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Monday 28 March 2022
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Ramzi Kori, 21, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced today to serve three years in prison after his convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Kori to serve a three-year term of supervised release after his incarceration. Kori may face additional incarceration for a probation violation that is pending in Saratoga County, New York.
According to court records, on July 6, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a Land Rover, seeking to arrest the registered owner of the vehicle who had an outstanding federal arrest warrant. Kori was determined to be the sole occupant of the vehicle. A Burlington Police K-9 alerted to the vehicle, resulting in a search of the Land Rover. In bags located on the front passenger seat, agents found 6,850 bags of fentanyl-laced heroin, a loaded 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun, and $2,500 cash. An examination of Kori’s finances determined that at the time of his arrest, Kori had over $50,000 in various financial accounts. Government witnesses reported that Kori had been dealing heroin in the Burlington area since 2020.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Burlington Police Department, as well as the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt handled the prosecution. Kori was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Anchorage Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 27.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 27.5 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release in front of U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred after pleading guilty to two counts of online enticement or coercion in relation involving two victims. He also admitted to relevant conduct involving sex trafficking of a juvenile and the production of child pornography involving three total juvenile victims in Anchorage.
According to court documents, Alex Asino, 34, was indicted in November 2019 on counts involving child sex trafficking, production and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Asino’s conduct came to the attention of the FBI in November 2019. During online communications, Asino told an undercover law enforcement officer he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female that he met through a social media application. During his communications with the undercover officer, Asino sent images of the 15-year-old victim’s body and face and then directed the officer to a website where Asino had posted sexually explicit images of the victim. Additionally, Asino provided pornographic photos of a third minor victim to the officer along with how much he had paid her to have sex with him.
Asino preyed on his minor victims through online social media applications, such as but not limited to Snapchat, Tagged and Whisper and would meet minor females through pay dating websites. Asino distributed meth, cash, food, gifts and cab fares to minors in exchange for sexual favors. He also posted images of child pornography and personal videos of sexual acts with minors on pornographic websites.
In September 2018, Asino was charged by the State of Alaska for delivering a controlled substance to a minor, sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography. He was subsequently released on bail and placed under house arrest. While on house arrest, Asino continued to engage in the sexual exploitation of at least two additional minor victims.
“The real tragedy in cases like this one is the incalculable damage experienced by the minor victims,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., District of Alaska. “While nothing can erase that harm, this lengthy sentence ensures that vulnerable girls in our community will be protected from Asino’s predations for many years.”
“The defendant’s disturbing pattern of committing sexual exploitation crimes against child victims is abhorrent,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working alongside federal, state, and local partners to identify, and hold accountable, those who abuse and exploit children in Alaska.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Albuquerque man appears in court following arrest for a string of bank robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jason Smeltzer, 40, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on March 25 for a preliminary and detention hearing where he was charged with robbing four local banks. Smeltzer will be conditionally released to La Pasada Halfway House pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 23, Smeltzer allegedly robbed four Albuquerque banks, one of which was robbed twice for a total of five robberies. Each time, Smeltzer allegedly entered the bank and presented a similar demand note to a teller. Once the tellers complied, Smeltzer allegedly fled on foot. Following the fourth robbery, the teller allegedly observed Smeltzer entering a vehicle parked nearby.
On Jan. 21, the FBI received a tip through the National Threat Operation Center identifying Smeltzer as a possible suspect. On Feb. 23, robbery detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Smeltzer’s vehicle and FBI agents responded to the scene. Smeltzer was taken into custody.
“Bank robbery is one of several crimes that will place you in the path of our federal task force officers and eventually in federal court,” said Fred J. Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “We are all affected by these crimes, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prepared to aggressively prosecute.”
“The FBI has been catching bank robbers for almost a century, and we bring that extensive experience to bear on every one of these crimes we investigate,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “Be assured that if you rob a bank in New Mexico, the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office, and our law enforcement partners will spare no resource in bringing you to justice. We want to thank the public for their help, which should make anyone think twice before committing this type of crime.”
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Smeltzer faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.
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Sunday 27 March 2022
Oglala Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Oglala, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Aric Singing Goose, a/k/a Eric Sharpfish, age 34, was indicted on March 8, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on March 25, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Singing Goose, a person required to register as a sex offender by reason of conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration. The allegations include various dates beginning on or about May 27, 2021, and ending on or about December 1, 2021, while living in the District of South Dakota.
The charges are merely accusations and Singing Goose is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Singing Goose was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Manderson Man Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of Sexual Abuse and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
John Joseph White Plume, Sr., age 50, was indicted on October 21, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on February 23, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is lifetime imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $300 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to White Plume knowingly engaging in and attempting to engage in sexual acts with a minor female at Manderson in March 2021.
The charges are merely accusations and White Plume is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
White Plume was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for May 3, 2022.
Saturday 26 March 2022
Former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of UAW Local 412 Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $2 Million in Union FundsRead the Press Release
DETROIT, MI – Timothy Edmunds, the former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 412 of the United Auto Workers union, pleaded guilty today to embezzling $2.2 million in union funds and to money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement are Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Josh Hauxhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit, Michigan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sarah Kull, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit, Michigan office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and Thomas Murray, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Timothy Edmunds, 54, of South Lyon, Michigan, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the Indictment, to the crimes of embezzling union funds and money laundering, respectively, before United States District Judge Sean Cox.
Between 2011 and 2021, Edmunds served as the Financial Secretary-Treasurer of union Local 412 of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Workers of America (“UAW”). UAW Local 412 is headquartered in Warren, Michigan, and it represents approximately 2,600 members employed by the automaker FCA US LLC, which is owned by Stellantis N.V. The local union’s members include many of those employed at the following Stellantis facilities located within the Detroit area: Sterling Stamping Plant, Mack Engine Plant, Warren Truck Assembly Plant, Warren Stamping Plant, and Jefferson Assembly Plant.
As an elected officer of UAW Local 412, Edmunds was responsible to hold Local 412’s money and property solely for the benefit of the organization and its members and to manage, invest, and expend the funds in accordance with the UAW constitution and Local 412 bylaws. Instead, Edmunds systematically drained the Local 412 accounts of $2.2 million by (1) using Local 412 debit cards for over $142,000 in personal purchases, (2) cashing Local 412 checks worth $170,000 into accounts he personally controlled, and (3) transferring $1.5 million from bona fide Local 412 accounts into accounts that he personally controlled. Edmunds then converted the funds for his own personal use.
To conceal his theft from other UAW officers and the Local 412 members, Edmunds created false bank statements and caused false Department of Labor (“DOL”) reports to be filed with the U.S.
DOL. Edmunds supplied the fake bank statements to international UAW auditors in an effort to conceal his embezzlement.
Evidence indicates that Edmunds used portions of the proceeds of his embezzlement to gamble extensively, to purchase firearms, and to purchase various high-end vehicles. For example, between 2018 and 2020, Edmunds used the UAW Local 412 debit card to make over $30,000 in unauthorized withdrawals at the Greektown Casino. While gambling at the Greektown Casino, records indicate that Edmunds had cash buy-ins of over $1 million, and he put over $16 million in play while gambling at the casino.
Based on his conviction for embezzling union funds, Edmunds faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. For money laundering, Edmunds faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Under the terms of the parties’ Rule 11 Plea Agreement, Edmunds faces a sentencing guideline range of between 46 to 57 months in prison. Edmunds also will owe $1.9 million in restitution to the UAW. Although Edmunds embezzled $2.2 million in UAW funds, Edmunds returned approximately $300,000 in stolen UAW funds before his crimes were discovered.
Edmunds is the seventeenth defendant convicted in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation into corruption within the UAW or relating to illegal payoffs to UAW officials by FCA executives. The following other individuals have already pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme and have been sentenced: former UAW President Gary Jones (28 months), former FCA Vice President for Employee Relations Alphons Iacobelli (66 months), former FCA Financial Analyst Jerome Durden (15 months), former Director of FCA’s Employee Relations Department Michael Brown (12 months), former senior UAW officials Virdell King (60 days), Keith Mickens (12 months), Nancy A. Johnson (12 months), Monica Morgan, the widow of UAW Vice President General Holiefield (18 months), former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell (15 months), former senior UAW official Michael Grimes (28 months), former UAW Midwest CAP President Edward “Nick” Robinson (12 months), former UAW Vice President Joseph Ashton (30 months), former UAW President Dennis Williams (21 months) and former UAW Region 5 Director UAW Board member Vance Pearson (12 months). The company, FCA US LLC, now known as Stellantis, pleaded guilty in January 2021 to conspiring to violate the Taft-Hartley Act, and was ordered to pay a fine of $30 million and be subject to an outside Monitor for three years. Former senior UAW official Jeffrey Pietrzyk passed away before being sentenced.
In December 2020, the United States filed a civil lawsuit against the International UAW under the Anti-Fraud Injunction Act based on the criminal investigation of the UAW, FCA US LLC, and FCA’s executives. Subsequently, the United States and the International UAW entered into a Consent Decree to settle the lawsuit that was approved by the U.S. District Court. The Court has appointed attorney Neil Barofsky to serve as the Independent Monitor of the UAW for six years. The Monitor is tasked with providing federal oversight of the UAW concerning fraud, corruption, and misconduct within the UAW.
U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison commended the outstanding work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Labor-Management Standards and Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conducting a comprehensive criminal investigation into labor corruption activities involving a vital sector of the local and national economy.
“The hard-working men and women of the UAW deserve leaders dedicated to serving the best interests of the membership,” said United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “Today’s conviction demonstrates our zealous pursuit of those who would seek to take advantage of their positions of trust within the UAW to steal and defraud union members.”
"Timothy Edmunds engaged in a multifaceted scheme to embezzle funds from UAW Local 412 and conceal his crimes from the union's membership. He embezzled approximately $2 million to personally enrich himself at the expense of dues-paying UAW 412 members. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the financial integrity of labor organizations,” stated Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“By stealing money from the union, Tim Edmunds betrayed the UAW members who elected him to serve on their behalf," said Josh Hauxhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our federal partners to root out corruption from the UAW and other labor unions.”
“Mr. Edmunds is yet another example of a UAW official enriching himself at the expense of the UAW membership. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue working with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate allegations of fraud involving UAW officials.” said Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Gardey.An Inkster Resident Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DETROIT, MI – An Inkster resident appeared in federal court this afternoon in Detroit on charges stemming from a bank robbery in Dearborn, Michigan, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining United States Attorney Dawn Ison in the announcement is Acting Special Agent in Charge Josh Hauxhurst, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Issa Shahin, Chief, Dearborn Police Department.
Appearing was Charles William Woolery, age 52.
According to court records, on March 2, 2022, at approximately 3:04 p.m., Woolery, wearing a tan Carhartt suit, black beanie hat, and a black facemask, entered the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, located at 22315 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, approached a victim teller, handed her a note and gestured to his hip as if he had a weapon. The note demanded the teller to “smile” and put money in a bag or Woolery would “kill everyone.” The teller, fearing for her safety, placed $1,690 in a black bag and handed it to Woolery. Woolery then fled the bank on foot and was later arrested by Dearborn police officers, without incident, in a Port-a-John located in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn on Michigan Avenue. Officers found the $1,690 in the front of a Lions’ hoodie that Woolery was wearing. Officers also found the black beanie hat, black facemask, the robbery note, a full tan Carhartt style suit, and tan gloves like those used in the bank robbery in the Port-a-John where Woolery was found hiding.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, determinations will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.
If convicted, Woolery faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for bank robbery. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by special agents of the FBI along with the assistance of the Dearborn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosemary Gardey is prosecuting the case.
Friday 25 March 2022
Winooski Woman Charged with Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Julie Overfield, 62, of Winooski, Vermont was arrested Wednesday during the execution of a search warrant at her residence. Overfield was charged by criminal complaint with Distribution of Methamphetamine. Overfield is scheduled to appear on Monday before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
According to court records, law enforcement used a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from Overfield in early March. A federal search warrant was granted to search Overfield’s apartment, from which law enforcement seized approximately 27 grams of suspected cocaine base, 64 grams of suspected cocaine, and 15 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Officers also located multiple digital scales and packaging materials.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Overfield is presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Winooski Police Department.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Overfield is represented by the Federal Public Defender.
West Plains Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A West Plains, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties.
Luis Ortiz Rodriguez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 7, 2021, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties from Dec. 31, 2015, to June 21, 2019. Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Rodriguez admitted that he met co-defendant Jose I. Gonzales, 39, of West Plains, after being released from prison in March 2018. Rodriguez and Gonzales agreed to use Rodriguez’s source of supply and Gonzales’s connections in West Plains to distribute methamphetamine. Rodriguez paid $3,000 per pound to purchase methamphetamine in Oklahoma, which he transported to Missouri for distribution.
Rodriguez also admitted that he had almost a pound of methamphetamine on Jan. 4, 2019, but it was dumped shortly before law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on that day. When officers executed the search warrant, Rodriguez had left the house. The kitchen sink was full of ice and the faucet was running hot, which is a known tactic to dispose of drugs.
Officers contacted Rodriguez in the parking lot of the Casey’s General Store in West Plains as the house was being searched. Rodriguez told officers there was an electronic safe in the house, which contained a Taurus .410-caliber revolver loaded with two .45-caliber rounds and three shotgun rounds. Rodriguez provided the combination to open the safe and officers seized the firearm. Officers also seized a baggie that contained 1.64 grams of methamphetamine, one hydrocodone pill, additional ammunition, and drug paraphernalia from the master bedroom.
Law enforcement officers seized more than five kilograms of methamphetamine from co-defendant Shirley J. Hicks, 64, of West Plains, a leader of the conspiracy. When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hicks’s residence on July 24, 2018, they found a red toolbox inside a shop/barn that contained six bags with a total of 5.627 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Inside a bedroom closet in the house, officers also found 12 bags with a total of 243 grams of pure methamphetamine inside a black leather bag, and a blue waterproof box that contained 122.892 grams of pure methamphetamine During the search, officers also found five handguns in the toolbox and five more firearms in the house. Officers also seized a total of $20,393, which Hicks admitted was proceeds from her distribution of methamphetamine. Rodriguez took over as a leader of the conspiracy following Hicks’ arrest.
Rodriguez is the seventh defendant to plead guilty and be sentenced in this case. Hicks was sentenced to 20 years and one month in federal prison without parole. Gonzalez was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Fontella J. Noose, 41, of Springfield, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Benny D. Griffin, 59, of West Plains, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Jordan W. Gutierrez, 27, of West Plains, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Shaun M. Ross, 44, of West Plains, was sentenced to six years in federal prison without parole.
Co-defendants Raymon F. Ortega, 65, of West Plains, and James E. Cooper, 55, of Mountain View, Mo., have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the South Central Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, and the Mountain View, Mo., Police Department.
Webster City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Webster City, Iowa man who possessed child pornography was sentenced March 2, 2022, to 11 years in federal prison. Brady Vandemark, age 37, received the prison term after an October 14, 2021, guilty plea to possession of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Vandemark admitted to distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. Vandemark’s collection of child pornography contained the equivalent of over 100,000 images, including depictions of minors who had not yet reached 12 years of age. Before his guilty plea and sentencing, Vandemark ran from law enforcement while on pretrial release. Vandemark cut off his monitoring device and months later was discovered in a relative’s home, in a closet behind a fake wall with a loaded rifle. After a lengthy stand-off with law enforcement, where Vandemark was threatening suicide, he was taken into custody without anyone being harmed. At the sentencing hearing, Vandemark apologized for his behavior and credited an FBI Special Agent, whom he said “saved his life that day.”
Vandemark was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Vandemark was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $44,000 in restitution to victims in this case. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Vandemark is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Mikala Purdy-Steenholdt, and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3044.
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Waterbury Man Charged with Federal Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a three-count indictment charging DARTRE BOOKER, 27, of Waterbury, with firearm possession and heroin distribution offenses.
The indictment was returned on March 3, 2022. Booker appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. Booker has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on February 16, 2022.
The indictment alleges that, on February 16, 2022, Booker possessed two loaded Glock 9mm pistols and heroin that he intended to distribute.
It is further alleged that Booker’s criminal history includes two state convictions for felony firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Booker with possession with intent to distribute heroin, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.
U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation and Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Virtual reality event company resolves ADA complaintRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - Infinity Experiences Inc. has reached an agreement under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve communication regarding physical accessibility, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The Infinite is a unique 3-D immersive virtual reality space exploration experience. Infinity Experiences Inc. designed The Infinite based on various NASA missions. The event embarked on a world tour starting in December 2021. It will make stops in three cities per year until 2026, the first of which was in Houston.
The investigation began after an individual with a disability complained that the exhibit was inaccessible. The Infinite’s website did not fully disclose to the public how the exhibit was accessible to individuals with disabilities. This potentially deterred them from attending the exhibit.
However, Infinity Experiences cooperated and promptly addressed the issue, immediately agreeing to revise their website to include a detailed FAQ regarding accessibility and the logistics of attending the event.
The investigation was conducted under Title III of the ADA of 1990 which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by private places of public accommodation. Under Title III, The Infinite is a place of public accommodation and is subject to the requirements of the ADA.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas is committed to vigorously enforcing the ADA and welcomes public comments or complaints. To file a comment or complaint, or to learn more about the ADA, individuals can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas at (713) 567-9140 or via email.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Karpati and Paralegal Specialist Ray Babauta handled this matter.
Vinita Man Convicted for Attempting to Sexually Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
A Vinita man was convicted in federal court for attempting to sexually entice an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.
“John Flechs attempted to groom a child for sexual abuse via social media, but instead, was messaging an undercover officer with the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Law Enforcement’s online undercover work is vital to unmasking predators who may have already reached out to a child or plan to do so in the future. Because of his conduct, Flechs was convicted of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.”
At trial, federal prosecutors argued that John William Thomas Flechs, 37, attempted to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the “teenager” through common grooming tactics such as flattery, joking, and the introduction of sexual topics, that escalated over several days of messaging.
Starting on Jan. 15, 2021, Flechs initiated a conversation with the undercover officer. In Kik messages, Flechs complimented the “teenager” and asked him to send photographs on three occasions. Flechs further described sexual encounters he had with male relatives, introduced graphic sexual topics that would allude to sexual acts on the boy, discussed the boy’s penis size, and asked if he had ever had anal sex. He then suggested they meet.
Still posing as the 14-year-old boy, the undercover agreed to meet Flechs at a skate park. Flechs was taken into custody when he arrived at the park.
The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Two Men Face Federal Drug Charges After Multi-Agency Enforcement Operation at Rutland MotelRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Daniel Ruiz, 34, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Joel Ivan Caquias Aviles, 21, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, were arrested Wednesday evening and charged yesterday by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances. Both men are scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle this afternoon.
According to court records, numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in a Rutland City Police Department operation targeting drug trafficking that has been occurring at the Highlander Motel in Rutland, Vermont. Surveillance and interdiction efforts provided probable cause to search three rooms at the motel. When officers executed the search warrant on Room 15 of the Motel, Daniel Ruiz fled out the motel window. Ruiz was subsequently apprehended and found in possession of $1,700. Joel Ivan Caquias Aviles was detained in Room 15. During the search of the room, officers located approximately 37 grams of suspected cocaine base, 168 bags of suspected heroin, over $5,000, and a Glock 9-millimeter handgun. The investigation revealed that Ruiz and Caquias Aviles were using a juvenile to assist in their distribution of drugs to customers.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Ruiz and Caquias Aviles are presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Rutland City Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, the Bennington Police Department, the Weathersfield Police Department, the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department, the Ludlow Police Department, the Rutland Town Police Department, and the Vermont Department of Corrections.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Ruiz is represented by the Federal Public Defender. Caquias Aviles is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq.
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. https://www.justice.gov/psn
Two Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Continuous Violations of Court’s OrdersRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Steven Abboud (58, Davenport) to 5 months’ imprisonment and his codefendant, Diana Robinson (54, Davenport), to 21 days in federal prison for criminal contempt. The court also ordered them to each serve one year of supervised release following their incarceration. The defendant company, Phazzer Electronics, Inc., was sentenced to 2 years’ probation and fined $10,000. The defendants had been found guilty on December 27, 2021, after a 2-day bench trial.
According to court documents, the case originated from a civil case in which Phazzer Electronics, Inc. was being sued for patent and trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition. In that case, the Court ordered Phazzer Electronics, Inc. to stop selling certain products that violated patent and trademark laws. The company was first held in civil contempt for violating the court’s order and was warned that continued violations could result in criminal contempt proceedings. Abboud was an officer of the company and de facto owner, and Robinson was an employee and agent of the company. During the criminal proceedings, the court found that Abboud and Robinson, acting as agents of Phazzer Electronics, engaged in a pattern of activity that continued to violate the court order and that the defendants took conscious steps to circumvent the order.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gardella.
Trout Creek woman sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling more than $650,000 from companyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Trout Creek woman convicted of embezzling more than $650,000 while working for a Trout Creek company was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Tina Rae Wood, 49, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. Judge Molloy also ordered $650,843 in restitution and allowed Wood to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.
The government alleged in court documents that Wood was hired in 2013 by a supply company in Trout Creek as an office administrator and secretary. Wood eventually became in charge of depositing payments from customers and had access to the company’s accounting system. For almost five years, Wood used the accounting software to embezzle checks from one of the company’s biggest customers and deposited most of the stolen money into a personal bank account she opened in a bank in Thompson Falls. Wood blamed the company’s accounting software for her misdeeds, and she ordered deposit slips for her personal bank account that referenced the company name, likely to avoid scrutiny from bank personnel. In February 2019, when the company’s owner realized something was amiss, he contacted Wood. Wood refused to talk to the owner and cleaned out her desk the next weekend. An investigation found 109 customer checks, totaling about $650,843, that Wood had deposited into her own account.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Three Men Plead Guilty to Setting Fire to Police Vehicle During May 2020 Protest in Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — Three Las Vegas men pleaded guilty this week to conspiring to and setting fire to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) patrol vehicle during a protest in downtown Las Vegas in May 2020.
Tyree Walker (23), Devarian Haynes (23), and Ricardo Densmore (24) pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 22, 2022.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, on May 31, 2020, LVMPD officers were assigned to the downtown area for crowd control at protests relating to George Floyd’s death. Walker, Haynes, and Densmore each admitted to participating in setting fire to a marked LVMPD patrol vehicle parked near the intersection of South Ninth Street and East Carson Avenue. In addition, the defendants also admitted that they created a substantial risk of harm to others in the vicinity, knowing there was ammunition in the patrol vehicle that could have caused an explosion.
Walker, Haynes, and Densmore each face a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the LMVPD, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the FBI-led Criminal Apprehension Team in conjunction with the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
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Surprise Man Sentenced for Illegal VotingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Joseph John Marak, 62, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 30 months of supervised probation and fined $2,400. Marak previously pleaded guilty to one count of Submission of a Materially False Voter Registration Application, a felony offense.
Johnson pleaded guilty in January 2022 to submitting a voter registration application in which he falsely certified that “I am not a convicted felon.” Marak’s certification was false because in August 2011, he was convicted of 18 felony counts in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina and was sentenced to 72 months in prison. Marak further admitted that based upon his fraudulent registration, he voted in six federal elections from 2016 to 2020.
“This is the second voter fraud case we’ve charged in the last year, and the first arising out of the 2020 election cycle,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Voting is a crucial civil right, and exercising one’s voice is a key part of a felon’s reentry to society. But there are rules: If you wish to vote in Arizona following a felony conviction, please speak first with your local County Recorder to fully understand the process for restoring your voting rights.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Galati handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00021-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-032_MarakSouthfield Resident Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
DETROIT – U.S. District Court Judge Stephen J. Murphy sentenced Leron Liggins, 34, formerly of Southfield to 10 ½ years in federal prison on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Kent R. Kleinschmidt, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division and Special Agent in Charge Paul D. Vanderplow, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division.
In October 2021, a jury found Liggins guilty of one count of participating in a drug conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. The evidence at trial established that from 2015 to 2018, Liggins distributed heroin by concealing it in suitcases flown across the United States to be sold in Michigan. Liggins also paid others to travel across the country with drugs and cash concealed in their checked luggage so that those drugs could be sold in several other states.
“This defendant engaged in a conspiracy to distribute illicit drugs that endangered our neighborhoods and ruined lives,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “I hope that a significant sentence like the one handed down in this case sends the clear message that our office and our law enforcement partners are committed to disrupting drug trafficking and prosecuting those who seek to profit by sending dangerous drugs into our communities.”
“This sentencing should serve as a notice to would-be drug traffickers that DEA and our law enforcement partners will employ every resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kent R. Kleinschmidt. “Mr. Liggins has a demonstrated pattern of trading the suffering of others for his own personal gain and that pattern has come to an end.”
This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea Hutting and Tim McDonald.South Georgia pastor, tax preparer admits CARES Act fraudRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A South Georgia man holding himself out as a pastor, mortician, restaurateur, and tax preparer has admitted lying to receive COVID-19 small business assistance.
Mack Devon Knight, 45, of Kingsland, Ga., pled guilty to two counts of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Knight to a possible statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison, substantial financial penalties and restitution, and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Congress provided emergency taxpayer funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act to help financially struggling small businesses during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “I have made fraud related to these funds a priority, and Mack Knight’s prosecution should once again make it clear that this office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who would try to personally profit from this program by inventing businesses and submitting fake documents.”
As described in court documents and testimony, in February and March 2021, Knight applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of multiple Camden County, Ga., businesses. Those EIDL applications falsely claimed that Knight had a series of businesses he claimed had up to hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In pleading guilty, Knight admitted that those applications were fraudulent, and admitted to sending fictious documents to the SBA, including a fake tax document and an altered bank record.
As a result of those fraudulent filings, Knight received $149,900 from the SBA on behalf of a claimed tax business, and he used a large portion of the funds to buy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. As part of his plea agreement, Knight is forfeiting the vehicle to the United States.
“COVID-19 disaster relief loans were issued by the government to help businesses struggling to survive during a pandemic, not to use for personal pleasures like Knight used them for,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is dedicated to holding accountable anyone who would abuse taxpayer dollars and divert them from citizens who desperately need them.”
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Knight was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 106 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Joseph Blair, Jr., 30 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to armed drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Blair was sentenced to 106 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, in December of 2020, law enforcement searched Blair’s home and recovered over 150 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun. A search of his car resulted in the recovery of over 200 grams of methamphetamine, two rifles, and a magazine for a high capacity rifle.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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South Bay Woman Charged with Attempted Arson of Bank BranchRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay woman was charged today in a federal grand jury indictment alleging she threw a Molotov cocktail inside a bank in Torrance after having a dispute with the branch manager.
Teranee Millet, 34, of Gardena, is charged with one count of attempted arson and one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device. A federal grand jury returned the indictment today. Millet’s arraignment is expected to occur in the coming weeks at United States District Court.
According to an affidavit previously filed in this case, on September 20, 2021, Millet entered a Bank of America branch in Torrance. She spoke to the bank manager and demanded to be helped by another teller because she believed she had been waiting in line for too long.
When the bank manager informed her that no other tellers were available and she would have to continue waiting, Millet allegedly used profane language and then yelled, “I’m going to blow this bitch up!” In response, the bank manager called 911 and informed law enforcement of Millet’s comments, court papers state.
A few minutes later, Millet returned to the bank branch and threw a Molotov cocktail into the bank, lighting a fire in the middle of the bank. A bank customer attempted to put it out. Law enforcement officers responded within a few minutes, secured the scene and recovered the item that Millet allegedly threw on the floor of the bank to start the fire. On her way out of the bank’s parking lot and before law enforcement arrived, she allegedly threatened another customer and threw a glass bottle at the customer’s truck.
Law enforcement used bank surveillance photos to help identify Millet.
Millet was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia on December 2, 2021, after she allegedly led law enforcement on a chase in a stolen U-Haul van that ended with the van crashing. Law enforcement recovered from the van, among other items, a gym bag containing four packs of glass bottles with tissue paper inserted inside the bottles, a can of lighter fluid and a five-gallon can of gasoline, according to court documents. Millet sustained injuries in the crash and later received medical treatment.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Millet would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for the attempted arson charge. The possession of a destructive device charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI, the Torrance Police Department, and the Torrance Fire Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.
Six Individuals Sentenced for Cross-Country, Multi-Kilogram, Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four individuals were sentenced today, along with two others on February 4 and 25, to a combined 33 years in prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
According to court documents, the following individuals were sentenced for the following offenses:
- Fredrick Sutherland, 56, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin;
- Rico Gerrod Spinner, 45, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today 140 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- Andre Emelio Hamilton, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine;
- Martique Henry, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin;
- Jason Rose, 36, of Inglewood, California, was sentenced on February 25 to 36 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin; and
- Ola L’Chelle Clark, 36, of District Heights, Maryland, was sentenced on February 4 to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
According to court documents, from October 2020 through January 2021, Sutherland was a California-based tractor-trailer driver who delivered narcotics to several sub-distributors operating in various locations across the United States, including the Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Missouri and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. Sub-distributors supplied by Sutherland included Spinner, Henry, Clark, and Hamilton. Sutherland would work with Rose, who would fly from California to cities in advance of Sutherland’s tractor-trailer arriving and meet with Sutherland to receive the narcotics. Rose would then transport the narcotics to customers, collect the narcotics proceeds from the customers, and take the proceeds back to Sutherland to transport to California.
On October 9, 2020, Sutherland and Rose delivered narcotics to Spinner, Henry, and Clark. Following the transactions, a pursuit by law enforcement after an attempted traffic stop of Spinner’s vehicle resulted in Spinner being apprehended and law enforcement locating a duffle bag used by Spinner containing approximately eight kilograms of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of fentanyl. A separate traffic stop of the vehicle used by Henry and Clark resulted in the recovery of approximately one kilogram of heroin. Also on October 9, 2020, law enforcement searched locations associated with Spinner where approximately $161,159, a loaded Taurus .44 Magnum Revolver, a stolen loaded CZ75 .40 caliber pistol, and 320 grams of heroin were seized.
Sutherland also transported narcotics to Hamilton, who was found on December 26, 2020 in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine, approximately $55,000 in U.S. currency, and high-end jewelry appraised at approximately $115,445 in U.S. currency. At his arrest, Sutherland was found in possession of approximately $225,330 hidden in a cabinet in his tractor trailer. All of these funds will be forfeited to the United States.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bibeane Metsch and Michael BenAry prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Angels Envy. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principle mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Numbers 1:21-cr-42 and 1:21-cr-40.
Shalimar Man Sentenced to Seventy Years in Federal Prison for the Production and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jeffrey W. Boone, Jr., 32, of Shalimar, Florida, was sentenced to seventy years in federal prison on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation after pleading guilty on November 18, 2021. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “Acts of such depravity are horrific and will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Our law enforcement partners are to be commended for the swift, collaborative efforts, which resulted in the rescue of this child.”
The federal charges related to Boone’s involvement on the social media platform Kik Messenger. In October 2021, undercover agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) noticed Boone, utilizing an anonymized username, possessing and distributing images of child pornography. It appeared to the agents that Boone was producing the images himself with a small minor female. Based upon what they were witnessing, the FBI immediately obtained online records relating to the anonymous username that Boone was utilizing, and the agents were able to trace the illicit activity back to Boone in Shalimar, Florida. That same day, FBI agents obtained a search warrant and executed it on Boone’s residence along with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The minor female was rescued at that time, preventing further abuse from Boone. Law enforcement also seized digital devices resolving back to Boone, confirming his victimization of the child.
Boone’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to sex offender conditions.
“Whether a local, state, or federal agency, there is nothing more fundamental to the law enforcement mission than protecting our children from abuse and exploitation,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “We are proud to have partnered with the FBI in its determined and detailed investigation to locate a person responsible for producing and distributing child pornography, and to gather the evidence necessary to hold that individual accountable for his vile actions.”
“The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that requires swift and intense law enforcement action,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “We at the FBI are prepared to do everything in our power, with a sense of urgency and alongside our partners, to protect innocent children and bring predators to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and other members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Amanda Gordon.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Serial Bank Robber Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A 52-year-old Hialeah man with a prior felony conviction who went on a four-month bank robbery spree was federally indicted yesterday on 11 counts of bank robbery.
According to the criminal complaint, Jorge Ariel Cabrera (“Cabrera”) robbed 11 banks in Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. During each robbery, Cabrera approached the teller window and pressed a handwritten note to the window, demanding money and threatening that he had a gun. The victims complied with Cabrera’s demands, at which point Cabrera grabbed the money and fled the banks. Cabrera was successful in stealing $65,950.
On the day of his arrest, leaving the last bank that he had robbed, Cabrera fled from officers in his vehicle, led them to his apartment complex, and was found hiding in the apartment complex’s fitness center, after discarding the clothes he was wearing in the robbery.
After taking Cabrera into custody, Cabrera admitted to law enforcement that he robbed each of the 11 banks.
Cabrera faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the 11 counts in the indictment.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the indictment.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Hialeah Police Department and Miami-Dade Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke Latta is prosecuting this case.
Criminal complaints, informations, and indictments contain mere allegations and defendants are innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
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 22-cr-60056.
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Salt Lake City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Murat Suljovic, 24, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release by a U.S. District Court Judge in Utah on Thursday for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) which is a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to the plea agreement, Suljovic admitted that, in January 2019, he used an online persona to pretend to be an ISIS leader and provide would-be attackers advice about potential terrorist attack targets and plans. Suljovic admitted he used this persona to provide a bomb-making tutorial video to someone he believed to be an ISIS supporter with the understanding that it was to train and assist in carrying out an attack for ISIS.
Suljovic admitted that, by providing the bomb tutorial, he knowingly attempted to provide material support to ISIS, knowing that ISIS has engaged in terrorism.
“Suljovic provided advice on potential targets, along with providing a bomb-making tutorial video and advice on how to plan an attack, to people he believed were motivated to carry out a terrorist attack on behalf of ISIS,” said United States Attorney Andrea Martinez. “The fact that Suljovic carried out these actions while living in Salt Lake City shows the global reach of terrorist networks and should remind us to stay vigilant against the ongoing fight against terrorist organizations.”
“This case should serve as a reminder that the threat of terrorism is very real, and one we cannot underestimate,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force works around the clock to protect our communities from those intent on causing grave harm.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and members of its Joint Terrorism Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl D. LeSueur and Tyler L. Murray of the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office with the assistance of National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe.
Salisbury Medical Practice Pays the United States over $286,000 to Resolve Claims that it Billed for Medical Services Not ProvidedRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Peninsula Internal Medicine, L.L.C., a medical practice located in Salisbury, Maryland, and the Estate of Candy Burns have paid the United States $286,631.33 to settle allegations that Peninsula Internal Medicine (“PIM”) and its former owner, Candy Burns, submitted false claims to the United States for medical services that were not provided.
The settlement agreement was announced today by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Medical providers know that they can only bill for services that are actually provided,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to ferreting out fraud in Medicare and other federal healthcare programs and will hold practices and individuals accountable for their actions.”
On June 25, 2019, Candy Burns was indicted by the United States on one count of health care fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. The criminal case was captioned United States v. Burns, Criminal Case No. JKB 19-CR-313. On or about December 5, 2019, Burns suffered a brain aneurysm and persisted in a vegetative state. The United States dismissed the indictment against Burns in April 2020. In January 2021, Burns died.
According to the settlement agreement, from January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016, PIM and Burns billed and were paid for blood draws that were not rendered. The blood draws were performed by LabCorp while in PIM’s Winterplace Parkway location and LabCorp was paid for these blood draws. Additionally, PIM and Burns were paid by Medicare for smoking cessation counseling that was not performed. Finally, the settlement agreement resolves claims that PIM and Burns violated Medicare’s “incident to” rules by billing for services performed by mid-level providers on Fridays when no physician supervised or directed medical services. Medicare reimburses at a higher rate if the services provided by a mid-level provider is performed “incident to” the direction and supervision of a physician. The only physician employed at PIM did not work on Fridays. Notwithstanding that fact, Burns and PIM billed Medicare for services on Fridays as if they were supervised by a physician, thus falsely entitling them to greater reimbursement.
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Kimberly Elliott, a former employee of PIM, under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and obtain a portion of the government's recovery. The civil lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Kimberly Elliott v. Peninsula Internal Medicine, LLC and the Estate of Candy Burns, JKB 15-176 (D. Md). As part of the settlement, the Ms. Elliott will receive $57,326.26.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HHS Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Corcoran.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/affirmative-civil-enforcement.
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Romanian National Admits Role in ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NICOLAE MARIUS BARBU, 50, a citizen of Romania, pleaded guilty today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector to an offense stemming from his participation in an extensive ATM skimming scheme that defrauded banks in Connecticut and elsewhere.
According to court documents and statements in court, between February and June 2017, a Connecticut bank experienced approximately 35 incidents of ATM skimming at locations in Stratford, Monroe, Trumbull, Greenwich, Fairfield and elsewhere in Connecticut. As part of the scheme, conspiracy members placed skimming devices at the ATMs to capture account numbers and personal identification numbers (“PINs”) from customers who used their ATM cards at the ATMs while the devices were in place. Conspiracy members then used the captured information to make substitute ATM cards, and obtained money and made purchases using those cards. Barbu joined this conspiracy in April 2017.
In addition, in April 2018, Barbu and another individual stole credit cards from an individual’s belongings at a gym in Rockville, Maryland. They then used the cards to make more than $9,000 in purchases at Microsoft and Apple stores in Maryland.
Barbu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on June 16, 2022.
Barbu was arrested in Michigan in June 2021. He has been detained since his arrest.
Barbu has agreed to pay restitution $139,533 to the victim bank, and $9,536 to the banks that issued the credit cards used for his fraudulent purchases.
This investigation has been conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, U.S. Secret Service, Greenwich Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and several local police departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Road Rage Incident leads to Capture, Conviction and Sentencing for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Leslie Graber, 34, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha as a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Graber to 68 months’ imprisonment for the firearm possession. At the time of the offense, Graber was being monitored on federal supervised release for a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in November 2019. Graber’s supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to an additional 16 months’ imprisonment for a total sentence of 84 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Graber will serve an additional 3-year term of supervised release following his release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 13, 2020, Bellevue Police responded to a call involving a road rage incident where the victim stated that the suspect pointed a gun at him. The victim explained that he was behind a blue car driving northbound on Highway 75. While he was behind the car, it slammed on its breaks to possibly “brake check” him, so he went around the suspect car to pass him. As they neared the off-ramp to Chandler Road in Bellevue and the cars were parallel, the driver, Graber, displayed a firearm. Graber tossed the firearm at some point after the incident. The next day, August 14, 2020, Bellevue Police Department Officers were dispatched to Old Towne Bellevue in reference to a party finding a firearm. Upon arrival, officers were directed to a Glock model 17 handgun which was lying on the grass along the northwest corner of the caller’s property. A DNA analysis performed on the firearm showed a match to the DNA of Graber. The gun was also reported as stolen from a home burglary.
On January 15, 2021, a warrant for violations of supervised release was issued for Graber. On February 20, 2021, Graber had additional felony warrants issued for him in Sarpy County, Nebraska for being a felon in possession of a firearm, use of a weapon to commit a felony, terroristic threats, assault, and theft. This incident involved Graber threatening an individual with a pistol while wearing ‘Police’ marked body armor. He was subsequently convicted in Sarpy County District Court of attempted use of a firearm and terroristic threats and sentenced to 5-10 years in the Nebraska Department of Corrections.
This case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department and was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Religious Leader Indicted and Arrested for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging pastor Emmanuel Morales-Hernández, 29, of Lares, Puerto Rico, with coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted receipt of child exploitation material, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The arrest follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, around November and December of 2021, Emmanuel Morales-Hernández knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced an individual who had not attained the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. The man was arrested at his residence without incident. The defendant is a well-known pastor in Lares and Utuado. Morales-Hernández utilized his position of public trust to entice and coerce a 16-year-old minor.
“The defendant used his position of trust in his community to prey on a minor, making him the victim of child exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “If you are a victim or know of another victim of this individual, please come forward; contact the authorities so we can protect you and others from these crimes. We want the community to know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice, along with our federal, state and local partners, are committed to protecting children from these criminals.”
“The sexual exploitation of minors, in all forms, is a despicable and a very serious crime. HSI will fiercely investigate these crimes to identify the alleged perpetrator, arrest him or her, and obtain solid evidence that will prevail in court,” said Iván J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Juan. “We will continue working with our local and federal partners and using all resources available and robust investigative authorities to identify you, arrest you and prosecute you.”
Morales-Hernández had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin on March 24. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.
If convicted, Morales-Hernández faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison for the enticement and coercion charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years for the attempted receipt of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Jenifer Hernández-Vega, Chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is in charge of the prosecution of this case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and a vital U.S. asset in combatting transnational crimes and threats. One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission. HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse and help make the internet a safer place for children.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians.
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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Previously Removed Dominican Republic Man Charged with Illegally Reentering the United States and Possession and Use of Fraudulent DocumentsRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested March 23, 2022 on St. Croix and charged by federal complaint with illegally reentering the United States and possession and use of fraudulent documents.
According to court documents, Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia , age 33, presented himself to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for inspection to board a Spirit airlines flight from St. Croix, USVI to Fort Lauderdale, FL on March 23, 2022. He presented a Washington State driver’s license in the name of another individual with a photo of his likeness as proof of identification to travel.
During questioning at the primary inspection, Mejia stated he was born in Puerto Rico, however, the CBP officer noticed that Mejia’s accent was that of one distinctive to the Dominican Republic. A subsequent fingerprint check positively identified Mr. Mejia-Mejia, and record checks revealed he was previously deported by Immigration in 2018 and 2019 from the United States to the Dominican Republic. The driver’s license Mejia-Mejia presented was determined to be counterfeit, and Mejia-Mejia admitted that he had purchased it. Further, there are no records of Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia legally entering the United States. Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia did not receive permission from the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States at the time of the encounter on March 23, 2022, and Mejia-Mejia is not a citizen or national of the United States. Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia is a citizen and national of the Dominican Republic, and he was not in possession of the required legal documents to be present or to enter the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations and CBP are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ortiz is prosecuting the case. Detention and preliminary hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in U.S. District Court.
U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads to Drug and Gun Charges, Awaits Sentencing in Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearm and narcotic laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Guy Wallar Jr., age 24, formerly of the Uptown neighborhood, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on June 28, 2021, officers with the Duquesne Police Department noticed a male seated in the driver seat of a parked vehicle who was slumped over the arm rest. The vehicle was in the Truman Towers parking lot, a known drug trafficking area that had a shooting earlier that day. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers detected the strong odor of burning marijuana and observed, in plain view, the driver sleeping, marijuana, and drug packaging material.
The officers woke the driver and asked him to exit the vehicle. The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, identified himself as Guy Wallar, Jr. Wallar then requested to show the officers something in the vehicle. As Mr. Wallar attempted to access the vehicle, officers told him to stop for fear of the destruction of evidence and officer safety. However, Wallar again tried to access the vehicle, and officers detained him. A search of Mr. Wallar incident to his arrest resulted in the seizure of marijuana, a cellular phone, and $8,517.00.
Officers requested consent to search the vehicle, which Wallar granted. The subsequent search resulted in the seizure of approximately 110 net grams of cocaine, an additional cellular phone, suspected narcotics, and a Polymer 80 pistol containing 16 rounds of ammunition.
On July 1, 2021, the same officers who arrested Wallar on June 28, 2021, observed Wallar walking out of Truman Towers. Based upon their recent interactions with Wallar and the Polymer 80, the officers asked for consent to search Wallar for weapons. Wallar consented, and an officer patted down Waller, feeling a baggie of suspected narcotics in his pocket. The officer pulled a baggie from the pocket, and it contained approximately 6 net grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack. The officers again arrested Mr. Wallar, and a search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure of two cellular phones and $882.00.
Following the return of the Superseding Indictment, law enforcement arrested Wallar near his vehicle on October 5, 2021. During the arrest, law enforcement observed a marijuana blunt in plain view within the vehicle. Subsequently, law enforcement applied for and obtained a federal search warrant for the vehicle. The search resulted in the seizure of small quantities of suspected marijuana and cocaine, in addition to $10,471.00.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for July 20, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded the defendant into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Wallar.
Physician Convicted for Unlawfully Prescribing over 1 Million Opioid PillsRead the Press Release
A Texas physician was convicted today for unlawfully prescribing more than one million pills of the opioid hydrocodone.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, James Pierre, 52, a doctor, of Houston, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances from June 2015 through July 2016 to individuals posing as patients at West Parker Medical Clinic (West Parker), a pill-mill clinic located in Houston.
Trial evidence showed that Pierre, along with his physician assistant, issued unlawful prescriptions for hydrocodone and carisoprodol, a combination of controlled substances known as the “Las Vegas Cocktail,” to hundreds of individuals posing as patients each week. So-called “runners” brought numerous people to pose as patients at West Parker and paid approximately $220 to $500 in cash for each visit that resulted in prescriptions for dangerous drugs. Throughout the scheme, West Parker made approximately $1,750,000 from prescriptions, and over $300,000 went to Pierre.
Pierre was convicted of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and seven counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27 and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
To date, one co-conspirator has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery for the Southern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA’s Houston Division made the announcement.
DEA Houston investigated the case.
Trial Attorney John-Alex Romano of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Trial Attorney Maryam Adeyola of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Muschenheim of the Southern District of Texas is handling forfeiture.
Phony Investment Adviser Sentenced to 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Joshua Louis Rupp, 37, previously of West Olive, Michigan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and five years of supervised release by the Honorable Hala Y. Jarbou, United States District Judge. Rupp pled guilty to committing securities fraud in November. The Court ordered Rupp to pay approximately $2.73 million in restitution to the victims of the scheme. Rupp is currently serving a state sentence for home invasion and assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to the plea agreement and felony information and other public records, from 2015 to 2019, Rupp recruited investors by posing as a licensed broker or trader who worked at one of two different brokerage firms. Rupp told investors that he worked under the supervision of fictitious persons at those firms, one of whom he claimed was his uncle. Rupp also told investors that the principal of the investments could not be lost for various reasons, including his choice of investments, trading strategy, and insurance. Rupp fabricated documents as part of the scheme, including false account statements, a fraudulent securities license, and business documents bearing the logos of the companies for which he claimed to work. Some of the documents stated that he had passed a securities trader qualification examination or that he was registered with the State of Michigan. These claims, and others he made to induce and retain investments, were false. In total, Rupp obtained more than $2.7 million from at least 19 investors, misappropriated more than $500,000 of investors’ funds, and lost most of the remaining funds trading securities.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Rupp on July 28, 2021, related to some of the conduct charged in the felony information. That case was stayed on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s motion pending entry of final judgment in the criminal matter.
“Joshua Rupp preyed on people close to him as well as other members of his community, convincing some of his victims to turn over hundreds of thousands of dollars to his care by lying to them about his credentials and the nature and status of their investments,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “The Court’s sentence will protect the public and serves as a cogent warning to those contemplating similar schemes. I urge investors to carefully research the bona fides of anyone seeking custody of, or access to, their savings. The SEC provides one resource to do so, at www.investor.gov.”
“This defendant obtained millions of dollars through fraudulent means, misappropriated some of that money for personal use, and lost much of the rest in securities trading for which he was unqualified,” said Josh Hauxhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Michigan. “I appreciate the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in providing a measure of justice to the victims of this serious financial crime.”
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant.
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Philadelphia Man Convicted in 2018 Murder-Kidnapping Plot Against North Philadelphia Business OwnerRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Perkins, 34, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted after trial for his involvement in a scheme to kidnap an individual and hold them for ransom, which eventually led to that individual’s injury and death. The victim’s body was later recovered in Cecil County, Maryland.
In May 2019, Perkins was charged by Indictment with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and kidnapping involving interstate commerce (transporting the kidnapped individual across state lines), stemming from the June 2018 kidnapping and murder of an individual who owned businesses in the city. When the victim showed up to the location of an arranged meeting in Philadelphia, a co-defendant shot the victim, injuring him. Perkins’ co-conspirators restrained the victim with duct tape, hand cuffs, and zip ties, and Perkins loaded the victim’s bound and bloody body into the kidnappers’ car. Perkins’ co-conspirators then drove the victim to a location in Chester County. Meanwhile, during the kidnapping, ransom calls demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars were made to the victim’s wife and to an associate of the victim. After meeting up with more co-conspirators, they drove the victim to a location in Cecil County, Maryland, where a co-conspirator ultimately shot the victim in the head, killing him.
Co-defendants who were also charged related to their involvement in the kidnapping conspiracy and who all previously pleaded guilty are: Ivan Rangel Prieto, 37, of Asheboro, North Carolina; Jose Castillo, 47, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jose Bernal, 33, of Newark, Delaware; Jose Delgado, 43, of Warminster, Pennsylvania; Salvador Sanchez Guerrero, 50, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Robert Favors, 42, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Fermín Perez Mejia, 38, of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
“This defendant acted with callous disregard for another human being’s life, and now a jury has found him guilty of these horrific crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Our office refuses to give in and let this type of lawless violence and intimidation become just the ‘way things are’ in Philadelphia – we are ‘All Hands On Deck’ to investigate and prosecute violent crimes in the city.”
“What a horrific way to spend the final hours of your life: abducted, restrained, bleeding, and completely powerless,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “John Perkins and his associates committed heinous acts of violence, and I'm thankful this jury has held him responsible for his role in this ruthless conspiracy. Getting dangerous criminals off the street is the top priority of the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Cecil County, Maryland Sherriff’s Office, the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, and the Plymouth Township Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and Everett Witherell.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Demarco E. Washington, 43, of the 100 block of East Archer Avenue was sentenced on March 24, 2022, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
At Washington’s sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Washington distributed ice methamphetamine to drug dealers and users in the Peoria, Pekin, and Bloomington areas from at least March 2020 through January 2021.
Also at the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid found that Washington was responsible for distributing more than 2.3 kilograms of ice methamphetamine. Judge Shadid noted that Washington was a drug dealer who had two prior convictions for distributing drugs.
Washington was indicted in April 2021. He entered a plea of guilty in November 2021. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine are a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment with one prior qualifying conviction and a maximum of life imprisonment; a maximum fine of $8 million; and not less than an eight-year term of supervised release.
The Pekin Police Department, Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Orleans Parish Man Sentenced on Weapons and Narcotic ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant KIRK THOMPSON, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 23rd by U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk to 117 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment on Counts One and Two of a two-count superseding bill of information.
Count One of the bill charged THOMPSON with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). As to Count Two, the superseding bill of information charged him with possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, that is, possession with intent to distribute both fentanyl and cocaine; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section, 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
On October 3, 2019, the New Orleans Police Department responded to call of a wanted subject, THOMPSON, seen in the 3000 block of Grand Route St. John in New Orleans, LA. Upon the officers’ arrival, an individual in an apartment complex directed officers to the apartment where THOMPSON was seen. Officers knocked on the apartment at which time a person answered the door who matched the description of THOMPSON and identified himself as “Kirk Thompson.” Officers advised him of his right to remain silent. THOMPSON eventually admitted to officers that there was a shotgun inside of the residence, and he had smoked narcotics inside the residence. Officers elected to obtain a search warrant for the apartment based on THOMPSON’s statement about the narcotics and the firearm. Inside the residence, officers located 11 firearms, including two assault rifles. Officers also located approximately 89 grams of fentanyl and 300 grams of cocaine.
This case was 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.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Nashville Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison in Case That Left Child with Gunshot Wound to the HeadRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Kedrick Ross, 29, of Nashville, was sentenced yesterday to 17 years in federal prison for drug distribution and firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Ross was charged in 2019 with three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms; three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime; possession with intent to distribute marijuana, methamphetamine and Xanax, within 1,000 feet of an educational institution; possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, within 1,000 feet of a public housing complex; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and two counts of obstruction of justice. He pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2020.
“Because of Ross’s continued lifestyle of drug dealing and other criminal activity, an innocent child sustained life-altering injuries,” said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “Too often, the reckless conduct of those involved in criminal activity results in tragic, unintended consequences as this case demonstrates. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue our pursuit of those who choose a lifestyle of crime without regard to innocent persons.”
On December 13, 2018, Ross, a convicted felon, was arrested in possession of a stolen Glock .40 caliber handgun, 208 grams of marijuana, and a mixture of methamphetamine near the Watkins College of Art in Nashville. While out on bond on these state charges, on May 29, 2019, Ross was in possession of a stolen Glock 9mm handgun, a stolen Glock .45 caliber handgun, marijuana, and methamphetamine, while in the Cumberland View Public Housing development, and on September 9, 2019, Ross was in possession of a stolen Glock .40 caliber handgun while in possession of methamphetamine, with intent to distribute. This firearm was determined to have been the same firearm that Ross left unattended at a relative’s house and with which his three-year-old son shot himself in the head on the same day and was critically injured. Ross later obstructed justice during the investigation of this incident by attempting to persuade his cousin to falsely claim that this firearm belonged to the cousin’s deceased husband.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Youth Services Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah prosecuted the case.
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Military Dependent Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Child in South KoreaRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Salina, Oklahoma, man Wednesday for sexually abusing a child while the man was a military dependent at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG)-Yongsan, within the Republic of Korea, announced Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite and U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Derek Ray Flaming, 36, was found guilty of receipt of an obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children; distribution of an obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children; aggravated sexual abuse; and attempted sexual abuse.
“Derek Flaming sexually abused a young victim and has been convicted for his predatory acts. He now faces a minimum of 30 years and up to lifetime in prison when he is sentenced," said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank federal prosecutors, our law enforcement partners, and the jury for hearing this child and for delivering justice on her behalf.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 18, 2016, while living in the Republic of Korea with his military spouse, Flaming attempted to sexually abuse a minor victim. Flaming admitted to law enforcement that he was nude in front of the minor victim but claimed this exposure was accidental. He also admitted to making inappropriate comments to her. Evidence at trial revealed that the defendant tried to force the minor to perform a sex act on him. When she refused, he became violent and started to strangle her. When she began screaming, he stopped.
A forensic examination of the electronic devices seized from the defendant’s residence revealed he used peer-to-peer software programs to download images and videos of child sexual abuse material. The evidence presented also showed that the defendant sent a child sexual abuse image to another person.
Following Wednesday’s guilty verdicts, the defendant was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He faces a mandatory sentence of 5 to 15 years of imprisonment for each of the receipt and distribution of an obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children charges; up to 20 years of imprisonment for the attempted sexual abuse charge, and 30 years to life imprisonment for the aggravated sexual abuse charge. A sentencing date has not been set.
MEJA gives U.S. courts jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed outside the United States by, among others, dependents of military members accompanying the Armed Forces.
The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigative Command, the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) High Technology Investigative Unit, U.S. Marshals’ Northern Oklahoma Violent Crime Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by CEOS Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly of the Northern District of Oklahoma.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Miami Man Found Guilty for Murdering an Uber Driver During a CarjackingRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Jorge Aponte Figueroa (“Aponte Figueroa”), 25, of Miami, Florida, was found guilty by a Miami jury of one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence after a trial presided by United States District Court Judge Marcia G. Cooke.
According to trial evidence, in May 2017, Aponte Figueroa, along with two co-conspirators, carjacked, at gunpoint, an Uber driver who was sleeping in his minivan. The evidence at trial showed that, after driving the victim throughout Miami-Dade County, Aponte Figueroa and his co-conspirators stole the victim’s wallet at gunpoint, after which Aponte Figueroa shot the victim seven times, including several shots at close range to the victim’s head while Aponte Figueroa straddled the victim’s body, to prevent the victim from serving as a witness.
Sentencing has been set for June 15, 2022. Aponte Figueroa still faces more charges in the Southern District of Florida for his participation in a serial Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy. That trial is set for August of 2022. As to those charges, Aponte Figueroa is innocent unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Miami Field Office, and George A. Perez, Interim Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Gonzalez commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI Miami and the Miami-Dade Police Department in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Jodi Anton.
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 17-cr-20487.
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Mexican national pleads guilty to federal carjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Gael Rodriguez, 20, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 23 to an information charging him with carjacking. Rodriguez will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Gael was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2021. According to the indictment and other court records, on Jan. 16, Rodriguez approached an elderly victim in northwest Albuquerque outside her apartment complex and asked her for a cigarette. The victim responded that she had no cigarettes and Rodriguez then demanded her purse and the keys for her vehicle. When the victim resisted, Rodriguez slashed her hand with a knife, causing her to drop the keys. Rodriguez grabbed the keys and fled in the victim’s vehicle.
An Albuquerque Police Officer was dispatched to the scene and relayed a description of the vehicle and Rodriguez to the Rio Rancho and Corrales police departments. Police were able to locate the vehicle in Corrales. After a pursuit on foot, police subdued and arrested Rodriguez.
Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Corrales Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 48 Months for Possessing Methamphetamine for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose A. Mendoza-Cortez, 32, a citizen of Mexico found in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 48 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Mendoza-Cortez pleaded guilty to this charge on November 2, 2021.
On February 24, 2021, a trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol stopped a vehicle on Interstate 94 in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. While talking to the driver, the trooper smelled the odor of marijuana and alcohol coming from the car. He also saw an open bottle of beer on the floor between the passenger’s legs. During an interview, the passenger, identified as Mendoza-Cortez, admitted to having marijuana in the center console. The trooper searched the car and saw marijuana debris on the floor and a marijuana blunt in the center cup holder. As the officer continued his search, he found 20 gallon-sized plastic bags in the trunk, each containing between 372 grams and 475 grams of a crystalline substance. The total amount of the substance weighed approximately 20 pounds and tested positive for methamphetamine.
During a post-arrest interview with investigators, Mendoza-Cortez admitted that someone paid him and the driver to transport the drugs from Minnesota to Ohio.
At sentencing, Judge Conley explained that the amount of methamphetamine Mendoza-Cortez possessed could have caused a staggering amount of damage to the community. The driver, Gregorio Arreola Mendoza, has also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine for distribution and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Conley on April 5.
The charge against Mendoza-Cortez was the result of an investigation conducted by Wisconsin State Patrol, West Central Drug Task Force, Eau Claire County District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Member of Moultrie Meth Trafficking Network SentencedRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. –A Moultrie, Georgia, resident and participant in a methamphetamine trafficking network operating in the area was sentenced to prison for her crime.
Melissa Barrow, 48, of Moultrie, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on March 24, after she pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 22, 2021. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, GBI began investigating a drug distribution conspiracy in Colquitt and Brooks counties in Nov. 2020, initially based on information that co-defendant April Contreras was selling methamphetamine in the region. During the course of the investigation, agents discovered that co-defendant Robert Smith, who was incarcerated at the Colquitt County Jail, was working with Contreras and co-defendants Aubrey Thompson and Corey Haynes in the sale of controlled substances. Barrow, working under the direction of Contreras, sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant (CI). Barrow would also collect drug proceeds on behalf of Contreras. Co-defendant Roderick Smith was directed by Robert Smith to provide cash to Contreras for the purposes of methamphetamine trafficking. In all, this methamphetamine trafficking network is accountable for the distribution of between 1.5 kilograms and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The following co-defendants have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing:
April Contreras, 31, of Moultrie, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 10;
Corey Haynes, 42, of Moultrie, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine on Feb. 2;
Robert Lee Smith, III, 46, of Moultrie, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 17; and,
Roderick Smith, 40, of Moultrie, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on March 3.
The following co-defendant entered a guilty plea and was sentenced:
Aubrey Thompson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 7, 2021. Thompson was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by DEA, FBI, GBI, Georgia State Patrol, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks County Sheriff’s Office, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office and Moultrie Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis is prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TEVIN GONZALEZ, 25, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2021, Gonzalez was involved in shooting and fire-bombing incidents in and around Springfield, Massachusetts. Gonzalez was arrested at a hotel in Enfield, Connecticut, on September 3, 2021. At the time of his arrest, he possessed two semiautomatic pistols.
Gonzalez’s criminal history includes convictions in Massachusetts for felony drug, firearm and resisting arrest offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Merriam scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2022, at which time Gonzalez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Gonzalez has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Massachusetts State Police, Enfield Police Department and Springfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Man Who Illegally Possessed Firearm While on Probation Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Michael Ray Teel, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 16, 2021, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence during the case showed that Teel arranged for another individual to purchase a firearm for him. Teel then possessed the firearm for several months until his state probation officer located the firearm during a home visit. Teel had previously been convicted of felony assault on a police officer.
Teel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Teel was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Teel is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-42.
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Man Sentenced to Two Years for Hoax Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
A Wichita Falls man who called in fake bomb threats was sentenced today to two years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Tommy Jay Hollis, 27, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one count of making a hoax bomb threat. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor.
According to plea papers, Mr. Hollis admitted that posing as a friend, he submitted the bomb threat to the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) via tips.fbi.gov.
“I’m planning on bombing the downtown Wichita Falls,” he wrote in the tip, which was submitted on Aug. 30, 2021.
In an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Hollis admitted that he made the threat from an email account he created in his friend’s name in an attempt to cause law enforcement to arrest the friend. He claimed he did not intend to carry out an attack.
“Making threats to prompt a law enforcement response is dangerous and instills fear throughout the community,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The FBI is proud to work with our partners at the Wichita Falls Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that defendants like Mr. Hollis are held fully accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Mr. Hollis had a history of making threats in other people’s names.
Posting as another friend, he reported to the NTOC that he was allowing a two-year-old to play with loaded firearms.
“He is my son I beat him with my hand and rape him too,” he said in the tip, submitted on July 26, 2021.
A welfare check on the child in question revealed no firearms or visible injuries.
Several weeks later, Mr. Hollis, posing as that same friend, reported to a local principal that he planned to attack his school.
“I’m letting you know I plan on attacking your school,” he wrote in the tip, submitted on Aug. 16, 2021. “Please if you care about the kids and the little girls you will report immediately I need to be locked up.”
Based on the hoax threat, the Burkburnett ISD Police Department added extra officers to protect every school in the district for the next two days.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Wichita Falls Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Wichita Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Lo Galbo, Jay Weimer, and Taylor Winn prosecuted the case.
Missouri Man Receives 30 Year Sentence for Attempted Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – William E. Jackson, 47, of Pevely, Missouri, was sentenced to 360 months in
prison on Thursday, March 24, 2022, for traveling from Missouri to Illinois to engage in sex with a
minor.
According to court documents, in April 2020, an FBI agent, acting in an undercover capacity,
located and responded to an online ad posted by William E. Jackson indicating Jackson’s interest in
incest. When the undercover FBI agent offered to have Jackson meet a fictitious ten-year-old female
minor for purposes of sexual contact, Jackson agreed to do so. On May 6, 2021, Jackson traveled
from Missouri to the Southern District of Illinois for the purpose of meeting the
fictitious ten-year-old female minor for sex. Upon arriving at the meet location, Mr. Jackson
was arrested by FBI agents. Following his arrest, Jackson’s cell phone was seized, which was found
to contain child pornography.“Significant sentences, like the one announced today, are appropriate because those who try to
sexually abuse children deserve justice in proportion to the deviance of their behavior,” said
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute
these cases and do all that we can to protect children.”“This investigation and resulting noteworthy sentence illustrate the FBI’s efforts to protect
children from sexual predators,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “Victims of these
types of crimes can suffer from long-lasting trauma, so it is vital we continue our efforts to
investigate and arrest those who prey on vulnerable children.”This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006
by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and
Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate,
apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and
rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Springfield Field Office.
This case was prosecuted by Former Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell and Assistant
United States Attorney Daniel Kapsak.Loxley Man Sentenced to 235 Months for Attempting to Coerce a Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced defendant James Salac, 58, to 235 months in prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor. Salac entered a guilty plea to those offenses on December 22, 2021.
According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in November 2019, Salac was a member of an online messaging group comprised of individuals who expressed sexual attraction to children. Also in the group was an undercover officer, who was posing as a mother of a nine-year-old girl. Salac instigated a conversation with the undercover officer, and eventually expressed an interest in engaging in sexual activity with the nine-year-old girl. Salac articulated in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform on the girl. The undercover officer then provided Salac with a phone number purported to belong to the girl so that Salac could communicate with the nine-year-old directly. The officer then began posing as the nine-year-old. When he believed he was communicating with a nine-year-old, Salac sent her a graphic photo of his genitals, detailed what sexual acts he would like to engage in with her, and directed her how to take photos of her genitalia to send to him.
Further investigation revealed that Salac was a member of a number of online communities. He had engaged in similar conversations with other undercover officers, including one posing as the father of a ten-year-old girl and one posing as a fourteen-year-old girl. Salac also distributed images of child pornography in his online groups and to undercover officers.
Judge DuBose imposed a 235 months sentence of incarceration. The judge also ordered Salac to serve a 20 year term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison. Judge DuBose ordered that Salac pay $5,100 in special assessments. Salac will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.
Lawrence Man Arrested for Fentanyl Distribution Involving Multiple Large Pill Press MachinesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was arrested today on drug distribution charges involving counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl.
Miguel Angel Fajardo, 32, was arrested and charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, Fajardo was held in custody pending a detention hearing to be scheduled at a later date.
According to the complaint, during a search of Fajardo’s apartment this morning law enforcement found approximately 100,000 suspected fentanyl pills weighing an estimated seven kilograms, along with an industrial pill press and “M” and “30” pill stamps consistent with markings on pharmaceutical-grade Oxycodone pills. Pill stamps are commonly used to make counterfeit pills appear to be legitimate pharmaceutical-grade pills. Approximately 1.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl powder and 50 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition concealed in a microwave, two individual finger presses in the living room, four kilograms of cutting agent and two air purifying respirators, which are commonly used when working with fentanyl powder, were also found. It is further alleged that investigators located two one-kilogram pill presses and another large pill press in the landing outside the apartment.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque made the announcement today. The DEA’s Boston Tactical Diversion Squad led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Las Vegas Felon Charged for Robbing Multiple Businesses at GunpointRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday for allegedly robbing eight businesses at gunpoint.
George Perez (38) was arrested on January 25, 2022. He is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts ordered Perez to be held in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 4, 2022.
According to allegations in the complaint, Perez robbed eight businesses in the Las Vegas area from January 19 to January 25, 2022. At each robbery, Perez approached the cashier with store merchandise, pretending he was going to purchase it. He then demanded money from the cashier while pointing a 9mm handgun. In total, Perez stole approximately $1,897.95 in cash and several merchandise items. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Perez soon after he fled from the last robbery.
Perez has prior felony convictions in Clark County and in Washington State. Accordingly, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by robbery; the statutory minimum penalty is seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and the statutory maximum penalty is ten years in prison for felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to imprisonment, Perez also faces a period of supervised release, a fine, and restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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