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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 22 April 2022
Grand Jury - April 2022Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 14 unsealed Indictments charging 17 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Michael Bender, age 50, of Omaha, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about February 15, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Judith Ann Deandrade, age 37, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Arica Marie Downs, age 35, of Rumford, Maine, are charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) on or about March 9, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Matthew J. Doherty, II, age 35, of Valley, Nebraska, is charged with delay or destruction of mail on or about March 12, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Johnny A. Dolph, age 49, of Omaha, and Jennifer Norwood, a/k/a Jennifer Dolph, age 42, of Omaha, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges each with conspiracy to tamper with documents or proceedings on or about March 30, 2022. The penalty if convicted 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment. Count II charges both with tampering with documents or proceedings on or about March 30, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
* Sheraz J. Gill, age 27, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Gill with transmitting threatening communications on or about August 2, 2020. The penalty if convicted 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Gill with cyberstalking beginning on or about July 26, 2020 and continuing to on or about August 3, 2020. The penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
* Juwan Grant, age 23, of Decatur, Nebraska, is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country beginning on or about February, 2021 and continuing through May, 2021. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a not less than five-year term of supervised release up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
* Joey D. Huston, age 53, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with destruction of government property on or about March 15, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Loretta L. Janssen, age 57, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is charged in a five-count Indictment alleging wire fraud between July 20, 2017 and continuing to on or about July 7, 2021. The penalty on each count if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about July 7, 2021.
* Lidia Irena Kula, age 33, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Kula with distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury on or about December 27, 2021. The penalty if convicted is not less than 20 years and up to life imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts II through IV charge Kula with distribution of heroin on or about January 14, 2022 and continuing to on or about January 24, 2022. The penalty on each count if convicted 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Elias Ramirez, Jr., age 33, of Provo, Utah, and Chaminque Porter, age 35, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine (mixture) on or about December 20, 2021 and continuing to on or about December 21, 2021. The penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Eric K. Rose, age 35, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Rose with possession with intent to distribute of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about January 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Rose with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about January 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Rose with felon in possession of a firearm on or about January 26, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about January 26, 2022.
* Austin T. Tenbrink, age 22, of Grandville, Michigan, is charged with a two count Indictment. Count I charges Tenbrink with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about October 26, 2021. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Tenbrink with felon in possession of a firearm on or about October 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Esteban Vasquez Gomez, age 40, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about March 29, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jordan Wolfe, age 23, of Macy, Nebraska, is charged with assault on an officer with physical and bodily injury on or about March 28, 2022. The penalty if convicted is up to 8 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Galva Man Sentenced to 15 years in Prison for Possession of Ice Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Galva, Illinois, man, Justin W. Collins, 42, of the 100 block of SE Eighth Street, was sentenced on April 18, 2022, to 180 months’ imprisonment for possession of ice methamphetamine with intent to distribute, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In addition, Collins was sentenced to 30 months prison for violating the terms of his supervised release at the time of this offense, to be served concurrently in case number 10-CR-40053.
The government presented evidence that on June 29, 2020, Collins purchased methamphetamine in the Peoria, Illinois, area and then drove directly to the Wal-Mart in Kewanee, Illinois, and entered the store. Kewanee Police requested their K-9 unit respond to the Wal-Mart, and upon arrival, the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics during a free air sniff of Collins’ truck. During a subsequent search, officers discovered a black glove containing ice methamphetamine hidden in the engine compartment of the truck. The methamphetamine was analyzed by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory and determined to be 83.3 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine. Evidence also revealed Collins was planning to distribute the methamphetamine to others after he purchased it.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade noted that at the time of this offense in June 2020, Collins was already serving a term of supervised release for a prior federal methamphetamine trafficking offense from 2010. The government presented evidence that after Collins’ arrest on this case, law enforcement discovered that Collins and another federal supervised release offender were attempting to evade drug testing even though they had continued to use narcotics while on supervision. Judge McDade recommended Collins receive drug treatment while in the Bureau of Prisons noting that his prior treatment efforts were not effective.
Collins was indicted in October 2021 and pleaded guilty in December 2021. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute are a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment and not less than five years of supervised release. Since Collins had a prior qualifying conviction, he faced not less than 15 years to life imprisonment, and not less than 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his imprisonment.
“Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all law enforcement involved, we were able to stop yet another drug dealer from distributing this poison into our rural communities,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge. “Methamphetamine is highly addictive and destructive to families in our communities, both to the dealer, like Collins, and every user he sold to and their families, employers, and towns alike. This sentence should serve as a message that if you get into the large-scale business of trafficking drugs, you will be held accountable.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the Blackhawk Area Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Peoria, Pekin, and Kewanee Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Legge represented the government in the prosecution, with assistance of the Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case against Collins is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. 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.
Fresno Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise and Creating Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Fresno man was sentenced today to life in federal prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of four young children, including children he abused with his co-defendants who were previously sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
John Richard Brinson Jr., 28, was sentenced this afternoon by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. In imposing the life sentence, Judge Birotte said Brinson’s conduct was “evil – I don’t know how else to say it.”
Brinson pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and four counts of production of child pornography, each representing a different victim.
According to court documents, in 2016 and 2017, Brinson distributed and advertised CSAM on a website dedicated to the sexual abuse of children ages from birth to 5 years old. Brinson – along with co-defendants Arlan Harrell, of Hawthorne, and Moises Martinez, of San Jose – was an active member of this website, which was hosted on Tor, a computer network on the dark web that is specifically designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the internet. Brinson used the website to view CSAM, to advertise and distribute CSAM – including CSAM he produced – and to encourage other members to post more CSAM. Additionally, Brinson used this website to meet like-minded offenders, including Harrell and Martinez, and commit additional offenses against children with them in-person.
“The life sentence imposed in this case is warranted by the defendant’s callous and violent abuse of children, some of whom were filmed while screaming in pain,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “The child exploitation enterprise impacted more than 20 victims – children who were sexually assaulted, sometimes repeatedly, solely for the pleasure of this defendant and his cohorts. The Justice Department will continue its effort to protect the most vulnerable among us by aggressively prosecuting the most dangerous predators.”
“Those who engage in child exploitation enterprises and create child sexual abuse material will be tracked down and held accountable for their heinous conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Preying on children with no regard to the grievous harm abusers cause to their victims and their families will not be tolerated. I commend the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that these defendants would be held accountable for their crimes and justice sought for the victims.”
“The depravity of this enterprise was reflected in today’s sentencing,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles. “Homeland Security Investigations prioritizes crimes of victimization and will leave no stone unturned to rescue every victim possible and bring every perpetrator to justice. I am very proud of the Homeland Security Investigations special agents from Boston, Fresno, and right here in Los Angeles that worked tirelessly with our partners at the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to protect our most innocent and remove these predators from our communities.”
According to court documents, Brinson created child sexual abuse material of children between approximately three to nine years of age. On at least two occasions, Brinson and Harrell met at Brinson’s home to create CSAM depicting their sexual abuse of two of the minors together. On one of those occasions, Harrell secured the custody of another minor and traveled with the minor to Brinson’s house to create CSAM depicting both Harrell and Brinson engaging in the sexual abuse of that minor. On another occasion, Brinson and Martinez arranged to meet at Brinson’s house to create CSAM depicting their sexual abuse of two minors together, one brought by Brinson and one by Martinez.
In total, Brinson, Martinez and Harrell pleaded guilty to creating CSAM depicting themselves engaging in sexual acts with or otherwise sexually exploiting more than 20 children under the age of nine, including 10 children four years of age or younger.
The CSAM that Brinson created by himself and with his co-defendants took place in the house he shared with co-defendant Keith Lawniczak. According to court documents, Lawniczak admitted that he offered Brinson a room in his house to live in free of charge and benefitted from Brinson’s abuse of one of the minors because he had an opportunity to view the sexual acts between Brinson and the minor.
Co-defendant Martinez pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and production of child pornography and was sentenced to 55 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Lawniczak pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and was sentenced to 12 years in prison and lifetime supervised release. Harrell pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, obtaining custody of a minor for purposes of producing child pornography, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, and he was sentenced to life in prison in February.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Los Angeles office, along with HSI’s Fresno and Boston offices, investigated the case. The High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) provided significant assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Myers of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section and Kim Meyer of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case in conjunction with Justice Department Trial Attorneys Lauren S. Kupersmith and Kyle P. Reynolds of CEOS
Fresno Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Adam Lee Campbell, 43, of Fresno, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years in prison for receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 17, 2019, and Feb. 23, 2021, Campbell received images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct onto a cellphone while on parole. Campbell has a prior conviction for hands-on contact with minors, along with prior state convictions for possession of child pornography and for failing to register as a sex offender.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Laura D. Withers prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Fourth New York Man Charged with Conspiring to Kidnap New Jersey ManRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was charged today with conspiring to kidnap and hold for ransom a Fort Lee, New Jersey, resident, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Gabriel Anthony, 34, of Queens, New York, is charged by complaint with conspiring to commit kidnapping. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was detained.
Three conspirators – Fa Deng, 42, of Staten Island, New York, and Albert Ferrelli, 50, and Chiahao Lee, 30, both of Queens, New York – were charged by complaint on April 7, 2022 with conspiring to commit kidnapping.
According to documents filed in the cases, and statements made in court:
On April 5, 2022, the four conspirators drove to the victim’s home in Fort Lee. Ferrelli and Anthony entered the victim’s home wearing masks. They bound the victim’s hands, placed duct tape over his eyes and mouth, and forced him into a vehicle.
Law enforcement received information that kidnappers had sent the victim’s wife a photograph of the victim bound and duct-taped, demanding a ransom of approximately $680,000. When law enforcement responded to the victim’s home, they located what appeared to be duct tape with pieces of latex gloves stuck to it. After reviewing local surveillance footage, law enforcement identified a gray minivan used in the abduction. Other surveillance footage showed the minivan crossing the George Washington Bridge shortly after the kidnapping, and subsequently crossing into the Bronx and then into Queens.
The following day, New York Police Department personnel responded to Prince Street in Queens, where they encountered Ferrelli guarding the door to a building. When officers approached Ferrelli, they heard a man screaming for help inside the building. Officers entered the building and found the victim with his hands bound, and duct tape over his eyes and mouth.
Law enforcement located the gray minivan used in the kidnapping parked in the driveway of Lee’s home in Queens. Records showed that the minivan had been rented by Lee’s wife at LaGuardia Airport on April 4, 2022.
The maximum penalty for the offense is life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of George M. Crouch Jr.; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Mark Musella; officers of the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze; and the New York Police Department under the direction of Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Mark Robert Clow, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, pled guilty to receiving material constituting child pornography. The plea was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Between June 2017, and September 2021, Clow distributed, received, and possessed material containing child pornography. The pornographic material found in Clow’s possession involved a minor under the age of 12.
Sentencing in this case is set for July 8, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable United States Chief District Judge Mark E. Walker. Clow faces 20 years in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison, followed by a term of 5 years to life of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The case resulted from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former State Employee Indicted for Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A grand jury indictment unsealed today alleges that former New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) employee Wendell Giles, age 51, of Albany, conspired with another former NYSDOL employee to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, including federally funded pandemic-relief benefits. A co-conspirator, Carl J. DiVeglia III, age 33, of Albany, waived indictment and pled guilty on April 13 to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Associate Deputy Attorney General and Director of COVID Fraud Enforcement Kevin A. Chambers; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
The indictment alleges that from about July 2020 through August 2021, Giles and DiVeglia initiated fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in the names of other people and then abused their NYSDOL computer systems access to release benefits payments on the false claims. Giles and DiVeglia each received a share of the fraudulently obtained UI benefits. The charges in the indictment against Giles are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman stated: “As alleged, Wendell Giles breached the public’s trust by taking money from government programs designed to help out-of-work New Yorkers during a global pandemic. The integrity of government benefits programs depends on the honesty of the people who help to administer them. We continue to prioritize COVID fraud prosecutions to maintain public confidence in these programs and to hold accountable those who have abused the system.”
Director Kevin A. Chambers stated: “Those who took advantage of the government’s pandemic relief packages decided that their personal gain was more important than the health and economic security of their fellow citizens. This behavior is even more egregious when committed by government employees who abused their positions of trust. I applaud the hard work of those who are investigating and prosecuting this matter.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi stated: “As alleged in the indictment, Wendell Giles and his co-conspirator used their (former) positions at the NYS Department of Labor to cheat a system designed to help unemployed New Yorkers. Their scheme lined their own pockets during a global pandemic when millions lost their jobs and needed help more than ever. The FBI, along with our partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who defraud programs designed to assist Americans in need.”
USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone stated: “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate fraud involving unemployment insurance programs. This is particularly true when an allegation involves misconduct by the very government employees charged with overseeing those programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to aggressively investigate unemployment insurance fraud.”
Giles appeared today and pled not guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. Giles was released with conditions.
As part of DiVeglia’s guilty plea on April 13, he admitted responsibility for over $1.6 million in losses to NYSDOL and to personally receiving approximately $225,000 in fraud proceeds.
A mail fraud charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutive to any other terms of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Chisholm and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Owner of Shreveport Tax Preparation Businesses Sentenced on Tax Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Latasha Thomas, 44, of Crowley, Texas, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Thomas was sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 18 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for making and subscribing a false tax return. Thomas was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $143,611.
Thomas was the owner and operator of Tax Related, LLC and ASAP Tax Service, LLE, both tax preparation businesses located in Shreveport. She was employed as a Revenue Officer with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for two years prior to opening her own tax preparation businesses. She was also the owner of Kidz World Learning Center and Best & Brightest Preschool Center in Shreveport.
Thomas’ primary business was the preparation and electronic filing of individual income tax returns. An investigation by the IRS revealed that Thomas aided and assisted in the preparation of false Forms 1040 for her clients by intentionally creating false Form W-2s to increase the reported income of her clients and she also falsified her personal tax returns. Thomas received the fees for the filing of client’s individual tax returns into business accounts in the name of Tax Related, ASAP Tax and another company owned by Thomas, Diamond Elite Corporation. These accounts were opened and primarily maintained by Thomas. She received but did not report $168,297 in fees in 2016 and $139,736 in fees in 2017. Thomas did not file a business return, nor did she include her business income on her personal tax returns for either tax year. Thomas personally prepared her 2016 and 2017 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, which were verified by a written declaration that they were made under penalty of perjury and were purported to be truthful. When in truth and in fact, Thomas made false statements in both returns and the total income was false. In 2016, Thomas only reported total income of $28,202 and failed to report income totaling $168,297 which she received as tax preparation fees, thus making her 2016 taxes due and owing. In 2017, Thomas only reported total income of $17,475 and failed to report income totaling $139,736 which she received as tax preparation fees, thus making her 2017 taxes due and owing.
As part of her plea agreement, Thomas agreed to be permanently enjoined from preparing, assisting, advising, or counseling in the preparation of, or filing federal tax returns for anyone other than herself. She is also prohibited from maintaining any association with a tax preparation business, instructing, teaching or otherwise training any person in the preparation of federal tax returns.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick.
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Former Employee of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Relating to a Scheme to Provide Fraudulent Maryland Driver’s Licenses to Applicants Who Paid a FeeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Marion Rose Payne, age 55, of Harwood, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to produce and transfer identification documents without lawful authority, specifically, Maryland driver’s licenses.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to her plea agreement, from at least July 2015 through March 2016, Payne and Co-Conspirator 2 were both employees of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and worked in the Largo, Maryland branch office. Payne’s duties at the MVA included the issuance of Maryland driver’s licenses.
As detailed in her plea agreement, Payne and Co-conspirator 2 conspired with Warner Antonio Portillo to produce and transfer Maryland driver’s licenses without lawful authority. Specifically, Portillo and others met with prospective Maryland driver’s license applicants who were willing to pay money to obtain a driver’s license illegally, typically because the applicants were aliens without legal status in the United States or were otherwise unable to obtain a lawfully issued driver’s license. The applicants paid Portillo and others between $800 and $5,000 in cash for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license.
Portillo or the applicants gave Payne and/or Co-Conspirator 2 the names, addresses, and other information that applicants wished to appear on their Maryland driver’s licenses. Portillo provided the applicants and Payne and/or Co-Conspirator 2 with fraudulent documents necessary to obtain a Maryland driver’s license, including proof of payment of taxes, proof of Maryland residence, a valid license number from Motor Vehicle Departments in other states, and an identification document. Portillo and others assisted the applicants to travel to the Largo branch of the MVA, and directed the applicants to Payne’s or Co-Conspirator 2’s workstation, where applicants obtained Maryland driver’s licenses produced by Payne or Co-Conspirator 2 without lawful authority. Payne knew that the documents used in support of the driver’s licenses were fraudulent.
For example, on January 6, 2016, January 12, 2016, and February 11, 2016, Payne and Portillo met in the parking lot of the MVA Largo Branch. After each meeting Payne produced six, eight, and seven fraudulent driver’s licenses, respectively. During the conspiracy, the documents provided to obtain the fraudulent Maryland driver’s licenses included at least four Virginia DMV licenses and a bank statement belonging to real people that were used multiple times during the conspiracy. The conspiracy resulted in the unlawful production and transfer of at least 276 Maryland driver’s licenses. In exchange for the improperly issued driver’s licenses, Portillo paid Payne at least $25,000 in cash and gifts.
Payne faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the conspiracy. As part of her plea agreement, Payne will also be required to pay a money judgment of at least $25,000, which constitutes assets derived from or obtained by Payne as a result of the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Warner Antonio Portillo, age 36, of Manassas, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Investigation and Security Services for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Mund, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Claims Manager for Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Jermaine Rose, a former lead claims examiner for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA), pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud arising out of his participation in a pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Special Agent in Charge John Marengo of the United States Secret Service’s Detroit Field Office.
Jermaine Rose, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud arising out of his participation in a wide-ranging fraud scheme designed to provide Rose’s co-conspirators with pandemic unemployment insurance benefits to which they were not entitled.
United States Attorney Ison stated “The theft of pandemic unemployment insurance benefits is always a serious crime. The fact that an employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency facilitated this theft makes it all the more outlandish. The conduct here was a major breach of the public trust, and my office is committed to bringing all those who abuse the public trust by participating in Covid-19 fraud schemes to justice.”
“Jermaine Rose, while serving as a State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency employee, violated his duty as an employee to allow the unauthorized payment of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims. During a time when so many deserving people suffered from pandemic-related economic challenges, Rose exploited his position to release payment on fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in exchange for illicit payments from his co-conspirators. We will continue to work with our law enforcement and state partners to investigate those who exploit the UI system, “ stated Special Agent-in-Charge Irene Lindow, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
Special Agent in Charge Marengo stated, “We are thankful to the Department of Labor, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency and the US Attorney’s Office for partnering with us in the investigation and prosecution of this case. We will continue to work with our partners to protect our nation’s financial infrastructure against individuals who take advantage of their position.”
According to the plea agreement, Rose was working as a lead claims examiner for the MUIA in April 2020, and as such, had electronic access to the MUIA claims database. Rose could use his credentials to access and approve specific UI claims submitted to the agency.
The plea documents indicate that beginning in approximately April 2020, Rose entered into an agreement with various individuals to defraud the MUIA by obtaining UI benefits through the submission of false UI claims. Rose’s co-conspirators would electronically submit fraudulent claims to MUIA in the names of various individuals, some of whom would be victims of identity theft and some of whom were entirely fictitious people. These co-conspirators would make various false statements in the applications attesting to the eligibility of these purported claimants and would often upload fictitious documentation to support those fraudulent claims. The co-conspirators would then communicate with Rose, either directly or through intermediaries, and identify the claims that they had submitted. Rose would then use his insider access to the MUIA system to approve the claims and release benefits. Most of the time, benefits would be electronically loaded onto Bank of America debit cards and mailed to addresses controlled by Rose’s co-conspirators. Rose was often paid for his services, typically in amounts between $50 and $150 per claim he touched.
While some of the individuals who approached Rose had legitimate UI claims and worked with him solely to receive benefits on an accelerated schedule, many of the individuals with whom Rose conspired submitted fraudulent UI claims in bulk. In his plea agreement, Rose acknowledged that he was well aware that many of the claims that he authorized were fraudulent.
Sentencing is set for July 21, 2022, before United States District Judge Linda V. Parker.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John K. Neal and Alyse Wu. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General and the Secret Service, with assistance from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Indicted for Assaulting Inmates and Falsifying a ReportRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Montgomery, Alabama, returned a four-count indictment charging former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Sergeant Lorenzo Mills, 55, with assaulting three compliant inmates with a wooden baton at ADOC’s Draper Correctional Facility. Mills is also charged with falsification of records for submitting a false written statement in connection with the incident.
The indictment alleges that, on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a Correctional Sergeant with ADOC, subjected three inmates to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden baton and that assault caused bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon. The indictment further alleges that Mills submitted a false written statement in connection with the incident. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Mills falsely wrote in his statement that he had not used any force against the three inmate victims.
Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each of the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense. Mills is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama made the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama, and Trial Attorneys David Reese and Nikhil Ramnaney of the Civil Rights Division.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Indicted for Assaulting Inmates and Falsifying ReportRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Montgomery, Alabama, returned a four-count indictment charging former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Sergeant Lorenzo Mills, 55, with assaulting three compliant inmates with a wooden baton at ADOC’s Draper Correctional Facility. Mills is also charged with falsification of records for submitting a false written statement in connection with the incident.
The indictment alleges that on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a Correctional Sergeant with ADOC, subjected three inmates to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden baton, and that the assault caused bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon. The indictment further alleges that Mills submitted a false written statement in connection with the incident. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Mills falsely wrote in his statement that he had not used any force against the three inmate victims.
Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each of the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama made the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Field Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama, and Trial Attorneys David Reese and Nikhil Ramnaney of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida man who defrauded elderly investors with fake commodities investment scheme sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle –A Cocoa Beach, Florida, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison for wire fraud in connection with his million-dollar scheme to pose as a successful commodities trader, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Matthew White, 29, accepted $1.29 million in investments from family, friends, and others, promising big gains. In truth, little was invested, and the profits were non-existent. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik acknowledged that White was working to pay back the money he stole. However, the judge said a prison sentence is important to show there is a price to pay for “targeting vulnerable people and stealing their money.”
According to records filed in the case, between 2011 and 2018, White solicited funds from investors in Florida and Washington State. White represented that he would use the money to successfully trade in futures contracts first under his own name, and later under the name of his company, M.W. Global Futures LLC, of which he was the sole member. White claimed to have expertise as a commodities trader, with special training. He also claimed to be a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. All of these claims were false.
White provided promotional materials that claimed his trading would provide a high return on investment. In October 2017, he sent one elderly investor a brochure claiming a return on investment in excess of 16% annually. Once he got their funds, White sent investors statements purporting to show substantial trading activity and profits. The statements also showed White’s commissions, which were allegedly tied to the level of profits. White sent some of these fictitious statements via email, constituting wire fraud. Very little of the money was actually traded in investment accounts, and the investments that were traded resulted in losses.
Of the $1.29 million, White repaid approximately $425,000 as redemptions and purported profits during the scheme. In November 2018, White was contacted by investigators from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He then repaid an additional $602,000 to two victims. White owes the remaining $281,970 in restitution to his victims. According to White’s defense counsel, he is paying $80,000 towards that restitution amount today, before his prison term.
Speaking in court today, Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Diggs said White ran his fraud with repetition and persistence. “It was not a one-time lapse in judgment, for years he sent fake account statements and got new infusions of cash…. He knew the victims were elderly and vulnerable. They had their own hopes and plans for this money.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Division of Enforcement of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Diggs.
Federal Settlement with Recycling Company Will Reduce Release of Ozone Depleting Refrigerants That Contribute to Climate ChangeRead the Press Release
The United States, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has reached a proposed settlement with Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. of Portland, Oregon, to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and regulations designed to protect stratospheric ozone at 40 scrap metal recycling facilities throughout the United States.
If approved by the court, the settlement will require the company to pay a civil penalty of $1,550,000, implement compliance measures worth over $1,700,000 to prevent the release of ozone-depleting refrigerants and non-exempt substitutes from refrigerant-containing items during their processing and disposal and complete an environmental mitigation project. The complaint filed together with the consent decree alleges that Schnitzer failed to recover refrigerant from small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioners before disposal or to verify from the supplier that the refrigerant had been properly recovered prior to delivery to Schnitzer’s facilities.
“To help protect stratospheric ozone and reduce the risks of climate change, the Department of Justice will seek to ensure companies like Schnitzer comply with the Clean Air Act when recycling appliances and motor vehicles containing harmful refrigerants,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
“Many refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming if released into the atmosphere,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement will help protect our climate by ensuring that these chemicals are managed properly at 40 recycling facilities across the country.”
Under the settlement, Schnitzer must implement an EPA-approved Refrigerant Recovery Management Program (RRMP) at its 40 U.S. facilities. The RRMP includes, among other things: installation of refrigerant recovery systems at Schnitzer’s facilities; screening procedures for scrap appliances and vehicles; new forms for statements and contracts to verify any refrigerant recovery from appliances and motor vehicles prior to receipt by Schnitzer; notices to customers regarding proper procedures for delivering items currently or previously containing refrigerants; employee training on procedures for ensuring compliance with regulations designed to prevent the release of refrigerants; and recordkeeping and reporting obligations.
The settlement also requires Schnitzer to perform an environmental mitigation project involving the destruction of all R-12 refrigerant in scrapped appliances and automobiles received at its facilities. R-12 contains chlorofluorocarbons and has over 10,000 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.
Today’s action was filed by the United States, on behalf of the EPA.
More information:
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. To view the proposed consent decree or to submit a comment during the public comment period, visit: justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees
Clean Air Act enforcement: epa.gov/enforcement/air-enforcement
Ozone Protection Under Title VI of the Clean Air Act: epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/ozone-protection-under-title-vi-clean-air-act
Climate Change: epa.gov/climate-change
Federal Jury Convicts Anchorage Man on Drug Related ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man today for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Griffin, 33, was stopped by Alaska State Troopers on March 29, 2017, for speeding near Healy, Alaska. During the routine stop the Trooper noticed a large amount of cash in the vehicle. When asked about the cash Griffin explained that people donated money to him and in return those donors received a gift of marijuana. The officer also inquired about any firearms in the vehicle. After initially denying having any firearms, Griffin conceded there were some in the vehicle. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement found five pounds of methamphetamine, a quantity of heroin and marijuana, over $40,000 in cash and 17 firearms in Griffin’s vehicle. Subsequently, in the spring of 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Griffin was selling methamphetamine in Anchorage. On April 30 law enforcement conducted a control buy of 50 grams of actual methamphetamine from the defendant.
After the close of the government’s case and prior to the verdict, Griffin cut off his ankle monitor and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
If the public has any information about Griffin’s current location, please contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 907-271-5154.
The Alaska State Troopers, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephan A. Collins prosecuted the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A federal grand jury in New Orleans, Louisiana returned a three-count indictment charging a New Orleans man for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act.
According to court documents, NICHOLAS WEBER, age 29, is charged in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). In Count 2, WEBER is charged with possessing firearms in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). In Count 3, WEBER is charged with possession of a firearms by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
If convicted of Count 1, WEBER faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release. If convicted of Count 2, WEBER faces a mandatory consecutive 5 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. If convicted of Count 3, WEBER faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release. WEBER faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisiana State Police as part of NOPD’s Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (“VCAIT”). The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Usher.
Essex County Man Convicted of Using Credit Cards Stolen from U.S. Mail to Defraud Banks and Commit Identity TheftRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was convicted today for his role in scheming with at least one U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee and others to steal credit cards from the mail and then steal victims’ identities in order to use the stolen cards to make hundreds of thousands of dollars of retail and online purchases, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced.
Dashaun Brown, 28, of Newark, was convicted on four counts of the superseding indictment against him: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, receipt and possession of stolen mail, and aggravated identity theft in connection with bank fraud, following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court. Brown was acquitted on one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Dashaun Brown, Jahad Salter, 29, and Hakir Brown, 28, engaged USPS employees, including Khadijah Banks-Oneal, 31, to steal credit cards from the mail in exchange for compensation. Once they obtained the stolen cards, Dashaun Brown and his conspirators posed as the accountholders of the stolen credit cards when calling the banks that issued the cards and used personal identifying information belonging to the accountholders to activate the cards and to obtain or change information about the stolen credit cards. They then used the stolen credit cards to make purchases at retail stores in New Jersey and elsewhere, resulting in attempted losses of over $1 million.
Salter, Hakir Brown, and Banks-Oneal previously pleaded guilty for their respective roles in this scheme and are awaiting sentencing. Salter pleaded guilty on April 12, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30, 2022. Hakir Brown pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and his sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2022. Banks-Oneal pleaded guilty on March 30, 2022, to receiving bribes as a federal employee, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2022.
The charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud are each punishable by a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. The charge of receipt and possession of stolen mail is punishable by a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison sentence imposed. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2022.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Postal Inspector of Charge Damon Wood, Philadelphia Division; and special agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty verdict. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, District of New Jersey, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Mid-Atlantic Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew S. McKay; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; the Livingston, New Jersey Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gary Marshuetz; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Department of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara; the Essex County, New Jersey Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the New Providence, New Jersey, Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Theresa A. Gazaway; and the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Jason Massimino, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara F. Merin and Elaine K. Lou of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Edinburg woman sentenced for importing nearly 25 kilos of heroinRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Edinburg resident citizen has been ordered to prison for importing more than $827,000 in heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Amanda Zaragoza pleaded guilty July 29, 2021.
Today, Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Zaragoza to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Zaragoza had been previously involved in successful drug trafficking incidents, had extensive contacts within the drug trafficking organization and significant mental health and substance abuse issues. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that she played a significant part in the movement of controlled substances into the United States from Mexico.
On May 17, 2021, Zaragoza attempted to pass through the port of entry located in Pharr while driving a grey Volkswagen sedan. After she made a negative declaration, a K-9 alerted authorities to narcotics in the tires of the vehicle. Inside, an X-ray inspection revealed a total of 24.49 kilograms of heroin.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $827,259.
Zaragoza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Stalking and Assaulting Ex-GirlfriendRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Cooke, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison for a series of incidents in which he stalked and assaulted his ex-girlfriend and set fire to her family’s residence in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
Cooke pleaded guilty in February 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of arson, attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, stalking, and simple assault. He was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. Following completion of his prison term, Cooke is to be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Cooke stalked and harassed his ex-girlfriend and her family between March 2021, when the relationship ended, and October 2021, when he was arrested. He set fire to the exterior of the victims’ apartment building in the 300 block of Anacostia Road SE on multiple dates, terrorizing those in the building. Cooke was under a stay-away and no-contact order issued by the Court barring him from the victim and her family’s apartment building. Nonetheless, on Aug. 30, 2021, at approximately 2 a.m., he lit items on fire and threw them into the victims’ window. Nearly 2 ½ hours later, he also fired approximately 16 rounds at the victims’ building. No one was hurt.
Cooke also arranged a meeting with his ex-girlfriend by hacking an Instagram account of one of her friends. He surprised his ex-girlfriend on Sept. 12, 2021, at her college residence hall, grabbed her, dragged her into a laundry room, and hit her in the face multiple times. He fled before police arrived. Finally, on Oct. 2, 2021, he was caught on surveillance video using a gas can and accelerant to once again set fire to the exterior of the family’s apartment building. He was arrested on Oct. 4, 2021.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department’s Fire Investigation Unit and the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lu Lan, Paralegal Specialist Brenda Williams, and Special Agents Neil D’Cunha and Nelson Rhone of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit.
Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Horton, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Federal Narcotics ChargeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Edward Magruder, 51, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 15 years in prison on a federal drug charge stemming from his travels to New York to obtain large amounts of heroin that he would later redistribute in the Washington, D.C. area.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Magruder pleaded guilty in October 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of unlawful possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon prison sentence of 12 to 15 years, followed by five years of supervised release. The Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly accepted the plea and sentenced Magruder accordingly.
The investigation began in the summer of 2018. FBI agents received information that Magruder would travel to New York to acquire narcotics and then return to Washington, D.C. In particular, FBI agents learned through their investigation that, between December 2018 and May 31, 2019, Margruder traveled to New York from Washington, D.C. on at least seven separate occasions. On each trip, he stayed in New York for only a short period of time – generally, a few hours -- and then returned to Washington, D.C.
On June 7, 2019, FBI agents learned that Magruder had traveled from Washington, D.C. to New York via Greyhound bus. Agents traveled to New York to conduct surveillance. They observed him at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan at approximately 2:30 p.m. Agents observed him as he stood outside of the bus terminal for approximately an hour and made several calls using a flip phone. Magruder was carrying a bright blue backpack.
The following day on June 8, 2019, Magruder departed the Port Authority Bus Terminal and began traveling towards Washington, D.C. He arrived at Union Station in Washington, D.C. at approximately 4:30 p.m. He walked off the bus carrying the same bright blue backpack. Agents approached Magruder, stopped him, and searched his backpack. At the bottom of the backpack, underneath several items of clothing, were two blocks of compressed tan powder, wrapped in duct tape and several plastic bags. Each block weighed approximately 600 grams. A chemist with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory examined the blocks. She concluded that together they weighed approximately 1,200 grams (1.2 kilograms), and that they consisted of a mixture and substance containing heroin. The estimated street value of the heroin is approximately $100,000.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, and Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle.
DEA Columbia Holds 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to Prevent Addiction and Reduce Overdose DeathsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SC– The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division, which includes the state of South Carolina, will host its 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on NEXT Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
During DEA’s last Rx Drug Take Back Day, which was held on Saturday, October 23, 2021, South Carolinians turned in 9,663 pounds of unneeded, unwanted or expired prescription medications.
The event will accept 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.
“Prescription drug abuse driven by the use of synthetic opioids, continues to be a major threat to our public safety,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division. “Removing one pill out of circulation could potentially save a life. Join us on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10 am to 2 pm at DEA’s 22nd national prescription drug Take Back event. It’s free and anonymous, no questions asked.”
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.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov . Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv.
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Cumberland County Man Sentenced to 161 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sheldon Tee Brooks, age 58, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 19, 2022, to 161 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, for distribution of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Brooks previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute more than 12 grams of crack cocaine, and to possessing a short-barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number in furtherance of drug trafficking between October and November 2019, in Cumberland County.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby 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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Charlotte County Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Smuggle Drugs into PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Troy Alexander Cole (28, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to attempted distribution of methamphetamine and MDMA (commonly referred to as “Molly”). Cole faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Cole worked as a correctional officer at the Charlotte Correctional Institution (CCI) in Punta Gorda. In June 2021, on three separate occasions, Cole agreed to smuggle methamphetamine or MDMA into the prison where he worked and provide the contraband to an inmate. He agreed to do so in exchange for payments of $400, $1,000, and $4,000, respectively.
On each occasion, Cole picked up a package containing what he believed were the controlled substances and then entered CCI. Cole would then conceal the packages containing the purported controlled substances and notify the inmate that they were available for retrieval.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
California Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise and Creating Child Sexual Abuse Material of Four Young ChildrenRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to life in prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of four young children, including children he abused with his co-defendants who were previously sentenced.
John Richard Brinson Jr., 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2021, to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and four counts of production of child pornography, each representing a different victim. According to court documents and information stated during court proceedings, in 2016 and 2017, Brinson distributed and advertised CSAM on a website dedicated to the sexual abuse of children ages zero to five years old. Brinson, along with co-defendants Arlan Harrell and Moises Martinez, was an active member of this website, which was hosted on Tor, a computer network on the dark web that is specifically designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the internet. Brinson used the website to view CSAM, to advertise and distribute CSAM, including CSAM he produced, and to encourage other members to post more CSAM. Additionally, Brinson used this website to meet like-minded offenders, including Harrell and Martinez, and commit additional offenses against children with them in-person.
“Those who engage in child exploitation enterprises and create child sexual abuse material will be tracked down and held accountable for their heinous conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Preying on children with no regard to the grievous harm abusers cause to their victims and their families will not be tolerated. I commend the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that these defendants would be held accountable for their crimes and justice sought for the victims.”
“The sentence imposed in this case is warranted by the defendant’s callous and violent abuse of children, some of whom were filmed while screaming in pain,” said U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. “The child exploitation enterprise impacted more than 20 victims – children who were sexually assaulted, sometimes repeatedly, solely for the pleasure of this defendant and his cohorts. The Justice Department will continue its effort to protect the most vulnerable among us by aggressively prosecuting the most dangerous predators.”
“The depravity of this enterprise was reflected in today’s sentencing,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “Homeland Security Investigations prioritizes crimes of victimization and will leave no stone unturned to rescue every victim possible and bring every perpetrator to justice. I am very proud of the Homeland Security Investigations special agents from Boston, Fresno and right here in Los Angeles that worked tirelessly with our partners at the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to protect our most innocent and remove these predators from our communities.”
According to court documents and information stated during court proceedings, Brinson created child sexual abuse material of children with ages ranging from approximately three to nine years old. On at least two separate occasions, Brinson and Harrell met at Brinson’s home to create CSAM depicting their sexual abuse of two of the minors together. On one of those occasions, Harrell secured the custody of another minor and traveled with the minor to Brinson’s house to create CSAM depicting both Harrell and Brinson engaging in the sexual abuse of that minor. On another occasion, Brinson and Martinez arranged to meet at Brinson’s house to create CSAM depicting their sexual abuse of two minors together, one brought by Brinson and one by Martinez. In total, Brinson, Martinez and Harrell pleaded guilty to creating CSAM depicting themselves engaging in sexual acts with or otherwise sexually exploiting more than 20 children under the age of nine, including 10 children four years of age or younger. The CSAM that Brinson created by himself and with his co-defendants took place in the house he shared with co-defendant Keith Lawniczak. According to court documents and information stated during court proceedings, Lawniczak admitted that he offered Brinson a room in his house to live in free of charge and benefitted from Brinson’s abuse of one of the minors because he had an opportunity to view the sexual acts between Brinson and the minor.
Co-defendant Martinez pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and production of child pornography and was sentenced to 55 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Lawniczak pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and was sentenced to 12 years in prison and lifetime supervised release. Harrell pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, obtaining custody of a minor for purposes of producing child pornography, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography and was sentenced to life in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Los Angeles office, along with HSI’s Fresno and Boston offices, investigated the case. The High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) provided significant assistance.
Trial Attorneys Lauren S. Kupersmith and Kyle P. Reynolds of the Criminal Division’s CEOS and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devon Myers and Kim Meyer for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for a $1.5 Million Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Brandon Ross, a/k/a “Shaba X”, age 33, of Los Angeles, California to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a large-scale money laundering conspiracy. As part of his guilty plea, Ross will be required to pay at least $1,500,000 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to his plea agreement, from October 2015 to January 2017, Ross, Peter Unakalu, Khalid Razaq, Saul Eady, Troy Barbour, and others participated in a scheme to launder proceeds of criminal activity by fraudulently obtaining technology-related merchandise without payment and selling the merchandise in furtherance of the money laundering scheme.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Ross convinced three technology-related companies (victim companies) that his co-conspirators were authorized to make purchase agreements and then caused the victim companies to ship specialized communications equipment, cell phones, computers, and large screen televisions to co-conspirators without payment. Ross and his co-conspirators subsequently sold or disposed of the fraudulently obtained property after receiving them. These transactions were designed to conceal the true nature, location, source, and ownership of the unlawful proceeds.
It was further part of the conspiracy that Ross received the fraudulently obtained proceeds and engaged in a series of bank and wire transfers to his co-conspirators in the effort to conceal the criminal nature of the scheme. For example, on November 28, 2016, Ross deposited $7,500 in cash into Razaq’s bank account. Then on December 2, 2016, Ross wired $2,955 to Unakalu, who was located in Nigeria, and falsely reported that it was for family support. Additionally, in January and February 2017, Barbour paid a Maryland-based moving company to transport flat-screen televisions from Virginia to California. On March 1, 2017, Ross provided Razaq $108,570 in cash as Razaq’s share of the proceeds from the scheme.
Based on bank records, the value of the goods, surveillance footage, and financial and business records from the victim companies, the loss to the three victim companies was more than $1,500,000.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the DOD-OIG and HSI for their work on the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Customs and Border Protection for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted the case.
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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California Man Arrested and Charged with Making Threats Against LGBTQ CommunityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man was arrested on Tuesday, April 20, 2022 and charged in federal court in Springfield, Mass. in connection with making threats against Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, Calif., was charged by criminal complaint with one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence. Hanson was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in the Central District of California. Hanson will appear before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson in federal court in Springfield on April 29, 2022.
“Hate-filled threats and intimidations have no place in our society,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “We believe Hanson sent a multitude of anonymous threatening and despicable messages related to the LGBTQ community that were intended to evoke fear and division. My office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate threats against members of our communities, no matter what corner of the internet they’re sent from. Perpetrators will be identified, arrested, and held accountable in federal court.”
“Jeremy Hanson is accused of making hate-fueled threats of violence that crossed a line,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Everyone has a right to express their opinion, but repeatedly threatening to kill people, as has been alleged, takes it to a new level. We are always going to pursue individuals who try to intimidate and isolate members of our community by inciting violent, hateful acts. Threats to life are most certainly not protected speech and they cause real fear in victims. Rest assured, the FBI will do everything we can to bring to justice anyone who commits these criminal acts.”
According to the criminal complaint, between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8, 2021, Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. received various threatening messages and comments demonstrating bias against specific gender identities submitted through its website’s “Contact Us” page and in the comments section on its webpages that corresponded to the word entries for “Girl” and “Woman.” Authorities later identified the user as Hanson. As a result of the threats, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield and New York City for approximately five business days.
Specifically, it is alleged that on Oct. 2, 2021, Hanson used the handle “@anonYmous” to post the following comment on the dictionary’s website definition of “female”: “It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.”
Hanson also allegedly sent the following threatening message via the website’s “Contact Us” page: “You [sic] headquarters should be shot up and bombed. It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science tranny [sic] agenda and altered the definition of ‘female’ as part of the Left’s efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality. You evil Marxists should all be killed. It would be poetic justice to have someone storm your offices and shoot up the place, leaving none of you commies alive.”
It is further alleged that on Oct. 8, 2021, Hanson posted another threatening comment on the dictionary’s website and a threatening message via the “Contact Us” page that threatened to “bomb your offices for lying and creating fake…”.
The investigation identified numerous related threats, including to the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Land O’ Lakes, Hasbro, Inc., IGN Entertainment, the President of the University of North Texas, two professors at Loyola Marymount University and a New York City rabbi.
Individuals or entities who believe they may be victims of this crime should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 888-221-6023.
The charge of interstate transmission of communications to injure the person of another provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brownsville woman handed significant sentence for importing $1.4M in methRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 54-year-old woman has been sent to federal prison for illegally importing approximately 76 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Ana Luisa Ponce pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2021.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Ponce to serve 262 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard Ponce had admitted to previously transporting narcotics for the same drug trafficking organization. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Ponce, who has a significant prior criminal record, was arrested with a very large amount of a very dangerous drug.
On Aug. 25, 2021, Ponce attempted to cross into the United States through the Hidalgo Port of Entry. She claimed she was planning to visit a friend in Houston, but a K-9 alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics.
At secondary inspection, an X-ray scan revealed anomalies in the gas tank of Ponce’s vehicle. Law enforcement discovered a plastic pouch containing liquid meth weighing approximately 76 kilograms. She ultimately admitted that she knew she was transporting narcotics.
The drugs had an estimated street value of $1.4 million.
Ponce has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons Facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarina S. DiPiazza prosecuted the case.
Bridgeport Gang Member Involved in Multiple Shootings Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
UNDREA KIRKLAND, also known as “Spooda,” 25, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 210 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in multiple shootings and related gang activity.
Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Kirkand has been a member of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, whose members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals; and celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube. GHB/Hotz members and associates also committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities. From approximately 2017 until August 2020, GHB/Hotz members were aligned with members of the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport, against rival groups in Bridgeport, including the East End, East Side and PT Barnum gangs, as well as 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.
On September 16, 2021, Kirkland pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, admitting that on May 22, 2015, he shot and attempted to kill “KJ,” a member or associate of the 150 gang, at the intersection of Park Street and Shelton Street on Bridgeport’s East Side; on February 27, 2018, he and others shot and attempted to kill “TH,” “RF” and “GS,” members or associates of the East End gang, at 1306 Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport; and on October 4, 2018, he and others shot and attempted to kill “MS,” a member or associate of the East End gang, inside the Greene Homes housing complex.
Kirkland also appears in a YouTube video, surrounded by other GHB/Hotz and O.N.E. members, possessing a firearm with a 50-round drum, discussing acts of violence, and celebrating a jury acquittal in his state trial for attempted murder. Kirkland also asserted in the YouTube video that the acquittal was a result of jury intimidation.
Kirkland has been detained since April 11, 2019.
This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Stratford and Naugatuck Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick and Karen L. Peck.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
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.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boise Man Sentenced for Selling Methamphetamine, Heroin, and a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Boise man was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for selling controlled substances and a stolen firearm.
According to court records, in May 2021, Jason William Czech, 42, arranged to meet with an individual at a store parking lot in Boise to sell controlled substances and a firearm. Unknown to Czech at the time, the buyer was a confidential informant who was working at the direction of the Boise Police Department. Czech met with the confidential informant and exchanged methamphetamine and heroin for cash, then later sold a firearm that had recently been reported stolen.
U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, from the District of Wyoming, sitting by designation, sentenced Czech to 66 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Czech pleaded guilty to the crime on December 13, 2021. Czech has four prior felony convictions and was on parole at the time he committed the offenses.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Boise Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which led to charges.
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.
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Benton Harbor FBI Safe Streets Task Force Leads to Conviction of Felon Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Joseph Favorite, 24, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to serve 120 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering also imposed a period of supervised release of 3 years to follow. Both the 120 months’ incarceration and 3 years’ supervised release are the statutory maximum terms a judge can impose for a felon possessing a firearm.
Members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested Favorite on July 1, 2021, following an investigation into his illegal firearm possession and a search of his residence. At the time, Favorite was a parole absconder and had an active warrant for assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a June 27, 2021, incident involving a firearm. During the search of Favorite’s bedroom, investigators found a loaded 9mm pistol with 50-round drum magazine attached. Favorite was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he was previously convicted in 2016 of assault to do great bodily harm and assault with a dangerous weapon. Favorite pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 13, 2022. In sentencing Favorite to 120 months’ custody, Judge Beckering expressed concern for Favorite’s “violent history” and “disturbing” conduct, and noted he contributed “to the escalating violence in Benton Harbor.”
U.S. Attorney Birge said, “My office remains committed to supporting law enforcement task forces that collaborate to address the violent crime plaguing our communities—particularly gun violence. We will continue to work together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
“For years, this defendant committed violence against the citizens of Benton Harbor and its surrounding communities with impunity,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “I want to thank our partners in the Benton Harbor FBI Safe Streets Task Force for all of their hard work on this investigation and for their efforts to keep our communities safe.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky and investigated by the Benton Harbor FBI Safe Streets Task Force. The Safe Streets Task Force includes law enforcement officers from the FBI, Michigan State Police, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.
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Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Facilitating Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Beckley woman pleaded guilty to interstate travel in aid of the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ciara Harvey, 26, admitted that she traveled between Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Beckley on December 15, 2017, to deliver a package containing methamphetamine.
Harvey further admitted that she made these roundtrips to transport drug packages about once every two weeks from October 2017 until mid-2019, and that she was paid $16,000 to $20,000 annually for doing so.
Harvey is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution was 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-52.
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Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Being a Straw PurchaserRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley woman pleaded guilty today to providing false information on an ATF form in order to acquire a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2021, Arileah Lacy, also known as Leah, 24, bought a Ruger, Model Ruger-57, 5.7x28 caliber pistol, for an individual who is separately charged in a pending gun trafficking conspiracy, Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh.” Jones had given Lacy money to buy the firearm and told her which one to buy from a gun dealer in Beckley, West Virginia.
Lacy purchased at least six firearms as part of the overall scheme. Each time Lacy bought firearms for Jones, she lied on ATF Form 4473, Federal Firearms Transaction Records certifying that she was buying the guns for herself when she knew they were for Jones.
Lacy is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which conducted the investigation.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-46.
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Battleboro Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Heroin and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Battleboro, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 160 months in prison for Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin and a Quantity of Fentanyl.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Dwight Harmon, also known as “Jersey,” 54, was named in an Indictment filed on May 4, 2021 charging him with Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin (Counts One and Two), Distribution of a Quantity of Fentanyl (Count Three), and Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin and a Quantity of Fentanyl (Counts Four, Five, and Six). On December 7, 2021, Harmon entered a plea of guilty to Count Four.
In May 2020, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office received information that Harmon was distributing various controlled substances in the area of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Over the next several months, agents investigated the Defendant, and from May through February 2021, a confidential source conducted controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from the Defendant.
During the course of the investigation, agents also interviewed several witnesses who explained that Harmon was a high-volume distributor of heroin, as well as other drugs.
The witnesses stated that Harmon was frequently armed with a handgun, and that he threatened to harm others who he believed were cooperating with authorities. According to one witness, Harmon once bragged that he had beaten a murder charge, and that he was not afraid to shoot the police. Another witness stated that Harmon once offered to pay $2,000 to have a potential cooperator killed.
Harmon was determined to be a Career Offender based on prior convictions for Common Law Robbery and Distribute, Dispense, and Possess Controlled Dangerous Substances with Intent to Distribute Within 1,000 Feet of a School. Harmon also had prior convictions for drug offenses, as well as convictions for Aggravated Assault and Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.
Two related defendants have previously been sentenced:
- James Otis Davis, Jr. (5:20-CR-538-M-1): sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.
- Tony Pittman (5:21-CR-274-M-1): sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:21-CR-00198-M-1.
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Athens Owner of Hearing Aid Practice Charged with Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An Athens-based businessman has been charged with health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and TVA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Meagan Sands.
An information filed today in U.S. District Court charges Joshua D. Creasy, 44, of Athens, Alabama, with fifteen counts of health care fraud. Creasy operated One Love Hearing Concepts, a practice with multiple storefront locations that provided hearing aids and other hearing solutions. According to the information, Creasy schemed to defraud insurers into paying for medically unnecessary hearing aids. For example, Creasy provided free products to induce beneficiaries to allow One Love to bill their insurance for hearing aids. He also billed insurance for hearing aids that beneficiaries never received. In some cases insurance was billed for hearing aids for individuals who never visited a One Love location, or for individuals who came in but said they did not want or need the hearing aids.
Creasy has agreed to plead guilty to the charges. A change-of-plea hearing has not yet been scheduled. In a plea agreement also filed today, Creasy stipulated that he will pay forfeiture of $1,000,000 and pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $1,500,000.
The maximum penalty for each count of health care fraud is ten years in prison.
The FBI and TVA-OIG investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting it.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Associate of Springfield La Cosa Nostra Sentenced for Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man with known ties to organized crime was sentenced yesterday for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
David Cecchetelli, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time served (approximately 62 days in prison) and one year of supervised release to be served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. In December 2021, Cecchetelli pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
During a search of Cecchetelli’s residence on Dec. 5, 2019, law enforcement found a gun and ammunition in Cecchetelli’s bedroom. The ammunition was concealed under his mattress. Cecchetelli is a known associate of the Genovese LCN in Springfield and was previously convicted of bookmaking with the underboss of the Springfield LCN in 2005. Due to his prior conviction, Cecchetelli is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possession of A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Deveon Demond Jenkins (29, Ocala) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jenkins had pleaded guilty on November 29, 2021.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2020, Jenkins was a passenger in the backseat of an automobile that Ocala Police Department officers stopped for a traffic infraction. After a K-9 signaled the presence of contraband in the car, officers searched the vehicle and discovered at Jenkins’s feet a firearm that they later determined was stolen. DNA testing and recorded jail telephone calls subsequently confirmed that Jenkins had been in possession of the firearm. Jenkins, who has 20 prior felony convictions, is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. His numerous prior convictions for the sale of drugs qualify him as an Armed Career Criminal for sentencing purposes.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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.
Alison J. Ramsdell Selected as the 44th U.S. Attorney for the District of South DakotaRead the Press Release
Alison J. Ramsdell has taken the oath of office to become the 44th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. Ms. Ramsdell was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on April 21, 2022, and her appointment took effect on April 22, 2022.
As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Ramsdell leads an office responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and defending the interests of the United States in the District of South Dakota. Ms. Ramsdell was appointed by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, and she will serve in this capacity until the vacancy is filled by a Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed nominee.
Ms. Ramsdell has served the U.S. Attorney’s Office since September 2014, when she joined the District’s Civil Division as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 2016, Ms. Ramsdell was selected to lead the District’s Civil Rights Section. Ms. Ramsdell received her B.A. from Valparaiso University and her J.D. from the University of Iowa School of Law. Following law school, she clerked for the Honorable Karen E. Schreier, District Court Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, and served as the U.S. District Court’s pro se law clerk.
“It is a profound honor to serve the District of South Dakota in this capacity, and I am deeply grateful to be doing the work alongside such exceptional colleagues,” said Ramsdell.
Ms. Ramsdell lives in Flandreau with her husband and two sons.
7 Federal Criminal Cases Charge Drug Dealers Who Allegedly Sold Fentanyl that Caused Deadly Overdoses in Orange CountyRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Federal authorities today announced seven criminal cases against drug dealers who sold fentanyl-laced narcotics that caused fatal overdoses in Orange County, including one case in which three people died in Newport Beach.
The sweep has resulted in the arrest of six defendants pursuant to federal grand jury indictments or criminal complaints. One charged defendant is a fugitive currently being sought by authorities.
All seven defendants are charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. If convicted of this offense, each defendant would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential sentence of life without parole.
“The opioid crisis has resulted in the widespread distribution of fentanyl and a horrific trail of misery resulting from the untimely death of tens of thousands of Americans each year,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “These cases highlight two important lessons, with the first being that many street drugs are contaminated with an extremely powerful opioid that often leads to death. The second is that narcotics dealers face severe consequences in federal court when the distribution of their products results in a fatal overdose.”
“Often when we discuss the rampant rise of drug-caused deaths there’s a focus on numbers, but today’s announcement is an important reminder that these numbers are more than that – these are our children, loved ones and friends,” said DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner. “Fentanyl does not discriminate and it’s affecting every community, ethnicity and generation throughout our country. As we tackle the fentanyl crisis locally, we are intent on bringing justice to victims and their families, while putting drug dealers on notice that even selling one pill can have harsh federal penalties.”
The cases announced today are the result of investigations by the DEA’s Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused by the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents collaborate with local law enforcement to analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution, and, if so, proactively target the drug trafficker. Since the start of the Overdose Justice program in 2018, the DEA has worked with an ever-expanding list of local police agencies to obtain approximately three dozen federal indictments that specifically charge death resulting from narcotics trafficking.
The victims in these cases are of diverse backgrounds, with two of the deceased victims being minors and one a community college student. In most of the cases, the victims did not know they were ingesting fentanyl, which can be deadly in tiny amounts. Some of the alleged drug traffickers knew or had reason to believe their products contained fentanyl, even though they claimed to be selling other narcotics.
All of the case were filed in United States District Court in Santa Ana and will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office:
- William Edward Dick Jr., 51, of Costa Mesa was arrested Thursday for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced cocaine that killed three individuals in a Balboa Island house on the night of October 24, 2021. A criminal complaint filed on Wednesday alleges that two couples had gathered in Newport Beach, enjoyed a dinner together, and one of them decided to purchase cocaine for the group. They eventually contacted Dick, who agreed to sell them $200 worth of cocaine, which he delivered to the house where the couples were staying. After snorting the purported cocaine, all four suffered overdoses, and three of the individuals were pronounced dead at house the next morning. Dick, who is currently charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, is scheduled to make his first court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. The DEA and the Newport Beach Police Department are investigating this matter, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Marrett.
- Omar Alejandro Reynoso, 30, of Costa Mesa, was arrested on Monday after a grand jury indicted him last week on two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Reynoso allegedly provided counterfeit Xanax pills containing fentanyl to a man and a woman who died in his hotel room in incidents three weeks apart in November 2019. At his arraignment on Tuesday, Reynoso pleaded not guilty and was ordered to stand trial on June 14. A United States magistrate judge ordered Reynoso detained without bond while the case is pending. The DEA and the Costa Mesa Police Department are investigating this matter, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Nare.
- Tyler David Wilkinson, 23, of Santa Ana, was named Wednesday in a four-count federal grand jury indictment that alleges he sold counterfeit oxycodone pills to a 17-year-old victim who died in Lake Forest of a fentanyl overdose. The victim purchased the pills in June 2021 after responding to an advertisement Wilkinson posted on Snapchat, the investigation revealed. Six months before the transaction that led to the teen’s death, Wilkinson allegedly possessed distribution quantities of several types of narcotics, including nearly 1,400 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Wilkinson allegedly continued to sell fentanyl-laced pills, even after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence. Wilkinson is currently being sought by authorities. The DEA and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Nare.
- Anthony Bernard Fender, 31, of Tustin, was arrested Monday pursuant to a grand jury indictment filed last week that alleges he sold fentanyl powder that resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man. The indictment further alleges that Fender committed the federal offense after being convicted of a drug trafficking crime in Orange County Superior Court in 2013, which, if proven, would subject Fender to a mandatory life sentence. The DEA and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Marrett.
- Carter Joseph Klein, 25, of Newport Beach, was arrested on April 14 after being named in a one-count indictment that accused him of distributing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of an 18-year-old Orange Coast College student. Klein allegedly sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to the victim in February 2021. Klein was arraigned on the indictment on April 15, when he entered a not guilty plea and was ordered to stand trial on June 7. The DEA and Costa Mesa Police Department are investigating this matter, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang.
- Isai Hernandez Higinio, a.k.a. “Joker,” 23, of Santa Ana, was arrested April 1 pursuant to a grand jury indictment filed last month that alleges he distributed fentanyl in counterfeit Percocet pills to an 18-year-old Tustin resident who died after ingesting the drug. Hernandez was arraigned on April 4, at which time he pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bond. A trial in this case is scheduled for May 31. The DEA and Orange County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Rabbani.
- Matthew Benjamin Hurley, 24, of Virginia, was arrested January 3 on charges alleging that he distributed fentanyl at a motel in Costa Mesa that resulted in a fatal overdose. Hurley, who has been ordered detained without bond, is scheduled to go on trial on September 27. The DEA and the Huntington Beach Police Department are investigating this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gina J. Kong.
Indictments and criminal complaints contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
20th Annual Operation Reach Out Opening Ceremony to Help Mark National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be commemorated April 24-30, 2022, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is sponsoring its 20th Annual Operation Reach Out Opening Ceremony to promote its observance.
The ceremony will be held at the West Virginia State Capitol on Tuesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Rights, access, equity for all victims,” and underscores the importance of helping crime survivors find their justice by enforcing the rights of victims, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity and inclusion for all.
Stephanie Wilson will share her message of hope and strength for fellow survivors as part of Tuesday’s ceremony. Wilson was only 11 years old when a man posing as a store security guard lured her away from her mother at the South Charleston Target and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. As a result of his July 2003 crime, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to prison on both federal and state charges. Wilson now advocates for crime victims and encourages them to remember that they are not alone.
“Stephanie is a true profile in courage,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson, who will emcee the event. “She has triumphed over a horrific ordeal and her continuing dedication to survivors and their loved ones is an inspiration.”
Thompson will present several awards during the ceremony and is also among the scheduled speakers, who include: West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice John A. Hutchinson; West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw; West Virginia Legislative Claims Commission Clerk Janet Kawash; and West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy.
The ceremony is slated for the State Capitol’s South steps, near Kanawha Boulevard. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Senate side of the Capitol’s Upper Rotunda.
Each year, the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys’ offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide in April, to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers.
More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDWV, Victim Witness Program at (304) 345-2200.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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10 Charged for Illegally Trafficking Corals from the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska indicted three men on felony charges and seven additional individuals on misdemeanor charges related to violations of the Lacey Act and smuggling protected marine corals from the Philippines into the United States for retail sale.
According to court documents, Jerome Anthony Stringfield, 43 of Kissimmee, Florida; Albert B. Correira, 35, of Westport, Massachusetts; and Allen William Ockey, 35, of Long Beach, California, are each charged with felony violations of conspiracy, violations of the Lacey Act and smuggling of corals from the Philippines.
In separate filings, the following individuals are each charged with misdemeanor offenses related to violations of the Lacey Act: Derek M. Kelley, 31 of Elkhart, Indiana; Wayne R. King, 42, of Cabot Arizona; James Knight 47, of Newaygo, Michigan; Valeriy V. Gorbounov, 46 of Morrison, Colorado; Nathan C. Meisner, 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota; Ricky A. Sprires, 34, of Gilbert South Carolina; and Michael J. Lecam, 50, of Providence, Rhode Island.
The indictment alleges that between July 2017 and August 2018, the defendants paid a Philippine national to dive for and collect protected marine corals. The Philippine national would illegally ship the collected coral through common carriers and falsely label the packages. All shipments landed and traveled through Anchorage, Alaska. The defendants would then sell the coral online to coral collectors and hobbyists. The indictment further alleges that some corals were illegally sold in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which is an international treaty implemented to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international commercial trade. Additionally, Philippine law prohibits any person to gather, possess, commercially transport, sell or export corals commercially regardless of CITES status. The indictment charges the defendants, through their Philippine supplier, for illegally purchasing and transporting for sale more than 3,000 separate pieces of coral in violation of Philippines and United States law.
The charging document in all 10 cases states that the Republic of the Philippines is one of six countries straddling the Coral Triangle, a 5.4 million-square-kilometer stretch of ocean that contains 75% of the world's coral species, one-third of the Earth's coral reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish. Poaching for corals and other factors have left only 5% of coral reefs in the Philippines in “excellent” condition, with only 1% in a "pristine" state.
The penalties for felony violations of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and a violation of the Lacey Act are a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and a fine of $250,000. The maximum term of imprisonment for smuggling is a term of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for misdemeanor conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and violating the Lacey Act is up to a year in prison and a fine of $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Skrocki and Charise Arce are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Thursday 21 April 2022
Yellowstone Contractor Sentenced to 44 Months on Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that GREGORY MICHAEL SAMUEL TOTH, age 40, was sentenced for assault with intent to commit a felony at a sentencing hearing held before Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 18, 2022. He was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, to be served concurrently to a state sentence, and ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 assessment.
According to the indictment, on or about October 1, 2021, Toth unlawfully committed an assault with the intent to commit a kidnapping in Yellowstone National Park. Toth worked as a construction contractor in Yellowstone and was temporarily residing in a contractor trailer at the Fishing Bridge RV Park, where the assault took place. He was arrested on October 6, 2021, in Park County, Wyoming.
“Assault is a serious crime regardless of the location but when it occurs in a national park, it becomes a federal felony,” said United States Attorney Bob Murray. “This individual is now serving close to four years in federal prison due to an unnecessary assault on an innocent individual. This type of conviction would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of our prosecuting attorney and the investigative work of the National Park Service.”
This crime was investigated National Park Service special agents and Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers. The case was prosecuted by Michael J. Elmore.
Case Number 0:21-cr-00131
For questions relating to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 307-344-2015 or [email protected].
Woonsocket Drug Runner Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Woonsocket woman who acted as a runner for two men convicted of brokering drug deals and supplying fentanyl and crack cocaine has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Natalie Cassidy, 28, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
At the time of her guilty plea, Cassidy admitted that, working in conjunction with Juan Batista, 36, of Woonsocket, and Angel Aviles, 33, of Cranston, she delivered crack cocaine and fentanyl to individuals with whom Batista and Aviles brokered drug deals.
Batista and Aviles are awaiting sentencing, having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
A defendant’s sentence is determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell.
The matter was investigated by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force, comprised of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Central Falls Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Providence Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police.
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Wilkinsburg Teen Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Unlawfully Acquire GunsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Katrae Smith, age 19, formerly of Pittsburgh PA 15221.
According to information presented to the court, in and around April 2021 and June 2021, Smith conspired with others to obtain firearms using his co-defendant, the “straw purchaser.” The conspirators communicated with each other using their cellular phones on multiple occasions in order to unlawfully acquire firearms. Smith’s offense occurred over several months and resulted in the unlawful acquisition of multiple firearms. The Wilkinsburg Police Department recovered one of those firearms while responding to a 911 call. Smith was found with a loaded Glock model 19x, 9mm caliber pistol near him. A trace of the firearm revealed that his co-defendant had purchased that firearm six days prior.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.
Virginia equipment company owner sentenced, fined $50,000 for role in scheme to defraud Roundup coal mineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Virginia equipment company owner who admitted to defrauding Signal Peak Energy, LLC, which operates a coal mine near Roundup, of nearly $250,000 in an equipment purchase scheme was sentenced today to four years of probation, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay restitution, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Robert Wayne Ramsey, 56, of Bluefield, Virginia, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters ordered Ramsey to pay $246,268 restitution.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in March 2017, Larry J. Price, Signal Peak’s former vice president of surface operations, also owned Three Solutions, LLC. It was generally known that Signal Peak purchased significant materials through Three Solutions. Ramsey’s company, Peters Equipment Company (PEC), was doing work at Signal Peak and bidding on additional jobs. Ramsey understood that Price had the final say in awarding many of the Signal Peak jobs.
The government further alleged that in March 2017, Price asked Ramsey for help with a business transaction for Signal Peak. Price told Ramsey that Signal Peak needed to purchase equipment manufactured by a third-party distributor with whom Signal Peak’s upper management was unwilling to do business because of a dispute. Price asked if Ramsey, through PEC, would buy the equipment and sell it to Signal Peak in return for a $250,000 markup.
Price later told Ramsey that PEC should not buy the equipment and instead pay Price’s company, Three Solutions, for the price of the equipment while billing Signal Peak for the amount, plus the markup. Ramsey knew Price was using PEC as an intermediary to disguise the source of the equipment. Ramsey understood that he was deceiving certain Signal Peak managers about the source of the equipment and that the managers did not know PEC was being paid an additional $246,134 to serve as an intermediary. Ramsey also knew that Signal Peak would pay $246,134 more for the equipment as a result of making the purchase through PEC.
Price was sentenced in October 2020 to five years in prison for conviction on multiple crimes stemming from a broad corruption investigation into mine management and operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin M. Rubich, Zeno B. Baucus and Timothy Tatarka prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, IRS and Environmental Protection Agency.
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United States Attorney and Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Announce Appointment of Deputy Prosecutor Laurel J. Holland as a Special Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
Richland, WA – United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref and Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Andy Miller jointly announced today that Laurel J. Holland, who serves as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Benton County, has been appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) for the Eastern District of Washington. As a SAUSA, Holland will prosecute cases in both state and federal court, focusing primarily on crimes against children.
In making this announcement, U.S. Attorney Waldref reiterated her office’s commitment to prosecuting federal cases in the Tri-Cities area. “The number of cases prosecuted from our Richland office has risen over the past several years and we expect this to continue. The Tri-Cities area is the second largest metropolitan center in the Inland Northwest, and we will continue to prosecute the area’s most dangerous criminals to the fullest extent. Today’s announcement should serve as yet another signal to those who victimize children that such crimes will not be tolerated in our communities.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref continued, “Federal, State, Tribal, and local partnerships are essential to building safer and stronger communities in Eastern Washington. Many of these partnerships exist on the law enforcement level, including through joint task forces and cross deputization agreements.” U.S. Attorney Waldref further emphasized, “By combining federal and state resources, we are able to accomplish more to keep our communities safe than we otherwise could.” The SAUSA program applies this same principle to criminal prosecution – permitting experienced prosecutors to handle criminal cases in both state court and federal court.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Andy Miller similarly addressed the importance of utilizing state and federal partnerships to address crime against children in the Tri-Cities area: “As a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and a SAUSA, Laurel Holland will have the ability to rely on both federal and state laws to prosecute those who commit crimes against our children, allowing us to better protect children and achieve justice on behalf of children who are harmed.”
Both U.S. Attorney Waldref and Prosecuting Attorney Miller also commended SAUSA Holland’s commitment and dedication to public service. Holland served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Benton County from October 2009 through October 2015. She later rejoined the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in January 2019, where she continues to handle a wide variety of criminal cases, focusing primarily on crimes against children, including online exploitation as well as physical and sexual abuse. Holland’s appointment as a SAUSA also reflects a homecoming for Holland, who served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Yakima, Washington from 2015-2018. U.S. Attorney Waldref put it like this: “We know from experience that SAUSA Holland is an exceptional attorney and prosecutor. She handles her cases with earnestness and vigor to ensure a just and fair result in each and every case. We are fortunate to have her back in the USAO fold.”
Newly appointed SAUSA Holland expressed her continued desire to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. “I’m excited to rejoin the U.S. Attorney’s Office, while continuing my work as a state prosecutor in Benton County. I am especially honored to work with the talented state and federal investigators who devote their careers to protecting young children from physical and sexual abuse. Through combined state and federal efforts, we can make Benton County a safer place to live, work, and raise our families.”
Union City Resident Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN- Hunter Brett Wherry, 26, of Union City, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon-in-possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on February 27, 2021, an officer with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a residential burglary in Sharon, Tennessee. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the homeowner, Billy Finney, who reported that his home had been burglarized and several items were missing. Witnesses observed a maroon Nissan Altima with two subjects at the home between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. that day with the trunk open. Mr. Finney later provided law enforcement with a list of 11 firearms that were stolen from his home during the burglary.
On March 3, 2021, officers with the Obion County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a male subject and recovered an AR-15 rifle that matched the description of one of the firearms stolen from Mr. Finney’s residence. Photos of the firearm were shown to Mr. Finney, and he confirmed that the firearm was the AR-15 Bump Stock, Red Dot Sight that he reported stolen. Officers then interviewed the male subject, and he said the defendant, Hunter Brett Wherry, gave him the AR-15 "to hold onto." The male subject also said Wherry had given him additional firearms that were now at his residence in Trenton, Tennessee. After receiving permission to search and recover the firearms from the male subject's residence, officers recovered three additional firearms that were reported stolen from Mr. Finney’s residence.
The male subject agreed to work with the officers to recover additional firearms from Wherry. He made a recorded phone call to Wherry and told Wherry that he had a buyer for the remaining guns. Wherry told the male subject to meet him at an address on Vine Street in Union City, Tennessee. An undercover Union City police officer and the male subject then met with Wherry at the designated area. Wherry instructed the undercover officer and the male subject to follow him to a residence in Union City, where the firearms were located. Once there, the pair purchased several firearms from Wherry, including a High Standard Sentinel .22-caliber revolver. During the purchase, one officer left to obtain a search warrant for the residence and vehicles on the property, while the rest continued surveillance of the residence. Before the officer could return with the warrant, Wherry and two other individuals left the residence in a brown Cadillac.
A traffic stop was then conducted on the vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, they observed Wherry in the right rear passenger seat leaning forward as if he was placing something under the seat. Wherry was ultimately removed from the vehicle, and a search of his person revealed a black fanny pack containing 22 grams of methamphetamine, 21 grams of marijuana, 3 syringes (one was filled with an undisclosed substance), and digital scales. Officers also located a Galesi Brescia .32-caliber ACP pistol (serial no 202520) under the seat where Wherry had been seen reaching.
Officers returned with the search warrant and executed it at the Washington Street residence. A search of the Cadillac and the residence, along with the firearms collected from the male subject that assisted the officers in this investigation resulted in the seizure of the following firearms, many of which were stolen during the burglary of Mr. Finney's home:
• Browning 22 Take-Down, .22 caliber long rifle.
• Stevens 311 Double Barrel shotgun.
• W&C Scott and Sons 12-gauge double barrel shotgun.
• High Standard Sentinel, .22-caliber revolver (serial no. 1468971).
• Galesi Brescia .32-caliber ACP pistol (serial no 202520).
• AR-15 Bump Stock, Red Dot Sight, serial # unknown.
• Remington 12-gauge, 870 Express Wood Sock, serial # unknown.
• Remington 12-gauge Shotgun, serial # unknown.
• Savage Model 308, serial # unknown.
• Savage Model 7 Mag Nightcon Scope, serial # unknown.
• Remington 30-06, Simmons Scope Wood Stock, serial # unknown.
• .22 Auto black synthetic stock, serial # unknown.
Wherry waived his Miranda rights and admitted to breaking into Mr. Finney's residence with his girlfriend and stealing several items. After the couple left the residence, they discovered they had stolen a key to a firearm’s safe. They decided to return to the residence and steal the firearms from the safe. Wherry further admitted that he had asked the male subject who assisted the police to help him sell the four firearms that the officers had recovered from the male subject's home earlier that day.
Wherry pled guilty to two counts of being a convicted felon-in-possession of a firearm on December 17, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office, Obion County Sheriff’s Office, Union City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
On April 15, 2022, United States Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Wherry to 140 months' imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Two Previously Deported Men Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on April 20, 2022, two previously deported aliens were indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Tomi Moscat-Lara, a/k/a Randi Torres-Irizarry, age 44, was charged with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien. He had been deported in December 2013, and is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after that date. He was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, due to an arrest which eventually led to a conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Drugs.
Jorge Efren Rivera-Nungaray, a/k/a Gabriel Franko, a/k/a Jorge Efrain Rivera, age 40, was charged with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien. He had been deported in November 2013 and is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after that date. He was found in the United States in Adams County, Pennsylvania, after an April 6, 2021 arrest for terroristic threats and harassment.
Moscat-Lara and Rivera-Nungaray both face a maximum penalty of 2 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
These matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.
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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Two Murfreesboro Men Charged in Conspiracy to Ship Massive Quantities of Methamphetamine to New ZealandRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal indictment unsealed yesterday, charges two Murfreesboro, Tennessee, men with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Steven Weaver, 50, and Jamie Woods, 37, were arrested yesterday by federal agents.
According to the indictment and other Court records, in July 2019, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Miami, Florida, seized three parcels at the Foreign Mail Center, United States Postal Service. The parcels had been mailed from Murfreesboro, Tenn., and were destined to various addresses in New Zealand. Each parcel contained approximately 1400 grams of methamphetamine. A subsequent investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service determined that other similar parcels had also been shipped from Murfreesboro and some were still in transit to their destination in New Zealand.
Further investigation determined that between June 25, 2019, and July 9, 2019, 18 similar parcels had been mailed from Murfreesboro to New Zealand. Although some of the parcels were successfully delivered to their destination, law enforcement was able to intercept nine of the parcels, which contained a total of more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In most instances, the methamphetamine was packaged in a cake mix box and the parcels were identified as “Birthday Gift.” Two of the parcels were determined to have been mailed from the mail room at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, on June 25, 2019. The identification of the origin of these parcels led investigators to video footage from MTSU which captured a vehicle and two individuals and aided in the subsequent identification of the defendants.
As a result of this investigation, New Zealand authorities also arrested several suspects and dismantled a large drug trafficking organization operating out of New Zealand.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations with support from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office; the MTSU Police Department, the Murfreesboro Police Department; and Walmart Global Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Two Leaders of ‘We Build the Wall’ Online Fundraising Campaign Plead Guilty to Defrauding Hundreds of Thousands of DonorsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BRIAN KOLFAGE and ANDREW BADOLATO pled guilty today in connection with their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors to an online crowdfunding campaign known as “We Build the Wall.” Both defendants pled guilty before United States District Judge Analisa Torres.
According to the Indictment filed in the case:
Starting in approximately December 2018, BRIAN KOLFAGE, ANDREW BADOLATO, and others orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors, including donors in the Southern District of New York, in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as “We Build The Wall” that raised more than $25,000,000 to build a wall along the southern border of the United States. In particular, to induce donors to donate to the campaign, KOLFAGE repeatedly and falsely assured the public that he would “not take a penny in salary or compensation” and that “100% of the funds raised . . . will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose.”
Those representations were false. In truth, KOLFAGE, BADOLATO, and others received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall, which they each used in a manner inconsistent with the organization’s public representations. For example, KOLFAGE covertly took for his personal use more than $350,000 in funds that donors had given to We Build the Wall. To conceal the payments to KOLFAGE from We Build the Wall, KOLFAGE, BADOLATO, and others devised a scheme to route those payments from We Build the Wall to KOLFAGE indirectly. They did so by using fake invoices and sham “vendor” arrangements, among other ways, to ensure, as KOLFAGE noted in a text message to BADOLATO, that his pay arrangement remained “completely confidential” and kept on a “need to know” basis.
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KOLFAGE, 39, and BADOLATO, 57, both residents of Florida, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In the same proceeding, KOLFAGE also pled guilty to tax and wire fraud charges filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Both KOLFAGE and BADOLATO are scheduled to be sentenced at 1:00 pm on September 6, 2022, by Judge Torres.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Alison G. Moe, and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution.
Two Georgia Residents Charged with Conspiring to Traffic FirearmsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Police Commissioner John Mueller, Yonkers Police Department, announced charges today against BRYCE MARTIN and XAVIER SIMMS for conspiring to traffic firearms from Georgia to New York. The defendants traveled together with a third co-conspirator who opened fire on a FBI Federal Task Force Officer after law enforcement attempted to interdict in Yonkers, New York on April 20, 2022. The defendants were presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before United States Magistrate Andrew E. Krause.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Gun crime is plaguing our communities, and the actions of the criminals using them are putting lives in danger. Our law enforcement partners are out doing all they can to get illegal weapons and ‘ghost guns’ off the streets before more people get killed. The violence has to stop, and we have to hold accountable those who are breaking the law.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As we allege today, Mr. Martin and Mr. Simms conspired to illegally traffic firearms, and, when law enforcement attempted to intervene, one of their co-conspirators shot and critically wounded one of our task force officers. Subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of several firearms, including a "ghost gun," an untraceable type of weapon that continues to pose a significant threat in our communities. We are grateful for the survival of our partner, and our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones as he continues to recover from his injuries.”
Commissioner Mueller said: “The Yonkers Police and our fantastic federal, state and local partners will never stop from providing a safe and secure environment for our beloved residents. What took place in this incident is yet another example of the hard work and commitment to mission and heroism. These efforts occur each and every day and will continue for as long as is needed to make our communities safe.”
As alleged in the Complaint[1]:
On April 20, 2022, members of the FBI Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and the Yonkers Police Department were investigating illegal firearms activity in the vicinity of Elm and Linden streets in Yonkers, New York. During the course of their investigation, they attempted to interdict members of the conspiracy, including Bryce MARTIN and Xavier SIMMS. A third co-conspirator (“CC-1”) shot and critically wounded an FBI Task Force Officer, at close range, after law enforcement approached members of the conspiracy, including MARTIN and SIMMS.
Law enforcement recovered at least four firearms from members of the conspiracy, including a “Ghost Gun”—a type of firearm that is designed to evade law enforcement detection. Later investigation revealed that SIMMS and MARTIN traveled together with CC-1 from Georgia with several firearms to sell. Evidence recovered from their cellphones showed that SIMMS and MARTIN both had access to specialized firearms, including machinegun-style weapons.
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MARTIN, 23, of Hampton, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiring to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
SIMMS, 22, of Covington, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiring to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.