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25 May 2022
Springfield Man Indicted for Purchasing Pornographic Images, Videos from Three Child VictimsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the sexual exploitation of three minor victims and receiving child pornography.
Jason T. Bernard, 52, was charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 24. The federal indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Bernard on May 5. Bernard has been detained in federal custody without bond since his arrest on May 5.
The federal indictment charges Bernard with three counts of the sexual exploitation of a child in which he used three different minors to produce child pornography from Sept. 14, 2018, to May 5, 2022. The indictment also charges Bernard with one count of using the internet and a cell phone to attempt to persuade one of those minor victims to engage in illegal sexual activity, and one count of receiving child pornography.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the investigation began when nine CyberTips were received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on April 7, 2022. The nine CyberTips involved 145 images of child pornography that Bernard allegedly uploaded for storage to the Verizon Cloud.
As investigators identified Bernard as the account holder, the affidavit says, they received information from law enforcement in North Carolina that Bernard was involved in one of their investigations. Bernard allegedly sent funds through Cash App to one of the victims, a 15-year-old identified in court documents as “Jane Doe 1.” In exchange, the child victim sent pornographic images and videos of herself to Bernard. She told investigators that she was 13 years old when she began communicating with Bernard, whom she said paid her $250 a week or more. According to the affidavit, Bernard sent 48 payments to the child victim through Cash App between Oct. 14, 2020, and June 2, 2021, totaling $3,210.
Jane Doe 1 also told investigators that Bernard sent her alcohol and sex toys to use during her video recordings. Bernard offered to pay Jane Doe 1 $10,000 to meet him in person, the affidavit says, but she refused. She told investigators that Bernard sent her $500 to buy a train ticket to come meet him in person, but she kept the money then blocked Bernard from her social media accounts.
On May 5, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bernard’s residence. Bernard, who allegedly purchased sexually explicit images or videos from at least two additional child victims, was arrested at his place of employment.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Beaufort County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Sparks Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Sparks resident was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid.
Jesse Arevalo, aka “Kay,” 31, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks sentenced Arevalo to ten years of supervised release.
“Our office is committed to working alongside the DEA and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners throughout Nevada to hold accountable those who are fueling the opioid epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada.
“Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the primary driver behind the exploding number of drug-related deaths nationwide,” said DEA Las Vegas Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target individuals—from the wholesale distributor or the local street dealer—to bring justice to these victims and their grieving families.”
According to court documents, in January 2020, law enforcement began investigating the deaths of two students at a Reno high school. Several witnesses identified Arevalo as the source of the pills that caused the students’ deaths. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Arevalo maintained two apartments for the purpose of storing and distributing large quantities of counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl and cocaine. In April 2021, the DEA seized approximately 6,631 counterfeit M30 pills and multiple bricks of cocaine — weighing 1,852 grams — from a storage unit that Arevalo leased.
This case was investigated by the DEA and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Lyon County Sheriff’s Office; Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Nevada Highway Patrol, Regional Gang Unit, Regional Narcotics Unit; and Sparks Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. This Schedule II controlled substance is a significant factor in the nationwide overdose epidemic. Two milligrams of fentanyl, equivalent to a few grains of table salt, are enough to cause a fatal overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 107,000 people died in the United States as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021. 66 percent of those overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
For more information on the dangers of fentanyl, please visit www.DEA.gov/fentanylawareness.
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Southwest PA Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of southwestern Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years’ imprisonment on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Leonard Jackson, age 45, of Washington, PA and Brownsville, PA.
According to information presented to the Court, Jackson possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Yvonne M. Saadi prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Perryopolis Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jackson.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Illegal SteroidsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The owner of a supplement company, who manufactured and shipped unapproved drugs and illegal steroids for use by members of the body building community, pled guilty this week to a pair of federal drug charges.
John Franklin Cochcroft, 37, of Lexington, South Carolina, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty today to one count of introduction of a new drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead, and one count of illegally manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids. As part of the plea agreement, Cochcroft forfeited criminal proceeds of over $200,000.
“The FDA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the nation through its process of vetting drugs for efficacy and safety. When individuals bypass that process, they jeopardize the public’s health and must be held accountable,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “My Office is committed to keeping the citizens of the Western District of Virginia safe from individuals and companies that sell potentially hazardous products laced with illegal controlled substances, and I am grateful to the FDA-OCI for their diligent work on this case.”
“Distribution of unapproved prescription drugs masquerading as dietary supplements presents risks to consumers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those whose actions threaten the public’s health.”
Cochcroft admitted that he marketed to the bodybuilding and fitness communities throughout the United States that his “dietary supplements” would increase muscle mass. He further admitted to manufacturing and selling several products containing a type of synthetic steroid known as a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (“SARM”), including ostarine, which requires FDA approval before being lawfully distributed in interstate commerce. The FDA has long cautioned against the use of SARMs, including stating in a 2017 warning letter that SARMs have been linked to life-threatening reactions like liver toxicity, heart attack, and stroke. Cochcroft took steps to mislead and defraud the government and consumers in making, marketing, and selling these products by using multiple addresses with fictitious business names, working with Chinese suppliers to mislabel drug products as foodstuff items, and intentionally failing to seek FDA approval for the products.
During its investigation, the government also seized various products containing anabolic steroids from Cochcroft’s business. Anabolic steroids are classified as Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and are linked to life-threatening reactions and side effects.
Cochcroft is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of thirteen years in prison. Senior United States District Court Judge James P. Jones will impose sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer and Trial Attorney Speare Hodges of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina provided valuable assistance.
Sandown Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Related to the COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
CONCORD - George Adyns, 51, of Sandown, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Adyns executed two schemes to defraud government programs that were intended to provide economic assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) administers the unemployment insurance program in New Hampshire. In March 2020, Congress passed legislation providing additional unemployment benefits to individuals who lost their jobs because of the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic. At this time, Adyns was the Chief Financial Officer of several companies located in Plaistow, including Enviromart and KSC Industrial, that were controlled by his co-defendant. In late-March 2020, Adyns and his co-defendant directed company employees to file for unemployment benefits with NHES while continuing to work. This caused the unemployment system to effectively pay the employees’ salaries. As a result, NHES paid more than $49,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.
In response to the pandemic, Congress also passed other economic measures designed to help small businesses, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Under that program, businesses could obtain low-interest loans to meet payroll during the first few months of the pandemic. The SBA also opened up its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to businesses. Under the program, businesses could obtain loans for working capital and normal operating expenses. Adyns made false representations to lenders to fraudulently obtain a PPP and EIDL loan for KSC Industrial. For example, he certified that KSC Industrial was not engaged in illegal activity. However, when making that certification, he knew that he and his co-defendant were fraudulently using the unemployment benefits system to pay their employees’ salaries. Through this scheme, Adyns fraudulently obtained loans totaling more than $135,000.
Adyns is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31, 2022.
Adyns’s co-defendant has pleaded not guilty. Charges in an indictment are only allegations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of the Inspector General, New Hampshire Employment Security and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
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.
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Retired VA Employee Sentenced for Stealing from VA & VetsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Dennis Gene Godbolt, 66, of Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to five years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $95,000 in restitution to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Godbolt previously pleaded guilty to one count of Theft of Government Property, a felony offense.
Godbolt pleaded guilty to stealing property, mostly consisting of home furnishings, that had been donated by Walmart to the Veterans Affairs Phoenix Health Care System (VAPHCS) for use by homeless and destitute veterans. Godbolt typically picked up donated items from the Walmart distribution center in Buckeye, Arizona and transported the donations in a truck belonging to Voluntary Services. On numerous occasions, instead of taking the donations to the VAPHCS facilities in Phoenix, Godbolt stole items and placed them in his personal storage lockers.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Galati, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00906-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-082_Godbolt# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Recidivist Defendant Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Salem man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for possessing child pornography.
Nicholas Conkey, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On Nov. 9, 2021, Conkey pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
On Jan. 18, 2019, Conkey possessed 42 images and one video of child pornography on his phone. These images and video depicted prepubescent children engaged in sex acts or the lascivious display of their genitalia. Conkey also possessed child pornography images in his online email account.
Conkey has a previous military conviction for possession and distribution of child pornography.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Drugs and FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on May 20, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Jquann Jackson, age 28, was sentenced to four years in federal prison on each charge, sentences to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jackson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2021, and pleaded guilty on January 28, 2022. The charges stem from Jackson distributing cocaine in Rapid City between January and July 2021. During the execution of a search warrant at Jackson’s residence in July 2021, law enforcement discovered Jackson, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, to be in possession of a Mossberg International Incorporated, model 715T, .22 Long Rifle caliber, semi-automatic rifle, and a Sarsilmaz Arms, (SAR), model SAR9, 9x19mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol.
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.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Jackson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Richard Peneaux, age 28, was indicted on May 10, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 19, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Peneaux, a person required to register as a sex offender by reason of conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration between February 11, 2022, and April 7, 2022, while living in the District of South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Peneaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Peneaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Pine Ridge Man Found Guilty of Eight Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Isaac Roubideaux, age 30, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, was found guilty of Discharge and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, three charges of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and two charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 20, 2022.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine on each charge, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund on each charge. Restitution may also be ordered.
Roubideaux was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021. The assault and firearms charges relate to Roubideaux shooting another man in the back on November 18, 2021, resulting in the victim suffering permanent paralysis below his waistline.
The case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 2½ Years in Prison following Plea to Interstate Stalking and Harassment ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh yesterday to a charge of interstate stalking and harassment, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. Sentencing occurred at the same time as the plea.
In connection with the plea and sentencing, the Court was informed that Dev Rimal, age 24, stalked and harassed his victim, including by travelling from Ohio to Pittsburgh to force the victim into his car. The victim jumped from the moving vehicle. Rimal, while subject to a Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Order (PFA), also used social media accounts to threaten to kill and harm the victim and her family and friends.
United States District Judge Stephanie Haines sentenced Rimal to 30 months’ imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release, with the firstsix months to be served on home incarceration with electronic monitoring. .
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Whitehall Borough Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the charge against Rimal.
North Carolina Turtle Supplier Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A federal judge in Wilmington, North Carolina, sentenced Jesse James Freeman, 48, of Franklinville, North Carolina, to 18 months in prison and three years of post-release supervision. Freeman will also have to pay a $25,000 fine to the Lacey Act Reward Fund. The judge prohibited Freeman from owning wild-caught wildlife and any wildlife without documentation of origin during the supervisory period. Freeman pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, 2020, to trafficking turtles in violation of the Lacey Act.
In pleading guilty, Freeman admitted that between January 2017 and September 2018, he supplied turtles to middlemen throughout the country so they could smuggle them to Asia. He collected the turtles himself and hired poachers to illegally obtain them throughout North Carolina. Freeman trafficked at least 722 eastern box turtles, 122 spotted turtles and three wood turtles. Freeman personally received at least $121,000 in payment for those turtles. The market value in Asia for those turtles exceeded $1.5 million.
Freeman possessed and sold the turtles in violation of North Carolina laws. The federal Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife trafficking statute and prohibits, among other things, transporting wildlife in interstate commerce if the wildlife were illegally taken under state laws.
The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is the North Carolina state reptile and endemic to forested regions of the East Coast and Midwest. The spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) and wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) are semi-aquatic turtles native to the eastern United States and Great Lakes region. Poaching can have devastating impacts on all three turtle species given the low survival rate of hatchlings and the time it takes to reach sexual maturity. Collectors prize these species in the domestic and foreign pet trade market, where they are resold for thousands of dollars.
All three turtle species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES provides a mechanism for regulating international trade in species whose survival is considered threatened by trade. The turtles are listed in Appendix II of CITES, which includes wildlife, fish and plant species that are not presently threatened with extinction but may become so if their trade is not regulated. The United States and approximately 183 other nations are signatories to the CITES treaty.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting our native species from international trafficking,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence is the latest example that there are severe consequences to those who violate the Lacey Act by exploiting turtles.”
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, considers the illegal collection and commercialization of native reptiles to include eastern box turtles a high priority, and we will continue to work closely with our state partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute these important cases,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement.
The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Raleigh conducted the investigation with assistance from the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. The operation was a part of ongoing efforts to combat the trafficking of turtles and tortoises native to the United States. The government is represented by Trial Attorneys Banu Rangarajan and Ryan Connors of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
New Bern Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A New Bern man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for committing an armed robbery of the Five Points Gas Station in New Bern, North Carolina. On February 16, 2022, Quamaine Donell Smith, 30, pled guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on May 17, 2021, officers with the New Bern Police Department responded to an armed robbery call at the Five Points Gas Station in New Bern, North Carolina. Officers reviewed video surveillance footage from inside the store, which showed Smith and his co-defendant, Francesco Greco Jr., committing the armed robbery. Smith entered the store armed with a handgun, and Greco entered armed with a tire iron. Video showed Smith round the corner and strike the store clerk in the head with his gun. Smith and Greco then emptied the cash register and fled the store in a getaway vehicle. In total, the pair stole roughly $3,000 in cash from the store. New Bern Police located and arrested both Greco and Smith later that night and recovered the firearm used during the robbery.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The New Bern Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh 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 No. 4:21-CR-58-BO.
Nearly 24,000 Pounds of Unused Medications Collected in Pacific Northwest During DEA Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Spokane – United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington Vanessa Waldref and DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Jacob D. Galvan announced the collection of thousands of pounds of unused medications in the Pacific Northwest. In all, close to 24,000 pounds of drugs were collected in the Northwest United States. Of these, over 9,000 pounds were collected at 117 sites in Washington.
On April 30, 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl, Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mark Haigh, and representatives from their respective offices joined together at the Northtown Mall and other sites in Spokane, where 18 large boxes, weighing hundreds of pounds, of unused medicines were collected.
“Removing unused prescription drugs from our homes is one way to keep our families safe and build stronger communities,” U.S. Attorney Waldref stated. “We are honored to partner with the DEA, Spokane Police, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Spokane Fire Department for this important event. We have all witnessed the ravaging effects of the opioid epidemic in our region, and we are encouraged by the proactive efforts members of our communities are taking to prevent prescription drug misuse and addiction.”
“The DEA Drug Take Back is another important way in which we are working to keep our communities in the Pacific Northwest safe,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jacob D. Galvan, DEA Seattle Field Division. “By collecting nearly 24,000 pounds of unused medications, we protected our vulnerable citizens from misuse and overdose.”
Chief Meidl stated, “We appreciate that community members took advantage of the opportunity to safely dispose of dangerous drugs. This reinforces that our community is aware of the severity of drug addiction and drug-related deaths and is willing to take steps to help keep everyone safe. The Spokane Police Department is committed to furthering the drug battle on another front by continuing to hold those responsible for the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs accountable, and working with our partners to ensure a safer community.”
Nationwide, the DEA and its partners collected more than 720,000 pounds of unneeded medications at 5,144 collection sites. Since 2010, more than 16 million pounds of unneeded prescription medications have been collected through Drug Take Back events.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the FDA provides information on how to safely and properly dispose of prescription drugs every day. To find out where year-round disposal sites are located, go to https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.
For more information about Annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day, go to www.DEATakeBack.com
Naugatuck Tax Preparer Who Filed False Tax Returns Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANA NUNEZ, also known as Ana Pagoaga, 51, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for filing false tax returns for clients of her tax preparation service.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2011 to 2016, Nunez owned and operated Nunez MultiServices, LLC, a tax return preparation service located in Naugatuck. During that time, Nunez filed approximately 6,000 returns for approximately 2,600 different individual taxpayers. On numerous tax returns she prepared for clients, Nunez routinely inflated income or created fictitious income; falsified expenses, including education and childcare expenses, and falsified deductions, such as business mileage.
Judge Shea ordered Nunez to pay $501,933 in restitution to the IRS, and $78,829 to the State of Connecticut.
On December 6, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Nunez with multiple counts of filing false tax returns. Nunez subsequently obstructed the prosecution of this matter by creating false invoices to clients, which she provided to the government in an apparent attempt to justify additional monies she took from her clients’ refunds, and by attempting to intimidate a potential witness.
On January 7, 2020, Nunez pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return.
Nunez, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 25.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the State of Connecticut’s Department of Revenue Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan L. Wines and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Mobile County Woman Who Caused Death of Victim by Injecting Her with Fentanyl Sentenced to 15 Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL—A Mobile County woman, Jessica Defloren Tubb, aka “Allie,” 37, was sentenced on May 12, 2022 to 15 years in prison for drug crimes, including actions that caused the overdose death of Kelsey Johnston.
Tubb was charged with 41 others in October 2020 for her involvement with the Crossley Hill drug trafficking organization which operated in Mobile County and elsewhere, distributing various controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone, Opana, and Roxicodone to customers in Southern Alabama and elsewhere. Tubb plead guilty in March, 2021 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Tubb also admitted in her guilty plea that she injected fentanyl into Kelsey Johnston that caused her death. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer handed down the sentence.
Testimony at the March 2022 jury trial of William Grant Owens, aka “Whip,” established that Tubb operated as the “right-hand man” or “do-girl” for Owens. The testimony established that, among other things, Tubb sold drugs for Owens, held drugs for him, operated as a human tester of the drugs, particularly the heroin and fentanyl, and that she injected Owens’ customers with drugs.
The trial testimony further established that Owens directed Tubb to obtain the fentanyl and bring it to him on October 11, 2018, at the Rode Way Inn, in Tillman’s Corner. Owens prepared the fentanyl on a spoon and had Tubb inject Ms. Johnston at approximately 3:00 to 4:00 AM. Almost instantly, Ms. Johnston lost consciousness and was struggling to breathe. Dr. Cameron Snider, a Forensic Pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that fentanyl attacks the lungs causing them to fill with fluid and impairs the respiratory system, which ultimately caused the death of Ms. Johnston’s death in this case. An eyewitness, who was also a drug user, testified that she attempted to assist Johnston and could hear a disturbing gurgling/gasping sound from her lungs. Neither Owens nor Tubb sought any medical assistance for Johnston and they ultimately left her in the hotel room after she overdosed. The body of the deceased Kelsey Johnston was found the next morning at approximately 11:00 when housekeeping personnel came in to clean the room.Owens was convicted at trial and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Moorer on June 30, 2022.
The investigation and prosecution of this case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Saraland Police Department also provided key investigative support to the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys George F. May and Luis F. Peral, Lead OCDETF Attorney.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdal/
Mississippi Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Pascagoula, Mississippi, man convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography was sentenced on May 16, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Javier Valenzuela, age 46, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Valenzuela was ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100 and $3,000 in restitution. Valenzuela will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Valenzuela was arrested and federally indicted following two Cybertips from Facebook where images were being distributed. The Cybertips included images of very young children and were found within the contents of Valenzuela’s Facebook account. In an interview, Valenzuela admitted to distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Valenzuela was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildrenRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Browns Valley, Minnesota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact was sentenced on May 16, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Ernest Duane Barse, Jr., age 43, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Barse was indicted for aggravated sexual abuse of a child and abusive sexual contact by a federal grand jury on August 17, 2020. He pled guilty on September 10, 2021.
Between on or about April 2016 and continuing through April 2019, Barse knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with Child Victim #1, a child known to Barse. Barse engaged in the sexual abuse by using force against the victim. The sexual abuse of Child Victim #1 occurred when she was under 12 years of age.
Between July 2007 and continuing through July 2008, Barse knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with Child Victim #2, a child known to Barse. The sexual abuse of Child Victim #2 occurred when she was under 12 years of age, and Barse used threats or placed Child Victim #2 in fear at the time of the sexual contact.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Barse was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his sentence.
Minnesota Man Convicted on Two Counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jerry Jerome Wise, age 36, of Moorhead, Minnesota, was found guilty on both counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 18, 2022.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of up to life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in custody and/or a $5,000,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wise was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021, with his co-conspirator Damara Needham. Needham pled guilty to the same offenses on December 6, 2021, and was sentenced on March 7, 2022, to 121 months in custody and five years of supervised release, along with a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about July 27, 2020, Wise and his co-conspirator obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl in Arizona and transported it through the District of South Dakota. On July 27, 2020, a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper stopped the vehicle they were driving and found approximately 655.3 grams of methamphetamine and over 700 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. They intended to distribute the methamphetamine and fentanyl to others.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for August 8, 2022. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and Marijuana in Muncie, Anderson, Gosport, and BrazilRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Seven individuals have now been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and marijuana. The defendants had previously been indicted on their charges in 2019 and 2020. The seventh defendant, Mikhail Mgebrov, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
According to court documents, beginning approximately June 2019 and continuing through December 2019, the group conspired to traffic methamphetamine and marijuana in and around Muncie and Anderson, Indiana. During the months long investigation, law enforcement discovered that large quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana were being shipped from California to various addresses in Muncie and Anderson. The group maintained residences in Muncie and Anderson to store, process, and distribute the drugs and drug proceeds. Multiple members of the conspiracy possessed firearms to protect the organization’s drugs and money. After arriving in Indiana, the drugs were resold to others in Muncie, Anderson, Gosport, and Brazil, Indiana.
To date in this investigation, authorities have seized approximately 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine as well as marijuana. In addition to drug seizures, authorities have seized over $15,000 in drug proceeds and seven firearms, including one AK-style, short barrel rifle.
To date, Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt has sentenced the following individuals in this case:
Defendant
Sentence
James Briscoe, 39, Muncie, Indiana
23 years in prison, 10 years supervised release
Damarus Page, 40, Anderson, Indiana
10 years in prison, 5 years supervised release
Bradley Clephane, 37, Gosport, Indiana
262 months (over 21 years) in prison, 5 years supervised release
Christopher Bays, 36, Brazil, Indiana
16.5 years in prison, 5 years supervised release
Jeremi Zarco, 31, Woodland Hills, California
200 months (over 16 years) in prison, 5 years supervised release
James Bell, 43, Muncie, Indiana
8 years in prison, 3 years supervised release
Mikhail Mgebrov, 39, Tarzana, California
10 years in prison, 5 years supervised release
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Detroit Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The Muncie Police Department, the Anderson Police Department, the Terre Haute Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police provided valuable assistance.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Klump who prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Medford Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison Under Armed Career Criminal ActRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—On May 24, 2022, a Medford man with a long criminal history, including multiple convictions for strangulation and assault, was sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
James Calvin Patterson, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Patterson’s sentence will run concurrently to a 45-month sentence recently imposed for a drug conviction in Jackson County Circuit Court.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 30, 2019, two officers from the Medford Police Department observed a white compact car stopping in the middle of the road to pick up a passenger. Suspecting possible drug activity, the officers initiated a traffic stop. As one officer approached the vehicle, the front passenger, Patterson, began moving his hands around and near his midsection and waistband. Concerned Patterson was armed, the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle. Patterson initially did not move, but then quickly reached toward his waist band. Eventually Patterson excited the vehicle and, after initially complying with some of the officer’s commands, attempted to flee on foot.
Before long, the officer regained control of Patterson and forced him to the ground. As the officer tried to handcuff him, Patterson continued reaching for this waistband. After a struggle, officers successfully handcuffed Patterson. When they stood him up, a loaded pistol fell from his waistband.
Shortly after his arrest, Patterson made multiple recorded jail phone calls on which he admitted to possessing the firearm, acknowledged he was facing 15 years in prison, and stating he would have shot the officer if he had the chance.
On May 16, 2019, Patterson was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Later, on June 5, 2019, a federal grand jury in Medford indicted Patterson on the same charge. On December 9, 2021, he pleaded guilty.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) with assistance from the Medford Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco A. Boccato of the District of Oregon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
McLaughlin Woman Sentenced for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on May 23, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Valerie Red Fish, age 44, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Red Fish was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 8, 2021. She pled guilty on December 6, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 27, 2020, in McLaughlin, in which Red Fish assaulted a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer by spitting on the officer while she was performing her official duties.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Red Fish was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Martinsburg woman admits to role in drug trafficking enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Rebecca Branham, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to her role in a drug distribution enterprise, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Branham, 52, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Base, and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Branham admitted to working with others in a drug distribution operation in Berkeley County and elsewhere from June 2019 to October 2020.
Branham faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/22-people-indicted-drug-trafficking-enterprise-spanned-several-states
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Zachary McInerney-Jones, 26, of Manchester, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm charges, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2021, police investigating a potential shooting in Manchester were requested to stop a vehicle associated with McInerney-Jones. After locating and stopping the vehicle the next morning, the vehicle was towed to the Manchester police station to be searched pursuant to a warrant. During the search, officers located a pay stub and other documents associated with McInerney-Jones, as well as two handguns and ammunition. Officers also found evidence of drug trafficking, including fentanyl, marijuana, and $1,494.66 in cash.
McInerney-Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2022.
“Armed drug dealers present a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “As part of our effort to protect the community from violent crime, we are working closely with the Manchester Police Department to identify and prosecute drug dealers who possess guns in the Queen City.”
“Guns and illegal drugs are a bad combination that has often led to violence in our city,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “I am grateful for the diligent investigation that was completed by the Manchester Police Detectives which culminated in the arrest of the defendant.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Man Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Throwing Incendiary Device at Police in Chicago SuburbRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for throwing an incendiary device at police officers in Naperville, Ill., during a period of civil unrest in June 2020.
CHRISTIAN REA, 21, of Aurora, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier last year to a federal charge of obstructing law enforcement during the commission of civil disorder. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin on Tuesday imposed the one-year prison sentence and ordered Rea to pay $13,585.66 in restitution to the city of Naperville.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Naperville Police Department and Aurora Police Department.
“By intentionally throwing the firework at police officers, the defendant demonstrated a lack of respect for the law,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “His actions could have sparked the crowd to engage in the very unlawful conduct the officers were there to prevent.”
The incident occurred in downtown Naperville on the evening of June 1, 2020. The officers responded to civil disorder in the business district involving dozens of individuals causing damage to property.
Rea admitted in a plea agreement that he threw a lit explosive or incendiary device in the proximity of a line of uniformed officers who were standing next to a police vehicle. As a result of the explosion, multiple officers suffered injuries, including repeated headaches, ringing in the ears, and vision loss.
Man Sentenced to Statutory Maximum for Shooting that Injured Two IndividualsRead the Press Release
A man who shot at a car injuring two people was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Dai’Sean Dupree Battles, age 30, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 19, 2021 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case established that Battles and his girlfriend were involved in an altercation with another individual at a home in Waterloo. That individual left the residence with two others and Battles and his girlfriend followed in their vehicle. As they drove through downtown Waterloo, Battles took a firearm and discharged at least three rounds at the vehicle striking the driver and the backseat passenger. The backseat passenger suffered serious bodily injury.
Battles was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. At the sentencing, Judge Williams commented that Battles presented an “extreme danger to the community.” Battles was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
Battles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2034.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Illegal Gun Possession, and then Distributing Fentanyl While Released on BondRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN VELEZ, also known as “Whites,” 33, formerly of Hartford and West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for illegally possessing of a firearm, and then distributing fentanyl while released on bond.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 10:20 a.m. on November 27, 2018, a car Velez was operating sped away from Hartford Police officers who were attempting to stop the vehicle in Hartford’s South End. Velez parked in a driveway of a residence on Newbury Street and then ran from the car while carrying a duffel bag. After Velez was apprehended, a detective located the duffel bag in Velez’s path of travel. The bag contained a disassembled Ruger AR 556 semi-automatic rifle, which Velez was prohibited from possessing due to a prior felony conviction.
Velez was detained from the date of his arrest until April 2, 2019, when he was released on bond.
In January 2020, law enforcement received information that Velez was involved in ongoing criminal activity, including the distribution of narcotics. On January 28, 2020, investigators made a controlled purchase of 20 bags of fentanyl from Velez in Hartford.
On January 29, 2020, Velez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, stemming from his arrest in November 2018.
Velez has been detained since March 12, 2020, after he was arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with distributing fentanyl. On April 12, 2021, he pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl while on release in a pending federal case.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force, and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
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.
Man Convicted of Threatening to Kill 911 DispatcherRead the Press Release
Defendant made the calls on the way to the U.S. Capitol riot
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Jonathan Joshua Munafo pleaded guilty today to communicating a threat in interstate commerce.
According to court documents, Munafo, 35, originally of Massachusetts, called the Calhoun County, Michigan 911 dispatch line over 140 times on January 5, 2021. Munafo demanded to speak to a Deputy Sheriff or Sergeant about unspecified issues, but did not have an emergency to report. When the dispatcher refused and asked him to clear the line, Munafo repeatedly called back. He threatened her, “I’m gonna cut your throat. I’m gonna make you eat your f***ing nose.” He said after the “Insurrection Act,” he was “coming to your door first,” and said, “it’s going to go way worse for your family.”
Cell phone location records revealed Munafo placed the calls from a truck stop in North Carolina. The next day (January 6, 2021), Munafo participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a separate indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia. In that case, Munafo is charged with forcibly assaulting an officer of the Capitol Police, among eight other charges. He will appear in the District of Columbia to face those charges after his sentencing in Grand Rapids. Defendants are presumed innocent of pending charges unless proven guilty in a court of law where the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“We will not tolerate threats of this kind,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Emergency dispatchers do critical work, under stressful circumstances, to keep the community safe. No one, especially front-line public servants, should face threats of death or other physical violence.”
"Today, Jonathan Munafo admitted to repeatedly calling a Calhoun County dispatcher and threatening to kill her or harm her family,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “These threats were intended to intimidate and create fear in a public servant whose job is intensely stressful under the best of circumstances. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated, and the FBI will continue to investigate those who threaten our community with violence.”
Munafo faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. United States District Judge Janet T. Neff will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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MS-13 Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
An El Salvador man was sentenced today to life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
Juan Carlos Sandoval-Rodriguez, aka Picaro, aka El Pastor, aka Gasper, 24, of El Salvador, was sentenced to life in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit murder in aid or racketeering, as well as related violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including three murders, connected to his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13.
On Oct. 31, 2019, after a nine-day trial, a federal jury convicted Sandoval-Rodriguez of murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, in connection with a murder that occurred on March 11, 2016.
On Jan. 24, 2022, a federal jury convicted Sandoval-Rodriguez of racketeering charges, along with co-defendants Jose Joya-Parada, aka Calmado, 21; Oscar Armando Sorto-Romero, aka Lobo, 23; and Milton Portillo-Rodriguez, aka Little Gangster, aka Seco, 26, after a three-month trial. Sandoval-Rodriguez, Portillo-Rodriguez, and Sorto-Romero were also convicted of multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Sandoval-Rodriguez, Portillo-Rodriguez, and Joya-Parada were members of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (FLS) clique. Co-defendant Sorto-Romero was part of the Parque Vista Locos Salvatruchas (PVLS) clique.
Evidence at both trials established that between 2015 and 2017, Sandoval-Rodriguez and his co-defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering, drug trafficking, extortion, murder, and brutal acts of violence against suspected rivals of the gang in an effort to increase MS-13’s power in the Frederick County, Montgomery County, and Anne Arundel County areas of Maryland.
Evidence presented at the 2019 trial established that Sandoval-Rodriguez participated in the murder of a suspected rival gang member on March 11, 2016. During this murder, Sandoval-Rodriguez lured the victim to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, Maryland, with the intention of killing him. Surveillance video from a nearby laundromat captured Sandoval-Rodriguez and the victim walking toward Quiet Waters Park on the evening of the murder. Once the victim arrived at the park, members of the gang struck him in the head with a branch or stick, and the assailants, including Sandoval-Rodriguez, repeatedly stabbed the victim with a knife, killing him.
While Sandoval-Rodriguez and other members of the gang committed the murder, other MS-13 members and associates stood watch outside the park to ensure no one entered or left the park, and to watch for police, so that the gang could complete the murder. Sandoval-Rodriguez cut his finger on the knife that he used to stab the victim. After the victim was killed, MS-13 members and associates buried him in a shallow grave inside the park, but Sandoval-Rodriguez did not bury the body because of the cut on his finger and fear that he would leave evidence at the scene. The body was not recovered until Aug. 28, 2017, when it was exhumed by law enforcement. After his arrest, Sandoval-Rodriguez’s writings about the murder as well as additional MS-13 paraphernalia was recovered among his personal belongings in jail. Sandoval-Rodriguez participated in the murder to raise his status in the gang and to assert the authority of MS-13 in Annapolis.
Trial evidence related to Sandoval-Rodriguez at his second trial focused on his participation in several murders, including that of a 17-year-old victim, who was believed to be a rival gang member. Specifically, the evidence showed that on March 31, 2017, the gang lured a 17-year-old from Annapolis to Wheaton Regional Park, where they stabbed him over 100 times, dismembered him, removed his heart, and buried him in a clandestine grave. Evidence was presented that Sandoval-Rodriguez and Portillo-Rodriguez lured the victim and, with other MS-13 members and associates, brought him from Annapolis to Wheaton Regional. Sandoval-Rodriguez, Portillo-Rodriguez, and Joya-Parada participated in the murder by stabbing, cutting, and dismembering the victim and Joya-Parada also helped to dig the victim’s grave.
Trial evidence also demonstrated that Sandoval-Rodriguez participated in a murder that occurred on June 24, 2017. In that murder, the gang used a female associate to lure a 21-year-old woman into a car and then took her to a wooded area in Crownsville, where she was killed, her body was dismembered, and she was buried in a clandestine grave. Co-defendant Portillo-Rodriguez aided in the planning of the murder and helped lure the victim into a car. Sandoval-Rodriguez traveled to the wooded area earlier in the day to dig a hole for the victim’s grave. MS-13 members caused the victim to lose consciousness, removed her clothing, and decapitated the victim with a machete. Sandoval-Rodriguez and Portillo-Rodriguez participated in the murder by stabbing and slashing the victim’s body with a machete, dismembering the body, and burying the body in a wooded area. As a result of their participation in the murder, Sandoval-Rodriguez, Portillo-Rodriguez, and other gang members were promoted within MS-13.
More than 30 MS-13 gang members and associates have been convicted in these cases.
Co-defendants from Sandoval-Rodriguez’s first case, Marlon Cruz-Flores, 25, Fermin Gomez-Jimenez, 23, Moises Alexis Reyes-Canales, and Manuel Martinez-Aguilar, aka El Lunatic, aka Zomb, 22, all of Annapolis, previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and a firearms offense. Both Gomez-Jimenez and Cruz-Flores were sentenced to 38 years in prison, Reyes-Canales was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and Martinez-Aguilar was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
On April 20, 2022, Joya-Parada was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, and related violent crimes in aid of racketeering. Portillo-Rodriguez and Sorto-Romero were each sentenced to life in federal prison, for a racketeering conspiracy and for racketeering, as well as related violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including multiple murders.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Baltimore Office; and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI; HSI; ATF; Frederick Police Department; Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys, with valuable assistance provided by the Baltimore County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig for the District of Maryland and Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the first trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin for the District of Maryland prosecuted the second trial.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. HSI and the FBI both have nationwide tip lines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
Lower Brule Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Russell Dean Wright, age 54, was indicted on May 3, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 17, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between on or about November 1, 2021, and April 4, 2022, Wright, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Wright is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Wright was remanded to state custody pending trial, which has been set for July 26, 2022.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child was sentenced on May 16, 2022, by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Holden Cole Thompson, age 31, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2021. He pled guilty on October 18, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from conduct that occurred between 2015 and 2016 at Little Eagle, in which Thompson engaged in sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Thompson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Indicted for Domestic Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Aggravated Sexual Abuse.
Yukon Oris Henry, age 45, was indicted on May 10, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 18, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life on supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that in Little Eagle between 2020 and 2022, Henry unlawfully committed three domestic assaults against an intimate partner while having previously been convicted of crimes of domestic violence on at least two prior occasions. The Indictment further alleges that in October of 2020 in Little Eagle, Henry caused another person to engage in a sex act by the use of force.
The charges are merely accusations and Henry is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Henry was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for July 19, 2022.
Leader of Fayetteville Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to More than 23 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced today to 280 months in prison for leading a network of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine distributors. Garry Jermaine Alford, 49, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, two-hundred eighty grams or more of cocaine base, and forty grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin and forty grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Alford employed at least half a dozen individuals to operate multiple houses used to store and sell drugs in the Deep Creek area of Fayetteville. Due to the heavy amounts of vehicle and foot traffic at these residences, investigators launched an investigation in early 2019. Search warrants executed at a number of Alford’s stash houses on September 10, 2020 resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, heroin, drug packaging materials, a 12 gauge shotgun, and over $68,000.
Co-conspirators Xavier Kaylon Whitted and Charles Dexter Underwood have previously been sentenced to terms of imprisonment of 84 months and 72 months respectively. Other members of the organization were prosecuted by the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-34-BO-1.
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Las Cruces Man Found Guilty of Kidnapping and CarjackingRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted Fernando Angel Puga, aka Cholo, 36, from Las Cruces, NM, of kidnapping, carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and transportation of a stolen vehicle in interstate commerce.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 9, 2017, Puga and his co-defendant Sergio Ivan Quinonez-Venegas, 38, from Mexico, approached a man working at a food truck in El Paso. Puga and Quinonez told the victim their car had broken down and asked for a ride. While the victim was giving the defendants a ride to a nearby gas station, Quinonez pulled out a gun and advised the victim that this, “was a kidnapping.” The victim was forced at gunpoint and knifepoint to drive the pair from El Paso to Las Cruces. Once in Las Cruces, the victim was struck and stabbed multiple times by a machete wielded by Puga causing factures to the victim’s skull and arms, and severe puncture wounds and lacerations to his body and hands.
Puga’s sentencing date has not been set. He faces up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge; up to 25 years in prison on the carjacking charge; and up to 10 years in prison for the stolen vehicle charge.
On February 2, 2022, Quinonez pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey, El Paso Field Office, made the announcement.
The FBI El Paso Field Office, with valuable assistance from FBI Albuquerque; U.S. Border Patrol; Dona Ana County New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Police Department; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice K-9 unit, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian Martinez Hanna and Ellen Denum are prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Observes National Missing Children’s DayRead the Press Release
As part of the 39th annual National Missing Children’s Day commemoration, the Department of Justice today honored 12 courageous individuals for their extraordinary efforts to recover missing children and bring sexual predators to justice.
“Every day, law enforcement professionals, advocates, and citizens alike step up to protect children from harm, reunite missing children with their families, and provide support in the aftermath of a traumatic event,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today, the Justice Department is proud to honor some of these heroes and recognize them for their tireless work to create a safer and better world.”
The Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) leads the nation in observing National Missing Children’s Day. The observance was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 in memory of six-year-old Etan Patz, who disappeared while walking to his bus stop in lower Manhattan on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and those children still missing. Etan’s killer was convicted in February 2017.
“We are at our best as a nation when we are working to secure a brighter future for our children,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “There is no better reflection of our values as a society than our concern for the welfare of our young people, and these committed professionals have given clear expression to our aspirations.”
In lieu of an in-person ceremony, OJJDP has launched a website today featuring information about the awardees and statements from OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Solomon, OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan and President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Michelle DeLaune.
“We are deeply grateful to these 12 individuals for their exceptional deeds of bravery, vigilance and compassion on behalf of our nation’s children,” said OJJDP Administrator Ryan. “We could not be more proud to honor them on this special day.”
This year’s recipients are honored with the following awards:
Attorney General’s Special Commendation: This commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force, an affiliate agency or an individual assigned to either for making a significant investigative or program contribution to the ICAC task force program.
Recipients: Special Agent Theodore Indermuehle, Special Agent Wade Beardsley, Victim Service Specialist Leeana Liska and Senior Digital Forensic Examiner Tyrel Olsen of the Wisconsin ICAC task force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman for the Western District of Wisconsin. They participated in an investigation that resulted in the arrest, prosecution and conviction of a high school teacher who was a sexual predator and who communicated directly with underage girls across many states to obtain sexually explicit videos.
Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.
Recipients: Special Agents Maria Markley, Star'Shemah Sylvestre, Kelli Johnson, Lisa Carroll, and Brandy Nettles of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) headquarters and field offices. They led NCIS efforts related to two significant initiatives, Operation Stolen Innocence and a cyber operation targeting Navy offenders. These included building a complex computer program to collect and analyze data from multiple sources.
Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of child protective service agency personnel, law enforcement officers, or other professionals who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to protecting children from abuse or victimization.
Recipients: Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shelly Smitherman and Intelligence Analyst Emily Keifer of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Nashville. In coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, they spearheaded Operation Volunteer Strong, a bold effort to identify and locate missing children in the state, leading to the recovery of 150 children in Tennessee. In some cases, the recovered children were identified as victims of human trafficking, which resulted in further investigative efforts.
The Department also named Sue Lee, a 5th grader at St. James Episcopal School in Los Angeles, California, as the winner of the 2022 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest. The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss the issue of child safety with youth and their parents.
OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims, and strengthen the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Janesville Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Noah Eisele, 36, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for using minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of that conduct. Specifically, the defendant solicited young girls on Facebook for sexually explicit photos and videos. Eisele pleaded guilty to this charge on March 2, 2022.
In February 2021, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office uncovered Eisele’s activity after Facebook flagged an account for sharing child pornography. Law enforcement connected the account to the defendant, who admitted to creating the account in order to pose as a teenage boy. Eisele then used the account to message other users he believed to be minors, and instructed them to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. In addition to requesting child pornography, Eisele sent minors sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed the identity of several girls targeted by Eisele through interviews, and determined they ranged in age from 11 to 17.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Peterson reasoned a sentence above the 15-year mandatory minimum was warranted because of the defendant’s demonstrated pattern of predation and aggressive recruitment of girls online. Judge Peterson also noted the child pornography the defendant requested was particularly degrading, which included requests for bondage/dominance/submission/masochism content.
The charge against Eisele was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
Investigation into Illegal Casinos Leads to Indictments Alleging Gambling Dens, Bribery, Extortion Scheme and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An investigation by the Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force has resulted in the arrest of seven out of nine defendants charged in three indictments that allege an array of criminal conduct, including drug trafficking, the attempted extortion and subsequent robbery of a small business, bribery of a police officer and operating illegal casinos.
One of three federal indictments unsealed this morning alleges a string of illegal casinos in Santa Ana and cites a shooting at one of the gambling dens in which an employee was struck in the neck.
“The number of illegal gambling dens has exploded during the pandemic, dramatically impacting the quality of life in many Orange County neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “These illicit businesses are a breeding ground for drug trafficking, violence and even police corruption. We will continue to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to eradicate this blight in our communities.”
“Illegal gambling locations create an increase in violent crime, adversely impact the quality of life of our communities, and cause disruption to our neighborhoods and our law-abiding business partners. This is something our agency will not tolerate,” said Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin. “Today’s collaborative efforts, following a years-long extensive investigation with our local, state and federal partners, leverage our police department’s strong enforcement strategy – coined ‘Operation Community First’ – that was launched in February 2021 to target illegal gambling, narcotics and gun trafficking.”
“Today’s operation is the result of a joint effort among partners at the federal, state and local level in Santa Ana to dismantle an illegal gambling network that generated a variety of criminal activity causing great harm to the communities in which they operated,” said Kristi Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants flouted the law and used enforcers with rival gangs to get victims to comply through the use of intimidation and violence in order to further their illicit network and generate profits.”
Members of the Task Force this morning arrested five defendants – which follows two arrests Tuesday afternoon. All seven defendants are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. Authorities continue to search for two defendants.
The indictment alleging the operation of illegal casinos charges four defendants:
- Niem Ngoc Ha, aka “Dung Body,” 46, of Fountain Valley, who allegedly opened and operated four illegal casinos commonly called “nets” (if they are in a commercial district) or “slaphouses” (for those in residential areas), all of which were located in Santa Ana;
- Mindy Bui, aka “Thuy,” 36, of Westminster, who allegedly managed Ha’s illegal casinos;
- Honganh Thi Pham, aka “Hong,” 40, of Garden Grove, who also allegedly managed the illegal casinos; and
- Sammy Cardona, aka “Peanut,” 36, of Santa Ana, one of two defendants still being sought by authorities, who “would use violence to protect defendant Ha’s illicit casinos,” according to the indictment. Cardona is currently a fugitive.
These four defendants are charged with conspiracy and operating an illegal gambling business that allegedly generated thousands of dollars in profits on a daily basis.
Ha is additionally charged with bribery for allegedly paying approximately $128,000 to the now-convicted, former Santa Ana Police Officer Steven Lopez in an effort to protect his illicit casinos from law enforcement intervention. Lopez told Ha in September 2020 that Santa Ana police officers were planning to shut down one of his casinos in the coming days, according to the indictment. Lopez, who pleaded guilty in December 2020 to accepting the bribes, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17.
“Organized criminal activity and illegal gambling schemes will not be tolerated in California,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Families throughout our state deserve to raise their children and live in safe neighborhoods, free from illicit and illegal activity. I am grateful for the collaboration and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Santa Ana Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service in conducting this investigation.”
“Niem Ngoc Ha and other defendants operated multiple illicit gambling businesses that were abundant in criminal activity, including money laundering and bribery,” said IRS Criminal Investigation’s Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. “Today’s takedown by the Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force demonstrates law enforcements determination and collaborative efforts to protect our communities from criminal enterprises. This should serve as a reminder that criminal activity within our communities will not be tolerated.”
“These defendants thought they would get away with their alleged criminal enterprise through intimidation and lies; but when you violate the rule of law and put the community and the United States Postal Service at risk, Postal Inspectors will leave no stone unturned to find you and bring you to justice for your crimes,” said Inspector in Charge Carroll N. Harris III of the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The second indictment charges two men in a scheme to extort small businesses that were also operating as nets. Vincent Randal Pimentel, 30, of Santa Ana, and Steven Gallegos Saenz, 39, of Whittier, allegedly robbed those small businesses that refused to pay “taxes.” The indictment alleges that Saenz went to small businesses, claimed to be “mafia,” and made demands for extortionate payments, the indictment alleges. Pimentel is currently a fugitive
The indictment specifically alleges that on April 19, 2019, Saenz went to a Santa Ana video rental shop – which was also operating as a net – to demand the payment of “taxes.” After the owner refused to pay, Saenz, Pimentel and others went to the store later that day to rob the business, according to the indictment. During the incident, one of the robbers brandished what appeared to be a handgun, and the crew allegedly stole an $11,000 digital gambling machine, two $3,000 black digital gambling machines, two desktop computers, and approximately $3,500 in cash.
The two-count indictment charges Pimentel and Saenz with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion, and interference with commerce by robbery.
The third indictment names three people who allegedly participated in a narcotics transaction involving a casino in Anaheim. This indictment charges:
- Ricardo Alonzo Nunez, aka “Rascal,” 44, of Anaheim, who agreed to sell methamphetamine;
- Marcus Jason Loomis, aka “Negro,” 37, of Barstow, who allegedly transported nearly two pounds of methamphetamine from an illegal gambling business in Anaheim that was supposed to be delivered to Nunez’s buyer; and
- Vanessa Maria Galloway, 37, of Barstow, who was present when the methamphetamine was seized, and who is charged in this indictment with possession with the intent to distribute heroin.
Nunez and Loomis are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nunez and Loomis are individually charged with substantive methamphetamine distribution counts. Galloway is charged individually with possession with intent to distribute heroin. Loomis and Galloway were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charges of conspiracy and operating an illegal gambling business each carry a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The bribery offense carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The violations of the Hobbs Act that allege interference with commerce by robbery and extortion each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The methamphetamine charges discussed above each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a potential sentence of life. The heroin trafficking offense carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
The ongoing investigation into illegal gambling houses in Orange County is being conducted under the auspices of the Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force. The primary investigatory agencies are the FBI; the Santa Ana Police Department; the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control; IRS Criminal Investigation; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Substantial assistance is being provided by the California Highway Patrol, the Westminster Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Anaheim Police Department and the Garden Grove Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel H. Ahn and Daniel S. Lim of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
I.T. Specialist Charged in Cyber Intrusion of Suburban Chicago Health Care CompanyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An information technology specialist has been indicted on a federal criminal charge for allegedly hacking into the server of a suburban Chicago health care company where he formerly worked as a contractor.
AARON LOCKNER illegally accessed the server of the health care company, which operated a clinic in Oak Lawn, Ill., on April 16, 2018, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The cyber intrusion impaired medical examinations, treatment, and care of multiple individuals, the indictment states. Lockner had previously performed information security and technology work for the health care company and had access to its computer network, the indictment alleges. Two months before the cyber attack, Lockner sought and was denied an employment position with the health care company, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Lockner, 35, of Downers Grove, Ill., with one count of intentionally causing damage to a protected computer. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Dixon.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charge in the indictment is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Husband and Wife Charged in Interstate Gun Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), and Keechant L. Sewell, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (NYPD), announced today that RONALD ROGERS and ANAUNCIA ROGERS were charged with conspiracy to commit gun trafficking and gun trafficking, in connection with their involvement in a scheme to illegally obtain and transport firearms from Georgia for resale to residents of New York. RONALD ROGERS was arrested yesterday traveling from Georgia to New York and was presented today before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in the Southern District of New York. ANAUNCIA ROGERS was also arrested yesterday in Georgia and was presented today in the Northern District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Anauncia and Ronald Rogers were in the business of illegally purchasing firearms in Georgia and transporting them to New York. The two are alleged to have purchased 68 guns in their interstate weapons-buying scheme. The importation of firearms into the tri-state exposes millions of New Yorkers to potentially lethal harm, and I commend the career prosecutors of this Office for partnering with the ATF and NYPD in the ongoing effort to rid our streets of illegal guns.”
ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John DeVito said: “One of ATF’s top priorities is to decrease the ever-growing threat to public safety caused by illegally trafficked firearms. The men and women of the Joint Firearms Task Force worked diligently to identify, investigate and to apprehend Ronald and Anauncia Rogers in this case. This investigation is yet another example of the collaborative work of the NYC Crime Gun Intelligence Center and all our investigative partners to reduce firearms trafficking and violent crime across our City and Nation.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners at the ATF and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District remain precisely focused on building strong cases against anyone who peddles illegal guns on the streets of New York. Bringing these gun traffickers to justice is dangerous work, and I commend our dedicated investigators for identifying and taking into custody this husband-and-wife team, who will now face the full consequences of their alleged actions.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1]:
From at least in or around September 2018 up to and including March 2022, RONALD ROGERS and ANAUNCIA ROGERS, both residents of the state of Georgia, engaged in a scheme to buy at least 68 firearms from at least seven federal firearms licensees (“FFLs”) in Georgia. Over the course of the scheme, ANAUNCIA ROGERS personally purchased at least 47 firearms. In connection with each purchase, ANAUNCIA ROGERS attested that she was the true purchaser of the firearms, when in fact she was buying guns on behalf of her husband and co-defendant, RONALD ROGERS. After ANAUNCIA ROGERS purchased the guns, RONALD ROGERS transported the firearms to New York City, usually by car, and illegally resold many of the guns to others.
To date, the NYPD has seized six firearms purchased in Georgia by ANAUNCIA ROGERS during arrests in New York City.
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RONALD ROGERS, 26, and ANAUNCIA ROGERS, 26, both of Riverdale, Georgia, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit gun trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of gun trafficking, which also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the ATF and the NYPD for their assistance in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. King is 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 Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Horn Lake Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – A Horn Lake man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 8 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse materials on his personal electronic devices.
According to court documents, Steven Mistilis, 62 years old, admitted to possessing, downloading, and viewing child sexual abuse images and videos for several years when approached by officers. Mistilis had a collection of over 1500 images and 549 child sexual abuse videos, many depicting infants and toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Eleven victims submitted Victim Impact Statements, and U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ordered Mistilis to pay $35,000 in restitution to those victims.
“This individual downloaded and stored images and videos of very young children being sexually abused, and repeatedly viewed them for his sexual gratification and pleasure,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Prison is exactly where he belongs, and the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office and FBI deserve our gratitude for helping to remove him from society.”
The Desoto County Sheriff’s Department and FBI Oxford Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. Kline prosecuted the case.
Hammond Man Sentenced to 24 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Matthew Burton, 20 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Burton was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on May 17, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Burton and recovered a firearm from under the front passenger seat which he possessed. Burton’s criminal history revealed he had a prior felony conviction for robbery, and as such, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives/ Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force with the assistance of the East Chicago Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Greensboro Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud North Carolina Medicaid SystemRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Greensboro, North Carolina woman, Sharita Mathis Richardson, was sentenced today to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. On March 25, 2021, Richardson pleaded guilty to the charge. As part of sentencing, Richardson was also ordered to pay $2,005,531 in criminal restitution to the North Carolina Fund for Medical Assistance.
“This defendant conspired with others to steal millions in federal funding intended to provide health care to those in need,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Our office will continue to bring those who abuse and misuse taxpayer funds to justice.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2012 and 2016, Richardson conspired with Antonio Fozard and others to defraud the North Carolina Medicaid system through the submission of over $4 million in false and fraudulent claims for the reimbursement of behavioral health services. Medicaid is a federally funded health care benefit program that helps pay for medical-related services for low-income individuals and their families. In North Carolina, Medicaid is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits.
Fozard owned and operated a number of behavioral health companies that purported to provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina. These companies included Group Service, Inc., and Zoofari Kids, LLC. Each of these entities engaged in a systematic effort to steal from Medicaid by billing for services that were never rendered.
Group Service maintained offices at various times in Raleigh, Dunn, Durham, and Sanford. Among other things, Group Service employed Reginald Van Reese, Jr., and Ruben Samuel Matos to canvas low-income neighborhoods to identify eligible Medicaid recipients and collect their personal identifying information (PII), including their Medicaid Identification numbers. The harvested PII was then incorporated into false and fraudulent claims that Group Service submitted to Medicaid for reimbursement. Note writers, including Humberto Mercado, were also enlisted to fabricate supporting documentation in the event of a Medicaid audit. Richardson held herself out as Group Service’s chief operating officer and assisted Fozard in the day-to-day operations of the criminal enterprise.
During much of the same time period, Fozard and Richardson were also managing members of Zoofari Kids, which was similarly defrauding the North Carolina Medicaid system. Zoofari Kids operated in Durham and Garner. The Durham location shared the same address as Group Service and purported to provide mental health treatment to Medicaid recipients. The Garner location was strictly a drop-in daycare facility. The daycare, however, was effectively funded by Medicaid fraud proceeds paid out to Zoofari’s mental health business.
Fozard, Reese, Matos, and Mercado each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in separate related cases. Reese, Matos, and Mercado were previously sentenced to terms of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution to the North Carolina Fund for Medical Assistance. Fozard is scheduled to be sentenced during the term of court that begins on July 20, 2022.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-506-FL.
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Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Man Charged with Robberies of Madison Businesses
Scott C. Tolliver, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with robbing two business in Madison. The indictment alleges that on April 15, 2022, he robbed the McDonald’s Restaurant on Regent Street and the Walgreens on East Campus Mall. The indictment alleges that the robberies occurred by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury.
If convicted, Tolliver faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Milwaukee Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm & Ammunition
Marcell Davis, 31, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on March 8, 2022, Davis possessed a .22 caliber handgun, a .357 revolver, and 9mm ammunition.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
The charges against Tolliver and Davis are brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordinator between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address violent crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Tomah Man Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Stephen Thompson, 56, Tomah, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on March 17, 2022.
If convicted, Thompson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Bayfield County Man Charged with Stealing Timber from National Forest
Jerod Hecimovich, 40, Mason, Wisconsin, is charged in a 3-count indictment with stealing live oak timber, injuring live oak timber, and knowingly cutting and removing live oak timber from the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Bayfield County. According to the indictment, in April 2019 Hecimovich, as owner and operator of Hecimovich Forest Products, LLC, was awarded a contract by the U.S. Forest Service to harvest certain timber from U.S. Forest land. The indictment alleges that Hecimovich harvested certain live oak timber which the contract specified should not be removed. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of proceeds traceable to the offenses charged, including $24,736 representing the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the alleged theft of government property.
If convicted, Hecimovich faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the charges of stealing government property and injuring government property. The charge of cutting and removing timber from the National Forest has a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.
Man Charged with Escape
Craig Bellis, 42, formerly of Boscobel, Wisconsin, is charged with escape. The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2022, he escaped from custody at Rock Valley Community Programs Inc. in Janesville, Wisconsin, a residential reentry center in which he was lawfully confined.
If convicted, Bellis faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.
Goldsboro Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Goldsboro, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Robert Lee Best, 61, was named in an Indictment filed on March 12, 2020 charging him with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine from 2018 to March 12, 2020, (Count One) and Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting (Count Two). On November 10, 2020, Best entered a plea of guilty to Count Two.
In May of 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro and the Winston-Salem Police Departments, received information that Best was part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Goldsboro, which distributed large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and maintained several “trap houses” or “stash houses” in Goldsboro and employed runners, often times drug users, to hand deliver drugs.
Based upon the investigation law enforcement learned that Best had known the leaders of this organization for 20 years and worked in “the hole,” or “trap house” located on Slaughter Street where he distributed drugs for them. Best worked 12-hour shifts in the trap house selling narcotics for the organization. During these 12-hour shifts, two people worked each shift, an inside man and an outside man. The inside man answered the phone and prepared the drug orders. The outside man-made deliveries to the customers and served as a “lookout.” At the end of each shift, Best was responsible for delivering proceeds from the drug sales to a drop location.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Best was responsible for assisting in the distribution of 14,560 grams of cocaine and 1,507.7 grams of methamphetamine.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro Police Department, and the Winston-Salem Police Department, investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci 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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Georgia man sentenced to decades in prison after admitting he produced and possessed images of child sexual exploitationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Liberty County man was sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison after admitting he produced and possessed child pornography.
John Paul Joseph Keegan, 31, of Midway, Ga., was sentenced to 295 months in prison after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Keegan to pay $3,000 in restitution, to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“John Paul Keegan is being held responsible for his truly detestable exploitation of vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “This substantial prison sentence holds Keegan accountable and protects the community from this predator.”
Keegan’s wife, Sharon Elizabeth Keegan, 30, of Midway, Ga., faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to 30 years, after pleading guilty in April to Production of Child Pornography at the midway point of her trial in U.S. District Court.
The Keegans were indicted in May 2020 after an investigation launched through a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to Homeland Security Investigations. That tip led agents from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to search the Midway mobile home where the Keegans resided, and investigators seized electronic devices found to contain images and videos of child sexual exploitation that each of the two had produced and shared over the internet.
“Keegan will now face accountability for his heinous acts and the immeasurable pain he inflicted upon innocent children,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Children are among our most vulnerable populations and HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to use all available resources to protect them from exploitation.”
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, and was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons, with assistance from Asset Recovery Unit Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Robichaux.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Gary Man Sentenced to 235 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Omarr Williams, 43, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced to 235 in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on October 8, 2019, Williams robbed a bank in Hammond, Indiana. Upon entering the bank, Williams pointed a firearm at a bank teller and demanded money. At the time of his arrest. Williams was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm and $1,597.
At the time he committed the bank robbery, Williams was on probation for a prior armed robbery conviction. Based on his criminal history, Williams was determined to be a career offender which resulted in an increase to his sentence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Jennifer S. Chang.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Yuba City Church Administrator Arrested in Oklahoma, Charged with Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of Chanell Easton, 36, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On May 19, 2022, a federal grand jury in Sacramento returned an indictment, charging Easton with 22 counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft for a scheme to embezzle church funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from June 2013 to February 2018, Easton worked as an administrator at a church in Yuba City. During her employment, Easton stole over $360,000 from the church, including from its food pantry and youth ministry, during a years-long embezzlement scheme. Without the church’s knowledge or authorization, Easton opened five business credit card accounts in the church’s name. Easton used these five credit cards, as well as a credit card used by the church’s youth pastor, to make personal purchases—including at a hair salon, retail stores, online retailers, a vacation rental service, and to buy concert tickets—and then paid off the resulting balance with the church’s money. Easton also transferred money directly from the church’s bank accounts to her own personal account, paid down the balance of her own personal credit card, and paid her cellphone provider for her personal bills and for new phones.
According to the indictment, Easton also stole money from the church by writing checks to others for personal expenses and by writing checks to herself, on which she forged the signatures of the church’s treasurer or the head volunteer of the church’s food pantry.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot C. Wong and Christopher S. Hales are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Easton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Reality Television Personality Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Downloading Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced today to 151 months in prison without the possibility of parole on one count of Receiving Material Depicting Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Joshua James Duggar, 34, of Springdale, repeatedly downloaded and viewed images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including images of prepubescent children and depictions of sadistic abuse. Duggar, a former reality television personality who appeared with his family on the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting, installed a password-protected partition on the hard drive of his desktop computer at his used car lot in Springdale to avoid pornography-detecting software on the device. He then accessed the partition to download child sexual abuse material from the internet multiple times over the course of three days in May 2019. The password for the partition was the same one he used for other personal and family accounts. Duggar downloaded the material using the dark web and online file-sharing software, viewed it, and then removed it from his computer.
Law enforcement in Arkansas detected Duggar’s activity during an undercover investigation involving the online file-sharing program, subsequently searched his car lot in November 2019, and seized Duggar’s desktop computer as well as other evidence. Significant evidence was found that pointed to Duggar’s presence at the times of the offenses, including pictures that Duggar took on his phone that geolocated at or near the car lot. Duggar also sent multiple timestamped text messages to various individuals that indicated he was at the car lot at the relevant times; the messages were sent, and the iPhone pictures were created, at times within minutes of when the child sexual abuse material was downloaded or displayed on the desktop computer. Additionally, he was the only paid employee on the lot at those times.
On December 9th, 2021, a federal jury in the Western District of Arkansas convicted Duggar of receiving and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the Little Rock Police Department, and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Marshall and Dustin Roberts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of CEOS 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.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov. Western District of Arkansas case number 5:21 CR 50014
Former Philadelphia VA Hospital Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Almost $500,000 in Government FundsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Bruce Minor, 46, of Philadelphia, PA, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney in connection with his scheme to embezzle money from his former employer, the Philadelphia Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).
In April 2022, the defendant was charged in a one-count Criminal Information with theft of government funds stemming from his theft of $487,000 in Veterans Affairs travel reimbursement funds, which he helped administer as part of his official duties as an travel clerk. In order to perpetrate the theft, Minor created fraudulent travel reimbursement claims in the names of at least three other VAMC employees and then diverted the fraudulently obtained funds into bank accounts he controlled. According to court documents, in an email to VAMC management, the defendant admitted to stealing approximately $13,000 in travel funds, though subsequent investigation showed that he stole upwards of $487,000 between December 2015 and September 2019.
“Injured veterans – and all Americans – deserve public employees who do their jobs honestly, without gaming the system to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “While the VA was focused on providing high-quality care and programs to the men and women who served our country, the defendant selfishly took advantage of his position to perpetrate this fraud scheme and cheat the taxpayers who fund these services.”
“Today’s guilty plea should send a message to those who would use their position to steal taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “This greed wastes precious funds that could otherwise be used to provide care and benefits to our nation’s veterans. The VA OIG appreciates the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout this investigation and will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold wrongdoers accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Diviny.
Former Morris Resident Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEVIN CURLEY, 41, formerly of Morris, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, “Tor,” which is an acronym for “The Onion Router,” is a worldwide network of internet-connected computers that is designed to conceal the true IP addresses of the computers on the network and the identities of the network’s users. In 2020, HSI began investigating Curley for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos via a hidden service website that operated on the Tor network. On August 5, 2020, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Curley’s former residence in Morris and seized Curley’s desktop computer. Analysis of the seized computer revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Curley was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on October 8, 2020.
Curley pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for August 30.
Curley is released on a $150,000 bond and residing in Naugatuck while awaiting sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.