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13 May 2022
Former eBay Executive Pleads Guilty to Role in Cyberstalking CampaignRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Director of Global Resiliency for eBay, Inc. pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with his role in a cyberstalking campaign targeting the editor and publisher of a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.
David Harville, 50, of Las Vegas, Nev., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and through facilities of interstate commerce, two counts of stalking through interstate travel and two counts of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2022.
In June 2020, Harville was arrested and charged along with James Baugh, eBay’s former Senior Director of Safety & Security, who pleaded guilty on April 25, 2022. Co-conspirators and former eBay employees Philip Cooke, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Veronica Zea and Stephanie Stockwell previously pleaded guilty. Cooke was sentenced in July 2021 to 18 months in prison. Gilbert, Popp, Zea and Stockwell are awaiting sentencing.
Between approximately Aug. 5, 2019 and Sept. 6, 2019, Harville and his co-conspirators at eBay agreed to engage in a harassment campaign targeting a husband and wife in Natick, Mass. for their roles in publishing a newsletter that reported on issues of interest to eBay sellers. Senior executives at eBay were frustrated with the newsletter’s tone and content, and with the tone and content of comments posted beneath the newsletter’s articles. The harassment campaign arose from communications between those executives and Baugh, who was eBay’s senior security employee.
Harville and his co-conspirators executed a three-part harassment campaign intended to intimidate the victims and to change the content of the newsletter’s reporting. The campaign included sending anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home; sending private Twitter messages and public tweets criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to visit the victims in Natick; and traveling to Natick to surveil the victims and install a GPS tracking device on their car.
The deliveries ordered to the victims’ home included a book on surviving the death of a spouse, a bloody pig mask, a fetal pig, a funeral wreath and live insects. The harassment also featured Craigslist posts inviting the public for sexual encounters at the victims’ home.
The threatening Twitter messages were written as if they had been sent by eBay sellers who were unhappy with the victims’ coverage in the newsletter. Some of these messages posted the victims’ address and threatened to visit them at their home.
On Aug. 15, 2019, Harville and co-conspirators traveled from California to Natick to surveil the victims and to install a GPS tracking device on the victims’ car. The victims spotted the surveillance team and contacted local police. Harville also purchased tools intending to break into the victims’ garage and lied to an eBay investigator who was responding to the Natick Police’s request for assistance. After learning of the police’s investigation, Harville turned in his company-issued cell phone from which evidence related to the cyberstalking campaign had been deleted.
The charges of conspiracy to commit stalking and stalking each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Natick Chief of Police James G. Hicks made the announcement. eBay provided valuable assistance and cooperation with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Muncie Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting an Arrestee and Falsifying a Report to Cover up the OffenseRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Jeremy Gibson, 31, a former officer with the Muncie Police Department, pleaded guilty today to assaulting an arrestee in violation of his civil rights, and to an obstruction of justice offense for writing a false report to cover up the incident.
According to court documents and statements made during the change of plea hearing, on May 13, 2019, Officer Gibson initiated a traffic stop of a car because one of the car’s headlights was out. When the driver stepped out of the car, Gibson attempted to physically take him to the ground, and punched him several times with a closed fist in the process. As other officers attempted to secure the driver, Gibson used his knee to strike the driver in right side of the driver’s head, causing the driver’s head to swing to the side, at which point another officer delivered another knee strike to the opposite side of the driver’s head. Shortly afterwards, Officer Gibson authored a false report about the incident.
Gibson is one of four Muncie police officers who – along with Officer Chase Winkle, Officer Corey Posey and Sergeant Joseph Krejsa – were charged in April 2021 in a 17-count superseding indictment for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and attempting to cover up the misconduct. The other three officers are scheduled to stand trial in August 2022. A fifth Muncie police officer, former Officer Dalton Kurtz, pleaded guilty on August 4, 2021, to misprision of felony for concealing and failing to report inappropriate use of force by Officer Winkle during a separate incident.
Gibson faces up to 30 years in prison and will be sentenced by Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt at a later date. His actual sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge and sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Myers and A.A.G. Clark thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett, and Trial Attorneys Katherine DeVar and Mary Hahn of the Civil Rights Division for their work prosecuting the case.
Former Marion County Detention Deputy Sent to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Restrained InmateRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Jorge Alberto Mateos, 26, of Noblesville, Indiana, a former detention deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indianapolis, was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for assaulting an inmate. Mateos had previously pleaded guilty to a felony civil rights offense for his unreasonable use of force against an inmate in his care.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 9, 2021, Mateos was on duty as a Detention Deputy at the Marion County Jail. During the shift, deputies ordered an inmate at the facility to remove his jail-issued shoes. The inmate kicked off his shoes and sat in the corner of his cell. In response, Mateos entered the cell and told the inmate something to the effect of, “When a deputy tells you to do something, you need to do it.” Mateos then struck the inmate in the face multiple times, during which time the inmate did not try to resist or fight back. Mateos continued to strike the inmate after he fell to the ground. According to court documents, other detention deputies attempted to deescalate the situation, separated the inmate and Mateos, and placed the inmate in handcuffs. After the inmate was handcuffed, Mateos struck the inmate several additional times. As a result, the inmate sustained bodily injuries.
“Law enforcement officers who violate their oaths and choose to assault persons in their custody will be held accountable,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Former Deputy Mateos chose to repeatedly attack an inmate who offered no resistance, an assault that continued even after the inmate was handcuffed. These crimes dishonor our profession and erode trust in the honorable law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep the community safe. Abuses of the public trust are a special category of wrongs to be righted. The sentence imposed today demonstrates that this office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners will prioritize holding these offenders accountable.”
“Former Deputy Mateos abused his authority as a law enforcement officer and betrayed the public’s trust when he violently assaulted an inmate in his custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Law enforcement officials who commit violent assaults inside our jails and prisons are not above the law, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit civil rights violations.”
“There is no acceptable level of abuse of power. The vast majority of law enforcement officers are professional, well-trained and honor the oath they took to protect and serve the community,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who violate that oath and the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal stated “deputy sheriffs and detention deputies take an oath. So have I. If you use unnecessary force against someone in your custody, you must be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office provide valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. As part of the sentence, Judge Pratt ordered that the defendant be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 1 year following his release from prison. Judge Pratt also ordered that the defendant remanded to begin serving his sentence immediately. At the conclusion of the hearing, Mateos was taken into the custody of the United States Marshal.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Kelsey L. Massa, and Trial Attorney Katherine G. DeVar of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, who prosecuted the case.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting the Civil Rights Reporting Portal located at civilrights.justice.gov.
Individuals who believe they are the victim of a criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
Former Indiana Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense Following Assault on Arrestee and Falsified ReportRead the Press Release
Jeremy Gibson, 31, a former officer with the Muncie Police Department, in Muncie, Indiana, pleaded guilty today to civil rights and obstruction charges. Specifically, the defendant pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense for assaulting an arrestee, and to an obstruction offense for writing a false report to cover up the incident.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
According to court documents and statements made during the change of plea hearing, on or about May 13, 2019, Gibson initiated a traffic stop of a car because one of the car’s headlights was out. When the driver stepped out of the car, Gibson attempted to physically take him to the ground, and punched him several times with a closed fist in the process. As other officers also used force against the driver, Gibson delivered a knee strike to the right of his head, causing his head to swing to the side, at which point another officer delivered another knee strike to the opposite side of the driver’s head. Shortly after the incident, Gibson authored a false report about the incident.
Gibson is one of four Muncie police officers who – along with Officer Chase Winkle, Officer Corey Posey and Sergeant Joseph Krejsa – were indicted in April 2021 in a 17-count superseding indictment for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and attempting to cover up the misconduct. The other three officers are scheduled to stand trial in August 2022. A fifth Muncie police officer, Dalton Kurtz, previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 4, 2021, to one count of misprision of felony for concealing and failing to report inappropriate use of force by Officer Winkle during a separate incident.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
Former Indiana Deputy Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Assaulting Inmate Inside Marion County JailRead the Press Release
A former Detention Deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced today in federal district court for assaulting an inmate. Jorge Alberto Mateos, 26, of Noblesville, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt to 18 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release and an $1,000 fine. Mateos previously pleaded guilty to a felony civil rights offense for his unreasonable use of force against an inmate in his care.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers of the Southern District of Indiana and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
According to court documents and statements made at the sentencing hearing, on the evening of Sept. 9, 2021, Mateos was on duty as a Detention Deputy at the Marion County Jail. During the shift, deputies ordered an inmate at the facility to remove his jail-issued shoes. The inmate kicked off his shoes and sat in the corner of his cell. In response, Mateos entered the cell and told the inmate something to the effect of, “When a deputy tells you to do something, you need to do it.” Mateos then struck the inmate in the face multiple times, during which time the inmate did not try to resist or fight back. Mateos continued to strike the inmate after he fell to the ground. According to court documents, other detention deputies attempted to deescalate the situation, separated the inmate and Mateos, and placed the inmate in handcuffs. After the inmate was handcuffed, Mateos struck the inmate several additional times. As a result, the inmate sustained bodily injuries.
“Former Deputy Mateos abused his authority as a law enforcement officer and betrayed the public’s trust when he violently assaulted an inmate in his custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Law enforcement officials who commit violent assaults inside our jails and prisons are not above the law, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit civil rights violations.”
“Law enforcement officers who violate their oaths and choose to assault persons in their custody will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Former Deputy Mateos chose to repeatedly attack an inmate who offered no resistance, an assault that continued even after the inmate was handcuffed. These crimes dishonor our profession and erode trust in the honorable law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep the community safe. Abuses of the public trust are a special category of wrongs to be righted, and the sentence imposed today demonstrates that this office, the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners will prioritize holding these offenders accountable.”
“There is no acceptable level of abuse of power,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The vast majority of law enforcement officers are professional, well-trained and honor the oath they took to protect and serve the community. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who violate that oath and the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley P. Shepard and Kelsey L. Massa of the Southern District of Indiana, and Trial Attorney Katherine G. DeVar for the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Florida Police Sergeant Sentenced for Sex Crimes Against Three WomenRead the Press Release
Jesus Manuel Menocal Jr., 34, a former Hialeah Police Department sergeant, was sentenced in federal court in Miami, Florida, to three years in prison and one year of supervised release, the statutory maximum sentence.
Menocal previously pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the civil rights of women by sexually exploiting them.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate police officers who abuse their authority to prey on those they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases to secure justice for the victims of these reprehensible crimes and to ensure that perpetrators who use their unique power to take advantage of others are held accountable.”
“The police officer sentenced today violated not only his victims’ rights, but also the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida. “As this prosecution shows, we will hold accountable those in our South Florida community who abuse their positions of power and engage in such disgraceful illegal conduct.”
“Jesus Menocal now faces the consequences for using his position to sexually abuse women,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge John J. Bernardo of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Menocal was sentenced to the statutory maximum which is a testament to the courage of his victims to come forward and tell their stories as well as the dedication of FBI Miami's Civil Rights squad.”
According to court documents, Menocal kissed a woman and caused her to touch his exposed penis; had a second woman, who was in psychiatric crisis, perform oral sex on him; and coerced a third woman, who was walking alone at night, into submitting to oral and vaginal sex. While not directly related to the offenses to which he pleaded guilty, Menocal also admitted to bringing a fourth female into a Hialeah Police Department building and ordering her to remove her shorts and underwear, causing her to expose her buttocks to him. Menocal admitted that he was on-duty and in uniform during all of these acts, abusing his official authority.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Hialeah Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward N. Stamm, Monica K. Castro and Ilham Hosseini of the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton and Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/
Former Florida Police Sergeant Sentenced for Sex Crimes Against Three WomenRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida — Jesus Manuel Menocal Jr., 34, a former Hialeah Police Department Sergeant, was sentenced in federal court in Miami, Florida to 36 months in prison and one year of supervised release, the statutory maximum sentence. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
Menocal previously pled guilty to three counts of violating the civil rights of women by sexually exploiting them.
“The police officer sentenced today violated not only his victims’ rights, but also the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez. “As this prosecution shows, we will hold accountable those in our South Florida community who abuse their positions of power and engage in such disgraceful illegal conduct.”
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate police officers who abuse their authority to prey on those they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen M. Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases to secure justice for the victims of these reprehensible crimes and to ensure that perpetrators who use their unique power to take advantage of others are held accountable.”
“Jesus Menocal now faces the consequences for using his position to sexually abuse women,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge John J. Bernardo of FBI Miami. “Menocal was sentenced to the statutory maximum which is a testament to the courage of his victims to come forward and tell their stories as well as the dedication of FBI Miami’s Civil Rights Squad.”
According to court documents, Menocal kissed a woman and caused her to touch his exposed penis; had a second woman, who was in psychiatric crisis, perform oral sex on him; and coerced a third woman, who was walking alone at night, into submitting to oral and vaginal sex. While not directly related to the offenses to which he pleaded guilty, Menocal also admitted to bringing a fourth female into a Hialeah Police Department building and ordering her to remove her shorts and underwear, causing her to expose her buttocks to him. Menocal admitted that he was on-duty and in uniform during all of these acts, abusing his official authority.
The Miami Division of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Hialeah Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward N. Stamm, Monica K. Castro, and Ilham Hosseini for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton and Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 19-cr-20822.
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Former Dubuque Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a Local College and ParkRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, plead guilty on May 12, 2022.
Nicole L. Jarvis, age 35, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
In a plea agreement, Jarvis admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl on at least five occasions in Dubuque. In the fall of 2020, Jarvis utilized Facebook messenger and other communications devices to set up a transaction involving heroin and fentanyl. Jarvis later distributed heroin and fentanyl near Loras College and Madison Park.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Jarvis remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Jarvis faces a possible maximum sentence of 60 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $2 million, and up to six years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Former Accountant for College Admissions Scheme SentencedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former accountant for the Edge College & Career Network (also known as The Key) and the Key Worldwide Foundation was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in the college admissions case.
Steven Masera, 72, of Folsom, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to time served, three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. In June 2019, Masera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Beginning in or about 2008, Masera began working as an accountant for William “Rick” Singer. From that time until his resignation in or about December 2017, Masera was responsible for managing payments to and from Singer’s for-profit college counseling business, The Key, and sham charitable foundation, The Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF). This included parent payments made in connection with both the athletic recruitment “side-door” and test-cheating aspects of Singer’s scheme, as well as the associated back-end payments to university insiders and other facilitators. At Singer’s direction, Masera invoiced parents for Singer’s illegitimate services, made bribe payments to university coaches and athletic department administrators (and university athletic funds under their control) and to SAT/ACT administrators and proctors, and created fraudulent donation receipt letters and fake invoices to allow parents to write their payments off as purported donations or business expenses.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Kristen A. Kearney, Ian J. Stearns and Leslie Wright of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Five Defendants Plead Guilty to Witness Tampering in the Case of a Missouri Woman Found Dead in Mayes CountyRead the Press Release
Five defendants who threatened or harmed witnesses in attempts to thwart a federal investigation into the kidnapping and killing of a Joplin woman have pleaded guilty in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
The body of Jolene Walker Campbell, an Osage Nation citizen, was discovered on July 15, 2020, in a remote field in Mayes County within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation reservation. Federal prosecutors allege the kidnapping resulting in the death of Ms. Walker Campbell occurred in Joplin, Missouri, and happened sometime between July 4 and July 5, 2020.
On July 20, 2021, a total of 11 defendants from the Joplin, Missouri, area were charged in a third superseding indictment, for their various roles related to the kidnapping resulting in death conspiracy.
Within the last month, Morgan Lee Bowman, 26; Megan Louise Detherage, 28; Sarah Michelle Humbard, 25; David William Morris, 34; and Chloe Louise Stith, 21, each pleaded guilty to acts related to witness tampering.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold accountable individuals who threaten or commit acts of violence against witnesses in an attempt to obstruct the federal criminal justice process,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Together, my office and our partners at the FBI will uphold our federal trust responsibility in Indian Country and work to ensure justice prevails for victim Jolene Walker Campbell and the witnesses harmed in this case.”
On May 9, 2022, Bowman, pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using and threatening physical force (Count 7). Bowman admitted that on July 7, 2020, she and Megan Louise Detherage and Lane Ryan Bronson bound, blindfolded and kidnapped two witnesses from a Joplin home and drove them to a remote location in Seneca, Missouri, occupied by Tre Robert Allen Ackerson and Breanna Sloan. She stated that while at that location, Ackerson used a semi-automatic rifle to repeatedly shoot at one of the witnesses and told the witness to “dance.” The second witness, who was still bound and blindfolded, was forced to listen. Bowman stated that after the shooting, she, Sloan and Detherage took the witnesses personal belongings and wiped down the car used in the kidnapping with bleach with the intention of destroying DNA and fingerprint evidence. Bowman said at the time of the crime, she understood that a federal proceeding was likely to evolve in the kidnapping and killing of Ms. Walker Campbell and that they threatened the witnesses with the intent to prevent communication with law enforcement about the crimes.
Detherage pleaded guilty on May 10, 2022, to misprision of a felony. Detherage admitted that she failed to inform law enforcement about her participation in a kidnapping for the purpose of intimidating witnesses of a drug trafficking offense. On July 7, 2020, she, Bronson, Bowman, and two witnesses were present at a house in Joplin. She stated that Bronson had asked one of the witnesses to hold a quantity of methamphetamine while Bronson was away and that Bronson later accused the individual of stealing some of the drug. She stated that at Bronson’s direction, she and Bowman blindfolded the two witnesses and they drove the witnesses to a trailer in Seneca, Missouri, where Ackerson and Sloan were located. She stated that Ackerson and Bronson left with one of the witnesses, then returned and parked behind the trailer. She, Sloan and Bowman then wiped down the car used in the kidnapping with bleach at the direction of Bronson. During that time, she claimed that she heard gunshots fired in the direction of where Ackerson and one of the witnesses were located, causing the second witness to become fearful. She stated the only firearm she saw during the kidnapping was a short-barreled rifle carried by Ackerson.
Humbard and Morris each pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using the threat of physical force (Count 11). Humbard and Morris admitted that they threatened a witness by reminding the witness of the killing of Ms. Walker Campbell and that the witness was “playing with fire.” The two further admitted to luring the witness to drive to the Precious Moments Hotel in Carthage, Missouri, where they met Bronson. Bronson allegedly demanded the witness change testimony regarding codefendant Ackerson, and if not, the witness would pay for it. Humbard pleaded guilty on April 21, 2022, and Morris pleaded guilty May 13, 2022.
Stith pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by using and threatening physical force (Count 12). Stith admitted at a May 5, 2022, plea hearing that she helped another person in a separate incident in the use of force against two other witnesses with the intention of keeping them from communicating with federal law enforcement about the kidnapping and killing of Ms. Walker Campbell. She admitted to covering the two witnesses’ eyes with duct tape and driving the witnesses against their will to a remote location where one witness was physically assaulted by the other person who had accompanied Stith. The incident occurred on Aug. 13, 2020.
Bowman, Detherage, Humbard, Morris and Stith have now been convicted. All other defendants charged in the indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI, Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, and Joplin Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and George Jiang are prosecuting the case.
Felon Sentenced to Prison for Shooting Firearms on Public LandRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A felon who admitted to shooting two firearms on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property was sentenced today to eight years in prison.
Gustavo Arechiga, 46, of Henderson, Nevada, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Arechiga to two years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Arechiga and co-defendant Rafael Martinez went to a BLM property on April 22, 2019 to drink alcohol, smoke drugs, and shoot two firearms: (a) a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and (b) a .223/.556 caliber rifle with a 7.5 inch barrel. Two hikers were nearby when the firearms were discharged. Arechiga and Martinez then left the area with the firearms in a vehicle driven by Arechiga. During a traffic stop, Arechiga lied to officers when asked whether he had any firearms in the vehicle. In addition to the two firearms that were discharged, law enforcement recovered 9mm, .40, and .556 ammunition in the vehicle, as well as firearm magazines.
Arechiga had been previously convicted of at least seven felonies, including convictions in Clark County for battery with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon. Accordingly, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Martinez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served in May 2020.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the case.
If you have information about illegal firearms activity, you are urged to submit a tip to ATF by calling the hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or through the ReportIt mobile app.
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Federal and State Task Forces Seize Drugs and Guns in Joint InvestigationRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington –Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that as part of ongoing joint efforts by the Spokane DEA Task Force, the Spokane Police Department Special Investigations Unit, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 50,000 fake pills believed to contain fentanyl, and seven guns were seized in an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. One person was arrested and booked for obstruction of justice.
The U.S. Attorney noted the seizures and commended the joint nature of the ongoing investigation. “Yesterday’s seizures took a large amount of potentially lethal narcotics off the street, along with a number of guns that appear to have been connected to the drug trade,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “One fentanyl-laced pill can kill, so this seizure likely saved dozens, if not hundreds, of lives in the Spokane area. When it comes to investigating cases like this, it is truly a force multiplier to have DEA, FBI, Spokane PD, and our task forces working together seamlessly to seize these poison pills, protect the community, and keep Eastern Washington safe and strong. I commend and thank everyone involved in yesterday’s operation.”
Federal agent admits to violating civil rights of a Honduran teenagerRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old former Border Patrol (BP) employee has pleaded guilty to violating the constitutional rights of a Honduran teenager, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gregson Martinez, Brownsville, pleaded guilty to acting under color of law and utilizing unreasonable force by striking a 17-year-old unaccompanied Honduran citizen.
On July 21, 2021, authorities apprehended the teenager near Hidalgo and transported him to the Donna Processing Center. Martinez worked there as a BP processing coordinator.
While questioning him as to his age and citizenship, Martinez struck the 17-year-old male across the face.
Martinez was terminated Aug. 2, 2021.
Sentencing has been set for June 24, at which time Martinez faces up to a year in federal prison and a possible $100,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General and Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia is prosecuting the case.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Assaulting Another Inmate with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Caraballo, age 37, an inmate at USP Canaan, formerly of Vermont, was sentenced yesterday, by U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani, to serve an additional sixty-three months’ imprisonment for assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Caraballo previously pleaded guilty to assaulting another inmate at USP Canaan with a sharpened piece of metal commonly known as a “shank.” Caraballo also previously admitted to possessing the metal “shank,” which is contraband in a federal prison. The incident occurred in February 2017.
Judge Mariani ordered that the sentence run consecutive, or in addition to, a drug trafficking sentence Caraballo is presently serving from the District of Vermont.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case.
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Family Convicted of Conspiring to Force a Pakistani Woman to Labor in Their Virginia Home for 12 YearsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in sitting in Richmond, Virginia, found defendants Zahida Aman, Mohammad Nauman Chaudhri and Mohammad Rehan Chaudhri, guilty of conspiracy to commit forced labor for compelling the domestic labor of a Pakistani women for 12 years. The jury further found defendant Aman guilty of forced labor and document servitude, and defendant Rehan Chaudhri guilty of forced labor.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Divison and U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.
“The defendants exploited the victim’s trust and inflicted cruel and inhumane physical and mental abuse on her, all so they could keep her working in their home as their domestic servant,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Human trafficking is a disgraceful and unacceptable crime, and this verdict should send the very clear message that the Justice Department will investigate and vigorously prosecute human traffickers and help secure justice for survivors.”
“The defendants exploited someone who should have been a loved family member to force her to work in their home for over 14 years,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Forced labor, the modern-day equivalent of slavery, has no place in our country or district, and we will stop at nothing to prosecute those that commit these or similar crimes. Let this conviction serve as a light to survivors impacted by labor trafficking and as a deterrent to those conspiring to commit heinous labor trafficking crimes.”
“The FBI is committed to working with our partners to protect the civil rights of all persons, investigate and prosecute allegations of abuse, and assist the victims of these crimes throughout the process,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “The strength and perseverance of this victim and the investigative team should be commended; and we encourage any community member who knows of or suspects this type of abuse is occurring to report it to authorities immediately.”
Following a seven-day trial, the jury convicted all of the defendants of conspiracy to commit forced labor, convicted two of the defendants of forced labor, and convicted defendant Zahida Aman of document servitude. According to the evidence presented in court, defendant Zahida Aman arranged for her son’s marriage to the victim in 2002. The victim moved to the United States and lived in a house in Midlothian, Virginia, with her husband and the three defendants (the husband’s mother and his two brothers). The defendants compelled the victim to serve the family as a domestic servant, using physical and verbal abuse, restricting communication with her family in Pakistan, confiscating her immigration documentation and money and eventually threatening to separate her from her children by deporting her to Pakistan.
The defendants slapped, kicked, and pushed the victim, even beat her with wooden boards, and on one occasion hog-tied her hands and feet and dragged her down the stairs in front of her children. Even after the victim’s husband moved away, the defendants kept the victim in their Virginia home, often forcing her to perform increasingly laborious tasks, including stripping and staining a deck by hand, mowing the one-acre lawn with a push mower, hand-washing and line-drying area rugs, painting the inside and outside of their two-story home, picking out debris from car carpets with a tweezer and constructing a concrete walkway in front of the home — a task that required the victim to haul 80-pound bags of concrete before mixing and pouring cement.
The evidence further showed that the defendants required the victim to work every day, beginning early each morning. They restricted her food, forbade her from learning to drive or speaking to anyone except the defendants’ family members and prohibited her from calling her family in Pakistan.
The sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Defendants Aman and Rehan Chaudhri face a maximum sentence of 20 years for forced labor. The convictions for conspiracy to commit forced labor and for document servitude carry a maximum sentence of five years each. Restitution in this case is mandatory under the law.
The FBI investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Miller and Shea Gibbons for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Detroit man admits to his role in a drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lamarr Devaughn Charleston, of Detroit, Michigan, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Charleston, 44, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl in Proximity to a Protected Location.” Charleston admitted to selling heroin and fentanyl near a public housing facility in Marion County in April 2019.
Charleston faces at least one year and up 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug Task Force and the Fairmont Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-and-detroit-residents-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation
Detroit Man Sentenced to 14 years’ Imprisonment on Fentanyl Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit resident was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in federal prison on charges of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it in the Detroit area, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
U.S. Attorney Ison was joined in the announcement by Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kent Kleinschmidt of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Judge Robert H. Cleland sentenced Dewayne Javon Butler, 32, Detroit to fourteen years. Butler pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in December 2021.
According to court records, on July 27, 2020, and August 5, 2020, Butler flew to Las Vegas, Nevada to ship packages containing over 1 kilogram of fentanyl each to the Detroit area for further distribution. The packages were intercepted by postal inspectors, who along with special agents from the DEA, determined that Butler was responsible for shipping the illegal drugs to Detroit. USPIS and DEA provided information to the Court at sentencing that revealed 22 previous parcels had been shipped to addresses associated with Butler, between November 2019 and August 2020, and corresponded with Buter’s travel from Detroit to Las Vegas.
A kilogram of fentanyl, which sold for about $50,000 in 2020 could potentially produce 250,000 lethal doses. Michigan drug overdose deaths climbed to record levels in 2020 during the pandemic. In 2019, more than 51 percent of all drug overdose deaths were attributed to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, and other synthetic opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (CDC).
"Mr. Butler’s criminal conduct is an all-too-familiar example of someone who is willing, due to his own greed, to contribute to the destruction of communities, families and individuals dealing with the current effects or aftermath of drug addiction,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “This sentence demonstrates that our office stands ready to hold individuals accountable for the harms they inflict on the community. I commend the excellent work of these federal law enforcement agents in removing dangerous drugs from the streets that were destroying lives in Southeast Michigan.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects the ongoing work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking in our communities and our dedication to ensuring justice is swiftly served upon those who seek to undermine the safety and security of the general public,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Detroit Division.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is determined to bring individuals trafficking fentanyl in our neighborhoods to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kleinschmidt. “We see the devastating impacts of fentanyl on a daily basis and tirelessly investigate those who seek to profit at the expense of public safety.”
This case was investigated by special agents from DEA and USPIS.
Denver Man Faces Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces 46-year-old Jesus Alfredo Moreno Olivas has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, law enforcement officers seized two firearms, approximately 70,000 fentanyl pills, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 34 pounds of heroin, and approximately $20,000 in U.S. currency from Jesus Alfredo Moreno Olivas on or about May 5, 2022.
The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court in Denver on May 9, 2022, where he was advised by a federal magistrate judge of the charge pending against him.
If convicted of the charge against him, the defendant faces 10 years to life in prison.
“Because there is an abundant supply of illicit fentanyl, costs are low and deaths are up,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Our partners at the local, state and federal level are working around the clock to get these dangerous and deadly drugs off the street.”
The Front Range Taskforce, comprised of the Denver Police Department, the Denver Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other local, state and federal law enforcement partners, investigated this case.
The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 22-mj-00081-SKC
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Court Orders Washington, D.C. Man and His Two Companies to Cease and Desist from Engaging in Fraudulent N95 Mask SchemeRead the Press Release
A Washington, D.C. man and his two companies have been ordered to stop engaging in fraud and transferring fraud proceeds in an N95 mask scheme. He must also return over $2.4 million to his victims. In a civil judgment filed in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on May 12, 2022, Alex St. James Railey Cisco, also known as “Alex St. James” and “William Sir Knight Alex-St. James,” from Washington, D.C., had the judgment entered against him on an Amended Civil Complaint filed by the United States on February 16, 2021. The Amended Civil Complaint alleged that Railey Cisco and his two corporations, US FED Group, LLC (“USFG”) and Trade-Backed Equity, LLC (“TBE”), engaged in wire fraud and money laundering as part of a fraudulent 3M N95 mask scheme in 2020.
Evidence at multiple temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction hearings in 2021, as well as additional materials filed in conjunction with a motion filed in February 2022, showed that Railey Cisco controlled USFG and TBE and their bank accounts in Washington, D.C. In October 2020, a Cedar Rapids first-aid manufacturer contracted with an intermediary in Florida for the purchase of one million 3M masks, which were in high demand at that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by means of a purported contract the intermediary had with USFG. The intermediary represented that USFG was an authorized distributor of 3M masks, but in truth at no time was USFG an authorized 3M distributor.
Believing USFG was an authorized 3M distributor, the Cedar Rapids company wired over $2.4 million to a Florida lawyer for the purchase of the masks. The Florida lawyer in turn wired those funds to an account that Railey Cisco controlled on behalf of USFG. The Cedar Rapids company never received the masks or its money back, despite the Cedar Rapids company’s repeated demands.
Instead of returning the Cedar Rapids company’s money or providing the one million 3M masks, Railey Cisco transferred the Cedar Rapids company’s funds to an account he controlled at TBE.
The Cedar Rapids company was not Railey Cisco’s only victim. In September 2020, a California company had also agreed to wire over $250,000 to USFG’s account in Washington, D.C. in anticipation of receiving 3M masks, but the California company never received the 3M masks or its money back from Railey Cisco or USFG. The court found Railey Cisco received the money even though he knew that he, USFG, and TBE were unable and would be unable to fulfill any order for 3M masks. Railey Cisco was the sole owner of the USFG and TBE bank accounts at all relevant times.
United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams ordered the return of over $2.4 million dollars to St. James’s victims and entered a permanent injunction forbidding Railey Cisco, USFG, or TBE from engaging in fraud or transferring fraud proceeds. However, the court will retain jurisdiction over related matters including, but not limited to, enforcement of the permanent injunction order and the discovery, restraint, disgorgement, collection, and return of fraudulent and laundered funds for any victims of the scheme.
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.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Matthew Gillespie and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CV-8.
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Council Bluffs Men Sentenced for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Dalton Theodore Holland, age 30, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Tuesday, May 10, 2022, to 51 months in prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Holland pleaded guilty to the firearm charge on November 18, 2021. Holland’s co-defendant, Joshua Michael Holmes, age 26, also pleaded guilty to Prohibited Person on Possession of a Firearm on April 15, 2021, and was sentenced on August 31, 2021, to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
In November of 2020, officers observed Holland and Holmes arrive at a home in Council Bluffs driving stolen vehicles. As officers attempted to approach Holland and Holmes, they attempted to flee in one of the stolen trucks but the truck got stuck. Officers boxed the truck in and apprehended Holmes. Holland ran from the bed of the truck and was stopped a short distance away by a police dog. Holland and Holms were found in possession of stolen items and firearms. Officers located a firearm on Holmes in a hip holster and another in his coveralls pocket. Two firearms were also located in the stolen Silverado that Holland drove to the home.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Cole Jacob Bergantzel, age 20, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Thursday, May 12, 2022, to 48 months in federal prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Bergantzel pleaded guilty to the charge on January 5, 2022.
In March of 2021, Bergantzel attempted to sell firearms on Snapchat and in September of 2021, Bergantzel was arrested after he discharged a firearm in a residential area. Bergantzel was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as he is a drug user and addicted to a controlled substance.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Andrew Russell White, age 34, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Thursday, May 12, 2022, to 42 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. White’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, White pleaded guilty to the charge on January 5, 2022.
In March of 2019, a cybertip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Google account. The email address was traced to White and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for White’s Gmail account and his residence in Council Bluffs. White admitted to law enforcement he downloaded images of child pornography onto his phone from the Internet. White was arrested and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2021.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Construction Company Agrees to Pay $2.8 Million to Resolve Allegations of Small Business Subcontracting FraudRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Hensel Phelps Construction Company (Hensel Phelps), a large construction company headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, has agreed to pay $2,804,110, to resolve allegations that it improperly manipulated a federal subcontract designated for a business owned and operated by a service-disabled veteran announced Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and Carla B. Freedman, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York.
“Taking advantage of contracts intended for companies owned and operated by service-disabled veterans demonstrates a shocking disregard for fair competition and integrity in government contracting,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “We insisted not only that Hensel Phelps refund the government and pay a hefty penalty for its misconduct, but that it admit to its misconduct.”
Federal government contracts and subcontracts may be reserved, or “set aside,” for various categories of small businesses, such that only eligible small businesses in a particular socioeconomic category are eligible to bid on, receive, and perform the contracts. One such category is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), which is reserved for small businesses owned, controlled, and operated by veterans of the United States military who incurred a disability in the course of their military service to the United States. Large businesses that perform on large federal prime contracts must develop and implement small business subcontracting plans designed to subcontract portions of the work to SDVOSBs and other types of small businesses.
Hensel Phelps is a general contractor and construction company that performs large scale private construction and public works projects nationwide, including in Washington and New York States. In 2011, the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees construction of many federal buildings, awarded Hensel Phelps a contract to construct the Armed Forces Retirement Home’s New Commons/Health Care Building in Washington, D.C. The Armed Forces Retirement Home provides retirement communities and residential facilities for veterans. As a condition of the contract, Hensel Phelps was required to have and implement a small business subcontracting plan to provide contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs and other types of small businesses.
This case began in April 2022, when a whistleblower, a company known as Fox Unlimited Enterprises, LLP, filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. When a whistleblower, or “relator,” files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the relator in this case will receive $630,925 of the settlement.
The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Syracuse Post of Duty; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New York Field Investigations Office; the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud Detachment 6, Rome, New York; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Syracuse Fraud Branch Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Spokane and Buffalo Resident Agencies; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Resident Agency Northeast; and the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene of the Eastern District of Washington and Adam J. Katz of the Northern District of New York handled this matter on behalf of the United States.
4873-7571-2542_v1_hp_settlement_agreement_5-4-2022.pdfColumbus Man Sentenced for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Dezmin Meridith, 27, of Columbus, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Transportation of Child Pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Meridith to 90 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Meridith will serve 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Meridith to pay $12,000 in restitution.
In May 2019, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a CyberTipline Report that a Dropbox user had uploaded child pornography. Investigators identified Meridith as a suspect and determined that he had relocated from Omaha back to Columbus. Investigators contacted Meridith who admitted to purchasing packages of child pornography files on a chat application and then uploading them to Dropbox.
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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
Colorado Man Convicted of FraudRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Earl D. Miller, age 43, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was found guilty of 5 counts of wire fraud and 1 count of securities fraud following a 5-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio presided over the trial.
Miller’s sentencing will be scheduled August 25, 2022. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Office of the United States Trustee (Region 10), the Indiana Secretary of State Securities Division, and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Jerome W. McKeever.
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CEO of Private Equity Fund Sentenced to 97 Months for $133 Million Bank and Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant ELLIOT SMERLING was sentenced to 97 months in prison for a multi-year bank and securities fraud scheme that caused the issuance of approximately $133 million in collateralized loans on the basis of forged documents, including subscription agreements from purported limited partners, audit letters attesting to his private equity firm’s finances, and falsified bank account statements. SMERLING previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Elliot Smerling previously admitted to securing funding for his private equity fund by submitting a constellation of fraudulent documents and assurances to lenders. Smerling’s misrepresentations ultimately resulted in massive losses to banks, as he received over $133 million in ill-gotten loans. Smerling has now fittingly been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for his bank and securities fraud scheme.”
According to the allegations contained in public court filings and statements made in court:
From at least in or about January 2019 through at least in or about March 2021, ELLIOT SMERLING was the mastermind of a scheme to secure financing for a series of private equity funds (the “Funds”) through fraud and deceit. SMERLING solicited and obtained loans totaling approximately $133 million on behalf of the Funds, which were secured by purported capital commitments made by limited partners in the Funds. SMERLING obtained the loans on the basis of falsified documents and material misrepresentations, including: (1) a forged audit letter, purportedly prepared by an international network of accounting, audit, tax, and professional services firms, attesting to audited financial statements; (2) forged subscription agreements that falsely represented, among other things, that the investment fund of a private university based in New York, New York had committed $45 million to the Funds, and that the investment management division of a banking and financial services firm headquartered in New York, New York had committed $40 million to the Funds; and (3) falsified bank records showing wire transfers from purported limited partners to the Funds.
In connection with his bank fraud scheme, from at least in or about January 2013 through at least in or about March 2021, SMERLING also solicited investments in his Funds through materially false and misleading statements concerning the Funds’ audited financial statements, limited partners, capital commitments, and holdings.
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In addition to his prison term, SMERLING, 52, of Lake Worth, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised released. The Court deferred its decision on the amount of restitution.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jilan J. Kamal and Timothy V. Capozzi are in charge of the prosecution.
Bronx, New York, Man Convicted of Multi-State Kidnapping, Assault, and Arson RampageRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal jury has convicted a Bronx, New York, man of engaging in a violent, multi-state crime spree during which he kidnapped and sexually assaulted his former girlfriend, assaulted a federal employee, set fire to a used car dealership, and rammed multiple police vehicles before being apprehended, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Luis Figueroa, 41, was convicted of kidnapping (Count One); criminal sexual abuse (Count Two); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (Count Three); and assaulting an employee of the United States (Count Four), following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court. Figueroa had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and arson.
“The conduct for which this defendant was convicted describes an almost unimaginable level of violence and depravity,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “All of the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that worked on finding, capturing and prosecuting him did outstanding work in this case. This conviction, and the severe punishment the defendant now faces, should ensure that he is no longer a threat to public safety.”
“This guilty verdict brings accountability to a violent criminal who will answer for his multi-state crime spree and acts of violence,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews said. “I commend the hard work and collaborative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and our local and state partners involved in this investigation and prosecution. Our commitment to protecting the public, combatting violent crime in our communities, and maintaining vital partnerships with local and state agencies, along with the results of this investigation demonstrate the common goals and resolve of all parties involved.”
According to court documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On the morning of June 6, 2014, Figueroa, armed with a shotgun, waited outside the Hazleton, Pennsylvania, apartment of his former girlfriend. When she emerged from the apartment, Figueroa struck the victim in the face with the shotgun and said: “I told you I was going to kill you.” Figueroa then proceeded to physically assault both the former girlfriend and her sister, who, at the time, was eight-months pregnant. As Figueroa attacked the women, another family member took Figueroa’s and the ex-girlfriend’s young child into a bedroom to shield the child from the violence.
After struggling with the pregnant woman and causing her to fall down a flight of stairs, Figueroa collected the shotgun from the apartment and led his former girlfriend to a red SUV, where he forced her into the backseat. Figueroa then drove the victim across state lines to New Jersey. Figueroa eventually stopped at the Kittatinny Point Visitor’s Center, which is located on federal property, and sexually assaulted his former girlfriend.
After the assault, the victim convinced Figueroa to dispose of the shotgun. When Figueroa went to do so, the former girlfriend climbed into the driver’s seat of the red SUV and drove away to safety.
After returning and discovering both his former girlfriend and the red SUV were no longer there, Figueroa approached a National Park Service employee, and led the employee to a nearby storage room, where he slammed the victim’s head against a door and threatened to harm the victim if he did not hand over the keys to his car. The employee complied and Figueroa fled the scene in the victim’s car.
Figueroa drove to Paterson, New Jersey, where he entered a used car dealership operated by a person with whom Figueroa had a business relationship. Figueroa asked an employee for a portable gas canister, which he filled shortly thereafter at a nearby gas station, and then returned to the dealership and doused the office with gasoline. After a brief struggle with an employee, Figueroa ignited a match and set the building on fire, engulfing the structure in flames and setting himself on fire in the process. Figueroa then fled the scene in another vehicle.
Law enforcement officers spotted Figueroa’s vehicle driving erratically towards the George Washington Bridge heading into New York. Figueroa ignored officers’ commands to stop, leading to a high-speed chase in which Figueroa rammed his vehicle into multiple police vehicles, injuring a police officer. Figueroa then got out of his vehicle and fled on foot. Officers placed Figueroa under arrest shortly thereafter.
The kidnapping charge and the aggravated sexual abuse charge each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The assaulting an employee of the United States charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The arson charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthews in Newark, for the investigation leading to today’s verdict. He also thanked the Hazelton City, Pennsylvania, Police Department; the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, District Attorney’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; the New Jersey State Police; the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vera Varshavsky and Naazneen Khan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Berwick Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with A Mail “Fishing” SchemeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Justin William Davis, age 39, of Berwick, PA, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion to Aggravated Identity Theft, as part of a so-called mail “fishing” scheme. Individuals involved in the scheme used improvised devices to pull mail from United States Post Office collection boxes in the hope of stealing checks and other valuable instruments which are then either cashed or deposited into the bank accounts of co-conspirators for later withdrawal.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the criminal Information to which Davis pleaded guilty alleges that Davis unlawfully used the personal identification information, including the name and bank account number of another person, in the course of committing a bank fraud, by attempting to deposit into the account of the other person a high value check that he had “fished” from a collection box.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John.
Davis faces a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $250,000, as a result of his guilty plea to the offense.
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Barbour County man admits to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jon Travis Yost, of Philippi, West Virginia, has admitted to a child pornography charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Yost, 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Transportation of Child Pornography – Previous conviction.” Yost, who was previously convicted of 3rd Degree Sexual Assault in Barbour County, admitted to sending child pornography in March 2020 in Barbour County.
Yost faces at least 25 and up to 50 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 David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
25 Indicted in Erie-Based Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. – Twenty-five people - twenty residents of Erie, Pennsylvania, a resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania, a resident of New Jersey, a resident of Orlando, Florida, and two residentsof Puerto Rico - have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The seven-count Indictment returned on May 10, 2022, and unsealed yesterday named:
Miguel Antonio Pabon Rivera, 27, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Eric Suarez Robles, 42, of Orlando, Florida;
Victor Felix Ogando De Leon, 27, of San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Limarys Quiles Negron, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Pedro Rosado Ortiz, 29, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Enrique Cotto, 58, of Vineland, New Jersey;
Maria Del Pilar Rivera, 55, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Gloria Marie Robles Gonzalez, 23, of Manati, Puerto Rico;
Felix Jimenez Lopez, 25, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Kechawn Jabre Douglas, 24, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Vincent Andrew Feliciano, 31, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Luis Anthony Lopez, 25, of Meadville, Pennsylvania;
Jamir Marcel Feliciano, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Alexander Feliciano, 37, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Tymeen Deltuan Williams, 30, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Peter Daniel Gambill, Jr., 24, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Dikwan Onnyx Plott, 24, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Ashliannie Zayas Agosto, 25, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
William David Condon, Jr., 33, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Maurice Ali Fortune, Jr., 20, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Isaiah Jechaun Camp, 22, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Dante Lashawn Husband, 30, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Quincy Aaron McCloud, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania;
Tina Marie Defoy, 46, of Erie, Pennsylvania; and
Shana Latrice Mathis, 29, of Erie, Pennsylvania.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, Miguel Rivera, Eric Suarez, Victor De Leon, and others engaged in an inter-territorial, multi-kilogram, cocaine distribution conspiracy that extended between the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Florida, the District of Puerto Rico, and elsewhere from in and around January 2020 and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2022. From in and around February 2020, and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2022, Miguel Rivera and Eric Suarez engaged in interstate money laundering transactions intended to promote the conspiracy and conceal the proceeds of the conspiracy.
The Indictment further alleges that Kechawn Douglas, Vincent Feliciano, Luis Lopez, Jamir Feliciano, Tymeen Williams, and others engaged in a conspiracy to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, hundreds of grams of fentanyl, and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine within the Western District of Pennsylvania from in and around February 2022 and continuing thereafter to in or around May 2022. During this time, Vincent Feliciano and Luis Lopez traveled from Pennsylvania to Arizona to facilitate a business enterprise involving the distribution of illegal narcotics in Pennsylvania including four hundred grams or more of fentanyl. In addition, multiple defendants, to include Isaiah Camp, Dante Husband, Quincy McCloud, and Luis Lopez, were involved in the distribution of fifty grams or more of methamphetamine.
“These charges are the result of tremendous effort and collaboration among the FBI, and our law enforcement partners, including the City of Erie Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, Erie County District Attorney’s Drug Taskforce, Erie County Detectives, and the Titusville, Millcreek, Oil City and Franklin Police Departments.” said United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung. “The law-abiding, hard-working people of Erie deserve safe streets and peaceful neighborhoods. Through the collaboration of the agencies represented here today, we have dismantled a dangerous drug trafficking organization operating in Erie County.”
“These arrests disrupted a criminal conspiracy that posed a tremendous threat to the city,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Our message is clear- illegal drugs and the violence they often bring with them have no place in this community. I am extremely proud of the collaborative efforts put forth by the dedicated personnel of my office and the partners on the FBI’s EAGLE Task Force. We are committed to working side by side with our state, local and federal partners to rid our communities of violent drug offenders and the destruction their activities create.”
“The Pennsylvania State Police is always honored to cooperate in joint investigations with our municipal and federal partners,” said Captain Kirk Reese of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop E. “We appreciate the support of the public as we interrupt their daily routines to seek justice and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth. We hope the arrests made in this investigation help to improve the quality of life for all.”
“The Erie Police department is proud to work together with all our partnering agencies on this important investigation,” said Erie Police Chief Daniel Spizarny Sr. “Taking down large drug organizations such as this one requires multiple resources that no one agency can do alone. Working together makes our community safe and secure.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both for De Leon, Negron, Ortiz, Cotto, Maria Rivera, Gonzalez, Felix Lopez, Plott and Fortune; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,500,000, or both for Miguel Rivera and Robles; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $15,000,000, or both for Douglas; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,010,000, or both for Jamir Feliciano and Gambill; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000, or both for Alexander Feliciano, Defoy and Mathis; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,010,000, or both for Williams and Condon; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 for Camp, Husband and McCloud; a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $15,260,000 for Vincent Feliciano; and a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $20,260,000 for both for Luis Lopez. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE), Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, the Erie Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Oil City Police Department, the Titusville Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case in coordination with the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Erie County Detectives, and the Millcreek Police Department.
The investigation was also conducted in association with the Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative which was formed following Erie County’s designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 2021. The HIDTA program was created by Congress in 1988 to coordinate and assist Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies in addressing regional drug threats with the purpose of reducing drug trafficking and drug production in the United States. The Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative coordinates personnel and resources between multiple agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, Erie Police Department, Erie County District Attorney’s office, Erie County Detectives, United States Postal Inspection Service, the EAGLE Task Force, and other participating agencies.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
21-Year-Old Phoenix Man Sentenced to 75 Months for Alien Smuggling Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Isaiah Lorenzo Brinkley, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 75 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Brinkley previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing Life in Jeopardy, and Resulting in Death.
On January 26, 2020, Brinkley coordinated for G.J.H. to transport two undocumented noncitizens in exchange for payment. Late that evening, G.J.H. drove to an immigration checkpoint on State Route 85 near Why, Arizona. Border patrol Agents referred G.J.H. to secondary inspection. Instead of handing over the keys to the vehicle, G.J.H. fled from the immigration checkpoint and crashed the vehicle. G.J.H. and the two passengers, both Colombian citizens, were ejected from the vehicle. G.J.H. and one of the passengers died at the scene.
For several weeks after the fatal crash, Brinkley continued to coordinate and engage in alien smuggling for profit, often placing passengers in trunks of vehicles or instructing others to do so.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca S. Garvey, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00470-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-071_Brinkley# # #
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.
12 May 2022
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Ammunition OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Barry Jumpp, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2022. Jumpp was indicted in February 2021.
On Jan. 7, 2021, Jumpp was pulled over while driving a rental car in Worcester. In the pocket of Jumpp’s jacket, law enforcement found a 9 mm firearm loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. The firearm had been stolen from a Worcester resident in 2016. Jumpp is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Woodland Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Drug Offenses Uncovered by Operation Silent Night, an Effort to Fight Coordinated Criminal Activity in Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Victor Magana, 28, of Woodland, was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Magana was one of 27 federal defendants arrested in February 2018 on narcotics and weapons-related charges as part of Operation Silent Night, a multi‑agency law enforcement investigation into coordinated criminal activity in Woodland. Beginning in the spring of 2016, the investigation uncovered organized criminal activity in Woodland with ties to criminal organizations in California’s jail and prison system. Although centered in Yolo County, the investigation revealed that at least nine other California counties were negatively impacted by these criminal organizations: Sacramento, Sutter, Colusa, Yuba, Del Norte, Solano, Fresno, Santa Clara, and Siskiyou.
On Aug. 5, 2021, Magana pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and admitted that on five different occasions in 2017, he had sold methamphetamine to a confidential source in various places in Woodland.
Operation Silent Night is the product of an investigation by the FBI, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, Woodland Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. The following agencies provided substantial assistance: Colusa County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, West Sacramento Police Department, Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, Davis Police Department, Yuba City Police Department, Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, Vacaville Police Department, the Correctional Intelligence Task Force (CITF), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the cases.
The other defendants that have been convicted are listed below:
• Aldo Arellano, 28, of Marysville, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine and sentenced eight years in prison.
• Raul Barajas, 24, of Woodland, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to five years in prison.
• Patrick Botello, 36, of Pelican Bay State Prison, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022.
• Israel Covarrubias, 30, of Woodland, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
• Mike Do, 40, of Sacramento, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022.
• Milton Escobedo, 33, of Woodland, was convicted of distribution of cocaine and sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
• Rachel Felix, 43, of Woodland, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
• Ashley Habash, 32, of Marysville, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2022.
• Jose Heredia, 39, of Los Banos, was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and sentenced to five years in prison.
• Edgar Jimenez, 23, of Sacramento, was convicted of using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and sentenced to three years in prison.
• Stefanie Lavan, 69, of Woodland, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and sentenced to two years in prison.
• John Lemus, 35, of Woodland, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison.
• Jose Madrigal-Vega, 37, Woodland, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances and sentenced to eight years in prison.
• James Masterson, 28, of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, was convicted of using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and sentenced to four years in prison.
• Brenda Miranda, 25, of Napa, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and sentenced to five years of supervised release.
• Reginald Pajimola, 28, of Marysville, was convicted of using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and sentenced to two years of probation.
• Mercedez Silva-Sims, 26, of Colusa, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and sentenced to five years of supervised release.
• Joshua Sims, 27, of Colusa, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and attempted distribution of methamphetamine and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Erica Umbay, 47, of Woodland, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to six years in prison.
• Trevor White, 27, of Sacramento, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Whitley County Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Violent KidnappingsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — George Oscar Messer, 62, of Rockholds, Kentucky, was sentenced to Life Imprisonment on Wednesday, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier. Messer was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of kidnapping, in January of this year.
According to evidence presented at trial, the kidnappings were motivated by an unsuccessful drug transaction, during which Messer’s son and his co-conspirators lost $10,000. Messer arrived at the scene of the kidnappings with numerous firearms, including an assault rifle and .44 magnum revolver. Messer held the revolver to one victim’s head while demanding the lost money. Thereafter, Messer learned that one of his co-conspirators had raped the second victim. In response to this, Messer then bound the second victim and sexually assaulted her, again, at gunpoint.
Messer and his co-conspirators held the two victims for approximately 24 hours, during which time the victims were interrogated, threatened, and assaulted. The victims only escaped after a family member spotted them in a ditch on the side of the road with Messer. Law enforcement recovered 15 firearms and numerous controlled substances from the Messer residence. At sentencing, Messer received numerous enhancements based on the use of a dangerous weapon, acting as a manager or supervisor, demanding a ransom, and sexually exploiting a victim. Messer also had a prior conviction for Sexual Abuse, Third Degree, from Whitley County in 2014.
Messer was indicted in November of 2020. His co-conspirators, Jake Messer, Joshua Mills, and Stephen Jewell, are awaiting sentencing.
“This is an unsettling example of the disturbing effects of illegal drug trafficking on our communities,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “In this case, it also wrought armed kidnappings, tortuous threats, and repeated sexual assaults. That unconstrained violence and unspeakable infliction of suffering certainly warrants the sentence imposed. I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their dedicated efforts in this case, without which this prosecution would not have been possible.”
“This defendant was part of an armed drug-trafficking organization that committed heinous acts of violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “I commend the efforts of the ATF agents and Kentucky State Police who worked diligently on this investigation to help bring justice to the victims who were kidnapped, tortured, and forced to endure the unimaginable. We hope that this life sentence brings some form of healing to the victims and sends a very clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will not stand by and allow these acts of violence."
United States Attorney Shier, Special Agent in Charge Morrow, and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.
This case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. The PSN program involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
– END –
Wheeling woman sentenced for drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Melissa Joann Hibbitts, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 8 months of incarceration for her involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Hibbitts, age 35, pleaded guilty in March 2022 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Cocaine Hydrochloride, Methamphetamine, and Heroin.” Hibbitts admitted to working with others to sell cocaine base, also known as “crack,” cocaine hydrochloride, also known as “coke,” and methamphetamine from June 2019 to August 2021 in Ohio County and elsewhere, including the Southern District of Ohio.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Clairsville Police Department assisted.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Weatherby Lake Man Sentenced for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Weatherby Lake, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for falsely claiming ownership in a firm that fraudulently received hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts set aside for service-disabled veterans and certified minorities.
“So-called ‘Rent-A-Vet’ schemes often rely on the complicity of dishonest veterans to make the fraud seem credible,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “This defendant used his status as a minority and a service-disabled veteran to unfairly enrich himself and others at the expense of honest firms who actually qualified for hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.”
Stephon Ziegler, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 12 months in federal prison without parole.
“Today’s outcome demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who manipulate the DoD procurement process in furtherance of personal interests,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory P. Shilling of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. “We take these matters seriously and will continue to aggressively investigate fraud allegations involving DoD equities.”
“The Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General will continue to vigorously pursue contractors that defraud programs intended to benefit our nation’s veterans with disabilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this joint investigation.”
On May 21, 2019, Ziegler pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ziegler, an African-American service-disabled veteran, admitted that he falsely claimed to be the owner of Zieson Construction Company, a Missouri corporation whose primary business was obtaining federal construction contracts set aside for award to qualified small businesses. Zieson used Ziegler’s status to compete for federal contracts designated for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and minorities.
In reality, Ziegler admitted, he did not control the day-to-day operations or the long-term decision making of Zieson. Ziegler signed Zieson checks when requested to do so, signed bids for government jobs when requested to do so, and served as a courier of checks and invoices when requested to do so. Patrick Michael Dingle, 51, of Parkville, Mo., and his co-conspirators set up, controlled, and operated Zieson, and received most of the profits from Zieson. None of the co-conspirators qualified as a minority nor a veteran.
When a site inspector for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs visited Zieson operations on Feb. 20, 2015, Ziegler appeared at the Zieson office in Riverside, Mo., even though he did not regularly use an office there, to create the illusion that he actually controlled Zieson. Ziegler denied Zieson’s affiliation with the co-conspirators who actually controlled Zieson when questioned by the site inspector. Ziegler told the Veterans Administration site inspector that he, Ziegler, operated seven different offices in three states, even though he knew that he did not in fact operate or control Zieson.
Between 2009 and 2018, Zieson was awarded approximately 199 federal contracts set aside for award to small businesses, minority-owned small businesses, and veteran-owned small businesses for which the government paid Zieson approximately $335 million.
Ziegler received approximately $434,383 as a result of his participation in the fraud scheme. From 2010 through 2018, Ziegler received approximately $114,670 in distributions, $242,713 in home renovations, and $77,000 as a down payment on his house. Additionally, Ziegler received $781,639 as his salary from 2010 through 2018.
Matthew C. McPherson, 46, of Olathe, Kansas, who was charged in a separate but related case, was sentenced on Jan. 5, 2022, to two years and four months in federal prison without parole. McPherson also has forfeited to the government $5,516,786, which represents his share of the fraud proceeds. On June 3, 2019, McPherson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and major program fraud.
McPherson’s co-conspirator, Patrick Michael Dingle,51, of Parkville, Mo., pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2020, and awaits sentencing. Dingle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and major program fraud. Dingle also pleaded guilty, in a separate case, to one count of filing a false tax return.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Perkins Rock. It was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit; the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; IRS-Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Secret Service; the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Contract Audit Agency - Operations Investigative Support (OIS); the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
Washington State Man Sentenced to Eight Years on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – A Washington state man was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Roderick Ayers, 33, personally packaged 10 ounces of methamphetamine in a box which he then shipped within a pallet of tires to Juneau on January 31, 2018. A week later the Juneau Police Department (JPD) learned that a known local drug user was acting strangely and attempting to pick up the pallet of tires sent by Ayers. JPD obtained a search warrant for the pallet and found the box of methamphetamine and Ayers’ fingerprint on the drug package. On February 18, a confidential informant in Juneau contacted Ayers to purchase an ounce of heroin for $1,800. The informant electronically transferred the money to Ayers who then shipped the heroin via the U.S. Postal Service.
“Individuals like Ayers and the illicit drugs that are shipped to Alaska leave a trail of destruction in our communities and we will not idly standby and watch,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Today’s sentence sends a message that we take drug trafficking crimes very seriously in Alaska and we will continue to vigorously prosecute traffickers, wherever they may live, for their illegal actions.”
“The defendant exploited critical industries in Alaska to import and sell significant quantities of illicit narcotics in the Juneau region, which has been ravaged by the damaging effects of drug trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The harm caused by the distribution and use of drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin in Alaskan communities is devastating and the FBI continues to collaborate with local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners to stem the tide of this systemic and widespread abuse.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Juneau Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
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Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Washington man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to coercion and enticement of a minor.
Jabarie Phillips, a/k/a Jabarie Lindsey, 44, of Seattle, Wash., pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor before U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 8, 2022. Phillips was charged in May 2019.
In April 2019, Phillips and a 14-year-old middle-school girl from Massachusetts began communicating via Facebook. Phillips, knowing the girl’s age, repeatedly asked her to take sexually explicit videos and photos of herself for him to view. During their communications, the minor told Phillips that she had issues with her family, to which Phillips responded, “If you run away let me know we can take this show on the road I need a partner in crime.” After communicating online with the girl, Phillips flew from Washington to Boston. On April 29, 2019, the girl met Phillips at Logan Airport, and then they traveled together to South Station to catch a bus to Seattle, Wash.
On May 3, 2019, authorities intercepted the bus in Minneapolis, Minn. where they arrested Phillips and recovered the girl. Phillips was arrested on two warrants – one out of Washington for violating probation following his release from prison for a 2008 conviction for manslaughter and one out of Massachusetts for kidnapping.
The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn; and police departments in Southeastern Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Warning from U.S. Attorney's Office: Your Next High Could be Your LastRead the Press Release
Media Advisory
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado produced and released a public service announcement (PSA) on the dangers of fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is killing our neighbors and our children at an alarming rate,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Our office will prosecute the drug dealers and manufacturers who are bringing this poison into our community. If fentanyl causes a death, the dealers and manufacturers face at least 20 years and up to life in prison. But this is about more than prosecution. It’s about education. We need to warn people about this public health and public safety crisis.”
Please help us spread the message that fentanyl kills. Video links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/USAO_CO/status/1524850610612453392?s=20&t=5Su8-mTNY41BjLY9bdVREQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAOColorado/videos/322493246667059
Additional Resources:
- https://www.dea.gov/onepill
- https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html
- https://www.justice.gov/opioidawareness
Virginia Man Who Sold Drugs and Possessed Fully Automatic Machine Gun Sentenced to 15 YearsRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Concord, Virginia man, who possessed a fully automatic machine gun while distributing large quantities of marijuana in the Lynchburg area, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison.
Malik Lee Simpson, 23, pled guilty in February 2022 to two counts of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“A Glock switch – even when not attached to a firearm – is classified as a machine gun under federal law. When attached, these devices convert a firearm to being a fully automatic machine gun, and those who possess them, especially in the context of drug trafficking, will be met with severe penalties.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Possession of a fully automatic machine gun in the context of drug trafficking crime triggers a 30-year mandatory minimum term of incarceration. This defendant received a lesser sentence after fully accepting responsibility and preserving judicial and prosecutorial resources. This case demonstrates my Office and the Department of Justice’s commitment to fighting gun violence and preventing fully automatic firearms from being in our communities in the Western District of Virginia.”
“Today’s announcement sends a clear and direct message that we take the illegal possession of handgun conversion devices very seriously. We commit to keeping the illegal possession and usage of these devices as an investigative priority. We are extremely thankful for the results of this investigation,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said. "The ATF Washington Field Division will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure those who violate federal firearms laws and commit acts of violence are held accountable for their actions.”
“Violent crime has no place in the Lynchburg community,” said Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan M. Zuidema. “I am grateful for the dedication of the officers who investigated this case and for the collaboration between the Lynchburg Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to bring this violent offender to justice.”
According to court documents, on July 11, 2019, Simpson was observed engaging in a hand-to-hand drug transaction. After determining he had an active warrant for his arrest, law enforcement pursued Simpson into a residence and arrested him after finding a bag he had been carrying with over 60 grams of marijuana and a Glock 22 handgun inside.
Nearly two weeks later after having been released, Simpson was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for having a brake light out. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, and upon search of the trunk discovered a backpack belonging to Simpson whose contents included more than 40 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and a Glock 19 handgun that was fitted with a machine gun conversion, also known as a “Glock Switch,” which makes the weapon fully automatic. Facebook records obtained through the investigation showed that Simpson had purchased the “Glock Switch” from co-defendant Nathan Samuel Arthurs in May 2019.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Welsh prosecuted the case.
United States Signs Protocol to Strengthen International Law Enforcement Cooperation to Combat CybercrimeRead the Press Release
At the Council of Europe (COE) headquarters in Strasbourg, France, on May 12, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) Richard Downing of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division signed the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence on behalf of the U.S. government. This strengthening and expansion of the multilateral international treaty commonly called the Budapest Convention is part of the United States’ steadfast commitment to helping nations, including the United States, fight cybercrime by obtaining access to needed electronic evidence.
The Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention will accelerate cooperation among parties to protect our citizens from cybercrime and hold criminals accountable. As cybercrime proliferates, electronic evidence is increasingly stored in different jurisdictions. The Second Additional Protocol is specifically designed to help law enforcement authorities obtain access to such electronic evidence, with new tools including direct cooperation with service providers and registrars, expedited means to obtain subscriber information and traffic data associated with criminal activity, and expedited cooperation in obtaining stored computer data in emergencies. All these tools are subject to a system of human rights and rule of law safeguards.
At the signing, DAAG Downing said, “The Budapest Convention is a truly remarkable international instrument. Its technology-neutral approach to cybercrime has created an enduring framework for cooperation that ensures law enforcement has the tools they need to respond to new criminal methods.” He noted that 66 countries are currently party to the Convention and more accede every year.
Today’s signing, which took place within the framework of an international conference on enhanced cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence held in cooperation with the Italian Presidency of the COE Committee of Ministers, was the culmination of nearly four years of negotiation by the U.S. delegation, composed of U.S. Department of Justice and Department of State representatives.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is a leading donor to the Council of Europe Cybercrime Program, which provides crucial advice and technical assistance to help countries join and implement the Budapest Convention.
The United States remains committed to the Budapest Convention as the premier international legal instrument for fighting cybercrime. As DAAG Downing said today, “It is our collective vision that every country that is serious about fighting cybercrime and that provides for the protection of human rights should become party to the Budapest Convention. The Convention strikes the right balance between imposing obligations on nations to have robust laws and capabilities and providing the flexibility necessary for nations with different legal systems to join.”
Additional information about the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention may be found here.
United States Attorney Jason R. Coody Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
May 11 - May 17 is National Police Week
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Jason R. Coody will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“Every day our brave law enforcement officers face dangerous and difficult situations without reservation or expectation of thanks,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “These courageous individuals serve, not for fame or fortune, but act selflessly to protect their fellow citizens and keep our communities safe. It is fitting and proper to express our unwavering support and appreciation to our law enforcement officers and their families, while remembering those among their ranks who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Twelve officers have died in the line of duty in the Northern District of Florida.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
USP Canaan Inmate Sentenced to 24 Months’ Imprisonment for Attempting to Smuggle Suboxone into Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Devro Hebron, age 38, of the District of Columbia, yesterday to 24 months’ imprisonment for the offense of Attempted Provision of Contraband to an Inmate. The 24-month sentence must run consecutively to the federal prison sentence that Hebron was already serving at the time of the offense.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on January 19, 2019, while an inmate at United States Penitentiary, Canaan, located in Waymart, PA, and with the assistance of a prison visitor, Hebron attempted to smuggle Suboxone, an opiate and narcotic drug, into the prison, as part of a plan to sell the Suboxone strips for profit to other inmates. Hebron was discovered in the act after being observed by prison staff to place an unknown object into his mouth while meeting with his visitor in the prison visiting area. Hebron’s visitor, Sierra Lynn Holland, was separately prosecuted and convicted for her role in providing Hebron with the contraband.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St. John.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Corey F. Ellis will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“This is a somber week for everyone in the South Carolina law enforcement community, as we honor all those who have worn the uniform and made the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis. “These officers held the line to protect every man, woman, and child in South Carolina and we are forever in their debt. This week, and every week, we honor and lift up our law enforcement community. This office will also do everything it can to make the streets safer for these officers and the communities they patrol.”
U.S. Attorney Ellis noted the surge in violent crime, which has acutely impacted the South Carolina law enforcement community, is an issue that affects both officers and their communities. Accordingly, U.S. Attorney Ellis announced today that over the next several weeks the U.S. Attorney’s Office will host four meetings with state and local partners - one in each region of the state - in an effort to better address violent crime in South Carolina.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Nine officers have died in the line of duty in the District of South Carolina since 2021.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“Everyday law enforcement in Northern Ohio and across the country put their lives on the line to make our communities safe and secure for us and future generations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “This week, we offer our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to all those in law enforcement, as well as to families and loved ones.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifice. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. This year, three officers have died in the line of duty in the Northern District of Ohio.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year.
In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. The vigil will be streamed live, online via the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
U.S. Attorney's Office Resolves Civil Forfeiture Litigation Involving Charlotte Strip MallRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today the resolution of a civil forfeiture case involving a strip mall located at 1533 West Blvd, near the corner of West Boulevard and Remount Road in Charlotte.
In making todays’ announcement U.S. Attorney Dena J. King said, “For years, rampant drug dealing and drug-fueled crimes took place on the premises of this strip mall, which impacted surrounding neighborhoods. Partnering with local law enforcement to increase the safety of our communities is one my Office’s highest priorities. I want to thank the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their work in this case and for their ongoing efforts to keep our streets safe.”
In April 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint against the commercial property, alleging that, for years, the property had been the site of significant volume of drug trafficking and other crimes, including 14 shootings since March 2017. Since the filing of the civil action, reported criminal activity has greatly decreased, going from recurrent shootings, assaults, and robberies to no reported violent crime on the property. In addition, 28 total calls for service were reported by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department after the complaint was filed, compared to thousands of service calls received in years prior.
During the pendency of the litigation, the City of Charlotte (the City), pursuant to its Corridors of Opportunity Program, offered to purchase the property from its owners and to implement improvements consistent with the West Boulevard Corridor Vision. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has entered into an agreement with the City to dismiss the forfeiture action, and, as part of the agreement, the City has agreed to take short and long-term crime prevention measures at the property to ensure it no longer poses a threat to the residents of the community.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Johnson and Benjamin Bain-Creed, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, handled the forfeiture proceedings, with the investigative support of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Westover Division and Special Investigations Unit of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This year, National Police Week is observed from Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“During National Police Week, we recognize our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners for their courage and dedication,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We also honor and pay tribute to the brave women and men who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty: they will never be forgotten. Our office is grateful for Nevada’s law enforcement community and the families of every officer and agent.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Last year, seven officers have died in the line of duty in the District of Nevada.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Honors Law Enforcement During Police WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. — In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“Law enforcement officers protect and serve their local communities,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We honor their courage, their commitment to justice, and their lives of public service.”In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Thirteen of the 472 officers on NLEOMF’s list are from the District of Arizona, and will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C. Last week, the names of 26 state, local, and federal officers, who died in the line of duty in 2021, were added to the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial. Their names can be found at https://www.azag.gov/outreach/law-enforcement/pomb.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts and 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. The 619 names being added to the wall include those of officers whose End of Watch was before 2021 but were not previously inscribed. Anyone who wishes to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-070_Police Week
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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.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.S. Attorney Wildasin Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Mark H. Wildasin recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“We pause this week to remember and honor the sacrifice of our brave law enforcement officers who gave their all in service to their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “We will not forget their sacrifice and will continue their legacies in preserving peace and pursuing justice for the people of middle Tennessee.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19, including two from the Middle District of Tennessee: Detective Derek Sidwell of the Overton County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Sheriff Teresa Fuller of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line-of-duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
U.S. Attorney Waldref Recognizes Police Week in Eastern WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – In honor of National Police Week, Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said United States Attorney General Merrick Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
The U.S. Attorney joined the Attorney General in thanking law enforcement. “Throughout National Police Week, we thank our federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement officers for their unrelenting commitment to protect us all and keep the communities of Eastern Washington safe and strong,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Every day, these courageous men and women put their lives on the line for ours and we are extremely grateful for their sacrifice. We all owe them our deepest gratitude and respect.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. In the State of Washington, seven officers have died in the line of duty, including Jon David Anderson of the Spokane Police Department.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks1 were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
1An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.