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Wednesday 27 April 2022
Financial Advisor Charged in White Plains Federal Court with Embezzlement from ClientRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment in White Plains federal court charging ADAM BELARDINO, the Chief Executive Officer of the Maddox Group, a financial advisory firm in New York City and elsewhere, with wire fraud in connection with his embezzlement of more than $313,000 from a Maddox client, a 64 year old New Rochelle resident. BELARDINO was arrested this morning and will be presented in White Plains federal court later today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Adam Belardino abused the trust his client placed in him by stealing more than $313,000 the client gave him to be invested. Clients like the victim in this case need to be able to entrust their money to financial advisors with confidence that the money will be invested in a manner that is appropriate for them. This Office will aggressively pursue financial advisors and others who steal money entrusted to them by clients.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “Belardino is charged today for allegedly stealing several hundred thousand dollars from a client in an illegal investment fraud scheme. Financial crimes of this nature can cause significant disruptions to the lives of those who are victimized. We urge everyone to exercise their due diligence when investing their money and to report suspicious activity to authorities as soon as possible.”
According to the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court[1]:
BELARDINO had managed the victim’s investments at another firm before he founded Maddox in July 2019. In August 2019, BELARDINO convinced the victim to liquidate some of her portfolio and to transfer the liquidated funds to Maddox for investment. The victim then transferred more than $313,000 to Maddox in eight separate transactions between August 2019 and October 2020. Instead of investing the victim’s money as he had promised, BELARDINO used the victim’s money to pay the operating expenses of Maddox, including payroll and office rent; to pay down prior debt; to pay credit card charges, which consisted primarily of personal items; and to pay for personal travel.
In September 2021, the victim directed BELARDINO to transfer her portfolio at Maddox to her brokerage account at another firm. From September 2021 to February 2022, BELARDINO sent the victim and members of her family emails and texts in which he said he was liquidating the portfolio and would return the funds shortly. BELARDINO also provided the victim’s family with documents suggesting that a wire transfer of the funds to the victim’s bank account was imminent or pending. BELARDINO also deposited checks drawn on a checking account held by Maddox into the victim’s bank account for what he claimed was the full value of the victim’s portfolio.
The victim never received any funds by wire and the checks BELARDINO deposited into her bank account were returned because the Maddox account did not have sufficient funds to cover the checks. BELARDINO sent members of the victim’s family emails and texts in which he said in substance and in part that he was working with bank officials to resolve the problem and that his family would repay the victim if he was unable to do so. BELARDINO also sent members of the victim’s family a document that falsely stated that the Maddox bank account had sufficient funds to repay the victim.
BELARDINO, 37, of New York City, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
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Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney James McMahon is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty to Distributing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marvin “MJ” Mitchell (36, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between approximately April and June 2019, Mitchell sold heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine from the Express Inn located in Clearwater. Mitchell used co-conspirators to distribute his product. During April, May, and June 2019, confidential informants conducted several controlled purchases from room #126 at the Express Inn. The CI’s would go to the Express Inn to purchase heroin from either Mitchell or one of his co-conspirators. In exchange for cash, they would receive small, silver aluminum foil packages containing a grayish, white powdery substance, which later tested positive for heroin, fentanyl, or both.
On June 17, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Express Inn, rooms #126, 128, and 130, and upon entering room #130, detained Mitchell. In that room, officers found one tin foil bindle that was identical in appearance to those bindles found in room #126. Officers also found $2,219 in cash, 38 insulin syringes, and an electronic scale. Upon entry into room #126, officers detained two of Mitchell’s co-conspirators. Agents seized multiple tin foil bindles, five doses of NARCAN, used syringes, cash, and a ledger partially hidden between a headboard and the wall.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco and Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Felon indicted for washateria carjacking and related chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 31-year-old local man has been indicted for carjacking and illegally possessing and discharging a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Today, a federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment against Zachary Smith, Houston. Previously in state custody on related charges, he is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge on the federal indictment in the near future.
The charges allege that on Feb. 6, Smith discharged a firearm while stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of a washateria on Melbourne Drive. He was also allegedly involved in a shooting Feb. 7 on the 2000 block of Broadway Street. On that day, Smith led law enforcement in a pursuit that came to an end when he crashed into a patrol unit, according to the charges.
The indictment alleges his is a previous felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
If convicted, Smith faces up to life for discharging the firearm during a crime of violence, 15 years for the carjacking and a maximum of 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Cooper 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.
Feds Indict Two Philadelphia Men for Carjacking Spree in Philadelphia and Delaware CountiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Tarik Chambers, 20, and Nikeem Leach-Hilton, 22, both of Philadelphia, PA were charged by Indictment with conspiracy, three counts of carjacking, three counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and related charges in connection with a spate of armed carjackings in Philadelphia and Delaware County late last year.
The Indictment alleges that in the early morning hours of December 19, 2021, the defendants carjacked two victims at gunpoint in the Lawncrest section of the city. Then, approximately 20 minutes later, the defendants carjacked two more victims at gunpoint in the Germantown section. Finally, the Indictment also alleges that defendants used a privately made “ghost” gun to carjack yet another victim at gunpoint about six hours later in the rear parking lot of a retail store along Baltimore Pike in Springfield Township. The defendants then fled from the police, leading officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed car chase through Delaware County before crashing into the car of another motorist, who suffered severe, life-threatening injuries including broken bones and significant head trauma.
Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney Williams announced that the defendants had been charged by Criminal Complaint with the Delaware County carjacking. This Indictment returned by a federal grand jury now formally charges them with all three carjackings and related offenses.
“The charges announced today against these two defendants exemplify the type of rapid results we have promised to deliver through the Carjacking Task Force and the ‘All Hands On Deck’ initiative,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “These two terrorized no less than six victims in three different neighborhoods across our region in roughly six hours -- actions which are being met with very serious federal charges. Enough is enough – if you commit a serious violent crime in our city, you can expect the feds to show up on your doorstep.”
“ATF’s main objective will always be keeping our citizens safe,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “This indictment is indicative of ATF’s continued efforts working with our partners and proudly serving as part of the joint carjacking task force, being led by the Philadelphia Police Department. We will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners in making sure violent individuals are held accountable when they threaten the safety of the community.”
The swift action to investigate and federally charge these defendants is the result of the newly formed Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force, which is comprised of members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Unit; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Philadelphia Police Department. The goal of the Taskforce is to stem the wave of armed carjackings and violent crimes through investigative and enforcement techniques meant to identify and refer for federal prosecution all who terrorize innocent victims through commission of these offenses within Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
If convicted on all charges, the defendants face a mandatory 21 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield Township Police Department, and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sandra M. Urban.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal agent charged with violating civil rightsRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old former Border Patrol (BP) employee is facing charges that he deprived the constitutional rights of a Honduran teenager, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities took Gregson Martinez into custody today. He is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Anne Berton tomorrow at 2 p.m.
On July 21, 2021, BP agents apprehended a 17-year-old unaccompanied Honduran citizen near Hidalgo, according to the charges. They then allegedly transported him to the Donna Processing Center.
Martinez reportedly worked at the Donna facility as a Border Patrol Processing Coordinator.
While authorities questioned him, Martinez allegedly struck the 17-year-old male across the face.
Martinez was terminated Aug. 2, 2021.
If convicted, he faces up to a year in federal prison and a possible $100,000 maximum fine.
Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General and Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia is prosecuting the case.
A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Federal Jury Convicts Bryan Cornelius on Multiple Drug Trafficking Conspiracies, Money Laundering Conspiracies, and Possession and Discharge of A Firearm in Furtherance of His Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On April 26, 2022, following a six-day trial in United States District Court, Knoxville, Tenn., a jury convicted Bryan Cornelius, 31, of Knoxville, Tennessee, of Conspiracy to Distribute over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute over one kilogram of heroin and over 40 grams of Fentanyl, Conspiracy to Distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana, Conspiracy to commit Money Laundering, Distributing over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, and Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
Sentencing for Cornelius is set for October 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., in the United States District Court before United States District Court Judge Thomas A. Varlan, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Cornelius faces a sentence of life in prison.
The evidence presented at trial included wiretaps of multiple cellular phones, multiple search warrants at various Knoxville residences, narcotics, firearms, and cash seizures. The evidence showed that Cornelius, a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, was ordering narcotics from different sources of supply in California and receiving packages of methamphetamine and marijuana through the United States Postal Service (USPS), Fed-Ex, and UPS throughout 2019 and that he maintained multiple addresses across Knoxville to stash his narcotics, firearms, and cash to facilitate his narcotics distribution. In addition, the evidence showed that, in furtherance of his drug trafficking, at approximately 2:45 p.m. on November 21, 2019, Cornelius, along with two others, drove by the Stop-n-Go on Brooks Avenue and Cornelius fired fifteen rounds of 7.62mm into a Mercedes-Benz. The driver sustained two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Cornelius was the one defendant in a 23-person indictment who proceeded to trial; all other defendants entered guilty pleas.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to indictment and subsequent conviction of Cornelius included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) HIDTA Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The FBI HIDTA Task Force includes the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, also assisted in this investigation by conducting drug analysis on seized narcotics in the case.
“This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s comprehensive strategy to reduce violence and increase safety in the community by prosecuting violent criminals who use firearms in furtherance of their distribution of highly addictive and dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
“Illegal drugs are the scourge of society and the cause of devastation for many families. The FBI, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to identifying, disrupting, and holding those accountable who are responsible for harming our communities through their illegal activities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico.
“The Postal Service has no interest in being the unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. Mail to distribute illegal drugs or other harmful substances,” said Tommy D. Coke, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous drugs out of the communities we serve.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and Alan Kirk represented the United States at trial.
This case was part of the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the HIDTA programs. OCDETF is the primary weapon of the United States against the highest-level drug trafficking organizations operating within the United States, importing drugs into the United States, or laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking. The HIDTA program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Federal Inmate Sentenced to Serve More Than Six Additional Years for Assault on Prison GuardRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, ZACHARY GAGE PEBLEY, 24, of El Reno, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve more than six years in federal prison for assaulting an officer of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On February 18, 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Oklahoma returned a one-count Indictment against Pebley. It charged him with assault on a federal officer causing bodily injury, for conduct in November 2020 at the Federal Correctional Institution at El Reno. On July 12, 2021, Pebley pleaded guilty to the Indictment.
Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Friot sentenced Pebley to serve 77 months in federal prison. This sentence is to run after he finishes his current federal sentence of 144 months for armed bank robbery from the Eastern District of Oklahoma. In support of his sentence, Judge Friot cited the nature and circumstances of the offense, as well as Pebley’s criminal history. Judge Friot also ordered Pebley to serve three years of supervised release upon release from federal prison.
This case arises from an investigation by Special Investigative Services at the Federal Correctional Institution-El Reno and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Altshuler prosecuted this case.
Federal Grand Jury Issues Indictment Alleging Irvine Man Concealed Material Support and Financing to Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today returned a four-count indictment that charges an Irvine man with attempting to provide material support to two foreign terrorist organizations – Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Hamas.
Jason Fong, 26, allegedly attempted in the spring of 2020 to provide to HTS tactical, combat and weapons training material – as well as information regarding the making of chemical weapons and improvised explosive devices.
The indictment further alleges that in May 2020 Fong attempted to fundraise for Hamas. The indictment further alleges that at the time he committed these offenses, Fong knew that each organization had been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States government.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Fong has been summonsed to appear for an arraignment in United States District Court on May 23. A trial in this matter was previously set for October 25.
If he were to be convicted of the charges in the indictment, Fong would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the four counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Irvine Police Department, and the New York Police Department are participating in the ongoing investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Ro and Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and Trial Attorney John Cella from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting this case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts El Reno Man for Firearms TheftRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JEFFERY DEWAYNE MOSELEY, 32, of El Reno, Oklahoma, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City with theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 6, 2022, a federal grand jury in the Western District of Oklahoma returned a two-count indictment against Moseley. Count 1 charges Moseley with theft of nine firearms from a licensed firearms dealer in Yukon, Oklahoma, on February 20, 2022. Count 2 charges Moseley with being a felon in possession of the same nine firearms in February 2022. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
If convicted, Moseley faces up to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release on each Count.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public records for more information.
Elyria Man Convicted of Illegal Possession of Ammunition After Discharging Weapon During AltercationRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, against Defendant Jeffery Grandberry, 38, of Elyria, Ohio, following a two-day trial before Judge Sara Lioi in Akron. Grandberry was convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, on June 6, 2021, officers with the Elyria Police Department arrived at an Elyria-area bar after receiving reports of a disturbance concerning an individual who had fired a gun in the establishment’s parking lot. Witnesses told officers that an individual, later identified as Grandberry, became involved in an altercation, brandished a semiautomatic weapon and then fired one shot into the air while in the parking lot.
Officers reviewed video footage of the incident, searched the parking lot and located a single spent 9mm casing.
Grandberry is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of attempted murder and felonious assault, aggravated burglary, burglary and assault on a police officer, all in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
This case was investigated by the Elyria Police Department and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki.
Dunkirk Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Hector Santos-Morales, 32, of Dunkirk, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2020, a United States Postal Inspector executed a federal search warrant on a parcel from Puerto Rico addressed to “Hector D. Santos” on Beaver Street in Dunkirk, NY. During the search, the Postal Inspector seized approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine. On June 29, 2020, investigators replaced the cocaine with “sham” and conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel to the Beaver Street address. After a device inside the parcel alerted investigators that it has been opened, law enforcement approached the residence and took Santos into custody.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2022, before Judge Vilardo.
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Dingman’s Ferry Man Sentenced to 94 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Felix Enrique Carrion, age 49, of Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 94 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 6 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Carrion previously admitted that he conspired to distribute and distributed cocaine and other controlled substances, including valium and oxycodone. Carrion was arrested by authorities after service of a search warrant at his residence resulted in the seizure of cocaine and drug packaging materials.
Walter Valdivia, Jr. was also arrested at the time of the search at Carrion’s residence. Valdivia was convicted of being a felon in possession of a shotgun which he was reaching for at the time police secured entrance. Valdivia was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment in June 2021.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Pike County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
This case was part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Department of Justice Launches Law Enforcement Knowledge LabRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced the creation of the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab, a free training, technical assistance and resource hub for law enforcement, designed to promote constitutional policing, improve public safety and build trust in communities across the country. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta will make the announcement today at the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters where she will be joined by police leaders, civil rights advocates, researchers and others from across the country dedicated to ensuring that law enforcement has access to the tools, trusted guidance and best practices for fair, impartial policing.
“Providing law enforcement with the tools, resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively and fairly makes our communities safer and stronger,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The Knowledge Lab is the latest step in the Justice Department’s ongoing work to listen, learn and take action to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Law enforcement agencies nationwide will be able to turn to the Knowledge Lab for free, voluntary resources, including research summaries, profiles of best practices, training curricula and a roster of constitutional policing experts to support their needs.
It will build on multiple Justice Department initiatives designed to support best practices in policing in America, including the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS Office) Collaborative Reform Initiative, which Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced in March. Existing resources from across the department will feed into the Knowledge Lab, making it a one-stop-shop for the latest information, training and guidance on strategies to reduce crime, protect civil rights and build public trust.
The Knowledge Lab is managed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a division of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through a partnership with the National Policing Institute in collaboration with 21st Century Policing Solutions, and a diverse cohort of policing experts from across the country. It is intended to grow and adapt over time to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies and communities. This week’s convening in Los Angeles is bringing together police leaders, civil rights advocates and experts to help build the foundation of the Knowledge Lab and inform what it will look like moving forward.
“Constitutional policing is foundational to a just and equitable society, and it remains the bedrock of effective public safety,” said Director Karhlton F. Moore of the BJA. “America’s law enforcement officers work hard to serve our communities. The Knowledge Lab will assist agencies in their efforts to serve with fairness and integrity, and we are determined to help them live up to the highest ideals of their profession.”
For almost 30 years, the Justice Department has used its enforcement authority and has entered into settlements and consent decrees to remedy systemic patterns or practices of unconstitutional conduct. Along with other resources, the Knowledge Lab will make all Justice Department consent decrees and associated materials available online and allow law enforcement agencies to learn from in-the-field experience, not just theory, about how best to promote a positive and healthy relationship between the police and the communities they serve.
The Knowledge Lab will offer free training and technical assistance that adapts this base of information to the needs of individual law enforcement agencies. The National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab will enable law enforcement agencies to build on a foundation supported by evidence and experience.
Associate Attorney General Gupta was joined in today’s announcement by BJA Director Moore, local officials and law enforcement and civil rights experts from across the country.
Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services. This year’s observance takes place April 24-30 and features the theme, “Rights, access, equity, for all victims.”
In the Northern District of Iowa, Acting United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced winners for three awards based on their service to victims in Iowa:
- The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Officer Nicholas Berry from the Waterloo Police Department. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer.
Officer Berry showed dedication to victims while investigating multiple cases involving drug overdoses resulting in the death of the victim. In particular, Officer Berry’s work with the family of a drug overdose victim led to the successful prosecution of Eric Griggs. Officer Berry remained in close contact with the victim’s family throughout the investigation and prosecution. His tenacious investigation and empathy for the victim’s family led directly to the successful prosecution of Griggs, resulting in a 40-year prison sentence and restitution for the victim’s family.
- The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Brandi Lewin from the Delaware County Victim Services Office. Ms. Lewin is the Victim Witness Coordinator and Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator for multiple counties. In just 15 months in this role, Ms. Lewin has helped numerous victims improve their lives. Ms. Lewin makes herself available to victims at all hours and goes above and beyond to assist them. She has also established training opportunities for law enforcement, helping to ensure that there is an environment of victim-centered service during the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
- The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Penny Galvin, the director of the Survivors’ Program with Waypoint Services. Ms. Galvin provided outstanding services to those affected by the murder of James Booher by Matthew Robbins and others. Throughout the investigation, prosecution, trial, and sentencing, Ms. Galvin provided outstanding support to the victim’s family, which included the victim’s mother and stepfather, the victim’s siblings, his ex-wife, and the victim’s stepchildren. Ms. Galvin attended court hearings with the family, and regularly communicated with the family to answer questions and provide updates. During the investigation, she provided emotional support to the family, who, for years, were unsure what had happened to their loved one as his body was not recovered. Ms. Galvin’s efforts in this regard were outstanding given the length and complexity of the investigation.
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2022/overview.html
Defendant Convicted of Defrauding American Express of More Than $4.7 MillionRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a federal jury convicted Jasminder Singh of bank fraud and money laundering based on defrauding American Express of more than $4.7 million in charges for iPhone purchases and spending the fraud proceeds on a $1.3 million home and other luxury items. Singh was convicted of bank fraud and unlawful monetary transactions. The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.
“The jury determined that Singh was a fraudster who used American Express cards to purchase thousands of iPhones, racking up millions of dollars in charges and then spun a web of lies to avoid paying the bill and hide his ill-gotten assets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “After stiffing American Express, the defendant was living large, until today, when the bill for his crimes came due with today’s verdict.”
As proven at trial, Singh used four business entities that he created and controlled and 10 American Express credit cards in those entities’ names to purchase thousands of Apple iPhones that he then sold overseas for millions of dollars. Between November 2017 and December 2019, the defendant misrepresented to American Express his inability to repay more than $4.7 million in charges incurred from his purchase of iPhones in order to secure additional credit, and used a series of financial transactions to conceal the money he obtained from selling the purchased iPhones. The defendant used the proceeds from his fraudulent scheme to pay for personal expenses and purchase luxury items, including a $1.3 million home in cash in Fremont, California. The defendant made most of the purchases at Apple stores in Oregon and Washington.The evidence at trial included financial and phone records, audio recordings, testimony from the defendant’s co-conspirator Mandeep Singh, and an FBI forensic accountant. Mandeep Singh pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in March 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gibaldi of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of paralegal Eleanor Fitzgerald.
Defendant:
JASMINDER SINGH
Age: 45
Fremont, CaliforniaE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 21-CR-397 (CBA)
Davenport Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – James Anthony Rogers, age 57, of Davenport, was sentenced Tuesday, April 26, 2022, to 214 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography, and Attempted Enticement of a Minor (two counts). Rogers was ordered to serve seven years of supervised release to follow his imprisonment and pay a $400 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, the Davenport Police Department initiated an investigation into Rogers after receiving information regarding his possible involvement in the sexual solicitation of a minor male. Multiple search warrants revealed that Rogers had attempted contact with over fifty minor males and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them. Rogers attempted to persuade the minors to send nude photographs of themselves and to meet in-person to engage in sex acts for money or alcohol. A cellphone seized from Rogers contained numerous images of child pornography. On October 12, 2021, Rogers pleaded guilty to all charges.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Dallas Man Pleads Guilty to Leading Violent Sex Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Dallas man who called himself “Macknificent” pleaded guilty today to human trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Tremont Blakemore, 42, was first charged in September 2019. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion before U.S. District Judge Ada Brown.
“This defendant systematically brutalized his victims, convincing them that they had no choice but to live life according to his dictates,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “We formed the North Texas Trafficking Task Force – a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement dedicated to ending the scourge of human trafficking – to pursue cases just like this one. We hope that this guilty plea will be a balm to survivors as they work to rebuild their lives.”
“This defendant’s era of coercing and violently forcing individuals into the perils of sex trafficking is over thanks to the work of our special agents and law enforcement partners who investigated and arrested this deviant criminal,” said acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge of HIS Dallas Bradley Hudson. “He will soon face the harsh realities of his transgressions as he spends a good portion of his life behind bars.”
In plea papers, Mr. Blakemore admitted to running a large-scale human trafficking organization, using the threat of grotesque violence to force women to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit.
He compelled the women to travel cross-country to engage in commercial sex and posted ads for them on sites like Backpage.com. He demanded that the women to turn all proceeds over to him and required them to seek permission for personal expenditures.
Mr. Blakemore further admitted that when his victims disobeyed his “rules” – leaving the house without his permission, keeping money for themselves, etc. – he used violence to quell them into submission. According to court documents, victims told law enforcement that he slapped, punched, choked, kicked, and burned them with cigarettes.
“I’m going to make an example out of someone soon,” he wrote in a group text message to victims. “I will not continue to tolerate disrespect that’s one of my biggest pet peeves.”
In an effort to appear successful in order to recruit additional victims to his trafficking organization, Mr. Blakemore admitted, he used proceeds of his victim’s sexual encounters to purchase luxury goods, including multiple pieces of diamond and gold jewelry and multiple Rolex watches. He flouted his lifestyle to impress other traffickers, and even sported multiple trophies touting his success as a “pimp.”
Mr. Blakemore now faces up to 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing has been set for Thursday, Oct. 6.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Oakridge Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, and the North Texas Trafficking Task Force’s law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith and Nicole Dana prosecuted the case.
If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call local law enforcement or the confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline, staffed 24/7, at 1-888-373-7888.
DEA and Partners Hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 30Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN- United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that on April 30th, DEA will hold its 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will be held at thousands of collection sites around the country. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous.
With robust public participation, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.
"Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. "Overdose deaths continue to hit tragic record highs. I encourage everyone to dispose of unneeded prescription medications now."
"I encourage everyone to participate in the National Prescription Drug Takeback Day and take just a few minutes to rid their homes of any unneeded or expired medications," said Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Division. "This small act will go a long way in making our communities safer, by providing safe disposal and keeping prescription drugs out of the wrong hands."
Drug overdose deaths are up 16 percent in the last year, claiming more than 290 lives every day. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, marking the most drug-related deaths ever recorded, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75 percent of all overdose deaths.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 15 million pounds of medication from circulation since its inception. These efforts are directly in line with DEA’s priority to combat the overdose epidemic in the United States.
On Saturday, April 30, 2022, DEA and its law enforcement partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.
A location finder and partner toolbox are available at www.DEATakeBack.com for easy reference to April 30 collection sites.
Year-round receptacles are available at more than 13,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and business. Additionally, with the passage of the DUMP Opioids Act in 2021, the public may now use drop boxes at Veterans Administration medical centers to dispose of controlled substance prescription medications. Check with your local VA health facility for more information.
With more than 13,000 year-round drop-off locations in the United States, every day can be Take Back Day.
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Court Appoints United States Attorney for the Western District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN- The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee has appointed Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546(d). The appointment took effect on April 25, 2022, and on April 20, 2022, Chief United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson administered the oath of office for Mr. Murphy’s appointment prior to its effective date. Mr. Murphy will serve in this capacity until the vacancy is filled by a Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed nominee.
Mr. Murphy, a graduate of Lambuth College and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Memphis office since 1989. He was named as the office’s First Assistant United States Attorney in July of 2018. Prior to being named First Assistant, Mr. Murphy served as the office’s Criminal Chief beginning in 2011. In that role he supervised 28 Assistant United States Attorneys who investigated and prosecuted criminal cases in the Memphis office and 10 support staff. He also served as Chief of the office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force for three years before being named Criminal Chief. Between 1991 and 2007, Mr. Murphy served as a line assistant in both the office’s criminal division and drug task force.
During his career with the Justice Department, Mr. Murphy has tried approximately 125 felony cases to verdict in United States District Court. These cases included prosecutions of health care professionals for illegally distributing controlled substances; mail and wire fraud cases; and theft cases involving pension funds and interstate shipments. Mr. Murphy has also represented the government in over 200 cases litigated before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and he has argued approximately 48 cases before that court.
A Memphis resident, Mr. Murphy has been married to Sandy Murphy for 33 years and has two adult children. Active in community and legal affairs, he is a member of the Leo Bearman, Sr. Inn of the American Inns of Court and a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation and has served as a volunteer with the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
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Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 39 Months for Failing to Register and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Clifton Yazzie, 38, of Fort Defiance, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Chief Judge G. Murray Snow to 30 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. Yazzie received an additional 18 months in prison for violating his supervised release in a related case. Yazzie previously pleaded guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and admitted to violating his supervised release.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Snow ordered that Yazzie serve 9 months for his supervised release violation after completing his sentence for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, for a total of 39 months in prison. Yazzie was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. In order to protect the public, the conditions of supervision include that Yazzie participate in a sex offender treatment program and live at a residence preapproved by his probation officer, as well as restrictions on his involvement in certain vocational and volunteer activities.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Keller, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00034-GMS; CR-16-01285-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-052_Yazzie# # #
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.Convicted Felon Who Fired at Occupied Vehicle Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Antonio Phillips (23, Tampa) to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Phillips had pleaded guilty on January 25, 2022.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2020, in Tampa, Phillips and others were inside a white Infiniti and pulled out in front of another occupied vehicle. The occupants of the Infiniti opened fire into the other vehicle’s windshield. After the shooting, law enforcement air support tracked the Infiniti, which had fled the scene. Video surveillance captured muzzle flashes coming from the passenger side of the Infiniti where Phillips was sitting. Numerous bullet holes were observed on the other vehicle. Phillips and others fled from the Infiniti, discarded weapons, jumped over fences and across yards before they were ultimately apprehended.
Officers recovered the firearms which had been discarded by the suspects. They included a Glock 19 (9mm), an FNH (.40-caliber), and a Glock 26 (9mm), along with a 50-round drum-style magazine and trigger mounted laser. Bullet casings recovered from the scene of the shooting had been fired from the Glock 19 and Glock 26 firearms. An empty semi-automatic magazine was recovered from the Infiniti’s driver's door pocket, and an empty black pistol holster was recovered from the back right passenger’s seat of the vehicle. Spent bullet casings were recovered from the front and back passenger’s compartments. DNA belonging to Phillips and three other men was recovered from the Glock 26.
Prior to these events, Philips had been convicted of multiple felonies and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
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.
Convicted Felon on Supervised Release Pleads Guilty to Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Charles Jones, 49, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine. Jones also pleaded guilty to a violation of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that Jones was on supervised release following the completion of a 66-month prison sentence for a federal cocaine conviction. As a condition of his supervised release, on August 16, 2021, Jones reported to the U.S. Probation Office in Buffalo. While at the Probation Office, Probation Officers executed a search of Jones’s Broadway Avenue apartment. Jones had not reported this address as required, but U.S. Probation determined that he resided at this apartment. During the search, U.S. Probation Officers recovered quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana, a digital scale, $2,900 in cash, a Rolex watch appraised at $3,450, and two necklaces appraised at $1,350. According to the apartment complex’s manager, the defendant began leasing the apartment in March 2021.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division..
Sentencing is scheduled for August 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.
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Convicted Felon Arrested on Multiple Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason Koscielski, 33, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor, and possession and distribution of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in December 2011, Koscielski was convicted on federal charges of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography and sentenced to serve 135 months in prison and 30 years of supervised release. In September 2020, Koscielski was released from the Bureau of Prisons custody and began his term of supervised release. On September 15, 2020, during a meeting with a United States Probation Officer to review the terms of his supervision, Koscielski told the officer that he was in possession of an unmonitored cellular telephone. The officer confiscated the cell phone for review and installation of monitoring software. During a review of the cell phone, probation personnel observed images and videos that they believed could constitute child pornography. An FBI review of the images confirmed that the images and videos were child pornography. On September 16, 2020, Koscielski was charged with violating the conditions of his supervised release for possessing and downloading child pornography.
On December 17, 2020, Kosclelski pleaded guilty to a violation of his supervised release and was sentenced to serve another 12 months in prison. On July 26, 2021, Koscielski was once again released from Bureau of Prisons custody and began his second term of supervised release. In August 2021, Koscielski was placed at the Volunteers of America, Residential Reentry Center in Rochester, NY. However, in November 2021, Koscielski was unsuccessfully discharged from the program, resulting in another charge of violating supervised release. Koscielski was arrested on November 9, 2021.
On November 16, 2021, the Volunteers of America, Residential Reentry Center alerted probation that while bagging up Koscielski’s belongings in his bedroom at the center, another cell phone was located with his personal belongings. A review of the cell phone once again revealed suspected images of child pornography. The FBI examined the cell phone and observed numerous images of child pornography as well as several instant message conversations, during which he exchanged images of child pornography with two unidentified individuals and a 15-yeal-old minor victim.The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Colorado Man Sentenced for Multiple RobberiesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Denver, Colorado, man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for committing at least two armed robberies of commercial businesses.
According to court documents, Lloyd E. Rhodes, II, 59, committed robberies at establishments both in Richmond and in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On August 3, 2019, Rhodes entered the Old Chicago restaurant, located in Colorado Springs and asked to speak with the restaurant manager. Rhodes was armed with a Taurus handgun and pointed the firearm at the manager and demanded money from the safe. The manager attempted to run out of the office and close and lock the door, but a struggle between Rhodes and the manager ensued, during which Rhodes discharged the firearm at the manager, striking him in the hand. After shooting the manager, Rhodes fled the scene.
On March 13, 2020, after traveling to Richmond, Rhodes entered the Virginia Horseplay, an off-track betting facility, and was seen interacting with other customers for several hours. Once the employees took the cash proceeds into an adjacent room to count the money from the evening business, Rhodes entered the room, displayed what appeared to be a firearm, and ordered the two employees onto the floor. In fear for their lives, the employees relinquished the money they had been counting. Rhodes then proceeded to empty the nearby safe, which contained additional cash proceeds from Virginia Horseplay. In all, Rhodes took over $40,000 in U.S. currency. As part of the plea agreement, the Colorado authorities agreed not to pursue four additional robberies in their jurisdiction.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Duffey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-139.
Cheektowaga Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kenneth Ritchie, 31, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on June 16, 2021, Ritchie engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor victim and used a cellular telephone to produce visual depictions of the conduct. The visual depictions were located in image files saved on Ritchie’s cell phone.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Charleston man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jalin Tyref Mcarn, of Charleston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 30 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Mcarn, 28, pleaded guilty in January 2022 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Mcarn, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a semi-automatic pistol in June 2021 in Tyler County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sistersville Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Century Pharmacy, Inc. Agrees to $100,000 Settlement Relating to Controlled Substances Act ClaimsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Century Pharmacy, Inc., doing business as Century Medicines of Elizabethtown, has agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to satisfy recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Century Medicines of Elizabethtown, KY, which is no longer in operation, was registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a retail pharmacy. It was authorized to dispense controlled substances pursuant to provisions of the CSA. The CSA requires that each registered pharmacy maintain complete and accurate records of each controlled substance it receives and dispenses or otherwise discards. These requirements help ensure that controlled substances are properly managed, accounted for, and available for legitimate needs, and not diverted for illegal purposes. Failure to keep proper records subjects DEA registrants to civil monetary penalties.
According to the settlement agreement, between 2016 and 2020, Century Medicines could not account for dispensing or disposing of approximately 85,000 tablets of hydrocodone and oxycodone that it purchased and received. Century Medicines self-reported to DEA a suspected discrepancy between tablets received and dispensed or disposed of, and it cooperated with the investigation. It did not concede liability, but it agreed to pay $100,000 to settle all claims related to the alleged conduct.
“This investigation and settlement agreement confirms our commitment to enforcing the CSA,” said Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “In partnership with the DEA we will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue violations of the Act throughout the Western District.”
“Improper record keeping can contribute to the diversion of pharmaceuticals and the DEA takes these matters very seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott, of the DEA’s Louisville Division. “DEA registrants have an obligation to comply with the Controlled Substances Act or face severe penalties, as evidenced by this case.”
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case was investigated by the DEA Louisville Division Diversion Program under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott, the Kentucky State Police, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General.
Western District of Kentucky Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Thompson assisted in the oversight of the investigation and represented the United States in the settlement agreement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Eastern Oregon Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Vacaville, California man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine from California for distribution in Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington.
Noel Lomas Murillo, 34, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in November 2017, the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT), Oregon State Police (OSP), and the FBI began investigating a drug trafficking organization led by Murillo’s brother, Abel Lomas Murillo, 28, of Weston, Oregon.
The investigation revealed that, as early as July 2017, Noel Murillo transported drugs from Vacaville to Klamath Falls, Oregon where a courier would deliver them to his brother. Abel Murillo also made multiple trips to Medford, Oregon to pick up drugs and transport them to Morrow and Umatilla Counties for distribution.
In January 2018, an OSP trooper stopped one of the Abel Murillo’s couriers, Luis Alberto Navarro, 33, of Boardman, Oregon, in a vehicle traveling near Klamath Falls en route to Umatilla County. A search of the vehicle revealed 11 concealed packages containing more than eight kilograms of methamphetamine.
In early May 2018, as the investigation continued, Abel Murillo enlisted another courier, Noel Ponce Villegas, 28, also of Boardman, to drive methamphetamine from Medford to Boardman. Investigators surveilled Abel Murillo as he traveled from Umatilla County to a storage locker in Medford and loaded a trailer pulled by his truck. Abel Murillo paid Villegas to drive his truck and trailer while he followed him to minimize his own risk. In the early morning hours of May 6, 2018, investigators from BENT, OSP and FBI stopped Abel Murillo and Villegas as they drove near mile marker 102 on Interstate 84.
Investigators seized 42 packages of methamphetamine, 36 of which were concealed in the false bottom of a propane tank. The packages contained approximately 17.6 kilograms of methamphetamine. Later the same day, investigators executed a search warrant at Abel Murillo’s residence, seizing 29 firearms and body armor. Pursuant to a separate search warrant, another 10 pounds of methamphetamine and five firearms were found in a Medford storage locker Abel Murillo had visited earlier in the weekend.
On December 19, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count superseding indictment charging Noel Murillo with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On September 28, 2021, he pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.
On May 7, 2018, Navarro pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He will be sentenced on May 23, 2022.
On April 15, 2019, Abel Murillo pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On September 10, 2019, he was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
On April 18, 2019, Villegas pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On December 16, 2020, he was sentenced to time served and three years’ supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by BENT, OSP, and the FBI. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Seized methamphetamine in vehicle trunk.Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Marquis Workman a/k/a Smurf, 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. the charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on June 2, 2021, investigators obtained a federal search warrant for a parcel addressed to the residence of Workman and his girlfriend Cameile Garrett on Beverly Road in Buffalo. Inside the parcel were two separate sealed bags of pills containing Methyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(piperidin-2-yl) acetate, a controlled substance analogue. During the execution of a search warrant of the Beverly Road residence on June 4, 2021, investigators recovered quantities of cocaine, adinazolam, carisoprodol, clonazepam, $5,753 in cash, a scale consistent with the weighing and measuring narcotics, a loaded handgun, a loaded revolver handgun, and two long guns.
Cameile Garrett was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2022, before Judge Sinatra.
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Buffalo Man Accused of Lying on Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Melvin Leon Lee a/k/a Mohammad Caliph Lei, 70, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement in application and use of passport. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in April 2021, Melvin Leon Lee applied for a United States Passport. When Lee was asked if he had ever used any other names, he left that box on the application blank. The application was denied. Subsequent investigation determined that Lee falsely claimed that two prior passports, issued in July 1976 and March 1980, were lost. The investigation also uncovered Lee’s use of a second identity, “Mohammad Caliph Lei.” The defendant’s “Lei” identity was prevented from receiving a passport because of $12,450 in unpaid child support debt. As a result of that debt, Lei has been certified for passport denial since November 2001.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Keith J. Byrne, New York Field Office and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Sharon B. MacDermott, New York Field 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.
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Boston Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston Police Officer pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to failing to report gambling winnings on his tax returns.
Dana Lamb, 57, of Roslindale, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false document with the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2022. Lamb was charged on April 7, 2022.
In May 2020, while an Officer for the Boston Police Department, Lamb sold a winning lottery ticket worth $10,000 to a convenience store owner for cash rather than properly claiming it with the Massachusetts Lottery Commission. He then failed to report his gambling winnings on his U.S. Individual Tax return for the that year. Lamb’s failure to report the gambling proceeds resulted in an additional tax due and owing for that year of $1,800.
The charge of filing a false document with the Internal Revenue Service provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Rollins’s Public Corruption Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Boise Woman Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Boise woman was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others.
According to court records, in April 2019, Angelina Ruth Bustamonte was stopped by police for a traffic violation. During the investigation, a drug detecting canine sniffed Bustamonte’s vehicle and alerted to the odor of a controlled substance. A subsequent search of Bustamonte’s vehicle revealed three pounds of methamphetamine along with other items of drug paraphernalia. These drugs were intended to be distributed throughout the Treasure Valley.
Then, in October 2021, Bustamonte was arrested for failure to follow court orders. During the arrest, Bustamonte refused to follow the officers’ commands and smashed into police vehicles in an attempt to flee. A later search of Bustamonte’s vehicle revealed a firearm, methamphetamine, and additional items of drug paraphernalia.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Bustamonte to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Bustamonte has three prior felony convictions, one of which involved trafficking in methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, and United States Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force, which led to charges.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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31 Gang Members and Associates of Mexican Mafia Charged in Racketeering IndictmentRead the Press Release
A 33-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges 31 members and associates of the Orange County Mexican Mafia with racketeering offenses, two murders and six attempted murders, and related drug and gun charges.
“The Mexican Mafia allegedly preyed on vulnerable communities through fear, violence, and intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment sends a clear message that the Criminal Division, and our federal, state, and local partners, remain committed to protecting all of our communities from violence and exploitation.”
The indictment includes charges of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder and attempted murder, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, using a firearm to cause a death, and other firearm charges.
“The violence, drug dealing, and other criminal acts being committed in our communities by gangsters associated with the Mexican Mafia is being met with the strongest possible response by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. “We will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law to restore a sense of safety to so many neighborhoods that have felt the impact of their destructive conduct.”
According to the allegations contained in the indictment:[1]
The OC Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, is a “gang of gangs” that controls and directs other Hispanic gangs operating in Southern California and within the California penal system. The OC Mexican Mafia members divided control of various areas in Southern California, with the member in control of a specific area controlling the criminal activities in that respective territory and receiving “taxes” paid by gangs to allow them to deal drugs in that area. In addition to this widespread “tax” collection, it is alleged that the OC Mexican Mafia directly engaged in drug distribution in and out of prisons and jails. The indictment also alleges that the OC Mexican Mafia maintained authority over other Hispanic street gangs through murder, attempted murder and violent assaults with weapons including firearms.
“Cases targeting criminal enterprises like the Mexican Mafia require close collaboration with our local and federal partners and employ a variety of sophisticated techniques to overcome their evasive tactics,” said the Assistant Director in Charge Kristi K. Johnson of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The Mexican Mafia in Orange County controls the majority of local gangs and rules by threatening violence and exacting violence on their enemies or against their own members who don’t follow strict rules. This indictment is the latest in our continuing joint efforts to target gangs and drug networks that fuel the violence in our communities.”
The indictment further alleges that in or around 2016, and continuing to at least in or around April 2022, defendants Johnny Martinez, Robert Aguirre and Dennis Ortiz were the OC Mexican Mafia members in charge of criminal activities in Orange County and within Orange County jail and prison facilities. Defendants Omar Mejia, Miguel Jose Alvarado, Luis Heriberto Vasquez, Michael Cooper and Abraham Guajardo held positions of shot-callers or mouthpieces for Martinez, Aguirre, and Ortiz. Defendant Robert Martinez held a position of authority within the Orange County Jail as defendant Johnny Martinez’s representative. Defendant Brenda Vanessa Campos Martinez served as a secretary for defendant Johnny Martinez, and defendant Danielle Canales served in a similar capacity for defendants Johnny Martinez and Cooper. The violent crimes alleged against the OC Mexican Mafia include:
- The Jan. 19, 2017, armed robbery and shooting death of R.R.;
- The Aug. 21, 2017, shooting death of R.V., who was shot seven times in the back of the head and body, and left dead on the street in Orange, California;
- The Aug. 5, 2017, attempted murder of defendant Munoz, who had fallen out of favor with The OC Mexican Mafia and was shot seven times;
- The Dec. 1, 2017, attempted murder of D.D., a representative of a Hispanic street gang, who was allegedly abusing his power and authority within the OC Mexican Mafia enterprise;
- The Dec. 12, 2017, attempted murder of E.O., an OC Mexican Mafia associate incarcerated at Calipatria State Prison, who was believed to have violated the OC Mexican Mafia’s code by warning individuals that they were targeted for violence by the OC Mexican Mafia, and who suffered multiple injuries, including puncture wounds to his shoulders, stomach, lower back, and upper back;
- The Dec. 25, 2017, attempted murder of R.M. for showing disrespect to defendant Martinez;
- The July 29, 2020, attempted murder of F.B., a member of an Orange County Hispanic street gang incarcerated at the Theo Lacy Facility, who was targeted because he purportedly claimed that he would speak to law enforcement about the Mexican Mafia, and whose throat was slit; and
- Two murder attempts on Jan. 5, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2019, of defendant Cooper, who had fallen out of favor with defendants Martinez and Aguirre, and who in one incident was stabbed multiple times in the head and back area, and in the second was cut in the throat and face.
In addition to these alleged violent acts, law enforcement investigated the OC Mexican Mafia’s methamphetamine and heroin trafficking activities on the streets, as well as in the prisons and jails, and completed multiple undercover purchases of methamphetamine and heroin from OC Mexican Mafia associates who were selling narcotics on behalf of defendant Martinez and the OC Mexican Mafia.
Out of the 31 defendants charged in the indictment, 21 were already in custody, and nine were arrested last night and this morning. Those arrested today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, and those already in custody will make initial appearances once each defendant is in federal custody.
The RICO statute provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for acts performed as part of the criminal organization. The VICAR statute provides for a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder, a maximum sentence of 20 years for assault with a dangerous weapon, a maximum sentence of 10 years for attempted murder, and a maximum sentence of three years for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge of possessing, using, carrying and discharging a firearm in furtherance of, during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a maximum sentence of life, with a mandatory sentence of at least five years and up to 10 years. The charge of causing death using a firearm carries a maximum sentence of life. Distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin carries a maximum sentence of life, and a minimum mandatory sentence of at least five years and up to 10 years. Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI; the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); IRS-Criminal Investigation; the Santa Ana Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; the Fullerton Police Department; the Orange Police Department; the Placentia Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Department; the Orange County Probation Department; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Marianne Shelvey and Danbee Kim of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Ahn, Gregory Scally, and Gregory Staples of the Central District of California are 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.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
3 Mexican Mafia Members and 28 Associates Charged in Racketeering Indictment that Alleges Murders, Drug Trafficking and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A 33-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges 31 members and associates of the Orange County Mexican Mafia with racketeering offenses, two murders and six attempted murders, and related drug and gun charges.
The indictment includes charges of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act; committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR), including murder and attempted murder; conspiring to traffic narcotics; distributing, and possessing with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine and heroin; using a firearm to cause a death; and other firearm charges.
“The violence, drug-dealing and other criminal acts being committed in our communities by gangsters associated with the Mexican Mafia is being met with the strongest possible response by law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “We will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law to restore a sense of safety to so many neighborhoods that have felt the impact of their destructive conduct.”
“The Mexican Mafia allegedly preyed on vulnerable communities through fear, violence, and intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment sends a clear message that the Criminal Division, and our federal, state, and local partners, remain committed to protecting all of our communities from violence and exploitation.”
The indictment alleges that the Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, was comprised mostly of senior members of Latino street gangs who came together to control and profit from the activities of other Latino gangs operating in Southern California and within the California penal system. It is alleged that the Mexican Mafia members divided control of various areas in Southern California, with the member in control of a specific area controlling the criminal activities in that territory and receiving “taxes” paid by gangs to allow them to deal drugs in that area.
In addition to this widespread “tax” collection, it is alleged that the OC Mexican Mafia directly engaged in drug distribution in and out of prisons and jails. The indictment also alleges that the OC Mexican Mafia maintained authority over Latino street gangs through murder, attempted murder, and violent assaults with weapons including firearms.
“Cases targeting criminal enterprises like the Mexican Mafia require close collaboration with our local and federal partners and employ a variety of sophisticated techniques to overcome their evasive tactics,” said Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The Mexican Mafia in Orange County controls the majority of local gangs and rules by threatening violence and exacting violence on their enemies or against their own members who don’t follow strict rules. This indictment is the latest in our continuing joint efforts to target gangs and drug networks that fuel the violence in our communities.”
The indictment alleges that in or around 2016, and continuing to at least in or around April 2022, defendants Johnny Martinez, Robert Aguirre, and Dennis Ortiz were the OC Mexican Mafia members in charge of criminal activities in Orange County and within Orange County jail and prison facilities. Defendants Omar Mejia, Miguel Jose Alvarado, Luis Heriberto Vasquez, Michael Cooper, and Abraham Guajardo held positions of shot-callers or mouthpieces for Martinez, Aguirre, and Ortiz. Defendant Robert Martinez held a position of authority within the Orange County Jail as Johnny Martinez’s representative. Defendant Brenda Vanessa Campos Martinez served as a secretary for Johnny Martinez, and defendant Danielle Canales served in a similar capacity for Johnny Martinez and Cooper. The violent crimes alleged against the OC Mexican Mafia include:
- the Jan. 19, 2017, armed robbery and shooting death of R.R.;
- the Aug. 21, 2017, shooting death of R.V., who was shot seven times in the back of the head and body, and left dead on the street in Orange;
- the Aug. 5, 2017, attempted murder of defendant Munoz, who had fallen out of favor with the OC Mexican Mafia and was shot seven times;
- the Dec. 1, 2017, attempted murder of D.D., a representative of a Latino street gang, who was allegedly abusing his power and authority within the OC Mexican Mafia enterprise;
- the Dec. 12, 2017, attempted murder of E.O., an OC Mexican Mafia associate incarcerated at Calipatria State Prison, who was believed to have violated the OC Mexican Mafia’s code by warning individuals that they were targeted for violence by the OC Mexican Mafia, and who suffered multiple injuries, including puncture wounds to his torso;
- the Dec. 25, 2017, attempted murder of R.M. for showing disrespect to defendant Johnny Martinez;
- the July 29, 2020, attempted murder of F.B., a member of an Orange County Latino street gang incarcerated at the Theo Lacy Facility, who was targeted because he purportedly claimed that he would speak to law enforcement about the Mexican Mafia, and whose throat was slit; and
- two murder attempts on Jan. 5, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2019, of defendant Cooper, who had fallen out of favor with defendants Johnny Martinez and Aguirre, and who in one incident was stabbed multiple times in the head and back area, and in the second was cut in the throat and face.
In addition to these alleged violent acts, law enforcement investigated the OC Mexican Mafia’s methamphetamine and heroin trafficking activities on the streets, as well as in the prisons and jails. Authorities conducted multiple undercover purchases of methamphetamine and heroin from OC Mexican Mafia associates who were selling narcotics on behalf of Johnny Martinez and the OC Mexican Mafia.
“The Santa Ana Police Department is committed to working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that violent, career criminals are incarcerated and are brought to justice,” said Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin. “Today’s operation was a result of years of dedicated investigation into some of the most dangerous gang members that plague our communities.”
“Today’s arrests are the culmination of a multi-year investigation that IRS-CI is proud to be a part of”, said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. “The subjects of this investigation engaged is some of the most horrific acts imaginable, and we are glad to have done our part to help end their corrupt influence over our community.”
Out of the 31 defendants charged in the indictment, 21 were already in custody, and nine were arrested last night and this morning. Those arrested today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana, and those already in custody will make initial appearances once each defendant is in federal custody.
The RICO statute provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for acts performed as part of the criminal organization. The VICAR statute provides for a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder, a maximum sentence of 20 years for assault with a dangerous weapon, a maximum sentence of 10 years for attempted murder, and a maximum sentence of three years for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge of possessing, using, carrying, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of/during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a maximum sentence of life, with a mandatory sentence of at least five years and up to 10 years. The charge of causing death using a firearm carries a maximum sentence of life. Distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin carries a maximum sentence of life, and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years and up to 10 years. Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI; the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); IRS-Criminal Investigation; the Santa Ana Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; the Fullerton Police Department; the Orange Police Department; the Placentia Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Department; the Orange County Probation Department; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are investigating the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Ahn, Gregory Scally and Gregory Staples of the Santa Ana Branch Office, and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Marianne Shelvey and Danbee Kim of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting this 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.
10 Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. On April 26, 2022, a federal grand jury in Chattanooga, Tennessee, returned a four-count indictment against 10 individuals: Marquis Rollins, also known as “Quez,” also known as “Q”; Emanuel Rollins, also known as “E Man”; Malik Young; Keunte Suttles, also known as “Kay Kay Watts”; Michael Garrick; Brandon Rakestraw, also known as “Lil Buddha”; Xavier Bickerstaff; Michael Jones, Jr., also known as “Mike Watts”; Taurus Moore; and Corey Long, all of Chattanooga. A trial date has not yet been set.
The indictment alleges that between November 2021 and March 2022, in the Eastern District of Tennessee, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing Fentanyl and 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A).
If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of ten years’ imprisonment and up to a maximum of life imprisonment, five years on supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chattanooga Resident Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Chattanooga Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Red Bank Police Department. Numerous agencies from the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force assisted in the investigation.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
The investigation was also conducted as part of DEA’s Operation Overdrive. Launched February 1, 2022, Operation Overdrive uses a data-driven, intelligence-led approach to identify and dismantle criminal drug networks operating in areas with the highest rates of violence and overdoses. DEA, working in partnership with its fellow federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, has mapped the threats and initiated enforcement operations against those networks in 34 locations across 23 states in the initial phase of Operation Overdrive.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Kevin T. Brown will represent the United States. Brown is a Special Assistant City Attorney with the Chattanooga Police Department assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute violations of federal firearm and drug laws.
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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Tuesday 26 April 2022
“Captain” of Mexican Mafia in Laredo convictedRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old Laredo resident has entered a guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and by an unlawful user or addict of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Rogelio Garza admitted that on Oct. 28, 2021, he was in possession of a 9mm Taurus Model P111 G2A black pistol.
The investigation revealed Garza was selling narcotics out of a home located on the 3000 block of North Louisiana Avenue. Authorities were able to later to perform a traffic stop, at which time they discovered the firearm with one round in its chamber. They also found two grams of meth, one gram of heroin, six rounds of ammunition in a magazine and two glass pipes in the vehicle.
Garza knew he was a convicted felon who was not allowed to own a firearm. He further acknowledged he had purchased the firearm on the street from an unknown man for $200. He said he carried it for protection.
Garza has admitted to being a high-level member of the Mexican Mafia for the past 20 years, calling himself a “captain” who was asked to be the top Mexican Mafia member in Laredo. Garza additionally admitted to being addicted to various narcotics.
Law enforcement learned that Garza has six prior felony convictions, including four convictions for narcotics distribution. As such, he is prohibited per federal law of possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Garza has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing at a later date before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña. At that time, Garza faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Defendant Millisen M. Martínez-Medina pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé to 13 counts of theft of government funds from the Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. She was charged in 12 separate cases regarding PUA fraud in April and October of 2021.
According to court documents, from June 2020, up to December 2020, Millisen M. Martínez-Medina engaged in deceptive conduct designed to fraudulently obtain Unemployment Insurance compensation from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (PRDLHR) by using false personal identification information, including false social security numbers. Specifically, the defendant submitted to the PRDLHR Unemployment Insurance (UI) applications on her own behalf and on behalf of at least twelve others, utilizing false social security numbers.
Martínez-Medina, willfully and knowingly stole and converted to her own use or the use of another, money of the United States, namely UI benefits, payments to which no one was entitled, having a value of approximately $474,504.00.
Defendant Martínez-Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
These cases were investigated by various federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), and the Social Security Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), with the assistance of local law enforcement officials from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, and the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda).
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez from the Social Security Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor Acevedo are in charge of the prosecution of these cases.
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Vallejo Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roosevelt Ronee Bohannon II, 44, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to four years and two months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2019, officers were dispatched to assist with a male who was being combative with members of the Vallejo Fire Department. Officers arrived on scene and apprehended Bohannon, who had a revolver tucked into the front of his waistband. Bohannon has previously been convicted of four felony offenses for drug and firearms offenses and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Vallejo Police Department with assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Sauvageau prosecuted the case.
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.
United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland Announces Comprehensive Community Outreach Approach and Recent Convictions in the Project Safe Neighborhood Gun Violence Reduction ProgramRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced the comprehensive community outreach strategy that is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program (PSN). We are also announcing convictions in several federal cases involving firearms and fentanyl as examples of the enforcement prong of PSN.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland remains vigilant in the effort to reduce gun violence and the trafficking of controlled substances to ensure safer communities. However, prosecution alone is not enough to combat the impact of guns and drugs in throughout our communities. Our strategy to reduce violent crime statewide not only focuses on the prosecution of violence and the distribution of deadly drugs but by also by building community outreach and prevention efforts. As part of these efforts, we are committed to providing returning citizens with re-entry resources to reduce the number of individuals cycling in and out of the criminal justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “I encourage all returning citizens and their families to attend re-entry resource fairs in Baltimore and Prince George’s County where they can learn more about employment, housing, healthcare, and other support services. Our mission is clear – we plan to not only prosecute crime, we plan to prevent it.”
In the effort to positively influence students, bring awareness to parents and educators, and encourage previous offenders to pursue a crime-free future, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland provides training and outreach to schools, as well as supports and participates in previous offender re-entry efforts including:
Re-Entry Resource Fairs:
On April 27, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is co-hosting a re-entry resource fair from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Baltimore War Memorial located at 101 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202. This event will feature information for returning citizens and their families, including employment, educational, financial, health resources, and more helpful information.
On April 20, 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland supported a re-entry resource fair hosted by the Bridge Center at Adam’s House and Employ Prince George’s. This event featured information for returning citizens and their families, including employment, educational, financial, health resources, and more helpful information.
Gang Culture and Our Children: How You Can Make a Difference: This presentation examines the impact gang culture is having on our children and focuses on the negative influences that traditional, nontraditional, and hybrid gangs have on our youth. It is designed by a certified Maryland Police and Training Commissions instructor and Gang Awareness trainer and meets the training mandates of the Maryland Safe Schools Act.
Project Safe Neighborhood/Project Safe Childhood Ballpark Outreach: During the summer of 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office and its federal law enforcement partners offer a wide range of prevention and intervention literature for youth. Future outreach will include outreach at Frederick Keys, Delmarva Shorebirds, Aberdeen Ironbirds, and Bowie Baysox baseball games.
Our office is also available to assist local communities and groups in identifying federal and state grant resources; provide guest speakers on a wide variety of public safety issues; and help connect individuals and groups to assist and protect their communities. For more information on our office’s community outreach programs, or for questions, please visit our community outreach page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
In addition to our commitment to community outreach and engagement as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods this program also brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Some highlights of the United States Attorney’s Office’s recent PSN prosecutions include:
United States v. Earl LeRoy Griffin Jr.: On April 19, 2022, Earl Leroy Griffin Jr., age 45, of Sunderland, Maryland was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the evidence presented at his four-day trial, on September 5, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence and on his vehicle as part of a drug investigation. In Griffin’s locked vehicle, law enforcement recovered a stolen .40 caliber handgun, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. The vehicle was registered to Griffin. When he was searched incident to his arrest, Griffin had the keys to his vehicle and $1,870 in cash in his pockets. Griffin had four previous felony drug convictions and knew that as a result, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
United States v. Aaron Arthur Fields: On April 1, 2022, Aaron Author Fields, age 33, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl and to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine. According to his guilty plea, as the result of a Howard County fatal overdose, law enforcement discovered phone communications that indicated that an individual had made arrangements for the victim to purchase controlled substances from Fields. Additionally, investigators recovered three grams of heroin, believed to have purchased from Fields, from an individual during a traffic stop. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Field’s residence and recovered over 126 grams of cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine, and $1,911 in cash. Fields admitted that he distributed controlled substances to Victim 1 and that the death of Victim 1 resulted. Fields faces a maximum sentence of 240 months in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances and for the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of 480 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Fields is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2022.
United States v. Zaid Rushdan: In February 2022, Zaid Rushdan, age 41, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute PCP and crack cocaine, and to possession of stolen firearms. Investigators determined that co-conspirators transported drugs and drug proceeds to facilitate Rushdan’s drug trafficking business after investigators observed their frequent trips to Rushdan’s apartment. In February 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rushdan’s apartment and seized a number of items including over a gallon (4,486 grams) of PCP, approximately 299 grams of powder cocaine, approximately 31 grams of crack cocaine, seven handguns, two rifles, approximately 652 rounds of ammunition, and $14,485 in cash. Rushdan also knew, or had reasonable cause to believe, that four of the firearms were stolen. Rushdan is expected to be sentenced to at least 121 months, but not more than 151 months in federal prison on May 5, 2022.
United States v. DeAundre Keys: In February 2022, DeAundre Keys, age 35, of Lexington Park, Maryland, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. As stated in Keys’ guilty plea, Keys sold fentanyl to three individuals. One of the three individuals became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Maryland concluded that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl and alcohol intoxication. During an executed search warrant on Keys’ apartment in March 2021, law enforcement recovered 30.07 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin, acetaminophen, 06-Monoacetylmorphine; drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale with fentanyl residue; a cutting agent; and plastic glassine baggies used for narcotics packaging and distribution; a Polymer 9mm handgun with a 30-round magazine containing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition; one round of 9mm ammunition on the floor; two .40 magazines; an empty 30 round magazine; and $7,080 in cash, which were proceeds of Keys’ drug sales. The seized firearm was a ghost gun—privately made with parts manufactured outside Maryland, which has no serial number and is not a registered firearm. Keys knew that he had a previous felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition. Keys is expected to be sentenced to between 120 months and 144 months in federal prison on May 24, 2022.
United States v. Gibran Nelson-Smith: In October 2021, Nelson-Smith, age 41, of Pikesville, Maryland, was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin, and crack cocaine and fentanyl. In 2018 and 2019, Nelson-Smith exercised a supervisory role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in and around the Baltimore area. Nelson-Smith admitted that he endorsed the use of firearms by members of the organization to maintain security in the areas where drugs were being sold, and also endorsed the use or threatened use of violence by members of the organization to protect the drug sales activities of the organization. As the result of an executed search warrant at Nelson-Smith’s residence, law enforcement recovered several firearms, cash, and multiple controlled substances containing heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Nelson-Smith agreed that over the course of the conspiracy, he and his conspirators distributed at least a kilogram of heroin, at least a kilogram of crack cocaine, at least 250 grams of cocaine, and at least 10 grams of fentanyl.
United States v. Bobby Cannon: In December 2021, Bobby Cannon, age 24, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to committing two murders and participating in the violent criminal conspiracy, the Normandy, Franklin, and Loudon (“NFL”) Criminal Enterprise. As a member of the NFL enterprise, Cannon admitted to distributing over one kilogram of heroin, more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. Cannon and his co-conspirators also participated in violent criminal activities including murder, illegal firearm possession, witness intimidation and more. Specifically, in 2018, Cannon shot and killed an individual on behalf of the NFL Criminal Enterprise (Victim 1). Victim 1 was believed to have been a federal witness cooperating with law enforcement. Cannon also shot and killed Victim 1’s girlfriend. Further, Cannon planned and attempted to murder another individual (Victim 2) in exchange for money from the NFL Criminal Enterprise in January 2019. Despite being shot y Cannon multiple times, Victim 2 survived the shooting. However, Victim 2 sustained life-threatening injuries. Cannon is expected to be sentenced to between 348 months and 432 months in federal prison on June 1, 2022.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is 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.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a unified and comprehensive strategy to combat gun crime that combines local, state and federal law enforcement efforts; community outreach; and public awareness, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana joins survivors, advocates, and communities nationwide in recommitting ourselves to this work: to believing survivors, strengthening prevention and education efforts, and holding offenders accountable.
The week of April 24 – 30 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes the importance of not only finding justice for crime victims in the courtroom but enforcing victims’ rights and providing victims with access to the resources and services that can help them heal. We want to celebrate the progress achieved and raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands with those whose lives have been forever altered by crime and recognizes those in the district who assist the victims of crimes heal.
Today, at a ceremony held at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers recognized the following individuals and groups for their outstanding commitment to serving crime victims and pursuing excellence in victim services. U.S. Attorney Myers presented a plaque to each group and individual for their contribution to this effort.
- Detective David McDaniel, ATF Task Force Officer, IMPD
- IMPD Victim Assistance Unit
- IMPD Chaplain’s Office
- FBI Special Agent Andrew Willman
- IMPD Sergeant Linda Jackson
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Korobov
The Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004 (CVRA) increased victim involvement in the federal criminal justice system by guaranteeing them certain basic rights, such as the right to be informed of any court proceedings or parole proceedings, the right to speak at public court proceedings, and the right to confer with the government attorney assigned to their case. But the most fundamental right that it enumerated was the “right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.” The CVRA helped restore power to survivors who often feel powerless in the aftermath of a serious crime.
More information can be found at the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022), which treats sexual assault as the serious violation it is and creates new programs and initiatives that provide survivors of sexual violence with increased access to services and justice
“Sexual violence comes in many forms and its effects are far reaching,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “I am so grateful for the passage of the VAWA 2022 and the positive impact it will have in caring for survivors. My office is committed to this effort and will hold offenders accountable for their actions, including those that use the online world to commit their crimes. As we fight on behalf of those who have been impacted by crime, it is fitting to recognize exemplary leaders and teams who bring justice and support to victims every day. Each of these awardees have made lasting contributions to bringing healing to victims and safety to our communities.”
The Southern District of Indiana is a national leader in the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes against children. For example, in fiscal year 2019, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced sexual violence, you are not alone and there are many services available to help, including the Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), and the StrongHearts Native Helpline, 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483). In addition, you can find a local resources page on OVW’s website, which lists state sexual assault coalitions that can direct you to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces It Will Not Pursue Criminal Charges Related to Officer-Involved Shooting on Southern Ute Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has concluded that it will not pursue federal criminal charges against Southern Ute Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old resident of Allison, Colorado, on September 12, 2021. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the decision today after reviewing all of the available evidence and notifying the family of the individual involved.
“We reviewed the evidence in this matter in close detail,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “After a detailed and thorough analysis, the actions by law enforcement do not support bringing any criminal charge. Our office takes the loss of life seriously, and we appreciate the sensitive nature of this matter. The sensitivity of this matter also limits what information we can disclose publicly.”
The FBI performed the investigation, and the results were reviewed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In summary, the evidence demonstrates that on September 12, 2021, an individual in a pickup truck fled from a traffic stop and a high-speed chase ensued on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. After eluding law enforcement officers, the individual stopped the pickup truck on County Road 328 on a hill near the border of Colorado and New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Southern Ute Police Department officers arrived in a marked patrol car behind the truck and got out of their vehicle. At that point, the individual reversed the truck and drove in the direction of the patrol car and the officers, placing them in fear of serious bodily injury or death. The officers fired their weapons, and the individual was killed.
Based on the location of the incident and the identity of the parties, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has sole jurisdiction over any criminal charges arising from this incident. The name of the decedent is being withheld at the request of the decedent’s family.
U.S. Attorney's Office Joins in Recognizing 41st Annual Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 24-30, 2022Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Every April, the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) to honor crime victims, promote their rights and recognize victim advocates. This year’s observance, the 41st annual commemoration, takes place April 24-30, 2022 with the theme: Rights, access, equity for all victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office joins its federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners in taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of providing necessary services at the earliest possible stage of victimization and litigation. Early intervention helps prevent further victimization and encourages victim involvement in the criminal justice system, mitigating the cycle of violence and restoring hope for the future.
“Supporting and seeking justice on behalf of crime victims is central to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We see unbelievable examples of victim courage nearly every day in the work we do. Their persistence and resolve, often in the face of incredible adversity, motivates all of us in federal law enforcement to continue vigorously advocating on their behalf,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local, and tribal agencies host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. This year, several national events are returning in-person, but will continue to feature livestream feeds. On the evening of April 28th, a candlelight vigil will be held on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol from 3:30-4:30 pm PDT. On April 29th, the National Crime Victims’ Service Award Ceremony will be held at Constitution Gardens National Park on the National Mall from 12:00-2:00 pm PDT. To access a livestream feed for either event, please visit ovc.ojp.gov/live.
OVC and the U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages widespread participation in the week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov. For ongoing updates from OVC and ideas throughout the year on how you can support victims, please subscribe to OVC’s email notifications at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/subscribe/.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you believe you’ve been the target or victim of a crime, please contact your local law enforcement agency or your nearest FBI field office immediately. The FBI Portland Field Office can be reached at (503) 224-4181 or by submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
Two New Jersey Men Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kelvin Vazquez-Pagan, age 24, of Passaic, New Jersey, and Carlos Perez-Rivera, age 37, of West New York, New Jersey, were indicted on April 26, 2022, by a federal grand jury for cocaine trafficking.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment charges Vazquez-Pagan and Perez-Rivera with possession with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine on March 23, 2022, in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Gallagher are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum penalty under federal law is up to 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Three Indianapolis Men Facing Federal Charges for Eight Armed Cell Phone Store Robberies in Twenty-Five DaysRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Indiana returned a seventeen-count indictment charging Quintez Tucker, 18, of Indianapolis, D’Maurah Bryant, 19, of Indianapolis, and Robdarius Williams, 19, of Indianapolis with conspiracy and multiple robbery and firearms offenses relating to a series of eight armed robberies committed over the course of twenty-five days. The indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of all the defendants.
According to court documents, beginning on November 8, 2021, and continuing through December 3, 2021, Tucker, Bryant, Williams, and others, including at least two juveniles, committed eight armed robberies of cell phone stores in Indianapolis and Fishers. Tucker, Bryant, Williams, and others planned the robberies and decided what combination of individuals would commit the robbery. Upon entering the cell phone stores, the defendants brandished firearms and stole cell phones, cell phone accessories, and U.S. currency from the stores and their customers.
The eight stores affected by the robberies were:
- Verizon: 11760 Olio Road, Fishers IN
- T-Mobile: 1560 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN
- T-Mobile: 11725 Fox Road, Indianapolis, IN
- AT&T: 4850 Southport Road, Indianapolis, IN
- Verizon: 1950 Kessler Blvd. West Drive, Indianapolis, IN
- T-Mobile: 1155 East Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, IN
- T-Mobile: 6929 W 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN
- AT&T: 8855 South Emerson Avenue, Indianapolis, IN
Each of the defendants is scheduled to make their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Wednesday, April 27, at 1:30 p.m. If convicted on the robbery charges, each faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, for each count. If convicted of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, each faces a mandatory minimum of seven years up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, for each count. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. The Fishers Police Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office also provided valuable assistance.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lawrence D. Hilton and Kelsey Massa, who are prosecuting this case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Taunton Man Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Gino Romano, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 18, 2022, Romano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Romano was charged in November 2020 after he was identified as a customer and distributor for a cocaine supplier who was charged in “Operation Snowfall” – a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates. The investigation identified Romano on intercepted calls with the cocaine supplier during which he used coded language to negotiate pricing and a meeting location for a cocaine deal. At the designated location, Romano and the supplier met briefly in a vehicle before the supplier left the scene. A subsequent search of Romano’s vehicle recovered 125 grams of cocaine and the cellphone he had used to communicate with the supplier.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Summerdale Woman Sentenced to Ten Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On April 25, 2022, United States District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Esmeralda Vidana to ten years imprisonment for methamphetamine trafficking.
According to court documents during an investigation of drug trafficking, on October 1, 2019, a known drug trafficker, Jose Eduardo Bravo Rodriguez, was surveilled by law enforcement agents leaving Vidana’s home in Summerdale. Alabama. Agents later performed a traffic stop of Rodriguez and caught him with one ounce of methamphetamine. Rodriguez was prosecuted by the United States in a separate drug trafficking case.
Agents next visited Vidana to speak to her. During the conversation Vidana confessed that she possessed a large amount of methamphetamine in her home that she was selling. Agents recovered approximately 680 grams of methamphetamine. Vidana further confessed that the drugs came from a larger batch of 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine that she had previously obtained and had been selling. Vidana plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in September 2021.
In addition to the ten-year sentence, United States District Court Chief Judge Jeffery Beaverstock further ordered that Vidana would also serve five years on supervised release following her imprisonment. As conditions of her supervision, Vidana will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and she will be subject to a search of her person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Vidana pay $100 in special assessments.
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello stated: “This case is yet another great example of effective coordination between federal and state law enforcement to stop drug trafficking in the Southern District of Alabama. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these cases vigorously.”
The case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Suburban man gets 35 years for sexually exploiting minors through SkoutRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 24-year-old local man has been ordered to prison for sexual exploitation and coercion and enticement of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Benjamen Charles Slaughter pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2021 to sexual exploitation of children, receipt and possession of child pornography.
Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown sentenced Butler to 420 months in federal prison. Following the lengthy sentence, Slaughter will be on supervised release for the rest of his life, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He was also ordered to pay $15,300 in special assessments and to register as a sex offender.
Slaughter met the then 15-year-old female victim through a the social media website Skout, during which time he convinced her to become his “submissive.” Slaughter was actively involved in the bondage, discipline, dominance and submission world and had frequented the website Collarspace, a site for similarly-minded individuals.
Slaughter demanded one victim to engage in sex with strangers and wanted her to do so without using protection.
He had also started receiving child pornography prior to becoming an adult and created a Dropbox account to store some of his collection. Authorities conducted numerous search warrants for various social media and online storage accounts as well as Slaughter’s residence. Those revealed numerous images of child pornography, some of which involved babies and toddlers in provocative situations with animals and adult male genitalia.
Slaughter has been in custody since being determined a danger to the community and a flight risk, where he will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Steven Wiggins Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Steven J. Wiggins, 33, of Dickson, Tennessee, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Wiggins was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 on carjacking and firearms violations which resulted in the death of Dickson County Sheriff’s Sergeant Daniel Baker on May 30, 2018. Following the federal indictment, the United States sought and received approval to seek the death penalty against Wiggins. On March 25, 2022, Wiggins pleaded guilty to the federal charges under a binding plea agreement with an agreed sentence of life imprisonment.
“Our office will never let a criminal attack on law enforcement go unanswered,” said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “The full force of the Department of Justice will be brought to bear on anyone who commits such a heinous crime. I want to acknowledge the painstaking work of our many law enforcement partners, including District Attorney General Ray Crouch, who led the prosecution efforts at the state level, as we proceeded with the parallel prosecutions of Wiggins. Finally, let me acknowledge and thank Lisa Baker, Sergeant Baker’s widow, for staying the course through many difficult days of proceedings during the past four years. Together, we have achieved justice for Sergeant Baker.”
Wiggins brutally murdered Sergeant Baker by shooting him six times after Baker encountered him when responding to a suspicious vehicle call. Wiggins was found guilty of the murder by a Circuit Court Jury after a trial on August 5, 2021, and the jury imposed the death sentence.
Following today’s sentencing, and in keeping with the terms of the plea agreement, the United States moved to withdraw its notice of intent to seek the death penalty, and Wiggins will serve life in prison. This sentence has no effect on the State’s previously imposed death sentence, which will continue to move forward.
Agencies involved in the initial search and capture of Wiggins and the subsequent investigation include the Dickson County Sheriff’s Department; the 23rd District Attorney General’s Office; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Tennessee Highway Patrol; the FBI; and numerous other local, state, and federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McGuire prosecuted the case.
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Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with his involvement in a scheme to launder the proceeds of various phone fraud scams.
Utkarsh Thakur, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Sept. 14, 2022. Thakur was charged on March 29, 2022.
Between January and August 2021, Thakur’s co-conspirators called victims over the phone pretending to be individuals in positions of authority, such as law enforcement, and threaten the victims in order to obtain money. The victims were instructed to mail cash to fictitious individuals at addresses in Massachusetts. Thakur obtained fake identification cards in the names of those fictitious individuals, retrieved the cash mailed by the victims and transported the cash to others involved in the scheme. In total, Thakur laundered more than $1 million in victim funds and kept a portion of those funds for himself.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by many local law enforcement partners, including the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Bellingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Southern Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Bureau of Land Management Employee with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—A southern Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for assaulting a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee with a deadly weapon while the employee was taking photos of a campsite the man occupied on BLM property in Josephine County, Oregon.
Scott Dye, 56, was sentenced to time served and three years’ supervised release. Dye was in custody from the time of his arrest in June 2020 until his release after pleading guilty in December 2021.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2020, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies and emergency personnel responded to an overturned school bus located on BLM property. Dye was identified as the driver and owner of the bus. On June 6, 2020, a BLM officer contacted Dye and told him he had 14 days to vacate the bus property.
From June 6, 2020 through June 16, 2020, Dye enlisted the aid of both BLM officers and civilians on multiple occasions to move his overturned bus. Throughout this time, Dye explained to witnesses that he was being harassed and intimidated by local civilians who did not want him there. On June 15, 2020, multiple individuals threw rocks at Dye and told him that he needed to leave. Dye told a BLM employee he was being harassed and expressed his desire to remove the bus from the crash site and vacate the area as soon as possible.
On the morning of June 17, 2020, a BLM employee was travelling in a government vehicle on official business and stopped near Dye’s encampment to take some photos. After taking two photos, the employee heard the rear driver side window of his vehicle shatter. Realizing he was being shot at, the employee opened his driver door and entered the vehicle. As soon as he shut the door, a second round struck the steering wheel of the vehicle sending shrapnel into the employee’s hand. The employee also sustained minor abrasions on his ear from flying glass. The employee quickly departed the scene and called 911.
Less than an hour after the shooting, Josephine County sheriff deputies and BLM officers observed Dye walking on a BLM road near the encampment and detained him. Dye told the officers he owned the bus and was returning from a walk. When asked if he possessed any guns in the camp, Dye declined. Dye was eventually driven to and released in Merlin, Oregon and instructed not to the return to the bus. He was arrested again later the same day by BLM officers.
On the same day as the shooting, FBI and BLM agents executed a federal search warrant on the bus and surrounding camp site. They found a .223 caliber shell casing on the ground near the bus and an empty black rifle case and .223 magazine inside the bus near Dye’s sleeping pad. From the rear of the bus where the spent shell casing was found, agents observed a direct line of site to the location where the BLM employee’s vehicle was struck by gunfire earlier that day. A ballistics analysis later conducted by the FBI concluded that three shots were fired at an upward trajectory from Dye’s bus toward the BLM employee and his vehicle
On June 18, 2020, Dye was charged by federal criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer, camping longer than permitted on public lands, and disposing of garbage on public lands. Later, on July 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Dye with assaulting a federal officer; attempting to murder a federal officer; and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On December 10, 2021, Dye pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by BLM and FBI with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marco Boccato, Adam Delph, and Amy Potter prosecuted the case.
Photo of Dye's campsite and overturned bus Photo of the BLM truck Photo of shattered window of BLM vehicle Photo showing bullet damage to steering wheel