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11 May 2022
United States Attorney Breon Peace Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Breon Peace 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,” stated U.S. 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.”
“These are challenging times for the brave members of law enforcement who, at great risk to themselves from gun violence, COVID-19 and other threats endemic to their profession, answer the call of duty every day to protect the communities in our district,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This week, join me in honoring and thanking these selfless men and women for their public service, and their families, too, who share in the sacrifices made for our benefit.”
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 the Coronavirus, including Lieutenant Robert John Van Zeyl of the Suffolk County Police Department, Sergeant John Lowry of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and Police Officers Leonardo Chavez and Marze Murray, Jr., of the New York City Police Department’s Transit Bureau.
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 the 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.
[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.
US Attorney Darcie McElwee Joins Others in Honoring Police WeekRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine – Today marks the start of National Police Week, a time to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. This year, the week will be 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 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.”
“I was honored to join with law enforcement from around the state earlier this week for the annual observance at the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dedicated to Maine law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “It was an opportunity to pay tribute to officers who lost their lives protecting Maine, though this year was made particularly somber with the addition of a new name.”
The Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Augusta includes the names of 88 law enforcement officers. The name of Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy Luke Gross was added this year after he lost his life while giving assistance to a motorist in Trenton, Maine in 2021.
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.
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 in EDVA Commemorates National Police WeekRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber will recognize 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.
“I am grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement officers, who serve under increasingly challenging and dangerous conditions,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “National Police Week is a time to express our gratitude while honoring their sacrifice. I hope that this week is a chance for everyone to reflect on the many positive contributions of law enforcement agencies to our communities and seek out a partnership of trust and collaboration with them.”
“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.”
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.
Here in the Eastern District of Virginia, Frederick Henry “Butch” Cameron Jr. of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office died on January 12, 2021, from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Fairfax County Judicial Center. EDVA also remembers Police Officer George Gonzalez of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, who was killed in the line of duty on August 3, 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 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins Local, State and Federal Agencies, Public to Honor Fallen Heroes During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia is joining with local, state and federal agencies during National Police Week to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement officers. This year, the week is observed 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 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 must never forget those fallen officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, upholding a standard of justice and peace that benefits us all,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia will continue to honor their legacy by doing our part to preserve justice for all people. Please join with us this week to remember our fallen heroes and to thank our law enforcement officers for their dedication to our communities.”
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. 44 fallen Georgia officers are named in the NLEOMF 2022 Roll Call and will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C. Please visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/facts-figures/roll-call-of-heroes/ for more information and to view the names of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the 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.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes National Police Week, May 11-17, 2022Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year’s commemoration 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.”
“All of us at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are inspired everyday by the extraordinary courage and dedication of our law enforcement partners who repeatedly put their lives on the line to protect our communities. National Police Week is a longstanding tradition that affords all of us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of law enforcement and honor those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. We offer our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to everyone in law enforcement as well as their families and loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Asphaug.
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, celebrated every year on May 15, 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.
According to 2021 statistics reported by the FBI through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty by felonious acts and 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased by more than 58 percent in 2021. Additionally, in 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths, outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and marking the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. LEOKA statistics can be found on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
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 5:00 PM PDT. The vigil can be streamed live online on the NLEOMF YouTube channel. A full schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III 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.”
“Our office is proud to work alongside all of our law enforcement partners who bravely serve the residents of the Eastern District of Tennessee,” said U.S. Attorney Hamilton. “We express our deepest gratitude and pay tribute to those who serve, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”
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.
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 Shier Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV 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 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.”
“Making the commitment to serve your community is the first of many sacrifices that members of law enforcement choose to make when they enter their public service,” said U.S. Attorney Shier. “The work that follows is demanding, persistent, and hazardous – but also absolutely critical to making our communities safer and more resilient. National Police Week reminds us to collectively reflect on the sacrifices of members of law enforcement and allows us to show our sincere appreciation for the essential service they provide to our communities.”
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. Seven officers, who died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Kentucky, will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C.
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 Roger Handberg Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Roger Handberg 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.”
“Every day, thousands of law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect citizens from harm, enforce our nation’s laws, and preserve the peace,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “Our Office salutes the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and supports those who continue to serve the people of Florida and across America.”
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. Thirty officers have died in the line of duty in the Middle 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.
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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 Prim Escalona Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Prim Escalona 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.”
“This week, we celebrate the men and women in law enforcement, especially those in the Northern District of Alabama, who devote their lives to public service,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Our law enforcement partners often put their lives on the line without hesitation. Let us all take a moment to recognize the sacrifices of every member of law enforcement, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while courageously acting in the line of duty. To the families of these brave men and women, you have our unending gratitude and support.”
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. Six officers have died in the line of duty in the Northern District of Alabama.
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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[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 Mark Totten Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
May 11, 2022— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Mark Totten 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.”
“Every day our law enforcement officers enter harm’s way to protect the communities they serve. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these officers and their families for their singular commitment to protect the people they serve.”
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. According to NLEOMF one officer died in the line of duty in the Western District of Michigan. The officers name will be added to the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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.
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.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial were read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C.
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U.S. Attorney LaMarca Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Darren LaMarca 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 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.”
“I am honored to express my appreciation and heart-felt thanks to all law enforcement across the nation and especially within the State of Mississippi,” said Darren J. LaMarca, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “I am humbled at the sacrifices made in this profession and in the fulfillment of the need for policing. For without our law enforcement community, there is no peace.”
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. Three officers died in the line of duty in the Southern District of Mississippi in 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.
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 Ihlenfeld recognizes police weekRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld 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.”
“All of us at the United States Attorney’s Office are grateful for the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers across West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “These brave men and women put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe and for that we are all blessed.”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.
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.
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 Evans Recognizes Police Week at District Commemorative EventsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. This year, National Police 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.”
U.S. Attorney Evans said, “Every year during Police Week, our nation celebrates the selfless contributions from our brave men and women in law enforcement from around the country, and especially in the Eastern District of Louisiana, by recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe. We owe it to these officers and their families to never forget that sacrifice and we want them and their families to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation. Our brave men and women in law enforcement, on the federal, state, and local levels, made the selfless choice to protect and serve with full knowledge that they could one day find themselves in harm’s way while doing their jobs. This week we should all take some time to reflect and honor the fallen and also those in law enforcement who continue to dutifully serve the public.”
To commemorate Police Week, U.S. Attorney Evans participated in the FBI New Orleans Field Office Fallen Officers Recognition Ceremony and in the upcoming days U.S. Attorney Evans will address attendees at the St. Tammany Parish Law Enforcement Memorial 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. According to Officers Down Memorial Page, 4 officers have died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 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 attackswere 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.
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 Easley Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Michael Easley 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.”
“In taking an oath to preserve and protect, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe,” said Easley. “We recognize and appreciate their sacrifice and commitment every day. This week, we take the opportunity, across the country, to honor those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. We also express our deepest respect and admiration for the families of these fallen heroes.”
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 Eastern District of North Carolina.
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.
[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 Easley Announces Multi-Agency Initiative to Address Violent Crime in Rocky MountRead the Press Release
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley today announced a new multi-agency initiative to combat violent crime in the Rocky Mount area that includes a task force of local, state, and federal law enforcement. The new Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative was launched in collaboration with Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell earlier this week, in advance of the summer months when shootings typically increase.
“Rocky Mount is a place of great promise, brimming with growth and opportunity. But that opportunity will not be fully realized until we unite as a community to stop the violence,” said Easley. “Since April 30, Rocky Mount has seen four homicides and three other shootings, including one earlier this week that wounded an innocent 9-year-old boy. Our state, local, and federal partners are committed to doing all we can, in conjunction with community stakeholders, to stop this wave of gun violence. First and foremost, that means getting illegal guns off the streets and bringing those responsible for the violence to swift justice – for the victims and for the community at large.”
Chief Hassell stated, ““We believe this Violent Crime Action Plan will protect our community at a time when our citizens are understandably concerned. We appreciate the support and assistance from our federal partners and Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Atkinson and Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. By working together, we can reduce violent crime and make sure that our community is safe.”
“The ATF stands with the Rocky Mount community in its push against gun violence. We are bringing our resources and expertise for a systematic and coordinated effort to target the most violent offenders on the streets,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office have agreed to devote officers to the VCAP effort. These resources will supplement the work of the Rocky Mount Police Department and other partners in the investigation and prosecution of gun violence in Rocky Mount.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone commented, “The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is working collaboratively with the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Rocky Mount Police Department and federal agencies to reduce the violence in Rocky Mount. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to safer communities by enforcement of gang, gun and drug violations.”
“Edgecombe County is grateful for the assistance and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocky Mount Police Department and other local municipal police departments, the District Attorney’s Office and state and federal partners,” stated Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson. “As law enforcement officers, we are here to make a positive difference in the lives of our citizens, and ensuring their safety is paramount. We look forward to continuing proactive efforts to counteract criminal behavior and ensure safe communities.”
U.S. Attorney Easley stated, “The coordinated effort these agencies bring to this initiative will make Rocky Mount a safer place to live, work, and do business.”
VCAP is a three-pronged approach drawing on close partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the community, to combat violence.
Focused and Strategic Enforcement:
- Designating lead prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office to prioritize the review of all gun crime cases with local and federal law enforcement for accelerated action.
- Sustained, proactive, and coordinated efforts to identify and prosecute the most significantly violent repeat offenders and dangerous criminal organizations in the Rocky Mount area.
- Focusing on the sources of crime guns, including the prosecution of gun traffickers, straw purchasers, suppliers of guns to juveniles, and those using non-serialized “ghost guns” in crimes.
Inter-Agency Coordination and Intelligence-Led Policing:
- Analyzing crime data to identify trends, patterns, and “hot spots” to deploy resources where they are needed most.
- Leveraging federal Task Force Officers to bring federal technology and resources to address local gun violence.
- Increasing the use of Crime Gun Intelligence (CGI) through the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to identify and prosecute the serial trigger-pullers driving gun violence in local communities.
Community Engagement:
- Raising awareness through youth education. EDNC is working with the Rocky Mount Police Department to introduce programs, such as “Educating Kids about Gangs and Guns,” into Nash and Edgecombe County Schools in hopes of engaging students, law enforcement, and educators in life-saving conversations.
- Engaging with local offender re-entry programs, such as the Nash Edgecombe Wilson Re-entry Council, in their ongoing work to help returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society following incarceration through employment, transportation, and housing-related support.
- Meaningful community engagement by law enforcement, hearing from the communities most affected by violence to better partner in stopping it through supporting prevention, intervention, and reentry services.
The new task force ensures that Rocky Mount will have the full range of enforcement tools available to stop the violence. Participants will include representation from the Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Edgecombe County Sherriff’s Office, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Marshal’s Service. Prosecutors from the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are also engaged in the effort.
This initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Pays Tribute to Fallen Law Enforcement Officers in Observance of National Police WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In observance of National Police Week, United States Attorney Dena J. King recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement and pays tribute to the officers who have fallen in the line of duty. 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.”
“Each and every day, our brave men and women in law enforcement do their best to protect us from harm and apprehend those who violate the law, so that our communities can be safe and continue to grow stronger and more just. National Police Week is an opportunity to recognize our federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement officers for their courage, dedication and commitment to serving their fellow citizens, and to pay tribute to the fallen officers who laid down their lives for us. It is also a time to extend our gratitude and support to our fallen heroes’ families and loved ones, and to reaffirm our commitment to all those who wear the badge and serve our communities with honor and dignity,” said U.S. Attorney King.
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 which 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Eight officers have died in the line of duty in the Western District of North Carolina.
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.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh recognizes 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.”
“The Western District of Virginia has mourned the death of several law enforcement officers this year, like so many other districts across the country,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “Police Week gives us all a moment to pause, remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our communities, and thank those who continue to protect and serve.”
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. Four officers have died in the line of duty in the Western District of Virginia in 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 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.
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.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff recognizes the dedication, 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.”
“Our law enforcement officers fulfill a critical role in ensuring the protection of an orderly society and back that commitment with their very lives,” said United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Here in the Western District of Texas we extend our deepest respect and gratitude to our law enforcement partners and join Attorney General Garland, along with the entire Department of Justice, in publicly thanking them for their service and sacrifice.”
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 falls on May 15 each year, 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 nationwide died in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. According to the Officer Down Memorial site, 34 officers died in the line of duty in the Western District of Texas.
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 by 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. 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 Leif M. Johnson Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
BILLINGS— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Leif M. Johnson 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 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.”
“Every day in communities across Montana, law enforcement officers risk their own lives to make ours safer,” said U.S. Attorney Johnson. “This week, we pay tribute to the men and women in law enforcement for their brave and selfless service, and we honor and remember those we’ve lost in the line of duty for their dedication to ensuring justice and preserving the peace.”
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.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the 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% 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 p.m. ET. 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.
[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.
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U.s. Attorney Fleming Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Sayler Fleming 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.”
“Each year during the month of May we pay tribute to those in law enforcement that have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Fleming. “Our law enforcement partners in the Eastern District of Missouri work daily to protect our communities from violence on the federal, state, and local levels. This mission can come with great sacrifice to themselves and their families. I stand in awe of the work these men and women do and it’s my honor to thank the law enforcement community during National Police Week.”
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. Two officers who died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Missouri, will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C.
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.
U.s. Attorney Featherston Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Brit Featherston 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.”
“Without the rule of law, the pillars of Constitution will not stand. At its most basic human level, the officer on the street is and must be the protector of the people, the one we turn to when danger or wrongs occur,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Encounters on the street with a police officer is often where the justice system is initiated and where our citizens (victim or accused) begin their journey to protect their life or property from harm. Today, honoring those in blue who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we are also honoring what they stood for. They stood for, at its most basic level, that to live in a free country under our Constitution, that society only remains free when the rule of law is enforced. Those brave men and women, at its core, selflessly died while giving aid to their fellow citizens and their communities. Their lives and memory give us confidence that our free way of life will continue, and their sacrifice will forever not be in vain.”
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. Four officers have died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Texas.
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 David Clay Fowlkes Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes 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.”
“The profession of serving as a police officer has faced unprecedented challenges over the last year,” said U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. “These challenges include a rising tide of drug trafficking, directly accompanied by a dramatic increase in violent crime. Our police officers have also faced numerous challenges associated with a global pandemic. We are extremely fortunate in the Western District of Arkansas to have some of the most dedicated, trustworthy, and competent law enforcement officers in the United States. The law enforcement officers in Western Arkansas have met each one of these unprecedented challenges with the dedication and sacrifice that we too often take for granted. It is with great respect and deep admiration for their service that we take this opportunity to express our thanks and deepest gratitude for all that they do on our behalf.”
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.
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[i] 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.
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.
[i][i] 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.
Two Drug Dealers Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Federal WitnessRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Two drug dealers will spend the remainder of their lives in prison after conspiring to cause witness tampering resulting in death. Samuel “Big Hit” Sherman, 38, of Batesville, and Donald Bill Smith, 38, of Malvern, were both sentenced today to life in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Chief District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr., imposed the sentences.
Smith and Sherman were indicted in September 2019 in connection with the death of Susan Cooper, who had bought methamphetamine from Sherman but had begun working as an informant for law enforcement. In May 2016, Sherman was arrested and charged with selling methamphetamine to Cooper. As his case progressed, Sherman was released and permitted to work as an informant himself.
Though Sherman was supposed to be working as an informant, he had not provided enough information to help his case, and in September 2016, Sherman learned he was facing a significant federal prison sentence. Evidence at trial showed that upon learning this, Sherman called Smith, who was a methamphetamine dealer in the Malvern area. Smith had sold drugs to Rachael Cooper, who was Susan Cooper’s sister-in-law (they were married to brothers).
Cellular tower data presented at trial showed that shortly thereafter, Smith drove from Malvern to Batesville, where Sherman lived, and stayed in Batesville for approximately 40 minutes before returning to Malvern. On the way back to Malvern, Smith called Rachael. Rachael had been communicating with Susan about making arrangements for Susan to trade some hydrocodone pills for methamphetamine. Susan did not know the trade was with Smith.
That night, Rachael picked Susan up and drove her to meet Smith for the drug exchange. Rachael testified at trial that as they waited, she heard a gunshot followed by Susan crying out “I’m shot—get me out of here!” Rachael jumped in the driver’s seat and saw Smith shoot Susan several more times. Smith pulled Susan from the truck as Rachael sped away.
For a year and a half, Susan Cooper’s body had not been found. In July 2018, Smith was charged in state court with the murder, and after his arrest, a witness came forward to disclose Smith had demanded he help bury the body. This witness took federal agents to the location of Cooper’s body.
In September 2021, a jury trial resulted in both Smith and Sherman being convicted of conspiracy to cause witness tampering resulting in death. Smith was also convicted of witness tampering resulting in death, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Smith, in addition to his life sentence, was ordered to serve a 50 year consecutive sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anne Gardner and Bart Dickinson.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Tucson Woman Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Xochil Elizabeth Hernandez, 19, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to two concurrent terms of 36 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Hernandez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle aliens and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. At the time of the offense, Hernandez was serving a term of supervised release for a prior alien smuggling conviction. Her supervised release in the prior case was revoked, and she was sentenced to serve six months in addition to the 36 months for the new charge.
On November 6, 2021, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer pulled over Hernandez’s vehicle for a traffic infraction near Amado, Arizona. The DPS officer, assisted by nearby Border Patrol agents, discovered the front seat passenger was an undocumented noncitizen. The DPS officer and agents discovered two more undocumented noncitizens hidden in the trunk of the vehicle. They also discovered a bag of .45 caliber ammunition in Hernandez’s purse and a pellet gun designed to look like a Glock handgun in the glove compartment.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-3238-TUC-JGZ; CR-20-1543-02-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-068_Hernandez# # #
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.Tucson Residents Charged with Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned indictments against Bryan Israel Moreno-Aguilar, 23, Alfredo Daniel Mireles, 29, Glen Adam Romero, Jr., 40, and Ana Lizeth Romero, 39, charging them each with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. All four individuals are from Tucson, Arizona.
The indictments allege that from a time unknown and continuing until January 7, 2022, Moreno-Aguilar, Mireles, Glen Romero, and Ana Romero knowingly conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
The previously filed complaints alleged that the four charged individuals conspired with each other and others to distribute counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. According to the complaints, the group used Mireles’ residence, the Romeros’ residence, and the Romeros’ recreational vehicle to store counterfeit M30 pills. On October 15, 2021, a vehicle leaving Mireles’ residence was stopped and found to contain approximately 8,000 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl. On December 11, 2021, the Romeros’ recreational vehicle was at a business in Tucson and the Romeros were seen counting and distributing pills to an individual who was later stopped and found to possess approximately 100 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl.
A conviction for the crime of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine, or both.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI Tucson Resident Agency and the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Rossi and Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBERS: CR 22-00978-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00979-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00977-TUC-CKJ; CR 22-00975-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 067_Moreno-Aguilar
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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.Trio of Cybercriminals Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Alessandro Doreus (29, Port St. Lucie), Jean Elie Doreus Jovin (34, Loganville, GA), and Djouman Doreus (29, North Miami) to federal prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and aggravated identity theft. Alessandro Doreus and Jovin were each sentenced to six years and nine months in federal prison. Djouman Doreus was sentenced to five years and one month imprisonment. All three had previously pleaded guilty.
According to the plea agreements, from at least 2015 through 2020, Jovin, Alessandro Doreus, and Djouman Doreus conspired to knowingly, and with intent to defraud, possess tens of thousands of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices—including the names, Social Security numbers, account numbers, usernames, and passwords of identity theft victims.
The conspirators frequently exchanged these counterfeit and unauthorized access devices—in bulk—among themselves. For example, in November 2018, Jovin emailed Alessandro Doreus a file that contained track 2 data for approximately 58,700 credit cards. The conspirators also routinely sent each other messages that contained scores of names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth of identity theft victims and engaged in a number of fraudulent schemes using the personally identifiable information (PII) that they had amassed. For example, they fraudulently opened and used numerous financial accounts in the names of identity theft victims and used stolen or fraudulently obtained credit card information to pay fake vendor accounts that Jovin opened and controlled. In addition, they used the names and Social Security numbers of identity theft victims to file fraudulent tax returns and obtain tax refunds to which they were not entitled.
Jovin also purchased multiple compromised computer server credentials (including usernames and passwords) on a dark web marketplace and used those compromised server credentials to remotely and fraudulently access computer servers. At times, Jovin shared these compromised server credentials with Alessandro Doreus. To make it difficult for authorities to trace and attribute fraudulent activity to them, the conspirators opened dozens of email accounts—one of which was [email protected]. The conspirators used these email accounts exclusively or primarily to perpetuate their fraud scheme.
In August 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant at Alessandro Doreus’s home and seized notebooks that contained the PII of more than 300 identity theft victims, and credit cards issued in the names of identity theft victims. The FBI also seized $490,365, which are proceeds obtained from this conspiracy.
“No face, no case… No More. This trio will now forever be known to law enforcement,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners will never cease to bring to justice heartless fraudsters who exploit identity theft victims. If you suspect your personal information has been compromised, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”
“The Doreus trio wrongly assumed that their crimes would be untraceable, hidden under a cloak of internet anonymity,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne. “Through sophisticated investigative techniques, IRS-CI and our partners uncovered a digital set of footprints leading to these three criminals. Today’s sentencing now holds them accountable for their crimes and should serve as a warning to others involved in this parasitic behavior.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
Third Conspirator in Attempted $600,000 Cocaine Purchase Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Derek Morales-Figueroa (26, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Morales-Figueroa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, beginning on September 11, 2020, Morales-Figueroa and a conspirator, Jacob Luis Bonilla-Rivera, engaged in a series of phone calls with individuals who they believed to be cocaine dealers but who were, in fact, undercover agents working on behalf of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). These discussions culminated in an agreement to purchase 20 kilograms of cocaine in Orlando. On September 16, 2020, HSI agents met with Bonilla-Rivera and Juan Omar Rodriguez, Jr. (21, Auburndale) where the conspirators showed to HSI agents the $600,000 in cash that they had brought to the deal in a hidden compartment in one of their vehicles. After doing so, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez proceeded to a location where HSI agents had arranged to show them the 20 kilograms of cocaine. Morales-Figueroa participated in inspecting the cocaine by video conferencing on one of the conspirator’s phones. After inspecting the cocaine, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez returned to their car to retrieve the cash from the hidden compartment, at which time they were arrested. Upon searching their vehicles, HSI agents found that both Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez had loaded firearms in their possession in the vehicles they had driven to the meeting along with a total of $639,325 cash. In his plea agreement, Morales-Figueroa agreed to forfeit the cash seized in connection with this arrest.
On September 17, 2020, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez were charged for their roles in the conspiracy. Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez both pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Morales-Figueroa was not located at the time. On March 10, 2021, Morales-Figueroa was identified during a traffic stop in Flagler County but fled from law enforcement. On January 3, 2022, Morales-Figueroa was arrested in Jacksonville in connection with a search of a residence and seizure of nine kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Seminole County Sherriff’s Office, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado Honors Law Enforcement Officers During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
DENVER— In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado 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 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.”
“When a husband, wife, son, daughter, father, or mother puts on the uniform and heads out to protect our community, there are no guarantees they will return home safely. We owe them our gratitude. And when they make the ultimate sacrifice, we owe them our respect, and we owe their families our undying support,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan.
This year, the names of ten Colorado law enforcement officers will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. They include Gordon Beesley, James Herrera, Clay Livingston, Joseph Pollack, Ty Alan Powell, Eric Scherr, Eric Talley, Daniel Trujillo, Wayne Weyler and Charles Wilcox.
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.
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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[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.
Telfair County drug trafficker sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: The supplier to a Telfair County drug trafficking ring was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for his role in distributing methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in south Georgia.
James Lamount Graham, 49, of Jacksonville, Ga., was sentenced to 170 months in prison, with no parole in the federal system, for his role in a significant drug trafficking conspiracy, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also fined Graham $5,000 and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
Graham also must pay a $3,600 special assessment – $100 for each of the 36 counts for which he was found guilty.
“It is a priority in the Southern District to identify and eradicate drug trafficking operations and the misery they spread through our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Significant prison time will hold James Graham accountable while making the Telfair County area safer.”
As spelled out in evidence and testimony presented during Graham’s trial in November 2021, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration obtained telephone wiretap orders starting in April 2018 as part of Operation Rat Trap II, the continuation of an investigation that identified networks involved in the unlawful distribution of drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine in Telfair, Coffee, Bacon, Jeff Davis, and Appling counties.
After a three-day trial in November 2021, a U.S. District Court jury found Graham guilty of Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Controlled Substances; two counts of Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and 33 counts of Use of Communication Facility, a charge that refers to the use of telephones to facilitate the conspiracy. Eight co-defendants in the conspiracy previously were sentenced to terms of up to 216 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges.
“The final sentencing in this case ends an exhaustive investigation that shut down a drug operation responsible for peddling dangerous drugs throughout the streets of middle Georgia and elsewhere,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division, Robert J. Murphy. “DEA would like to thank its law enforcement partners whose meticulous work made this investigation a success. The citizens of the impacted areas should know that DEA is committed to removing dangerous drugs from their community and prosecuting the drug dealers who peddle this poison.”
“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
Operation Rat Trap II was investigated under the 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.
The DEA Savannah Office and the GBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Harper and Karl Knoche prosecuted the case for the United States.
South Georgia man sentenced to prison for distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Coffee County man has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison after admitting he shared images of child sexual exploitation.
Clarence Eugene Barr, 33, of Broxton, Ga., was sentenced to 150 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Barr to register as a sex offender and to serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Sharing images of sexually violated children is a despicable crime that repeatedly re-victimizes the vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners provide exceptional work in taking these predators off the streets, and Clarence Eugene Barr is now being held accountable.”
As described in court documents and testimony, an FBI investigation determined that Barr had access to hundreds of images of child sexual exploitation and shared some of them in a chatroom where he also discussed accessing children for victimization. Barr was arrested in May 2021.
“Barr will spend the next 12 ½ years of his life in prison, which should send a strong message to anyone who even contemplates viewing or sharing images of a vulnerable child,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will spare no resource to protect our children by identifying and apprehending predators who commit such repulsive crimes.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
South Florida Health Care Clinic Owners, Doctor, Others Sentenced in Medical Billing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, a federal district judge in Miami sentenced the last of 10 defendants for her role in a health care fraud scheme involving three physical therapy clinics that recruited and paid kickbacks to beneficiaries of Blue Cross Blue Shield health benefit programs (BCBS) and submitted false claims to BCBS for services that the clinics never provided to the beneficiaries or were not medically necessary.
The three South Florida clinics involved in the scam were Life Blue Medical Center, Corp. (“Life Blue”), Blue Life Medical Center, LLC (“Blue Life”), and Miami Medical Therapy (“Miami Medical”). The defendants, all South Florida residents now convicted and sentenced, include clinic owners, a doctor, patient recruiters, a physical therapist assistant, and an office employee.
The conspiracy resulted in more than $17 million in false claims being billed to BCBS, of which BCBS paid close to $5 million. Most of the claims were for unneeded or never-provided electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, therapeutic exercise, and other physical therapy procedures, as well as for allergy tests and durable medical equipment. The conspirators spent the money they received from BCBS on personal items and to further the fraud.
Each defendant previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. United States District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced the defendants as follows:
- Jorge Gonzalez Perez, 57, (owner of Life Blue and Blue Life clinics) was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,143,892.16 in restitution;
- Orlando Leiva, 66, (a doctor at Life Blue and Miami Medical) was sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,867,770.57 in restitution;
- David Vladimir Sacerio, 30, (co-owner of Miami Medical) was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $686,086.33 in restitution;
- Kiamy Perez, 36, (co-owner of Miami Medical) was sentenced to 34 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $686,086.33 in restitution;
- Enry Guzman, 43, (patient recruiter) was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $228,075.73 in restitution;
- Kyrenia Maquiera Rodriguez, 40, (physical therapy assistant) was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $686,086.33 in restitution;
- Freymil Lozada, 34, (patient recruiter) was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $184,393.52 in restitution; and
- Haniel Rodriguez, 45, (patient recruiter) was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $198,540.57 in restitution.
Two defendants were ordered to pay restitution: Brian McIntosh, 53, (patient recruiter) in the amount of $119,174.66, and Melissa Cruz, 21, (Miami Medical office employee) in the amount of $686,086.33.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Shaw prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
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 21-cr-20376.
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Slidell Resident Sentenced to 78 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Crack and for Providing an Ak-47 to a Co-Defendant that was Used to Facilitate Crack SalesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced LIONEL COOLEY, age 45, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, on May, 10, 2022, to 78 months of imprisonment , four years of supervised release and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack, and for providing an AK-47 firearm to codefendant Blake Monroe that was used to facilitate Monroe’s crack sales, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o). COOLEY plead guilty on October 27, 2021.
According to court documents, the United States forfeited approximately $18,978.00, assorted jewelry, and a Smith & Wesson revolver that were seized in connection with the investigation. COOLEY and four others, Joseph Brown, Kendrick Demourelle, Kevin Gray, and Blake Monroe, conspired to sell illegal narcotics in Orleans Parish including using a broken-down yellow school bus as a stash house. A seized GMC Sierra pickup truck used by a member of this drug conspiracy contained nearly two kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams of crack. All five defendants were indicted in February 2020.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Hammond Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys David Howard Sinkman and Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture, are in charge of the prosecution.
Seekonk Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Seekonk man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston on charges of child pornography.
Sean J. Trahan, 45, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 126 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On Oct. 19, 2021, Trahan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of access with intent to view child pornography.
Trahan was convicted following two separate investigations into his child pornography activities. An undercover investigation revealed that Trahan used the dark web to access child pornography in February 2015. In October 2015, Trahan was arrested and charged after a search of his residence revealed images of child pornography on his personal computer. At the time of his arrest, Trahan stated that he had accessed sites containing child pornography.
Trahan was released on conditions, including cell phone monitoring. On Sept. 8, 2021, he was arrested for violating conditions of his release and has remained in custody since then.
In October 2021, Trahan was charged in a superseding Information after a further investigation connected Trahan with a username that posted child pornography in a Kik messenger group. Another search of Trahan’s residence in September 2021 revealed child pornography on Trahan’s tablet.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Winnebago (Wis.) Sherriff’s Office and the Seekonk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James D. Herbert of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Sarasota Woman Pleads Guilty to Aiding in Filing of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Monica Clyburn has pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding in the filing of false tax returns. Clyburn faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison as to each count.
According to the plea agreement, Cyburn was a tax preparer working for a tax preparation business at its office location in Sarasota, Florida for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016. In order to maximize the refunds that the IRS would have to pay her clients, Clyburn prepared Forms 1040 that falsely reported fictitious amounts in the Schedule A (Itemized Deduction) portion of those returns. Many of the tax returns she prepared for clients also contained false information as to dependents, and some contained fictitious information as to the Schedule C portion of the returns reflecting profit/loss from the operation of businesses. The inclusion of those false items helped to inflate fraudulently the refunds that the taxpayers would receive.
The information charged her with aiding in the filing of three such false tax returns. The tax loss for those three tax returns is approximately $11,921. The tax loss for other tax returns that the defendant had a role in preparing and which contained similar false statements was approximately $186,834.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Roanoke Drug Dealer Involved in Eastern Avenue Gunfight Sentenced to 26 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Goodview, Virginia man who was involved in a fatal shooting at an Eastern Avenue drug house in the City of Roanoke was sentenced today to 26 Years in federal prison for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy and discharging a firearm.
Darion Mantez Harvey, 23, pled guilty in May 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and one count of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug related crime.
“Drug trafficking and violent crime often go hand in hand, and my Office continues to vigorously prosecute those who use firearms to threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the Western District of Virginia,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Armed drug dealers contribute significantly to the increased level of gun violence and death in our communities, and I am grateful to both ATF and Roanoke City Police Department for their partnership and tireless efforts to the Roanoke community in this case.”
“Today’s results are a culmination of great collaborative efforts and investigative expertise in illegal firearm possession and narcotics distribution. The activities surrounding this case were detrimental to our community and as a result, a life was lost due to senseless violence. ATF will remain vigilant as we continue to work with our local, state and federal partners in the fight to combat violent crime and maintain public safety,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson.
“This investigation was difficult and lengthy, but we are glad we could work with our partners at the state, local, and federal level to achieve this outcome,” said Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman. “Gun violence is often a companion to drug trafficking, and this is an unfortunate result of that pairing. This sentencing will never compensate for the loss of a life, but we hope it brings some comfort to the victim’s loved ones. Violent crime has no place in Roanoke. The members of the Roanoke Police Department are committed to doing all we can to identify those who are perpetrating violent crime in our community and hold them accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, in October 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating a drug trafficking organization involving Aaron Lee Woods and his associates, including Harvey.
During the course of the investigation, authorities learned that Woods, Harvey, and other co-conspirators used Woods’ apartment at 1642 Eastern Avenue as the primary site for their large-scale distribution of marijuana in the Roanoke Valley from late 2017 through approximately August 2019. Witnesses told police that customers would stream in and out of the apartment at all hours of the day and night buying marijuana from the defendants, who kept their loaded firearms in plain view.
In the early evening hours of July 10, 2018, a car containing five individuals arrived at the Eastern Avenue apartment where a gun battle broke out between Harvey, Woods, and another co-defendant, Chad Matthew Custer, on one side and the newly arrived individuals on the other. While four of the individuals fled on foot, the fifth jumped back into his car and sped away to escape the spray of bullets being fired from inside the apartment. Of the many bullets striking neighboring houses and vehicles, one pierced the window of the escaping vehicle and shattered the back of the fifth individual’s skull, killing him.
Investigators recovered multiple firearms used by Woods, Harvey and Custer during the shootout, including high-powered, military-style rifles with laser sights and multiple handguns.
Co-defendants Woods and Custer are set for their trial by jury on October 24-28, 2022.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Roanoke Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller, Kari K. Munro, and Charlene R. Day prosecuted the case for the United States.
Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Cunha Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha joins Rhode Islanders across the state in recognition of 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.”
“Each May, for almost sixty years, we have paused as a nation to commemorate National Police Week and to honor the service and commitment of each and every member of law enforcement, past and present, who serve or served to protect our communities,” noted United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “While our commemoration lasts a week, their dedication spans a career, and sadly in some instances involves the ultimate sacrifice. This year, we remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty, and salute the men and women who honorably serve in local, state, and federal law enforcement.
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.
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.
[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.
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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.
Recording Artist Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Narcotics Trafficking ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that recording artist CASWELL SENIOR, a/k/a “Casanova,” pled guilty today to racketeering and narcotics offenses arising out of his leadership role in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang (“Gorilla Stone”) in Westchester County, New York City, and Florida. As part of the racketeering conspiracy offense, SENIOR admitted to participating in a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018, and conspiring to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana. SENIOR pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Like twelve of his co-defendants, Caswell Senior, an accomplished recording artist and performer, now stands convicted of playing a leadership role in Gorilla Stone, a particularly violent Bloods gang that operates throughout New York and across the country. In addition to his supervisory role, Senior was an active, hands-on participant in the gang’s senseless violence, including a shooting in Miami and contributing to a robbery at a Manhattan diner. Dismantling violent gangs and stopping gun violence continues to be one of my highest priorities. Thanks to the dedication of our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Senior now awaits sentencing for his dangerous conduct.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:
Beginning in at least 2004 and lasting until December 2020, SENIOR participated in and was associated with the Gorilla Stone racketeering conspiracy. Senior admitted that as part of the racketeering activity, on or about July 5, 2020, while at a party in Florida that included gang members, he discharged a firearm at an individual with whom he was having a gambling dispute. A victim suffered serious bodily injury because of the shooting. Thereafter, other party attendees discharged multiple firearms. Additionally, SENIOR stipulated that as part of a separate August 5, 2018 robbery in Manhattan, a victim was restrained and suffered serious bodily injury. In connection with his guilty plea, SENIOR further stipulated that he was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants and he agreed to traffic at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.
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SENIOR, 35, of Montville, New Jersey, is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Philip M. Halpern on December 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. SENIOR pled guilty to one count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of conspiring to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana. The total maximum term of prison on these two counts is 60 years, with a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.
The maximum and mandatory minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
SENIOR is the thirteenth defendant in the Gorilla Stone case to plead guilty. The twelve other defendants who previously pled guilty are: DESHAWN THOMAS, a/k/a “Don,” NAYA AUSTIN, a/k/a “Baby,” BRANDON NIEVES, a/k/a “Untouchable Dot,” DONAVAN GILLARD, a/k/a “Donnie Love,” JARRETT CRISLER, Jr., a/k/a “Jayecee,” DEZON WASHINGTON, a/k/a “Blakk,” STEPHEN HUGH, a/k/a “Chino,” JORDAN INGRAM, a/k/a “Flow,” SHANAY OUTLAW, a/k/a “Easy,” ROBERTA SLIGH, a/k/a “Trouble,” BRINAE THORNTON, a/k/a “Luxury,” and JAMAL TRENT, a/ka/ “Trap Smoke.”
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, US Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, NYPD, Westchester County PD, Westchester County DAs Office, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Rockland DAs Office and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo and Clarkstown Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, David R. Felton, and Courtney L. Heavey are in charge of the prosecution.
Readout of U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Meeting with Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa DelgadoRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met yesterday in Washington, D.C. with Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado. In the meeting, Attorney General Garland expressed his appreciation for the extraordinary law enforcement partnership between the United States and Colombia and thanked the Attorney General for his leadership during the first two years of his four-year term in office.
“The Department of Justice works every day to keep the American people safe. Fulfilling that obligation depends upon our cooperation with partners – both here at home and around the world,” said Attorney General Garland. “When it comes to law enforcement, Colombia is an indispensable partner to the United States. Over the past two years, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado and his office have been the cornerstone of our law enforcement efforts with Colombia. I hope that under his leadership our partnership will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.”
Both leaders committed to strengthening the close law enforcement relationship between the United States and Colombia, which has led to the successful investigation and prosecution of drug traffickers, transnational crime, human smuggling, money laundering, and malicious cyber activities, among others.
Attorney General Garland was joined by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Attorney General Garland shaking hands with Colombian Attorney General Barbosa Delgado
Standing from left to right: DEA Administrator Milgram, Attorney General Garland, Attorney General Barbosa Delgado, Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division PolitePortland Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Robbery of Eugene Marijuana DispensaryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man affiliated with the Hoover Criminal Gang and Unthank Park Hustlers, two allied Portland street gangs, was sentenced to federal prison today for robbing a Eugene marijuana dispensary.
Timothy Christopher Gaines, 30, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on December 20, 2019, Gaines and an accomplice robbed Green Therapy, a marijuana dispensary in Eugene, of several jars of marijuana and $912 in cash. Gaines brandished a firearm during the robbery and pointed it at a store employee cowering on the floor.
On June 25, 2020, Gaines was charged by criminal complaint with Hobbs Act robbery. Later, on July 23, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Gaines with the same. A superseding indictment returned on October 20, 2020 added a charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On February 14, 2022, Gaines pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department and Portland Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 81 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Robert Jerome Miller, 32, of the 700 block of West Pine Hill Lane, was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to a total of 81 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for two instances of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on May 26, 2020, Peoria Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert of gunfire in the 200 block of East Arcadia Avenue. Police found Miller lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his face and shoulder. Miller lay about 20 feet from the passenger side of his vehicle, bleeding from his mouth and broadcasting his injuries on Facebook Live. Police then located bullet holes in the driver’s side door of Miller’s car and saw blood on the passenger side door and frame. Upon further inspection, a loaded .40 caliber handgun was found on the passenger seat of the vehicle. The gun and magazine were improperly loaded with 9mm ammunition and a spent 9mm cartridge was located in the chamber, indicating the gun had been fired but had jammed after a round was discharged.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Miller with possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the May 26, 2020, incident. U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid sentenced Miller to 69 months’ imprisonment on that charge.
At the time of that offense, Miller also was on federal supervised release in the Central District of Illinois for the offense of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. A petition to revoke Miller’s supervised release was filed May 28, 2020, alleging possession of the .40 caliber handgun on May 26, 2020, as well as a separate instance of possession of a Glock 9mm handgun on May 16, 2020. With regard to revocation of supervised release, Miller was sentenced to a term of 36 months’ imprisonment, 12 months of which were ordered to be served consecutive to his 69-month sentence for possessing a gun on May 26, 2020.
Miller was indicted in the present case in June 2020 and entered a guilty plea in January 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing. While detained in Woodford County awaiting disposition in the federal case, Miller assaulted another inmate and was charged with aggravated battery in April 2021. Miller pleaded guilty to those charges in July 2021 and was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release. Judge Shadid ordered that his aggregate federal sentence run consecutive to that state sentence.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a felon are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Peoria Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Miller was brought as part of The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The Department’s renewed commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods establishes four fundamental principles to guide efforts to reduce violent crime: 1) build trust and legitimacy within communities; 2) invest in community-based prevention and intervention programs; 3) target enforcement and priorities to focus resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of gun violence and other violent crime; and, 4) measure results with the goal to reduce the level of violence in our communities and not to increase the number of arrests and prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Randall R. Ray IV, 33, was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to 14 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court filings, in July 2021, Ray produced and possessed a video that depicted a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Another individual found the video in Ray’s phone and notified authorities.
Ray was indicted in August 2021 and pleaded guilty in January 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a five-year to life term of supervised release.
The United States Secret Service and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Ray was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ 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.
Peoria Felon Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A 23-year-old Peoria, Illinois, man, Alante Malik Jackson, of the 4300 block of West Scenic Drive, was sentenced on May 10, 2022, to three years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on September 21, 2021, Peoria Police observed Jackson driving a stolen Dodge Charger that had been used to flee from police on multiple prior occasions. At the time, Jackson was on probation for a state felony firearm case. When Jackson saw police drive into the gas station where he was parked at the fuel pump, he entered the Charger and sped away, leaving a cloud of smoke and debris. Police followed Jackson, who crashed into a truck, causing the Charger to sustain a flat tire and become disabled. Jackson then fled on foot from police in a residential area and, during the chase, threw a handgun on the roof of a garage. Jackson was apprehended in the backyard of a residence. Police then retrieved the firearm, a loaded Glock 23, 9mm handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. The gun had previously been reported stolen from Canton, Illinois.
Jackson was indicted on the federal charge of felon in possession of a firearm in October 2021 and pleaded guilty in December 2021. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for felon in possession of a firearm are up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
Patrick Dwayne Murphy Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 1999 Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Patrick Dwayne Murphy, age 53, of Vernon, Oklahoma was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty by a federal jury of Murder – Second Degree in Indian Country, Murder in Indian Country in Perpetration of Kidnapping, and Kidnapping Resulting in Death. The life sentences on each count were ordered to run concurrently.
Murphy was originally tried and convicted in 2000 in the District Court of McIntosh County, Oklahoma. Murphy challenged his murder conviction arguing that the State of Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute him because he is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and Congress had never disestablished the Muscogee (Creek) reservation. The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit agreed and vacated Murphy’s conviction. The State of Oklahoma appealed the decision to the United States Supreme Court. While the United States Supreme Court was considering Oklahoma’s appeal, the Court handed down its ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma which affirmed the Tenth Circuit’s ruling regarding Murphy.
As a result, Murphy was charged in federal court and convicted by a federal jury in August 2021. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that two days before the murder the defendant stated he would kill George Jacobs. On August 28, 1999, the defendant found George Jacobs and Jacobs’ friend, M.S., driving on a road in rural McIntosh County. The defendant chased after M.S. and George Jacobs in his vehicle and ultimately forced M.S. and George Jacobs to stop. The defendant, along with two others, attacked George Jacobs. After beating and kicking him, the defendant cut Jacob’s throat with a knife and cut off his penis and testicles. The next day, deputies of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Department and agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation apprehended and arrested the defendant.
“After more than twenty years, justice has been restored to the George Jacobs family,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Although the life sentences imposed by the Court will not take away the family’s pain and sorrow, they can take solace knowing the defendant will be held accountable for the heinous crimes he committed. I am grateful for the tireless work of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and our team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in reinvestigating and successfully prosecuting the defendant decades after his vicious acts.”
"The nature and circumstances of the defendant's brutal killing of George Jacobs are beyond description, and inescapable in the eyes of justice," said Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. "For his crimes, Patrick Murphy will now spend the rest of his life behind the bars of a federal prison cell. It’s our sincerest hope that this sentencing, through the perseverance of those who worked this case, brings justice and closure to George’s family.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing hearing. Murphy was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await commitment to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Robert Reeves prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Owensboro Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Fentanyl and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment today charging an Owensboro, KY man with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and with illegal possession of firearms.
According to court records, on February 18, 2022, Skylar Chase Riney, 36, a multi-time convicted felon, possessed with the intent to distribute, fentanyl and three firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Riney is charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The defendant will be scheduled for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Owensboro Police Department, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Orem Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $8.4 Million in Restitution for Romance and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY- Jeffersonking Anyanwu, 34, of Orem, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with facilitating a romance scheme involving more than 350 victims. Anyanwu was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
Anyanwu was one of eight defendants who were charged in an indictment for their role in facilitating romance scams and laundering the money received from those scams. He and his codefendants allegedly took more than $8.4 million from more than 350 victims, many of them elderly. Anyanwu worked with coconspirators in the United States and in Nigeria, and used social media to create online personas to use in “romance scams.” Romance scams involve creating fake online personas to ensnare victims susceptible to online friendships.
The fake personas were usually males in the 55–65-year-old range, and appeared to target widows, divorcees, or women in troubled marriages. Victims were apparently targeted through social media sites, dating sites, and online games such as word searches or word puzzle games. Anyanwu allegedly used more than 20 accounts to facilitate the scheme.
Several kinds of imposter personas were employed. Often, they employed the identities of real U.S. generals. The imposters convinced the women that they were stationed overseas, intended to marry the women, and had significant assets overseas. They also convinced the women that they could not access their assets or leave the foreign station unless the women advanced them funds to be used to release their assets and obtain secure travel.
The romance scams in the scheme also included imposters posing as businessmen located abroad on oil rig platforms or constructing pipelines. The imposters would convince the women that the imposters were romantically interested in the women, but they could not leave until they finished the pending project. They would then convince the women to help advance funds to help complete the project, assuring the women that it was a safe and secure investment that would be returned to them.
The romance scams also involved efforts to impersonate celebrities. The imposters would encourage women to advance funds for a celebrity-meet-and-greet, a celebrity’s charity, or to help the celebrity while funds were tied up in a divorce.
To collect money from the victims, the imposters (largely overseas) turned to coconspirators whose location would not trigger suspicion. These coconspirators would provide U.S. bank accounts and addresses to be relayed to the victims to help convince them to send money.
In addition to Anyanwu, five other defendants have pleaded guilty and received sentences. Defendant Onoriode Kenneth Adigbolo was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. Defendant Daniel Negedu and Defendant Richard Bassey Ukorebi were each sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. Defendant David Maduagu was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment. These Defendants have been ordered jointly and severally liable for $8.4 million in restitution. Defendant Adriana Sotelo was sentenced to 12 months’ home confinement. The case remains pending against two other defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl LeSueur and Aaron Clark from the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the FBI conducted the investigation.
The indictment in this case was one of several resulting from an investigation by the FBI’s Provo, Utah office into romance scam and money laundering activities.
For more information about romance scams please visit the FBI’s informational website here.
North Carolina Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man was arrested today for assaulting law enforcement officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
David Joseph Gietzen, 38, of Sanford, North Carolina, is charged in an indictment with a total of eight counts, including one charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon, two charging him with assaulting resisting or impeding officers, and related offenses. The indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia. Gietzen was arrested in Sanford and is to make his initial appearance today in the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to the indictment, Gietzen was illegally on the restricted Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. He is accused of assaulting multiple law enforcement officers between 2:13 p.m. and 2:31 p.m. that day, using a pole in the last of the charged attacks.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Gietzen as #217 in its seeking information photos, and the Raleigh Resident Agency of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 16 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 250 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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New York Racehorse Veterinarian and Standardbred Trainer Plead Guilty in Federal Doping CaseRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendants LOUIS GRASSO and RICHARD BANCA pled guilty to their respective roles in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead, in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Grasso et al., 20 Cr. 163 (OKC). Both GRASSO and BANCA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel. GRASSO and BANCA will each be sentenced by Judge Castel on September 6, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Grasso and Banca represent the corruption and greed of those in the racehorse industry looking to win at any cost. In peddling illegal drugs and selling prescriptions to corrupt trainers, Louis Grasso abdicated his responsibilities as a medical professional to ensure the safety and health of the racehorses he “treated.” By injecting horses with unnecessary and, at times, unknown drugs, Grasso risked the lives and welfare of the animals under his care, all in service of helping corrupt racehorse trainers like Banca line their pockets through fraud. These latest convictions demonstrate the commitment of this Office and of our partners at the FBI to hold accountable individuals seeking to profit from animal abuse and deceit.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, the Superseding Information charging GRASSO and BANCA, prior charging instruments and other filings in this case[1], and statements during court proceedings:
The charges in the GRASSO case arise from an investigation of widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, PED distributors, and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses competing at all levels of professional horseracing. By evading PED prohibitions and deceiving regulators and horse racing officials, participants in these schemes sought to improve race performance and obtain prize money from racetracks throughout the United States, all to the detriment and risk of the health and well-being of the racehorses. GRASSO, a veterinarian, not only accepted payment in exchange for prescriptions for powerful and medically unnecessary performance-enhancing drugs, he also created, distributed, and administered custom-made performance-enhancing drugs that were all misbranded and adulterated substances designed solely to improve racehorse performance. Through this fraudulent scheme, GRASSO helped corrupt trainers collect over $47 million in ill-gotten purse winnings. As a racehorse trainer, BANCA purchased and administered adulterated and misbranded drugs to his racehorses, and as a result of his crimes, his horses earned over $16 million in purse winnings. BANCA stood to profit from the success of racehorses under his control by earning a share of his horses’ winnings, and by improving his horses’ racing records, thereby yielding higher trainer fees and increasing the number of racehorses under his control.
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U.S. Attorney Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and its support of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Mr. Williams also thanked the Food and Drug Administration for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As to Grasso and Banca’s co-defendants, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Firearm ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that, CHRISTOPHER ARANA, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced in the United States District Court in connection with his plea of guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
United States District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo imposed a sentence of 57 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Following his term of imprisonment, ARANA will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. The court did not impose a fine but imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
On August 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) officers responded to an aggravated battery by shooting in the 1700 block of Eagle Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The NOPD officer on the scene was informed that ARANA sustained a gunshot wound to his abdominal area and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The officer then requested that Real Time Crime Cameras located in the immediate vicinity of the corner store be reviewed to learn what happened during the shooting. While reviewing the camera footage, the officer observed ARANA arrive at the intersection of Eagle Street and Hickory Street on a bike and stand near the entrance of the store. While standing near the door, ARANA was utilizing his cellular telephone. ARANA observed a vehicle approaching him. The occupants of the vehicle, armed with firearms, began to discharge their firearms at ARANA. ARANA retrieved a fully concealed black semiautomatic handgun from his waistband area during the shooting but did not discharge his firearm. After the shooting, ARANA relocated inside the corner store and discarded the firearm to hide it from law enforcement.
After the shooting, a store employee recovered the firearm possessed by ARANA, a black Smith and Wesson Model SD40 VE, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The firearm contained ten live rounds, one in the chamber, and nine in the magazine.
ARANA is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
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.
This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Nationwide Prostitution Enterprise That Involved Incapacitating and Stealing from VictimsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RANDY JONAL SCHENCK (a/k/a RuRu, a/k/a “Shaq”), age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and Downey, California, pleaded guilty on May10, 2022 before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe to Counts 1 and 7 of a pending indictment, charging him with interstate transportation and use of an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1952(a)(3) (Count 1), and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 2 (Count 7).
According to court documents, SCHENCK met Dominique Berry in New Orleans in about early 2013 and soon developed a romantic relationship. Shortly thereafter, SCHENCK encouraged Berry to engage in commercial sex activities (i.e., prostitution) with individuals in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and became involved in the scheduling, coordination, and facilitation of Berry’s commercial sex acts. SCHENCK typically kept all, or most, of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts.
Beginning in about March 2014, and continuing through September 2017, SCHENCK and Berry travelled nationally engaging in their prostitution enterprise, including through California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Tennessee, and Georgia. In furtherance of the enterprise, Berry regularly engaged in commercial sex acts on multiple days of nearly every week between about March 2014 and September 2017. SCHENCK and Berry posted numerous advertisements containing photographs of Berry on multiple location-specific online classified ad service websites and social media applications in that invited interested individuals to contact Berry to schedule sexual interactions, many of which were explicitly commercial.
Beginning in about 2015, the prostitution enterprise evolved to include a scheme to defraud, whereby SCHENCK caused Berry to arrange “out call” interactions at the residences of men who met her through online postings. While at the residences, Berry placed substances in the beverages of the men for the purpose of “spiking” their drinks and rendering them unconscious. Berry then took items of value from the incapacitated men, including jewelry, firearms, electronics, cash, and debit and credit cards. SCHENCK and Berry used the items, without the knowledge or authorization of the people to whom the items belonged, for their benefit and the benefit of individuals associated with them. SCHENCK and Berry implemented the scheme numerous times throughout the United States.
In furtherance of the scheme, on or about February 24, 2017, Berry met the victim, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, through a social media application. After exchanging text messages and phone calls, Berry and the victim agreed to meet at the victim’s apartment. SCHENCK dropped Berry off at the victim’s apartment. Acting at SCHENCK’s direction, while at the victim’s apartment, Berry provided the victim with various substances, including alcohol, to loosen the victim’s inhibitions and to render them more susceptible to theft. After the victim became incapacitated, Berry stole the victim’s personal property, including a debit card. SCHENCK picked Berry up at approximately 1:00 am and then used the victim’s debit card, without the victim’s authorization, to make a purchase at a Walmart Supercenter in New Orleans later that day.
SCHENCK faces up to five years in prison as to Count 1 and up to twenty years in prison as to Count 7, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment per count. SCHENCK may also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims. Sentencing before Judge Ashe has been scheduled for August 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by numerous law enforcement agencies and private entities involved in the investigation, including the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Tucson (Arizona) Police Department, the Salt River (Arizona) Police Department, the Cobb County (Georgia) Police Department, the Sandy Springs (Georgia) Police Department, the Sacramento (California) Police Department, and Talking Stick Casino (Arizona). Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Unit Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and Melissa Bücher are in charge of the prosecution.
New London Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ABRAHAM ROSADO, 33, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Raul Robles, who is Rosado’s cousin, and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ and Rosado’s residence on Blackhall Street in New London had received approximately 25 suspicious parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to the Blackhall Street residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at the residence revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Rosado was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 8, 2021. On February 16, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Robles also pleaded guilty and, on March 17, 2022, was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.