
Joseph Salter Reaves, 57, of Decatur, was charged with illegally possessing a Beretta 9mm pistol, a Remington .22 caliber rifle model 34, a J. Stevens Arms Company 12-gauge double-barrel side by side shotgun model 315, and approximately 80 rounds of Speer 9 mm ammunition in December 2021 in Madison County.
David Randall Holder, Jr., 37, was charged with illegally possessing a J.P. Sauer and Sohn .357 caliber revolver, a Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Sarsilmaz 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Heckler and Koch .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Canik 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Ruger .380 caliber rifle, a CBC .22 caliber rifle, a Remington .410 caliber shotgun, a Remington .28 caliber rifle, and a Keystone Sporting Arms .22 caliber rifle in December 2020 in Jackson County. Holder is also charged with theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer, Mark Anthony Dover d/b/a The Pawn Shop, in December 2020.
"These sentences and indictments for illegal firearms possession should be a lesson for every person who is prohibited due to a previous felony conviction or other circumstance,” said United States Attorney Escalona. “If you have been convicted of a felony or are a domestic abuser, you are prohibited by federal law from having a firearm, as well as ammunition. If you have been previously convicted of a felony and don’t want to end up in federal prison, stay away from all guns and ammunition,” recommended Escalona.
Federal firearms restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) include prohibitions on the right to possess firearms by people who have been previously convicted of a felony, have been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, are subject to a domestic protection from abuse order, are drug users/addicts, are undocumented noncitizens, or are fugitives from justice, among other restricted groups of people.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Stevens Point Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Lorenzo Miner, 30, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on January 12, 2022, he possessed a Radical Firearms RF-15.
If convicted, Miner faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Stevens Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
Marathon County Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
Kou Yang, 27, Weston, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 30 and September 8, 2021.
If convicted, Yang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard is handling the prosecution.
Marathon County Man Charged with Drug Crimes
Lawrence E. Lavergne, 40, Rothschild, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment alleges that on February 21, 2022, Lavergne distributed methamphetamine and that he possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
If convicted, Lavergne faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the distribution charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years on the charge of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The charges against Lavergne are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Federal Prison Inmate Charged with Possessing Contraband
Matthew S. Kirst, 28, formerly of Muskegon, Michigan, is charged with possessing a prohibited object while an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that on September 28, 2021, Kirst possessed strips containing Buprenophine, a Schedule III controlled substance.
If convicted, Kirst faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Frederick County Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Overcharging the U.S. Postal Service Under His Company’s Contract to Perform Maintenance and Repair Services at Postal Service FacilitiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Liberto, age 47, of New Windsor, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention, and three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his company’s contract to perform repairs at U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities. Judge Bennett also ordered Liberto to pay restitution of $941,629.17 and to pay a fine of $100,000. Judge Bennett further ordered that $100,000 in restitution and the $100,000 fine must be paid by the time Liberto reports to prison on September 10, 2022. The sentence was imposed on June 10, 2022.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
According to his plea agreement, between 2013 and 2018, Joseph Liberto, who was President and 50% co-owner of Sierra Construction LLC, in Frederick, Maryland, contracted with EMCOR-CSC to provide repair services to USPS facilities. EMCOR acted as the clearing house responsible for receiving service calls for needed maintenance and repair work on its customers’ facilities, including the USPS, and assigning such work to service providers, such as Liberto and Sierra. Liberto admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud EMCOR and the USPS by fraudulently concealing Sierra’s use of subcontractors to carry out maintenance work it was assigned to perform, inflating the number of hours and cost of repairs, and providing false documents to EMCOR, in order to overcharge the USPS. Sierra obtained more than $940,000 through these fraudulent overbillings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Contract Fraud Investigation Division of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jefferson M. Gray and Matthew Phelps, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Franklin County Sex Offender Sentenced to 189 Months for Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Shannon Macauley, age 56, of Fort Covington, New York, was sentenced today to 189 months in prison for possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Macauley admitted that he possessed 614 photographs and 109 videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Macauley had previously been convicted in state court of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct of minors, including six counts of sodomy with victims under the age of 15.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Macauley to 15 years of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment. Upon release from prison, Macauley will also be required to register to as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Anderson as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney's offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Four Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl Pills from Southwestern U.S. to ClevelandRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging four men with trafficking fentanyl pills from the Southwestern United States to be distributed in Cleveland.
Named in the indictment are Derrean Wall, 29, and Cortez West, 31, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dayareon Crofton, 22, and Floyd Head, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona. Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In addition, Defendant Wall is charged with three additional counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, in January 2022, postal inspectors in Arizona seized a package suspected of containing narcotics addressed to a location in Cleveland, Ohio. Investigators later learned that the package contained approximately 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills. After investigating the origins of the package, it is alleged that authorities identified Defendants Dayareon Crofton, Floyd Head and Cortez West as participants in a drug trafficking conspiracy that shipped and couriered large quantities of fentanyl pills to Defendant Derrean Wall in Cleveland. Over the course of the next three months, Crofton, Head, and West were arrested, each carrying approximately 2kg of fentanyl pills. All three were arrested while en route to Cleveland, Ohio.
On April 27, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at locations in Warrensville Heights and Cleveland known to be associated with Wall. During the execution of the warrant, court documents state that authorities encountered Wall at the addresses and obtained two loaded pistols, a loaded rifle, heroin, methamphetamine and large quantities of fentanyl.
If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations.
In all cases, sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, will be less than the maximum. All four defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cleveland Metroparks Police Department and the Summit County Drug Unit investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting this case.
Four Big Island Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor today sentenced Dwayne P. Gouveia, 58, of Waimea, Hawaii, to ten years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gouveia was previously sentenced by the Court in 2005 to ten years imprisonment for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Judge Gillmor also sentenced Gouveia’s co-conspirators in methamphetamine trafficking:
- Maximillian Oleksiak, 46, of Keaau, sentenced on November 1, 2021, to 110 months imprisonment;
- Billie Jack Peridot Kawelo, 43, of Keaau, sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 60 months imprisonment; and
- Malia Broome, 45, of Kamuela, sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 48 months imprisonment and a fine of $5,000.
According to information presented to the court, the four defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine on the Island of Hawaii during spring 2020. On May 20, 2020, special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and officers of the Hawaii County Police Department interrupted a distribution of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine by Kawelo and Broome to Oleksiak. The drugs had been supplied by Gouveia to Broome earlier that day. In addition to the methamphetamine, agents and officers seized almost $20,000 in cash and arrested Kawelo and Broome on that date. The cash has since been forfeited to the government. Evidence collected by the government demonstrated that the four defendants had been working together to distribute pound and multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine multiple times per week for approximately two months preceding the May 20, 2020 seizures and arrests. Additionally, in January 2018, agents and officers intercepted a shipment of approximately one pound of methamphetamine intended for Oleksiak in a transaction unrelated to the conspiracy.
“Methamphetamine remains our state’s dominant drug trafficking problem, as this prosecution of four Big Island residents demonstrates,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. “We will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who deal large quantities of methamphetamine across our state.”
“These sentences are the result of HSI’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking in Hawaii,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge John F. Tobon. “We are committed to investigating the individuals and organizations involved in distributing these substances to our communities.”
HSI and the Hawaii County Police Department conducted the investigation that resulted in the prosecution, with assistance from the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan prosecuted the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 63 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Andrew Thompson, age 49, of Fort Wayne, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, on his plea of guilty to the sale of firearms to a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Thompson was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in late 2018 through early 2019, two individuals working with law enforcement, each of whom had previously been convicted of a felony offense, purchased a total of five firearms from Thompson. Thompson admitted he sold or traded the firearms for drugs. At least twenty other firearms originally purchased by Thompson have been recovered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois and other locations from prohibited persons, traffic stops and search warrant executions.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah E. Nokes.
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.
Former Vice President of Discovery Tours Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
The former Vice President of Discovery Tours Inc., a business located in Mayfield Village, Ohio, that offered educational trips for grade school and high school students, pleaded guilty in federal court today to devising a scheme to take payments for trips and then using the funds for personal expenses.
Joseph A. Cipolletti, 47, of Hudson, Ohio, pleaded guilty to an 18-count indictment that charged him with wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud and false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.
According to court documents, Cipolletti was employed as Vice President of Discovery Tours, Inc., a business that offered educational trips for students to destinations such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Court documents state that as Vice President, Cipolletti managed the organization’s finances, general ledger entries, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Cipolletti also had signature authority on Discovery Tours’ business bank accounts.
Court documents state that from June 2014 to May 2018, Cipolletti, as Vice President, devised a scheme to defraud parents and other student trip purchasers by diverting payments intended for these trips to his own personal use on items such as home renovations and vehicles.
As a result of Cipolletti’s actions and subsequent attempts to cover up the scheme, in May 2018, Discovery Tours abruptly ended operations and filed for bankruptcy. Student trips to Washington, D.C. were canceled for dozens of schools across Ohio and more than 5,000 families lost the money they had previously paid for trip fees.
In addition, on December 10, 2018, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cipolletti knowingly made statements under oath in and in relation to his organization’s bankruptcy status. Cipolletti claimed that he did not owe his business any money when, in fact, and as he then knew, he had embezzled more than $600,000 from his place of business and made false entries in the general ledger.
The total amount of loss will be determined by the Court at sentencing.
Cipolletti is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Summit County, Geauga County, and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Offices for their cooperation with this matter.
Former Savannah resident sentenced to federal prison for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former Savannah resident has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after he admitted sharing images of child sexual abuse.
Luis Carrasquillo, 40, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 121 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Carrasquillo also was ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Luis Carrasquillo shared horrific images of children who were subjected to sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will be relentless in identifying pedophiles and holding them accountable.”
As described in court documents and testimony, agents from Homeland Security Investigations received a cybertip in November 2019 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, alerting them that images of child sexual exploitation were being shared from a Savannah location. Investigators narrowed the origin of the illegal file uploads to Carrasquillo’s Savannah apartment, and he was arrested in August 2020 after he had moved to San Juan. Investigators determined Carrasquillo shared multiple images depicting sexual abuse of children, some of them as young as toddlers.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to Carrasquillo and others like him who delight in the viewing and sharing of these despicable images of children being abused,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its partners are prioritizing the protection of our most vulnerable populations and we will continue to hold these criminals accountable.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland.
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Federal agent charged with sexually groping passengerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer is now in custody for allegedly violating a passenger’s civil rights and obstruction, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Law enforcement arrested Christopher Edwards Dowell, Conroe, today. He is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 1 p.m.
A federal grand jury returned the sealed two-count indictment June 9, which was unsealed today upon his arrest.
The charges allege Dowell deprived a female of her civil rights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. While conducting a secondary inspection, he allegedly touched the victim’s breasts without her consent. He then engaged in obstruction by attempting to cover up the incident with information he submitted in the secondary inspection report, according to the indictment.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for obstruction as well as another year for the violation of civil rights. The obstruction and civil rights charges also carry potential fines of $250,000 and $100,000, respectively.
The Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Suh is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal Jury Convicts Gary Hammonds on Three Counts of Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Following a three-day trial in United States District Court, Greeneville, Tenn., a jury convicted Gary Lynn Hammonds, 53, of Kingsport, Tenn., of knowingly distributing child pornography, knowingly receiving child pornography and knowingly possessing child pornography involving a child less than 12 years of age.
Sentencing is set for October 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Hammonds faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison as to each offense and a five-year minimum mandatory sentence for counts one and two.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Hammonds possessed over 1,000 videos and images containing child pornography on a laptop computer and external hard drives that were found in his home. Hammonds distributed child pornography online using peer-to-peer file sharing software. The investigation was initiated by a Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) investigator who identified an internet user on a peer-to-peer file sharing network who was actively sharing child pornography online. The Kingsport Police Department used the information to obtain a search warrant for the defendant’s residence. Officers executed the search warrant on July 20, 2018, and seized a number of devices.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The Kingsport Police Department, Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations participated in the investigation that resulted in the indictment and subsequent conviction of Hammonds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily M. Swecker and Meghan L. Gomez represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education click on the link for “Publications & Resources.”
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Two Men for Conspiracy to Steal Mail and Possession of a Postal KeyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment today charging two local men with conspiring to steal mail from authorized depositories of the United States Postal Service and unlawfully possessing a postal key that opened official mail receptacles.
According to the indictment, on June 8, 2022, Angel Martin, 23, and Brandon King, 20, engaged in a conspiracy to steal mail from United States Postal Service’s collection boxes on Hunsinger Lane and Billtown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of this conspiracy, Martin and King unlawfully possessed an “arrow key,” which is a special key used to open official mail collection boxes.
Martin and King are both charged with conspiring to steal from an authorized depository for mail matter, post office, letter box, and mail receptacle, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and unlawful possession of a key suited to locks on authorized receptacles for the deposit and delivery of mail matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704. If convicted, each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Both defendants will be scheduled to make their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Jeffersontown Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Court Permanently Shuts Down Brooklyn Tax PreparersRead the Press Release
A federal court in the Eastern District of New York has permanently barred Brooklyn-based defendants Keith Sang, Kashana Sang, Tareek Lewis, Kimberly Brown and their business, K&L Accounting Group Inc., from preparing federal tax returns for others.
After bringing suit in July 2021 against the defendant return preparers and business, the United States obtained a preliminary injunction from the court to stop defendants from preparing returns while the litigation was pending. In issuing the preliminary injunction, the court found that (1) all defendants acted willfully or recklessly in preparing returns that understated their customers’ true tax liabilities; (2) defendants Keith Sang and Kashana Sang interfered with the administration of the internal revenue laws by preparing paper returns that did not identify the return preparer; and (3) all defendants took “concerted and conscious steps” to evade enforcement efforts by the IRS. The defendants recently consented to entry of a permanent injunction.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. (More information can also be found here.) The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a checklist of things to remember when filing income tax returns in 2022.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $73,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronical federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Marijuana PossessionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Cynthia Ines Fernandes, 33, of Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Fernandes faces a maximum sentence of five 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, Fernandes traveled from Charlotte, NC to St. Croix on a commercial flight on November 6, 2021. In her checked bags, Customs and Border Protection agents discovered 13 individually wrapped, vacuum sealed packages with approximately 11 kilograms of marijuana.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
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Everett man indicted for cyberstalking and threatening former romantic partnerRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old Everett, Washington, man was indicted by the grand jury in connection with a three-year unrelenting campaign of online cyberstalking, threats, and harassment against a former romantic partner, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Christopher Scott Crawford was arrested on a criminal complaint on June 2, 2022. He remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington.
According to records filed in the case, Crawford has repeatedly violated court ordered restraining orders by sending threats by text, email, social media messages and phone calls. Crawford has sent threatening communications to various people associated with the victim in this case, such as parents, coworkers, siblings, and court-mandated professionals. The harassment included posting intimate pictures of the victim on a website and circulating private information about the victim to others.
Cyberstalking and making interstate threats are each punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The matter is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Shiner.
Essex County Felon Convicted of Possessing Two Firearms, Drug Trafficking, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was convicted today on weapons and drug charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Teriek Edwards, 44, of Newark, was convicted on two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of his possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone, following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On May 25, 2018, members of the East Orange Police Department attempted to stop Edwards as part of an ongoing investigation. Upon being approached by law enforcement officers, Edwards fled, and a struggle ensued. Edwards was arrested and law enforcement officers recovered heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, and other illegal narcotics from his pants pockets, as well as a 9mm firearm loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. A federal complaint was filed against Edwards and a federal arrest warrant was issued.
On Aug. 22, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Edwards on that federal arrest warrant, at which time they recovered a second handgun – a 9mm firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.
The possession of a firearm charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The drug trafficking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; members of East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis Bindi; members of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Brian O’Hara; deputy marshals and task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of New Jersey, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Agnew and Samantha C. Fasanello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.
Ellsworth Air Force Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a former Box Elder Police Department officer who resided at Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, South Dakota, was sentenced on May 27, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Ricardo Edward Franc Olandez, age 35, was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2021 for numerous counts of sexual abuse. Olandez pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse on November 5, 2021. Olandez was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction relates to Olandez forcing a minor female to engage in sexual acts with him in 2021 on the Ellsworth Air Force Base.
This case was investigated by the Department of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
Olandez was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
El Salvador man admits to illegal immigration chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Emerson Corvera, a citizen of El Salvador, has admitted to an illegal reentry charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Corvera was convicted in June 2016 in the Northern District of Florida for transporting women for prostitution. The indictment alleged that at least 26 women were sold “by the session” as a part of the conspiracy. Corvera was removed from the United States by ICE after that conviction. Corvera pleaded guilty today to one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien Previously Convicted of an Aggravated Felony.” He admitted to being in Berkeley County illegally in April 2022.
Corvera faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
EDLA Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2022Read the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Today, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) reasserts the mission of DOJ’s Elder Justice Initiative to combat elder abuse and financial exploitation, encourage reporting abuse, and educate the public to make America safer for all.
Elder Abuse can take many forms and is not always easy to recognize. It may come in the form of the improper or illegal use of an older person’s money or property (financial exploitation, including scams); it may be physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; or it may be in the form of the intentional or unintentional failure or refusal to provide care or help to an older person.
“Today, our office reminds seniors and their caregivers to be aware of fraudulent schemes that target the elderly, and other vulnerable consumers. Additionally, if seniors become aware of or believe that they are victims of elder abuse, they should please contact law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Evans.
The Eastern District of Louisiana has a dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney tasked with the prosecution of elder abuse cases and who provides opportunities for prevention education and training for the public. If your organization would like to have our Elder Justice Coordinator conduct a presentation about elder abuse prevention, please contact Shane M. Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 504-680-3000 or by email at [email protected].
If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.
Duval Felon Indicted for Attempting to Purchase FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Thomas Oliver Morrison (62, Jacksonville) with knowingly making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. If convicted, Morrison faces a maximum penalty of 5years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Morrison attempted to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearms dealer on April 20, 2022. Morrison falsely stated on the required ATF Form 4473 that he was not a felon, when in fact he had numerous prior felony convictions, including false imprisonment, battery – second offense, grand theft, possession of controlled substance and dealing in stolen property. Morrison also falsely stated that he was not subject to a final injunction for protection against domestic violence and that he had not been previously involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus P. Zomorodian.
This case is 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.
District Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for 2020 Slaying in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Knico Wheaton, 25, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for his role in the slaying of a man during a drug deal in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Wheaton pleaded guilty in January 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of 7 ½ to 12 years. The Honorable Milton C. Lee, Jr. accepted the plea and sentenced Wheaton accordingly. Following his prison term, Wheaton will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Wheaton arranged on Jan. 11, 2020, to purchase marijuana from the victim’s cousin. The victim, Tavon Cox, drove from Baltimore to Washington to make the delivery later that day. At approximately 8 p.m., Mr. Cox met with Wheaton at a pre-arranged location in the 700 block of 24th Street NE. Wheaton and another individual approached Mr. Cox’s vehicle and asked to smell the marijuana. Mr. Cox, still in the car with a passenger who accompanied him on the trip, permitted them to do so.
At that point, Wheaton and/or his accomplice reached into a coat pocket to retrieve a firearm and immediately shot at Mr. Cox, striking his head. Wheaton and his accomplice then fled the scene together with the marijuana that they had taken from Mr. Cox. Mr. Cox, 41, died from the gunshots.
Wheaton was arrested on April 28, 2020. He has been detained ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Prava Palacharla, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Davie Man Sentenced to over 19 Years for Producing Sexual Exploitation Video of 8-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced a 22-year-old Davie, Florida man to 231 months in prison for pretending to be a teenager on the internet and luring an 8-year-old child into producing child pornography.
In 2020, Christian Sandoval found the child on-line, through a popular video-sharing application. Sandoval commented on a dance video that the 8-year-old posted on the application. The two exchanged phone numbers. Through a few days of texts, Sandoval convinced the child to create sexually explicit videos of herself and send them to him. The child’s mother discovered the videos and inappropriate chats and reported the conduct to law enforcement.
In April, Sandoval pled guilty to producing child pornography.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the sentence that U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II imposed yesterday.
FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the Town of Davie Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 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 the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-60037.
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Columbus man pleads guilty to murder resulting from drug robberyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today for his role in a 2018 murder and robbery.
Kyle Castle, 29, was one of five Columbus men indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021 with crimes involving three murders and a related narcotics ring.
In 2018, defendants conspired to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence. That robbery resulted in the shooting death of another individual within the house who was unrelated to the marijuana. To cover up for this first murder, it is alleged lead defendant Larry Williams then murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.
Castle admitted to driving with others to the 800 block of East North Broadway in Columbus during the early morning hours of June 27, 2018, to rob a residence they knew to contain large amounts of marijuana and cash. Each of the co-conspirators was armed, including Castle who was in possession of a pistol.
Upon entering the living room of the residence, an individual was shot and killed by an AK-47 style rifle. The co-conspirators also shot numerous dogs within the residence. The men stole 20 to 30 pounds of marijuana from the residence.
In total, 13 individuals have been charged federally for their alleged involvement in either the murders, the cover-up of the murders, or the related narcotics conspiracy. The cover-up involved defendants dismembering and burying the bodies of two murder victims.
Castle faces up to life in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; James C. Harris III, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in the cases.
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Colorado Man Indicted for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Colorado man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Preston Yankton, age 35, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 13, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on November 7, 2021, and November 8, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Yankton did assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a law enforcement officers who were employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and that such conduct involved physical contact.
The charges are merely accusations and Yankton is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Yankton was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Charleroi Man Possessed Powder Cocaine and CrackRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Charleroi, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Keith McCrae, 48, of Charleroi, PA, pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possessing with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Friday, October 7, 2022, at 10:00 AM. The law provides for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Yvonne M. Saadi and Jonathan D. Lusty are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Perryopolis Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Keith McCrae.
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.
Cass County, Iowa Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Cass County man, Aaron William Butcher, age 34, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to seven years in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.
In February of 2021, a cybertip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account. The email address was traced to Butcher and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for his Dropbox account and his residence in Atlantic, Iowa. Butcher’s electronic devices were forensically analyzed and contained images and videos of child pornography. Forensic examination also located numerous conversations between Butcher and individuals he believed to be teenagers. Butcher asked for images and videos of child pornography in exchange for money.
Butcher was sentenced to 84 months in prison. He must also serve a seven-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. Butcher was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Casa Blanca Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Rolando Jesus Quintero, 33, of Casa Blanca, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Quintero previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On February 17, 2021, Quintero was found in possession of 54 grams of methamphetamine and a .22 caliber rifle. Quintero is an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community.
The FBI and the Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00996-01-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-095_Quintero# # #
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.Camden County Woman Admits Stealing $2.67 Million in Rent Checks from Work, Failing to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, woman today admitted stealing approximately 700 checks and money orders from her employer and failing to pay taxes on the income, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Lori Andrews, 61, Voorhees, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an information charging her with one count of interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of income tax evasion.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Andrews worked in the property management office of an apartment building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tenants paid their rent and other expenses to the property management office. From January 2011 to October 2018, Andrews stole 697 checks and money orders totaling $2.67 million her employer, drove them from Philadelphia to New Jersey, and deposited those checks and money orders into a nominee bank account that she opened using a fake Social Security number. Andrews admitted that she used the money to pay personal expenses.
Andrews also admitted that for tax years 2011 through 2015, she did not report the stolen income on her income tax returns or pay income taxes on that income. Andrews admitted that she did not file income tax returns for years 2016 through 2018 and failed to pay income taxes on her income and stolen funds.
The interstate transportation of stolen property charge to which Andrews pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison; the income tax evasion charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years. Both counts carry a potential fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins and Postal Inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Postal Inspector Damon E. Wood of the Philadelphia Division, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney's Office Civil Rights Division in Camden.
California Man Facing Federal Indictment in Maryland for the Attempted Murder of a Supreme Court JusticeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Nicholas John Roske, age 26, of Simi Valley, California, for federal charges of attempting to murder a Justice of the United States, specifically, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. An initial appearance for Roske has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and U.S Marshal Johnny Hughes.
According to the one-count indictment and other court documents, on June 8, 2022, Roske intended to kill an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Court documents alleges that Roske traveled from California to Maryland, intending to kill the Supreme Court Justice, arriving at the residence of a current Justice of the Supreme Court in the early morning hours of June 8, 2022.
The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation seeking the forfeiture of a firearm, two magazines loaded with 10 rounds each of 9mm ammunition; 17 rounds of ammunition contained in a plastic bag, a black speed loader, and additional items allegedly intended to be used in the commission of the crime.
If convicted, Roske faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for attempting to assassinate a Justice of the United States. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Montgomery County Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the United States Supreme Court Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, and its efforts to protect national security, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/anti-terrorism.
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Bucks County Construction Business Owner Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for $1.3 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Samuel Bullock, 72, of Langhorne, PA, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,501,261 restitution by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson for his orchestration of a tax fraud scheme to avoid paying nearly $1.3 million in federal income taxes, and millions more in interest and penalties.
In February 2022, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false federal tax return, and one count of willful failure to file a federal tax return, all relating to his efforts to avoid paying taxes on income from his construction business. In 2009, after the defendant had repeatedly failed to file his federal income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service secured liens for more than $1.9 million that the defendant owed in taxes, interest and penalties. The defendant responded by taking steps to avoid collection by arranging to have his business income paid over to a sole proprietorship that he had set up in the name of his spouse, including providing his clients with new Forms W-9 with his spouse’s Social Security number and opening a new business checking account in his spouse’s name as the alleged sole proprietor. The defendant then reported his own income on the tax return of his spouse, using the filing status “Married filing separately.” Although he was aware that he had earned income and was obliged to file a federal income tax return, Bullock failed to do so.
“Samuel Bullock’s scheme to enrich himself and avoid paying his fair share of income taxes victimized honest American taxpayers and business owners who do pay their tax obligations,” U.S. Attorney Williams said. “By ignoring the IRS and its legitimate demands for information from him, the defendant created a self-inflicted wound: compounding his already-significant tax debt. This type of fraud will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by this Office.”
“Every American who pays his or her taxes can breathe easy knowing that tax cheats, like Mr. Bullock, are being held accountable,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “IRS-CI has several investigative tools at its disposal to detect schemes like this. Those who think that they can outsmart the IRS should think again.”
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
Brattleboro Husband and Wife Charged with Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Joshua Stratton, 33, and his wife Sherrie Stratton, 31, both of Brattleboro, Vermont have been indicted by the federal grand jury for violations of federal firearms laws. Joshua Stratton was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. Sherrie Stratton was charged with transferring firearms to her husband Joshua, knowing he was a convicted felon. Joshua Stratton was arraigned today on the indictment and ordered detained pending trial. Sherrie Stratton’s arraignment is scheduled for June 28, 2022.
According to court records, between November 11, 2021 and March 21, 2022, Sherrie Stratton transferred or otherwise disposed of three firearms to her husband: a Smith & Wesson M&P-15 .223 Rem AR-style rifle; a Komando (Turkey) DKSN XX3D 12-gauge shotgun, and a Savage Arms A17 .17 HMR rifle. Sherrie Stratton is alleged to have transferred the firearms to her husband despite knowing that her husband was a convicted felon. On March 21, 2022, a federal probation officer visited the Stratton home, observed the firearms, and seized them from the residence, as well as a Ruger 10/22 .22LR rifle.
At the time of the conduct, Joshua Stratton was serving a term of federal supervised release following his conviction in 2020 for being a felon in possession of firearms. According to court records from the previous federal prosecution, on June 30, 2019, Vermont State Police responded to reports of repeated gunfire near Putney, encountering Joshua and Sherrie Stratton and their small child at a makeshift firing range. The responding trooper observed 9 firearms (including handguns, shotguns, and an AR-style rifle) on the ground just behind the vehicle belonging to the Strattons. The trooper also observed boxes of ammunition and dozens of empty cartridge casings. Sherrie Stratton was interviewed at the scene, claimed ownership of the firearms, but made statements to the trooper consistent with Joshua Stratton possessing and shooting the firearms.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that both Joshua and Sherrie Stratton are presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime. Both Joshua and Sherrie Stratton face a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory federal sentencing guidelines.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Joshua Stratton is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. Sherrie Stratton is represented by William Kraham, Esq.
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. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn for more information.
Atlantic County Tax Preparer Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, tax preparer was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for using false information to increase her clients’ tax refunds and filing her own false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Michele Griffin, 42, of Galloway, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Rodriguez to Count 11 of an indictment charging her with aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return. Judge Rodriguez imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Griffin prepared multiple fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients by falsifying their education expenses, dependent care expenses, business income, dependent information, and unemployment income. As a result, her clients’ returns requested higher tax credits and higher refunds than the clients were entitled to receive. Griffin prepared 19 false tax returns on behalf of six clients for tax years 2013 through 2016 and filed three false tax returns for herself for tax years 2013 through 2015. She admitting causing a tax loss of approximately $135,000.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Rodriguez sentenced Griffin to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of 135,063.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Armed Meth Dealer Sentenced for Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile, Alabama, man was sentenced to 72 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, William Joshua Ikner was implicated in the federal investigation which began when a co-conspirator was stopped on the Interstate 65 in Saraland. Police found methamphetamine and a gun in that vehicle. As a result of information learned after the stop, Ikner and his co-defendant Angela Faye Keebler, were identified as distributors who had received kilograms of methamphetamine brought to Mobile from Atlanta for distribution. Ikner and Keebler were arrested at a residence on Graham Road South where investigators seized a gun, approximately $1,553 in cash and additional methamphetamine ice during a search of the premises. Keebler pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and the gun charge in January of 2021 and was sentenced in May of 2022. Ikner pled guilty in June of 2021 and was sentenced this week.
Senior United States District Court Judge William Steele imposed the 72-month sentence, consisting of 12 months and a day on the drug charge and 60 months on the gun charge, which will run consecutively. The judge further ordered that Ikner would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of his supervision, Ikner will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of her person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Ikner pay $200 in special assessments. The firearm used during the commission of the offenses was ordered forfeited to the United States.The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Saraland Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Accused Tops Shooter Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Using a Firearm to Commit MurderRead the Press Release
Today, Payton Gendron, 18, of Conklin, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with hate crimes resulting in death and hate crimes involving bodily injury and attempt to kill, use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, and use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The announcement was made by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York, and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate.
The complaint alleges that on May 14, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Gendron, a white male, committed a mass shooting targeting Black people at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York. The mass shooting, which Gendron live-streamed on the Internet, resulted in the deaths of 10 Black people and injuries to one Black person and two Caucasian people. The complaint further alleges that Gendron’s motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks.
At the time of the attack, Gendron was wearing a tactical-style helmet, camouflage clothing, body armor, and a GoPro video camera, and carrying a loaded Bushmaster XM-15 .223 caliber rifle and multiple loaded magazines. After parking and exiting his vehicle, Gendron shot and killed three Black people in the Tops’ parking lot and injured a fourth Black person. Gendron then fired several shots through the front window of the store before entering, where he immediately shot and killed two more Black people. At that time, Gendron and an armed Black security guard exchanged gunfire. Gendron aimed at, shot, and killed the security guard. After Gendron killed the security guard, he turned and aimed his rifle at a white male Tops employee who, at some point during the attack, had been shot in the leg and injured. Rather than shooting him, Gendron said, “sorry,” to the employee. At some point during the attack, one of the shots also struck and injured a white female Tops employee in the pharmacy area of the store, which is located near the checkout lanes. Gendron then walked through a checkout lane, and shot and killed a Black person, before moving through the aisles of the store and shooting and killing three additional Black people. Gendron ultimately returned to the front of the store where members of the Buffalo Police Department took him into custody.
When he was taken into custody, officers recovered the rifle used by Gendron in the attack. The rifle had various writings on it, including racial slurs, the statement “Here’s your reparations!,” and the phrase “The Great Replacement.” Investigators have determined that Gendron fired approximately 60 shots during the attack. Two other firearms, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded bolt-action rifle, as well as three loaded rifle magazines, were recovered from Gendron’s vehicle after the attack.
Subsequent investigation determined that in the months preceding the attack, Gendron wrote a self-described manifesto containing a detailed plan to shoot and kill Black people at Tops using a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, a diagram of the interior layout of the store, a discussion of the clothing and equipment that he would use during the attack, and statements that his motivation for the attack was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar racially-motivated attacks. Gendron also wrote that he selected the zip code 14208 because it has the highest percentage of Black people close enough to where he lives and that he selected the Tops store because it is where a large number of Black people can be found. The investigation also determined that Gendron traveled to Tops to scout the location on several occasions prior to the attack, including on May 14, 2022, only two and a half hours before the attack.
Upon conviction, the charges in the complaint carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. Gendron is currently in state custody pending state criminal charges.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo and Albany Offices of the FBI, the Buffalo Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Buffalo Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi, Brendan T. Cullinane and Brett A. Harvey of the Western District of New York, and Trial Attorney Shan Patel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
More information about the department’s hate crimes efforts, including facts and statistics, case examples, and a searchable collection of the department’s resources for law enforcement, community groups, researchers, and others, are available at www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
2022 World Elder Abuse Awareness (WEAAD) DayRead the Press Release
2022 World Elder Abuse Awareness (WEAAD) Day
HAMMOND- Northern District of Indiana United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson is committed to protecting older Americans by raising awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, especially on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day which is commemorated each year on June 15th since 2006. The motto is “Don’t stand by, stand up against elder abuse!”
“While some crime happens randomly, other crimes – especially those with an economic motive—are frequently targeted. This unfortunately means that there is a criminal element that is daily targeting senior citizens, using various scams, for information and money that these fraudsters will use for their own criminal purposes” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “My Office will work in unison with our law enforcement partners, like the FBI, to prosecute and bring to justice those who target vulnerable citizens, including senior citizens.”
According to the National Center of Elder Abuse, elder abuse affects older people across all socioeconomic groups, cultures and races and can occur anywhere when they are disconnected from social supports, whether they be in their own home, in a facility or hospital. The abuse can take many forms and can result in tangible losses to include their home and life savings as well as intangible losses which include dignity and independence.
Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. Research suggests that as few as 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.
A few of the most common scams targeting older Americans include:
- Vaccine related schemes – phishing emails and text messages requesting payment, asking for social security number to secure appointments, offering fake vaccines and unapproved treatment
- Robocalls asking for identifying information to include social security numbers and bank account information or to request money
- Grandparent scams – individual impersonates a family member in an emergency who need money, via cash, bank wire, prepaid gift cards
- Romance scams – online scammers create fake profiles to build online relationships before convincing victims to send money
- Government Imposter Frauds – fraudsters claim to be with a government agency seeking social security numbers , bank account information or requesting immediate payment of funds
- Lottery Frauds – calls or mailing informing the victim they have won a lottery but have to pay fees or taxes before claiming their prizes
- Refund Schemes – fraudsters claim they refunded too much money to the victim’s bank account and induce victims to send payment such as gift cards for the over-refund
- Tech Support Fraud – unsolicited telephone call or internet pop up message claiming to assist remotely with computer issues/technology
- Variety of Phishing Scams text messages or emails are sent to lure victims into divulging personal identifying information or contain a link that contains malware
Here are some ways to help guard against the scammers:
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and texts
- Hang up on Robocallers
- Do not open or click on links or attachments from sources you don’t know, were not expecting or do not recognize
- Ignore offers for miracle treatments or cures
- Don’t be rushed, call a family member, friend or conduct your own research before parting with your money
- Never provide personal identifying information
- Never wire money, provide cash or gift cards to persons or businesses you have met online unless you can verify their identity
Our office and federal partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting elder abuse cases in the Northern District of Indiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Nokes is the district’s Elder Justice Coordinator. She is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of elder abuse cases, conducting public outreach and awareness activities related to elder abuse, in addition to collecting data required by the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act. To learn more about the ways you can assist in our efforts to prevent fraud, neglect, and abuse of elders visit www.elderjustice.gov.
If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact the FBI Indianapolis Field Office at 317-595-4000.
You can also contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 or file a complaint FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – www.ic3.gov.
14 June 2022
West Haven City Employee Admits Role in Scheme to Steal Covid Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 66, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a conspiracy charge stemming from his role in a scheme to steal COVID relief funds from the City of West Haven.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bernardo was employed by the City of West Haven as a Housing Specialist in the office of Community Development Administration. In January 2021, Bernardo and another city employee formed Compass Investment Group, LLC. Beginning in February 2021, Compass Investment Group LLC fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its “COVID-19 Grant Department” for consulting services purportedly provided to the West Haven Health Department that were not performed. From February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70. Bernardo received a portion of these funds.
Bernardo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Bernardo was arrested on November 4, 2021. He is released on a $250,000 pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
University of the Virgin Islands Employee Arrested on Tennessee Sexual Assault WarrantRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS, USVI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Bridges Randle, 47, of Memphis, TN, appeared before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for an initial appearance on a warrant issued by the Western District of Tennessee. The warrant stems from a federal indictment which charges Randle with committing a civil rights offense that included aggravated sexual abuse. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
According to court records, Randle, who is also known as "Ajamu Abiola Banjoko" and "Oluwafemi Abiola Banjoko", is charged with sexually assaulting a woman while he was on duty as a police officer with the Memphis Police Department. According to the indictment, Randle sexually assaulted the woman after he was dispatched to a vandalism call at her residence on June 24, 2000. Randle was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents as he was on his way to work at the University of the Virgin Islands this morning. If convicted, Randle faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Memphis Field Office and is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division. United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Two Men Charged with Illegally Trafficking Almost 60 Guns into Philadelphia from South CarolinaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Terrance Darby, 41, of Philadelphia, PA, and Ontavious Plumer, 32, of Due West, South Carolina, were charged by Superseding Indictment with gun trafficking offenses in connection with their scheme to straw purchase and transport across state lines almost 60 firearms.
Specifically, the defendants were charged with unlicensed dealing and transport of firearms, and conspiracy to engage in unlicensed dealing of firearms and to make false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Darby was also charged with drug trafficking and gun possession stemming from his possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and unlawful possession of two firearms in his home in November 2021.
According to the Superseding Indictment, between November 2020 and February 2021, the defendants conspired with at least four other individuals to illegally straw-purchase almost 60 firearms from federally licensed gun shops in South Carolina, then transport these firearms via car into Philadelphia. Darby would allegedly place orders for firearms with Plumer, who would then direct co-conspirators to straw purchase firearms and transport them to Darby and his co-conspirator in Philadelphia.
This Superseding Indictment is the third set of charges brought by this Office in the last two months targeting the illegal trafficking of firearms from southern states into Philadelphia, a large northeastern city, a fact pattern which is known as the ‘iron pipeline.’ In April 2022, multiple defendants were Indicted in two federal cases involving the unlawful trafficking of approximately 400 firearms up the ‘iron pipeline’ into the city.
“Earlier this year, the Justice Department announced strategies to fight violent crime, including cracking down on firearms trafficking and the ‘iron pipeline,’ and our Office announced the indictment of fourteen people engaged in that that black-market business. With today’s charges, we have shut off yet another valve to stem the flow of guns into Philadelphia,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Our Office is working with urgency and determination to get guns off the streets of our city.”
“At a time when our communities have seen a spike in violent gun crime, it is more important now than ever that we hold those accountable for criminal actions,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “The diligence of our local, state, and federal partners prevented more guns from circulation into the community, as the indictment alleges.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Two Federally Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearms in Connection with June 5, 2022 McCallie Avenue ShootingsRead the Press Release
On June 14, 2022, a federal grand jury in Greeneville, Tennessee returned a two-count indictment against Garrian King, also known as “Big G,” and Rodney Harris, also known as “3rd,” both of Chattanooga.
The indictment alleges that on or about June 5, 2022, in the Eastern District of Tennessee, the defendants each possessed a firearm after being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Both defendants were previously charged by complaint. The details of these charges are outlined in the affidavits in support of those complaints, which are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Chattanooga Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Several other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation, including the United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community face.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Poole will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Two "New Aryan Empire" Associates Sentenced to More than 28 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Two defendants were sentenced today for their involvement in activities carried out on behalf of a white supremacist gang. Carey Mooney, 46, of Dover, was sentenced to 223 months in federal prison for her role in kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. Michael J. Roberts, 39, of Hattieville, was sentenced to 118 months imprisonment for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy.
Mooney pleaded guilty in April 2021 to Kidnapping in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering. Roberts pleaded guilty in January 2020 to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. In addition to their terms of imprisonment, United States District Judge Brian S. Miller also sentenced Mooney to three years of supervised release and Roberts to five years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment.
The investigation began in 2016, when local and federal agencies initiated a joint investigation to identify, infiltrate, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Russellville. Agents identified multiple individuals who were trafficking methamphetamine in the Pope County area. The investigation revealed that Mooney was an associate of the New Aryan Empire (NAE), a white supremacist organization that began as a prison gang and functioned as a drug trafficking organization.
In May 2017, Mooney and other NAE members and associates kidnapped one individual that they suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, which violated the rules of NAE. The victim was held against his/her will and subsequently beaten and stabbed in the leg with a knife by Mooney, and threatened with his/her life for violating NAE protocol.
Roberts, who was not involved in the kidnappings, distributed methamphetamine for NAE leadership. In November 2016, authorities intercepted a package Roberts sent to California containing over $40,000 in cash. Roberts sent another package in January 2017 that contained $24,000 in cash. The investigation revealed that Roberts received five-pound shipments of methamphetamine every week for three months and later increased to ten-pound shipments of methamphetamine every week for one month, and the cash was payment for some of those shipments. In total, Roberts facilitated the distribution of approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine.
Mooney and Roberts were charged on September 3, 2019, in a federal indictment that charged more than 50 people from the Pope County area with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR), and numerous gun and drug violations. The case is named “To The Dirt,” a reference to the NAE slogan referring to the rule that members must remain in the NAE until they die. The charges allege acts involving attempted murder, kidnapping, maiming, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Of the 55 total defendants charged in “Operation ‘To The Dirt,’” 53 defendants have pleaded guilty, 1 defendant was found guilty at trial, and 27 of those defendants have already been sentenced to prison terms: Jared Dale, 84 months; Britanny Conner, 120 months; Keith Savage, 120 months; Joseph Pridmore, 150 months; Daniel Adame, 262 months; Justin Howell, 155 months; James George, 70 months; Amos Adame, 121 months; and Skippy Don Sanders, 262 months; Andrew Syverson 151 months; Amanda Rapp 262 months; Jayme Short 90 months; Cory S. Donnelly 188 months; Wesley Pierson 120 months; Ralph Ross 36 months; Jeffrey L. Knox 180 months; Robert Chandler 65 months; Timothy Ferguson 180 months; Paula S. Enos 180 months; Heath Kizer 96 months; Christopher S. Helms 102 months; David D. Singleton 131 months; Kathrine R. Ross 60 months BOP; Kevin M. Long 369 months; James Scott Oliver 327 months; and Wesley S. Gullett 420 months,. The remaining defendant, Troy L. Loadholt, remains a fugitive.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, DEA, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Russellville Police Department, with assistance from the FBI.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derek Luch, age 50, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to receipt and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As a part of his guilty plea, Luch admitted that between May 2021 and October 2021, he used a file-sharing service to download and receive numerous images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also admitted that he had possessed child pornography when he was arrested on November 4, 2021.
At sentencing on October 13, 2022 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, Luch faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, and at least 5 years and up to a life term of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Luch will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force. The Child Exploitation Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
St. Paul Woman Sentenced for Role in $499,000 Fraudulent Pandemic Benefits SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Saint Paul, Virginia woman, who was found guilty in February 2022 of conspiracy to defraud the United States, fraud in connection with emergency benefits, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud in connection with emergency benefits, and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison.
Marissa Leanna Kiser, 27 was found guilty by a jury in February 2022 of conspiring with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Marcus Elmer Tackett, Jeffery Ryan Tackett, and others to commit fraud against the United States in connection with the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits. Kiser lived with both Gregory Tackett and Leelynn Chytka, the ringleader of the widespread conspiracy, at the time of her involvement in the scheme, and provided her personal information to Chytka for the purpose of filing a fraudulent claim on her behalf.
Over the course of nine months, members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent claims with the Virginia Employment Commission on behalf of at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss of at least $499,000.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia; Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation made the announcement.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation - Washington, D.C. Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Michael Baudinet prosecuted 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 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.
St. Louis man sentenced to 17 years in prison for distributing fatal fentanyl doseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis man who sold a fatal dose of fentanyl to 17 years in prison.
On March 6, 2020, Markquis Bryant sold fentanyl to a Florissant man who was found dead early the next morning in his home by his father.
Florissant police officers determined the fentanyl came from Bryant, and then conducted an undercover operation in which fentanyl was purchased from Bryant at his home in the 5300 block of Queens Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.
During the execution of a federal search warrant on March 26, 2020, investigators found five firearms as well as heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine, and paraphernalia consistent with drug sales.
Bryant pleaded guilty in February to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
The case was investigated by the Florissant Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Drug Enforcement Administration Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration's St. Louis Division execute a search warrant in March of 2020. The house was suspected of hosting a fentanyl and heroin milling operation. Drug Enforcement Administration During a search of Markquis Bryant’s residence, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized eight ounces of suspected fentanyl/heroin, one ounce of crack cocaine, one fully loaded AR-15 semi-automatic pistol, three 9mm pistols with extended 32-round magazines and one revolver.Sauk County Woman Sentenced to 30 Months for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tonia Greenwood, 45, North Freedom, Wisconsin pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. This sentence is to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Greenwood was charged in January 2021 in a multiple-count indictment with conspiring with Douglas Mack, Emily Mack, and D’Angelo Lashore to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. For her role, between January 2019 and May 2020, Greenwood received numerous packages of methamphetamine through the mail from Douglas Mack in Arizona. Greenwood had packages sent to her own home, as well as to addresses of friends and neighbors who were unaware of the contents. She kept some of the drugs for herself and sold the rest in and around Sauk County.
Douglas Mack and Emily Mack, who are siblings, also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on July 13 and July 14, 2022, respectively. Lashore pleaded guilty to attempting to possess methamphetamine for distribution and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The charge against Greenwood was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Madison Police Department, DeForest Police Department, Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, State Line Area Narcotics Team, and Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn prosecuted this case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Wilmington man who photographed his sexual abuse of a four-year old child was sentenced today to 480 months in prison for production of child pornography. The Court also ordered him to pay more than $285,000 in restitution. Luke Michael Churchill, 48, pled guilty to one count of production of child pornography in connection with conduct that took place over the course of several months in 2019.
Michael Easley, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, commented: “Mr. Churchill is a serial predator, and his sentence is well-deserved. He positioned himself as a caregiver, but instead exploited and victimized a child. My office will not tolerate individuals like Mr. Churchill who prey upon the most vulnerable and innocent members of our community. We and our law enforcement partners will investigate and aggressively prosecute these predators and protect our children.”
According to court documents, Churchill previously faced unrelated federal charges when he was convicted in 2007 of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 95 months in prison. It was due to this prior conviction for a child exploitation offense that he was subject to enhanced statutory penalties in the current case. After being released from prison in 2013, Churchill began a 15-year term of supervised release that included a number of conditions, including having to register as a sex offender and submit to regular polygraphs. Churchill initially complied with the conditions of his supervised release and eventually succeeded in obtaining less restrictive conditions. Churchill was then able to manipulate his way into a position as a part-time caregiver for the victim, who was only four years old at the time. Churchill took advantage of his position and access, sexually abusing the child, and photographically recording the abuse on his phone at least seven different times over the course of three months in 2019. In June 2019, the child reported Churchill’s conduct and authorities were contacted.
Investigators immediately took steps to ensure the safety of the child and began investigating the allegations. Churchill was interviewed the same day the allegations were made and denied sexually abusing the minor victim and told investigators about how he had not failed any of his regular polygraph tests but refused to submit to another polygraph at that time. The very next day, Churchill transferred the child sexual abuse images he had created from his cellphone to a work laptop in an effort to thwart investigators. Despite Churchill’s efforts to conceal the abuse, investigators were able to obtain the work laptop and a forensic review recovered almost 150 images depicting Churchill engaged in sexual activity with the child. The forensic review was further able to establish that the images were created on seven separate dates—the same days that Churchill served as the child’s caregiver and had access to the minor.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The North Carolina 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office pursued state charges against Churchill, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national initiative, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-00072-FL
Red Lake Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for shooting two individuals on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 5, 2021, Brennon Allen James Sayers, 21, was arguing loudly with his girlfriend in a vehicle outside a residence in the Ponemah area of the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Victim J.L.Z., who lived across the street, came out of his residence and began telling Sayers to stop arguing and fighting with his girlfriend. Victim C.T.G., who was walking down the road, encountered the interaction between Sayers and J.L.Z. As the confrontation between Sayers and J.L.Z. escalated to yelling and assaultive threats, Sayers pulled a firearm from his waistband and began shooting at both J.L.Z. and C.T.G. as they ran back towards J.L.Z.’s house. Both J.L.Z. and C.T.G. were struck by gunfire. After the shooting, Sayers fled the area and was located several hours later at his mother’s residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
Sayers was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim. On January 20, 2022, Sayers pleaded guilty to two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad prosecuted the case.
Readout of Attorney General’s Meeting with News Media RepresentativesRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met with representatives from the news media today following the recent notifications that the Justice Department had obtained reporter records in the course of leak investigations. As previously announced, the department will no longer use compulsory process to obtain reporters’ source information when they are doing their jobs.
The group had a productive conversation about the need for new rules implementing the policy change. During the discussion the department made clear that reporters were never the subject or the target of the recent investigations. The Attorney General and the media representatives agreed on the need for strong, durable rules.
In the coming weeks the Attorney General will develop and distribute to the field a memo detailing the current policy. The Attorney General committed to working with members of the news media to codify the memo setting out these new rules into regulation.
Attending on behalf of the department, in addition to the Attorney General, were: Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco; John P. Carlin, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General; Matthew Klapper, Chief of Staff to the Attorney General; Kate Heinzelman, Chief Counselor to the Attorney General; Anthony Coley, Director of Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to the Attorney General; Emily Loeb, Associate Deputy Attorney General; and David Newman, Associate Deputy Attorney General.
The news industry media representatives included: Bruce Brown, Executive Director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; AG Sulzberger, Chairman and Publisher, The New York Times; David McCraw, Deputy General Counsel, The New York Times; Fred Ryan, Publisher and CEO, The Washington Post; Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor, The Washington Post; Jay Kennedy, Vice President, General Counsel & Labor, The Washington Post; Sam Feist, Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief, CNN; and David Vigilante, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, CNN.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Blowing up an ATM During Spring 2020 Civil UnrestRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that David Elmakayes, 26, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney for using an explosive device to damage an ATM machine and for illegally possessing a firearm.
The defendant was charged on June 18, 2020, with malicious damage of property with an explosive device and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, charges which were the result of an incident that occurred during a period of civil unrest and protests in Philadelphia in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN. In addition to the largely peaceful protests, incidents of looting, burglary, arson, destruction of property, and other violent acts occurred.
On the night of June 3, 2020, the defendant used an explosive device to heavily damage an automated teller machine on the sidewalk at 217 East Westmoreland Street in North Philadelphia. When he was arrested a short time later, police discovered that had three more explosive devices in his possession, as well as a .32 caliber pistol and other firearms.
“This defendant took advantage of a volatile situation on the streets of Philadelphia to commit a dangerous act that could have injured many people,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Damaging property with an explosive device and illegally carrying a firearm are federal crimes which our Office will aggressively prosecute. Elmakayes will now spend 15 years in prison for these crimes.”
“This defendant possessed and recklessly used an explosive device which had the potential to cause significant damage and injure countless people,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “ATF is committed to protecting our communities from harm and working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt violent activity.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. LaBar