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Friday 18 March 2022
Alleged Guatemalan Drug Kingpin Indicted in San Diego; $10 Million Dollar Reward Offered by U.S. Department of StateRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 18, 2022
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed in San Diego against alleged Guatemalan drug kingpin Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, aka “Don Dario,” who is accused of being a leader of a transnational criminal organization known as Los Huistas.
Los Huistas are primarily based in the Huehuetenango region of Northwest Guatemala that borders Mexico. This marks the latest indictment unsealed as part of Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego that targets high-level Guatemalan drug traffickers and their suppliers.
The indictment returned on January 29, 2019, charges Molina-Lopez with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Intended for Unlawful Importation and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel. Molina-Lopez remains a fugitive.
Read the Indictment Wanted Poster - English Wanted Poster - Espanol
The U.S. Department of State also announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Molina-Lopez. This award is offered under the U.S. Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP). More than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the NRP and the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) since 1986. The Department has paid more than $135 million in rewards to date.
The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the NRP in close coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other U.S. government agencies.
ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards
Operation Guerrilla Unit targets high-level cocaine traffickers operating in northwest Guatemala and their suppliers. This investigation has offered one of the most comprehensive views to date of the inner workings of cocaine trafficking in Guatemala. High-level cocaine traffickers were targeted in a massive probe involving multiple countries, multiple law enforcement agencies around the United States, and a number of federal districts.
“This extraordinary case is one of this district’s most significant, comprehensive and large-scale drug trafficking prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “We are working tirelessly to dismantle cartels by taking down the leaders, one by one.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, Homeland Security Investigations for spearheading this multi-year investigation, and the many law enforcement agencies that have worked so diligently on this case.
“HSI remains committed to combating the flow of dangerous drugs into the U.S. This includes disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and their supply networks beyond our borders. The indictment of Molina, the leader of Los Huistas, demonstrates HSI's efforts to target these criminal organizations at their highest levels,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “The reward proposed by the Department of State for Molina’s capture is a significant step forward in the investigation and reflects HSI's holistic approach to countering transnational criminal organizations by collaborating not only with law enforcement partners, but also with our foreign policy and regulatory agencies.”
“The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea requires unity of effort from operational detection, monitoring, and interdiction, to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices,” said Rear Admiral Brian Penoyer, the Eleventh Coast Guard District commander. “These charges showcase the threat posed by dangerous cartels, gangs and criminal groups that make up extensive organized crime networks.”
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
DEFENDANT
Case Number 19cr0327-DMS
Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez Age: 57 Huehuetenango, Guatemala
aka “Don Dario,” aka “Molis”
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 959, 960, 963
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 853Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503(b), 70506
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
U.S. Coast Guard
HSI Attaché Guatemala City, Guatemala
HSI Attaché Mexico City Mexico
Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs
Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations
Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
Department of Justice's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS)
Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)
U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
U.S. Department of State
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Alderson Man Gets Maximum Sentence for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jack Michael Smith, 35, of Alderson, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for production of child pornography. Smith was also ordered to serve the remainder of his life on federal supervised release after completion of his prison term and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith uploaded child pornography from a computer in West Virginia to Kik Messenger and shared it with others in March 2019. Additional child pornography was shared from Smith’s account in October 2019. A conversation with another Kik user revealed Smith engaged in ongoing sexual abuse of a minor female. Smith admitted that he traveled from West Virginia to Oregon on a regular basis to engage in sexual activity with the minor female and took photographs of the minor female engaged in sexual activity with him. Smith also encouraged his girlfriend, Kimberly Crookshanks, to sexually abuse a toddler and take photographs of the abuse. Crookshanks is awaiting trial in the District of Oregon.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Local law enforcement in Oregon assisted in the investigation.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence, finding Smith to be “an extreme danger to society.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie White prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00193.
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Akron Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Led to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Quentin D. Watson, 35, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $4,503.01 in restitution for the victim’s funeral costs after Watson was convicted at trial of distributing fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Thousands of lives have been lost, and so many families have endured crushing pain and suffering due to the opioid epidemic here and across the country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Drug dealers who exploit the vulnerabilities that addiction creates should be prepared to serve lengthy prison sentences.”
According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, on June 24, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to an Akron-area residence for a report of a drug overdose. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased individual and began an investigation. It was later determined that the decedent suffered an overdose after ingesting a fentanyl and heroin mixture.
While the investigation into the overdose death was ongoing, Watson was arrested on October 6, 2020, during a traffic stop after officers found that he possessed various amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and a 9-millimeter pistol in his vehicle. Law enforcement later completed their investigation into the overdose death and determined that Watson did distribute a fentanyl mixture to the victim who ingested it, overdosed and died.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Akron Police Department, Akron Fire Department, Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Christopher J. Joyce.
12 Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted for Distributing Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl, Laundering ProceedsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—12 people are facing federal charges for conspiring to distribute counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in the Pacific Northwest, and laundering millions in drug proceeds.
According to court documents, beginning in fall 2021, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents based in Portland began investigating a drug trafficking organization led by Luis Antonio Beltran Arrendondo, 32, of Las Vegas, who was suspected of importing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and heroin from Mexico into California, and transporting it to Oregon and Washington State for distribution. Arrendondo formerly resided in Oregon, but later relocated to Las Vegas with his significant other and accomplice Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, 41. Barrientos was also indicted as the chief money launderer for the Arrendondo organization.
As the investigation continued, agents interdicted couriers transporting fentanyl pills and heroin to Oregon. They executed search warrants in Hillsboro, Portland, Tualatin, and Wilsonville, Oregon; Fresno and Hawaiian Gardens, California; and Las Vegas. In total, these enforcement actions resulted in the seizure of approximately 115,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl and stamped “M/30”, 41 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 57 pounds of heroin.
A parallel financial investigation revealed that Barrientos laundered money generated by the Arrendondo organization through the Mazatlán Beauty Salon in Tualatin, Oregon and by buying real estate. The real estate purchases were made with cashier’s checks funded by large cash deposits. Currency Transaction Reports generated by several banks showed that Barrientos made frequent cash deposits ranging from $10,000 to more than $373,000 into accounts held in her name or the name of her salon. These deposits totaled more than $3.5 million during a 9-month period in 2021. Since February 2021, members of the Arrendondo organization purchased a total of nine residential properties in Oregon and Nevada with an estimated total value of more than $4.6 million. All nine properties were purchased outright with no mortgages.
On February 17, 2022, DEA agents arrested Arrendondo and Barrientos at their Las Vegas residence. Agents found and seized two luxury vehicles, several loose receipts documenting high-end retail purchases, credit card statements documenting more than $16,000 spent on tickets to attend a professional boxing match, and other evidence memorializing the couple’s high-end lifestyle.
On March 15, 2022, Arrendondo and Barrientos made their initial appearances in federal court. Both are in custody pending trial. All ten of Arrendondo and Barrientos’ co-conspirators have been arrested and are also pending trial in the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Tigard Police Department, and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Opioid abuse affects communities across the nation. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that there were more than 100,000 drug overdoses in the U.S. during the 12-month period ending April 2021, an increase of nearly 29% from the previous 12-month period. Synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) accounted for more than three quarters of these deaths. Drug overdose continues to be the leading cause of injury or death in the U.S.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 3-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 8am and 11pm Pacific Time daily.
Seized Heroin and Counterfeit Oxycodone
Seized Heroin, Counterfeit Oxycodone, and Cash
Seized 2013 Dodge Viper
Seized 2021 Range Rover Sport
Thursday 17 March 2022
York Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dominique Hightower, age 23, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearm charges.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Hightower possessed with the intent to distribute 28 grams and more of cocaine base (crack), and unspecified amounts of heroin, marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, and oxycodone, on November 3, 2021, in York. The indictment also alleges that Hightower possessed a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun converted to be fully automatic during and in relation to his drug trafficking activities. According to the indictment, authorities also recovered a money counter, approximately $14,255.27 in United States Currency, multiple loaded magazines and a .40 caliber drum magazine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, the York County Drug Task Force, the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating is prosecuting the case.
This case was part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Winnemucca Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — A Winnemucca man who admitted to his role in a conspiracy to steal multiple firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Travis Klyn (41) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal, take, or carry away firearms from the premises of an FFL in September 2021. In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du ordered Klyn to pay $15,309.43 in restitution.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2020, Klyn, co-defendant George Wyatt Elms, and one other individual broke into a hardware store in Winnemucca to steal firearms. They removed a panel in the roof, dropped down approximately ten feet onto a nearby staircase, and then broke through the store’s door. Once inside, Elms used a pickaxe to break into a gun case, from which he and another individual stole 25 firearms. Klyn ran out of the store before the theft of the firearms. Before carrying out the robbery, they had intentionally set a brush fire in a nearby field to divert law enforcement away from the store.
Co-defendant Elms pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of theft of firearms from the premises of an FFL. He was sentenced to six years in prison on March 4, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Winnemucca Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as 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. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Wayland Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Physical Therapy Clinic Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wayland woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud an insurance provider for physical therapy services that were not provided to patients.
Anna Barenboym, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2022.
Barenboym was indicted in February 2021 along with co-defendants Gyulnara Bayryshova, Slava Pride and Raya Bagardi.
Barenboym was a licensed physical therapist employed at Brighton Physical Therapy (BPT), a Brighton-based physical therapy clinic owned by Bayryshova. Pride and Bagardi were also employed at BPT as licensed physical therapist assistants. From October 2018 through June 2020, Barenboym and, allegedly, her co-defendants conspired to cause an insurance company to reimburse them for physical therapy services that were not actually provided and/or were not medically necessary and, in some cases, were provided by individuals not licensed to provide the services. Specifically, Barenboym and, allegedly, her co-defendants falsely billed for services purportedly rendered to patients injured in automobile accidents when the services were not actually provided. It is further alleged that BPT paid patients for referrals, referred patients to attorneys to assist with patients’ insurance settlements and accepted kickbacks from those attorneys in return.
Barenboym is the first defendant to plead guilty in the case.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Washington County man sentenced to 96 months in federal prisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The United States Attorney's Office announced that Eli B. Rawlins, age 35, of Irondale, Missouri, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for the offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rawlins appeared for his plea and sentencing hearing today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 6, 2021, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol was investigating a motor vehicle theft of a Chevrolet Tahoe, when he observed the stolen vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in Patton, Missouri. The victim of the theft had also reported that her firearm was inside the vehicle when it was stolen. Rawlins was located seated inside a Chevrolet Silverado truck parked in the same driveway. After determining that the victim’s firearm was missing from the stolen Tahoe, the trooper approached Rawlins and inquired about the victim’s firearm. Rawlins admitted that he had removed the gun from the Tahoe and placed it inside the Silverado, where it was recovered by the trooper.
Rawlins has prior felony convictions for Assault in the Third Degree in Madison County and Burglary in the Second Degree in St. Francois County and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Reappointed by Order of the District Court JudgesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that John C. Gurganus, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, was reappointed as the United States Attorney by order of the District Court Judges effective March 17, 2022. Mr. Gurganus was initially appointed United States Attorney by order of United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on November 17, 2021, for one hundred twenty days or until a Presidential appointment was made, whichever occurs first. That appointment expired on March 16, 2022, and this new appointment by the District Court Judges appoints Mr. Gurganus as United States Attorney until the vacancy is filled by the President. Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann administered the oath of office to Mr. Gurganus yesterday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gurganus began his 33-year legal career with the United States Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Program in 1988, as a Trial Attorney with the Antitrust Division in the New York City Field Office. In 1989, he was appointed an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and has been based in the Scranton, Pennsylvania office since that time. During his tenure with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Gurganus has held a number of positions including First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, and Lead Task Force Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
His experience includes the prosecution of a wide variety of cases, including public corruption, drug trafficking, violent crimes, tax evasion, child pornography, extortion, kidnapping, firearms, and fraud crimes. Mr. Gurganus received two Department of Justice Director’s Awards for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S Attorney: one for work in prosecuting drug overdose cases, and the other for obtaining a guilty verdict for an individual who attempted to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Gurganus served as a law clerk to the late Honorable Richard P. Conaboy, United States District Court Judge, Scranton, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.A. from Villanova University in 1983, and received his law degree in 1986 from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He resides in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania.
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Union County Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man was charged today with illegally possessing a firearm and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Shaquan Little-Bethea, 28, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Little-Bethea will have his initial appearance at a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement officers received information that Little-Bethea was distributing controlled dangerous substances in Elizabeth. On June 2, 2022, Little-Bethea arranged to meet with an undercover law enforcement agent to sell him the drugs. Just before the meeting, however, Little-Bethea drove away in his car before fleeing on foot. After a pursuit, law enforcement officers apprehended Little-Bethea and recovered an H&K, model VP9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, with 16 rounds of ball ammunition, along with 38 clear vials containing suspected crack cocaine and 17 glassine envelopes of suspected heroin.
The narcotics offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1 million. The count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the members of the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Director Earl J. Graves and Police Chief Giacommo Sacca; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DeSaro of the General Crimes Unit, in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Flint Neurological Centre P.C. for Violating the Rights of Individuals Who Have DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
FLINT, MI -- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan today announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Flint Neurological Centre P.C., alleging that the medical practice violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to provide auxiliary aids and services required to ensure effective communication with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, such as sign language interpreters.
“The ADA protects fundamental rights of individuals with disabilities, including the ability to access health care services. My office is committed to protecting those rights,” said Dawn Ison, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “No one should be denied meaningful access to health care services, including the ability to exchange critical information with their medical providers.”
The complaint, filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that Flint Neurological Centre has a long history of failing to provide aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, including a previous investigation by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. The complaint further alleges that Flint Neurological Centre failed to provide sign language interpreters or any other communication aids to five patients, in some cases, over several years of treatment. For one patient, the complaint alleges that his relative would travel 200 miles across state to attend medical appointments, because Flint Neurological Centre repeatedly failed to provide a sign language interpreter and important medical information could not be communicated without her assistance.
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by public accommodations, such as the professional office of health care provider. Public accommodations must allow people with disabilities the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, and facilities. This obligation requires the provision of auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, when necessary to effectively communicate with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, including a copy of the complaint, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights. ADA complaints concerning Flint Neurological Centre or any other entity may be emailed to [email protected] or by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at (313) 226-9151.
More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov. Information about the Justice Department’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative to ensure that people who have disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, have equal access to medical services is available at www.ada.gov/usao-agreements.htm.
U.S. Attorney Announces New COVID-19 Fraud Strike ForceRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today the creation of a new, interagency COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force to combat fraud arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Attorney Waldref also announced the first criminal charges filed in connection with work done by the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed loans to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.
In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the USAO, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others.
“We created the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our community in Eastern Washington that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “COVID-19 relief programs, which were essential to lifting our economy and supporting our families, quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding. It is not fair that some deserving small businesses could not obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when others abused the programs. The Strike Force is one way to ensure that limited resources are provided to deserving local businesses that provide vital services for our communities. I greatly appreciate the hard work and esprit de corps of so many talented agents and agencies that are contributing to our collective efforts.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref also announced the first filing of federal charges in connection with the work of the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force. On March 16, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging Roshon Edward Thomas, age 52, of Spokane, Washington, with two counts of fraud. The Indictment alleges that Thomas fraudulently applied for and received a $32,400 federal loan through the SBA’s EIDL program in the name of a fictitious business. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
“I commend the stellar investigative work on this case performed by SBA OIG, FBI, and TIGTA,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute those who abuse and misuse COVID-19 relief funding.”
Two Sentenced in Schemes to Defraud Home Improvement StoresRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two Providence men who admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud credit card companies and home improvement stores out of more $160,000 were sentenced to federal prison today, announced United Sates Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jose Brens, 40, was sentenced to fifteen months in prison and ordered to pay restitution totaling $140,578. He pleaded guilty on December 13, 2021, to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and six counts of access device fraud. Jose R. Delarosa, 45, was sentenced to twelve months and one day of incarceration and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,141. He pleaded guilty on December 16, 2021, to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and four counts of access device fraud.
At the time of their guilty pleas, Brens and Delarosa admitted that they and others unlawfully obtained credit card information of other individuals, and used that information to purchase construction tools and building supplies from at least six Home Depot and Lowes stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
According to charging documents, the scheme employed by Brens, Delarosa, and others came to light when, in September 2018, a Smithfield resident contacted the Smithfield Police Department to report that his credit card information had been used without his permission to purchase $2,100 worth of construction items and tools at a nearby Home Depot. A joint investigation with the United States Secret Service determined that Brens, Delarosa, and others were working together to carry out this and similar schemes in multiple stores, repeatedly making purchases of between $1,000 and $4,000.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Terrence P. Donnelly.
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Two Rhode Island Men Indicted in Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Rhode Island men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.
Jasdrual Perez, 33, of Cranston, R.I., and Erik Ventura, 33, of Providence, R.I., were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendants were arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Feb. 14, 2022, and have remained in custody since.
According to the charging documents, in September 2019, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) headed by Perez. The investigation revealed that Perez, Ventura and others allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of controlled substances, including fentanyl pills, to customers in numerous locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. It is further alleged that the DTO manufactured fentanyl pills for distribution. In July 2021, over 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl, allegedly attributable to the Perez DTO, were seized
According to court documents, on Feb. 7, 2022, a search of Perez’s residence resulted in the seizure of two pill presses, a gallon-sized freezer bag suspected to contain fentanyl pills, more than 50,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl and multiple marijuana plants. In total, over 10 kilograms of suspected fentanyl was seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $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 Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Providence Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Providence Field Office; the Rhode Island State Police Department; and the Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Massachusetts Police Officers Receive Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Massachusetts Police Officers were among the 18 law enforcement officers from across the Nation recognized today by Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.
Attorney General Garland announced the award recipients today in Atlanta. Officer Danielle St. Peter of the Barnstable Police Department and School Resource Officer Tom Hart of the Walpole Police Department were selected and honored for their exceptional work in Innovations in Community Policing.
“Officers St. Peter and Hart are exemplary representatives of our law enforcement community, and their selflessness and commitment to serving their communities is what earned them today’s honor,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “I had the privilege of speaking with both of their Police Chiefs today to personally offer my congratulations. Chief Sonnabend and Chief Kelleher are each incredibly proud of their Officers, as they should be. The dedication to public safety displayed by these two Officers is representative of the many men and women across the Commonwealth who honorably protect and serve our communities everyday as police officers. On behalf of all their federal law enforcement partners in the District of Massachusetts, I want to publicly thank Officer St. Peter and Officer Hart for their service and congratulate them on this tremendous honor.”
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” said Attorney General Garland. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal and territorial police officers, deputies and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Taney County Couple Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Children, Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Merriam Village, Missouri, couple was sentenced in federal court today for sexually assaulting two young children to produce child pornography, and for receiving and distributing child pornography.
Mark John Millman, 37, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, and his wife and co-defendant, Tara Sau Millman, 42, were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. Mark and Tara Millman each were sentenced to 35 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced them to spend the rest of their lives on supervised release following incarceration.
Both Millmans pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of minors and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Both Mark and Tara Millman have been in federal custody since their arrest and have been detained without bail.
The Millmans admitted that Mark used Tara’s iPhone to record video of her performing a sexual act on a 2-year-old child, identified in court documents as John Doe. Mark Millman admitted that he sexually assaulted a 4-year-old child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, which was also recorded on video. Investigators found images and videos of child pornography on the Millmans’ iPhones, including files that depicted the Millmans sexually assaulting both child victims.
Mark and Tara Millman each admitted they used a social media application to share child pornography over the internet, and that they viewed child pornography together.
The investigation began when agents with Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, California, began investigating users of a cloud storage platform (identified in court documents as “Cloud Platform A”). The cloud platform provides encrypted, cloud-based services that enable private, secure online storage, communication, and collaboration for business and individuals. During the investigation, the agents accessed a weblink to an encrypted chat room with approximately 145 registered users. Files containing child pornography were uploaded/posted by participants in the chat room. Many users were actively involved in the distribution of child pornography. The child pornography distributed within the chat included 129 video files, 324 image files, and 43 cloud-storage weblinks which contained files of child pornography.
Mark Millman’s email was identified among the registered users of the chat room, and a search warrant was executed at the Millmans’ residence in Taney County, Mo., on Jan. 28, 2021.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Sylvania Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Receipt, Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Holden Gallagher, 29, of Sylvania, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release following prison, after Gallagher pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
“The Justice Department and law enforcement in this region will work tirelessly to deter and prosecute those why prey upon our children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Mr. Gallagher, a repeat offender, has earned this lengthy prison sentence and will no longer be able to abuse others.”
“Criminal misconduct with the intent to exploit children is reprehensible,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The investigative work of the FBI underscores our duty to protect children from heinous individuals. Our partnerships with federal and state investigators in concert with local agencies continue to make an impact in our communities to thwart predatory behavior.”
According to court documents, on July 31, 2015, law enforcement investigators executed a federal search warrant at a Sylvania residence suspected of sharing digital files of child pornography. During the execution of the warrant, investigators obtained several electronic devices, including a laptop and hard drive.
Investigators searched the electronic devices and discovered that they contained numerous files of child pornography. Additionally, investigators determined that some of the images contained a depiction of a minor known to Gallagher. It was also determined that Gallagher had corresponded with the minor victim and gotten the minor to produce images of child pornography.
At the time of the offense conduct, Gallagher was a registered sex offender following a 2011 conviction for gross sexual imposition of a minor for which Gallagher was still on probation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state and federal investigators on the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, including the lead investigator from Defiance County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Ballard Tangeman and Angelita Cruz Bridges.
Stoughton Man Arrested for $400,000 COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton man was arrested and charged today in connection with allegedly filing a fraudulent loan application in order to obtain over $400,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds.
Adley Bernadin, 44, was charged with one count of wire fraud. Bernadin was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler this morning.
According to the criminal complaint, in May 2020, Bernadin submitted a fraudulent application on behalf of a purported home health care company for a PPP loan of over $400,000. It is alleged that in the application, which he submitted through a Small Business Administration approved lender, Bernadin misrepresented information about the purported home health care company’s employees and payroll expenses and falsified a tax form in an effort to qualify the business for the PPP loan. For example, Bernadin allegedly reported that the purported home health care business had a monthly payroll of $175,200, however, records do not support this representation.
After receiving the PPP funds, Bernadin allegedly used the money to make home mortgage payments and to write checks to individuals with whom he is believed to have a personal relationship.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. 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 and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The 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.
St. Albans Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A St. Albans man was sentenced today to two years in prison for a federal drug crime.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2020, a trooper with the West Virginia State Police attempted to stop Joshua James Lambert, 33, who was riding a motorcycle with improperly functioning signal devices on Route 25 near Institute. Lambert tried to flee the scene on the motorcycle, reaching speeds of up to 90mph. When Lambert attempted to make a right-hand turn, he lost control of the motorcycle and wrecked. Lambert then fled on foot with a small black pistol in his hand, which he threw to the ground. The trooper caught Lambert and took him into custody. In searching Lambert, the trooper found several quantities of suspected controlled substances wrapped in small packages which Lambert admitted he intended to sell. The substances were tested at the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory and found to contain methamphetamine and fentanyl. The unloaded Raven Arms, MP-25, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol which Lambert had thrown to the ground was also recovered.
United State Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McVey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00192.
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Springfield, Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Actual MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois man, Michael Bale, 44, of the 4000 block of Sandhill Road, pleaded guilty on March 16, 2022, to distributing methamphetamine on two occasions and possessing with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). Sentencing for Bale has been scheduled for July 20, 2022, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois, before Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Mills.
In court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins, Bale admitted that on both August 21, 2019, and September 20, 2019, he knowingly distributed methamphetamine and that on December 1, 2019, he possessed with the intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance.
Bale has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest, and he remains in custody pending sentencing.
Bale faces statutory penalties of up to life in prison, up to an $8,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Central Illinois Enforcement Group, the Springfield Police Department, and the Athens Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir is representing the government in the prosecution.
Springdale Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, during the month of October 2020, detectives with the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF) were investigating, Kenneth Wayne Efurd, age 42, for drug trafficking. On October 22, 2020, detectives with the DTF conducted a parole search at Efurd’s residence in Springdale. During the search detectives located a black bag which contained approximately 116.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 2.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 1.4 grams of suspected heroin, 0.1 gram of suspected heroin, 5 doses of suspected LSD, a digital scale, $2,127.00 and drug paraphernalia.
The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the DEA Laboratory in Miami, Florida, where it tested positive for methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
Springdale Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced on March 14, 2022, to 151 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on May 13, 2021, the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF) received information that Seth Dalton Adams, age 26, was selling and possessing a large amount of Methamphetamine. Detectives with the DTF made contact with Adams at his residence in Springdale where he was observed smoking methamphetamine inside his garage. A search of the residence was conducted resulting in detectives locating a vacuum seal bag that contained ten (10) individually wrapped bags, each containing approximately one (1) ounce of methamphetamine, two firearms, drug paraphernalia and a drug ledger.
The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Department of Homeland Security Laboratory in Savannah, Georgia, where it tested positive for methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as 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.
South Beloit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A South Beloit, Ill., man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transportation of child pornography.
DAVID WITTWER, 51, entered the guilty plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee in Rockford. Wittwer admitted in a plea agreement that on Feb. 24, 2016, he used his computer to post images of child pornography to a website. Wittwer further admitted that he possessed a tablet device and cellphone that contained more than 600 images and videos of child pornography.
The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, and a maximum of 20 years. Judge Lee set sentencing for July 27, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was provided by the South Beloit Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting a ChildRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who sexually assaulted a child pled guilty March 10, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. Juan Pablo Hernandez, age 44, from Sioux City, Iowa was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
At the plea hearing, Hernandez admitted to driving from South Sioux City, Nebraska to Sioux City with a minor under the age of 12 to sexually assault the minor.
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.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hernandez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hernandez faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4093.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sheldon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A Sheldon man who sold large amounts of methamphetamine received through the mail was sentenced on March 11, 2022, to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Scott Demers, age 39, from Sheldon, Iowa was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Demers admitted to receiving large quantities of methamphetamine through the mail and distributing it. Demers also admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of trafficking methamphetamine.
Demers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Demers was sentenced to 153 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office; the Sioux City Police Department; the South Sioux City Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4019.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Serial Offender Sentenced to 9 Years for Medical Frauds Causing More Than $3.5 Million in LossesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Joseph Albert Corey was sentenced in federal court today to 108 months for two separate fraud schemes causing more than $3.5 million in losses, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Edward M. Chen.
Corey, 57, and last known to live in or near Los Angeles, was initially charged in 2019 with depositing fraudulent checks into accounts opened under the false name “Dennis Dupont.” Posing as Dennis Dupont, Corey opened bank accounts for two fake companies, “Medical Practice Management” and “Medtronic Inc.” He funded those accounts by depositing unauthorized checks drawn on a bank account owned by a legitimate company, the government’s sentencing memo describes. Corey wrote checks on the victim company’s account totaling more than $370,000. When he successfully deposited a check, Corey laundered the proceeds by using the stolen money to purchase gold coins from a precious metals company. He picked up the gold coin shipments from rented mailboxes in the Bay Area.
Once arrested, Corey entered a guilty plea in November 2019 to a federal charge of mail fraud. Corey, however, absconded from his February 2020 sentencing hearing.
While a fugitive, Corey continued to commit a second fraud scheme that involved a conspiracy to defraud financial lenders. The conspiracy was underway as early as March 2019 and continued through October 2020. Corey admitted in his current plea agreement that as part of the scheme he assumed the identities of multiple medical doctors. Corey would impersonate a doctor to obtain a loan ostensibly to purchase an expensive medical device from a legitimate supply company. Once the loan was authorized, Corey directed the lender to deposit the loaned purchase funds into a specific bank account. Unbeknownst to the lender, Corey earlier had opened that account in the name of, or in a name similar to, the medical device supply company. When the lender deposited the funds into the account, Corey appropriated the money. Corey then assumed another set of false identities and used the funds to purchase gold from various precious metals dealers, thus obscuring the trail of the stolen loan money.
Corey remained a fugitive until he was detained by Mexican authorities in January 2021 and deported from Mexico to the United States. According to a government filing, when Corey was arrested in Mexico he possessed scores of false identifications, including one identifying him as a “special agent” of the CIA.
Corey admitted in his plea agreement that he defrauded more than 10 victims in this second scheme and caused losses of at least $3.5 million.
In addition to the 108 month prison sentence, United States District Judge Edward M. Chen ordered Corey to pay restitution. The sentence also included a three year period of supervision following Corey’s release from prison. Corey was in custody at the sentencing hearing and begins serving his sentence immediately.
Mohit Gourisaria is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Maddi Wachs, Maribel Gallegos, and Kay Konopaske. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Serial Child Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal judge sentenced a Texas man today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for child exploitation offenses involving an 11-year-old, including sex trafficking, production and possession of child pornography, and committing a felony involving a minor while registered as a sex offender.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Martin Renteria, 52, of Midland, who had committed similar crimes in the past, enticed an 11-year-old into engaging in sexual acts on multiple occasions. Renteria purchased expensive gifts for the child in exchange for the sexual acts, and at least one occasion, he also recorded a video of one of the sexual acts.
“The successful prosecution of this serial child abuser demonstrates the Department of Justice’s unwavering commitment to targeting repeat and dangerous sexual offenders against children, however they commit their crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and hold accountable those who exploit children.”
“Today’s sentencing of Martin Renteria – a child predator who again inflicted serious pain and caused harm despite being an individual required to register as a sex offender – demonstrates our commitment to assist our local law enforcement partners to ensure serial predators are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas. “These types of crimes leave a wake of destruction and brokenness for both the child victims and their families. I wish to thank the attorneys with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice for their invaluable assistance in this case.”
On Nov. 10, 2021, a jury convicted Renteria of production of child pornography, sex trafficking of a child, possession of child pornography, and committing a new crime against a child while registered as a sex offender.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Midland Police Department investigated the case, with computer forensics assistance from the Justice Department’s High Technology Investigative Unit.
Trial Attorneys Alicia A. Bove and Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica L. Daniels of the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Scott Township Man Convicted of Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - After deliberating six hours, a federal jury found James France guilty of one count of distribution or possession with the intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
James France, age 60, formerly of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, was tried before Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on June 29, 2016, France sold approximately 55 grams of pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant. At the trial, the government also presented evidence that France, who is a former corporate lawyer, obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from California, shipped the methamphetamine to the Pittsburgh area concealed in teddy bears and candles, and then re-distributed the methamphetamine. The Scott Township Police Department executed a search warrant at France’s residence on Bower Hill Road on July 29, 2016, that led to the recovery of more than 330 grams of pure methamphetamine, more than $8,000 in cash, and other evidence of France’s involvement in large-scale methamphetamine trafficking.
France was acquitted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. France was also acquitted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine both on or about July 29, 2016.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for a date to be determined The law provides for a total sentence of not less than ten years in prison and up to life, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Scott Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of France.
Saratoga County Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Porrazzo, a/k/a “lickndipinu,” age 52, of Stillwater, New York, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Porrazzo admitted that on June 2, 2016, he possessed approximately 2,682 images and 43 videos of child pornography on two laptop computers, and that the child pornography he possessed included depictions of children under age 12 being sexually abused.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will begin after Porrazzo is released from prison. Porrazzo will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
San Jose Man and Fairfield Woman Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine in Solano CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Esteban Gerardo Ramirez, 31, of San Jose, and Marsha Garma Phillips, 45, of Fairfield, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and related methamphetamine trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Sept. 13, 2021, and March 8, 2022, Phillips sold over 5 pounds of methamphetamine to an FBI confidential source. Surveillance and further investigation revealed Phillips was supplied by Ramirez, whom she would meet in a parking lot in Fremont to pick up methamphetamine, before returning to Fairfield to sell it.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Fairfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Salem Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Brian Perez, 31, of Salem, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 11, 2021, agents opened a suspicious package sent via UPS from the greater Los Angeles, California area to an apartment at an address in Salem. The box contained over two kilograms of methamphetamine. Additional shipping records revealed that since April 10, 2021, this was the ninth package sent from the Los Angeles area to the same address in Salem.
On May 19, 2021, investigators intercepted another suspicious UPS package destined for the Salem address. After obtaining a search warrant, they discovered over 2.2 kilograms of 100 percent pure methamphetamine. The contents were replaced with an innocuous filler and an undercover officer delivered the package to the front foyer of the Salem address. Later that day agents observed a van arrive at the Salem address. Perez entered the foyer and examined the package. Perez then left the foyer and entered the van. Investigators detained Perez and his passenger and observed the package in the van. Perez had a receipt for parcel that was sent to Miami Beach. The parcel was located and searched pursuant to a warrant. Inside the package were orange pills containing approximately 363 grams of methamphetamine.
Perez previously pleaded guilty on December 6, 2021.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is causing increasing harm in communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “When methamphetamine is distributed in counterfeit pills it creates an even greater risk to public health and safety. We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify methamphetamine traffickers in the Granite State and hold them responsible for their unlawful conduct.”
“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Perez accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those who attempt to ship this poison to the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Hampshire State Police, and Salem Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
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Salem Area Drug Trafficker and Ghost Gun Manufacturer Indicted in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment today charging a Salem, Oregon man for distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and operating the largest known privately made firearm or “ghost gun” manufacturing workshop in Oregon from the basement of his home.
Tyler Ray Harnden, 29, a Salem resident, has been charged with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, distribution of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on February 16, 2022, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and detectives from the Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section and Strategic Investigations Unit executed a federal search warrant on Harnden’s Salem residence. During their search, investigators discovered a large ghost gun manufacturing operation containing dozens of homemade firearm components and firearms in various stages of completion. Investigators also found and seized two pistols, three completed ghost guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 15 loaded high-capacity magazines, three drill presses and other assorted firearm manufacturing equipment, and approximately 200 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
Following his arrest, agents discovered additional evidence that Harnden had allegedly been paying people to conduct illegal straw purchases of firearms for him. Harnden would also use people with substance use disorders to purchase firearms for him in exchange for counterfeit oxycodone pills manufactured with fentanyl. Agents also learned that Harnden was storing firearms at a relative’s house and had tried to convince the relative to sell some of his firearms to generate money for his jail spending account. On March 15, 2022, ATF agents and Salem SIU detectives obtained and executed a federal search warrant on the relative’s house and seized four gun safes and 63 additional firearms belonging to Harnden.
Harnden is in state custody on a supervised release violation and will be arraigned on his federal indictment at a later date. If convicted, Harnden faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ghost guns are homemade firearms without serial numbers assembled from kits or materials sold without background checks, making them easily acquired by criminals who otherwise would not be permitted to possess a firearm and nearly impossible for law enforcement to track. In May 2021, the Justice Department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would update the definition of “firearm” and related parts for the first time since 1968. This updated definition would close a regulatory loophole associated with un-serialized, privately-made firearms increasingly being recovered at crime scenes across the country.
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.
Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force Ministerial Joint StatementRead the Press Release
Following the launch meeting of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force, the members from participating countries released the following joint statement:
“We, the undersigned Finance, Justice, Home Affairs, and Trade Ministers and European Commissioners, jointly commit to prioritizing our resources and working together to take all available legal steps to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of those individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia’s premeditated, unjust, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the continuing aggression of the Russian regime.
“Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine represents a further assault on the fundamental norms and laws, including the UN charter, that underpin the international order. By working together to hunt down the assets of key Russian elites and proxies and to act against their enablers and facilitators, we take a further step to isolate them from the international financial system and impose consequences for their actions, and we encourage other countries to also take up this critical effort.
“The Task Force that we have launched today demonstrates our unwavering support for Ukraine and our collective resolve and joint commitment to holding accountable those who have complicity in Russia’s unjust war. We are determined to deny them the ability to hide and benefit from their assets in all jurisdictions, and to undermine the integrity of the international financial system.”
- Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment, Australia
- Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Canada
- Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, European Commission
- Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
- Bruno Le Maire, Minister for Economy, Finance and Recovery, France
- Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice, France
- Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance, Germany
- Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany
- Marta Cartabia, Minister of Justice, Italy
- Daniele Franco, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy
- Ninoyu Satoshi, Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission, Japan
- Furukawa Yoshihisa, Minister of Justice, Japan
- Suzuki Shunichi, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services, Japan
- Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, United Kingdom
- Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom
- Janet L. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, United States
- Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, United States
Robertsdale Man Sentenced in Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Robertsdale man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Joshua John Soudelier, 42, was arrested during a traffic stop by Foley Police Department officers on December 15, 2020 for not having a court-ordered ignition interlock device installed on his car. While taking him into custody, officers asked Soudelier if he had anything in the car that he was not supposed to have. Soudelier admitted that he had a gun—a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol—which officers found wedged between the driver’s seat and center console of the car. Soudelier was previously convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles, California. His prior felony conviction rendered his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.
United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Soudelier to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Soudelier to pay $100 in special assessments.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Prezioso named Civil ChiefRead the Press Release
William Ihlenfeld and Chris PreziosoWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Prezioso has been selected to lead the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for West Virginia’s Northern District.
U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced today that Prezioso will serve as Civil Chief for the office, overseeing a team of attorneys who defend federal agencies when sued in court, prosecute civil enforcement matters, and collect debts owed to the United States.
“Chris is a highly skilled lawyer with nearly two decades of legal experience, including 15 years in the private sector,” said Ihlenfeld. “He has been a major contributor to the office, especially in his role as the health care fraud coordinator. I’m excited for him to take the reins of the civil division.”
Since joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2018, Prezioso has acted as lead counsel in a wide variety of civil matters, handling Federal Tort Claims Act and employment discrimination cases, as well as the affirmative civil enforcement cases.
Prezioso is a lifelong resident of West Virginia and has practiced law throughout the state. Before joining the United States Attorney’s Office, he worked at Dinsmore in its civil litigation practice group. Prezioso is a 2003 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law and lives in Wheeling with his family.
Portland Police Bureau Officer to Receive Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The Justice Department announced today that a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officer has been selected to receive the Attorney’s General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.
Officer Kristen Schmidt, of PPB’s North Precinct, is one of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies receiving the award from 12 jurisdictions across the country. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta today.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” the Attorney General said. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
“On behalf of everyone at the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in Oregon, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Officer Kristen Schmidt on her receiving this most distinguished commendation,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug. “The compassion and care she showed in one valued community member’s time of greatest need was exceptional and will serve as a model for officers and deputies throughout the state. We are very grateful for the person and officer Kristen Schmidt is and thank her for her exemplary service.”
Officer Schmidt is being recognized for her work on PPB’s Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team. Recently, she responded to a call from the Oregon Humane Society where a woman trying to recover her cats from a shelter had become belligerent. Responding officers did not know the woman was experiencing an extended period of psychosis and that the sudden appearance of several uniformed officers as well as an ambulance would exacerbate the woman’s condition.
To calm the situation, Officer Schmidt sat with the woman and calmly explained the need for her to go to the hospital. When the woman refused to sit on a gurney and enter an ambulance, Officer Schmidt drove the woman to the hospital herself. The woman later reported that she and Officer Schmidt talked while driving to the hospital and that Officer Schmidt treated her with “dignity and respect and looked for ways to connect.” Officer Schmidt kept in close contact with the woman during her three-week hospitalization, picked the woman up when she was released from the hospital, and drove her to retrieve her dog from the shelter.
One year later, the woman met Officer Schmidt at PPB’s North Precinct to express her gratitude and share how differently she felt the day of her hospitalization could have gone had it not been Officer Schmidt who responded. The woman described Officer Schmidt as a powerful role model for sensitive and compassionate police work for people in vulnerable situations.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
For more information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Pennsylvania man admits to sex offender registry violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Edward Hunker, of East Berlin, Pennsylvania, has admitted to a sex offender registry violation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Hunker, 40, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration.” Hunker, who is required to register as a sex offender, failed to update is registration when he traveled from out-of-state to stay in Preston County from May to August of 2020.
Hunker faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Pender County Narcotics Trafficker Receives 14+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Elmer “E.J.” Holmes, Jr., 38, of Pender County, was sentenced to 175 months in prison for (1) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of Cocaine and 100 grams or more of Heroin and (2) Distribution of a quantity of Heroin and Cocaine and aiding and abetting another.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, law enforcement was able to determine that E.J. Holmes received large amounts of narcotics at the Pender County home of his cousin Johnny Holmes in 2019. E.J. would leave drugs for Johnny to distribute and have the remainder transported to another location. Between April and September 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms conducted several controlled purchases from Johnny Holmes of ounce amounts of heroin and cocaine in Pender County. On April 29, 2019, following a controlled purchase of cocaine and heroin from Johnny Holmes’ house, a Highway Patrol Officer conducted a traffic stop on a car being driven by E.J. with Johnny as a passenger. The officer found the buy money from the earlier controlled purchase.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement uncovered that E.J. Holmes was responsible for distributing more than 3 kilograms of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin from December 2018 until the time of his arrest. Following his federal arrest on these charges E.J. tried unsuccessfully to have Johnny Holmes write a letter to law enforcement saying that E.J. was not involved in the drug trafficking organization.
EJ Holmes had two prior federal convictions at the time of his arrest on these charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2004) which he received a 21 month active sentence, and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 grams of Cocaine (2006) in which he received an active sentence of 76 months in prison.
Johnny Holmes received a sentence of 56 months in federal prison for distributing heroin and cocaine.
This is part of operation “Ahab’s Harpoon” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Pender, New Hanover, Onslow, and Duplin County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Jacksonville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-cr-00191-FL.
Pablo meth dealer sentenced to more than six years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA —A Pablo man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and heroin in the Lake County community was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Keith Charles Baylor, 35, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in May 2021, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Flathead Tribal Police officers were on routine patrol when they made a traffic stop of Baylor when he failed to signal. Officers determined that Baylor was on state probation, which had a pick-up order for him, and also had an active tribal arrest warrant. Baylor was arrested and during a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found gram quantities of meth and heroin along with drug paraphernalia. A search of a cell phone found in the vehicle indicated that Baylor was involved in drug distribution. Baylor told officers he had made several trips to Spokane to transport drugs and had been working with larger drug dealers in Billings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead Tribal Police and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Oklahoma City Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing a Child and Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment today charging an Oklahoma City man for sexually abusing a child, capturing the abuse on video, and sharing the video online.
Jeremy L. Peterson, 42, has been charged with production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a video depicting child sexual abuse. The video was discovered during a review of evidence seized by HSI agents in a separate case in Iowa.
Agents reviewed the digital video file and determined it was created in a residential apartment complex in Eugene. The agents further identified several distinctive physical characteristics of the abuser in the video, including a scorpion tattoo on the man’s chest. In the video, the minor victim repeatedly asks the man to stop the abuse. Despite these requests, the man continued to abuse the victim.
HSI agents surveilled the apartment complex and interviewed its property manager. They obtained rental documents from a unit in the complex where they believed the abuse video was created and found the name of another adult and child listed as members of the household. The agents then interviewed the principal of a nearby elementary school who positively identified the child from a screen capture taken from the abuse video. The principal checked school records and confirmed that the child’s address matched the apartment in question.
On February 24, 2022, investigators searched the apartment and identified furniture, carpeting, and bed sheets consistent with those appearing in the abuse video. They then found photos of Peterson on Facebook and observed that his likeness matched that of the abuser depicted in the video. Upon searching Peterson’s criminal history records, agents obtained a booking photo from a 2011 arrest in Nebraska that showed Peterson had a scorpion tattoo like the one observed in the video.
On February 28, 2022, Peterson was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court in the Western District of Oklahoma, pleaded not guilty, and was detained pending transfer to Oregon. On Tuesday, March 15, he made his first appearance in the District of Oregon, where he ordered detained pending further court proceedings. He will be arraigned on today’s indictment on April 13, 2022.
If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum, a $250,000 fine, and a life term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Oklahoma, with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by William McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the NCMEC’s website at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ohio man sentenced for drug distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Tyler Oliver, of St. Louisville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 37 months of incarceration for a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Oliver, age 36, pleaded guilty in October 2019 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 3,4-Dichloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino) cyclohexyl]-Nmethylbenzamide (“U47700”).” Oliver admitted to working with another to distribute “U47700,” a synthetic opioid, from June 2016 to December 2016 in Ohio County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated.
U.S. District Judge James Preston Bailey presided.
Ohio Man Convicted of Kidnapping and Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. - A Portsmouth, Ohio, man was convicted on Wednesday, by a federal jury in Ashland, of kidnapping and sexual assault.
After an hour of deliberations, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 53-year-old Charles Glorioso, 53, of one count of kidnapping and one count of sexual assault.
According to the testimony at trial, on July 10, 2020, and the early hours of July 11, 2020, Charles Glorioso and Nathan Welch kidnapped a woman at knifepoint. The victim was driving the two men in her vehicle, from Portsmouth, into Greenup County, Kentucky. There, the victim testified, both men physically and sexually assaulted her, until she was allowed to leave, when she traveled back across the river on foot. The incident was reported to the police and she was transported to the hospital, for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the assault. Later, where the assault took place in Greenup County, officers located the victim’s abandoned vehicle, her belt, shoe, and sandal, as well as the knife used during the kidnapping, all in or near the vehicle.
Welch and Glorioso were both indicted in January 2021. Welch was convicted by a federal jury in December 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville Division; Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Debby Brewer, Portsmouth Police Department, jointly announced the verdict.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos.
Glorioso is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2022, and Welch is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2022. They each face a maximum of life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Non-Citizen Charged with Failure to Depart to the Dominican RepublicRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonathan Pena-Charles, age 30, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on two counts of failure to depart.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Pena-Charles is a removable alien who has a final order of removal issued by an Immigration Judge. Pena-Charles is alleged to have knowingly taken steps to prevent his own removal from the United States by (1) failing to participate in an interview with his home country of the Dominican Republic, (2) failing to execute documents necessary to permit travel, and (3) failing to submit to a COVID-19 test which is necessary for air travel.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.
Pena-Charles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty in Staged Automobile Collision SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that LATRELL JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 30, of New Orleans, pled guilty on March 16, 2022, to count one (1) of her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss two counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2. In pleading guilty to count 1, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 31.
According to court documents, JOHNSON falsely claimed that she was a passenger in a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. In fact, the defendant conspired with Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), and others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans. After the intentional collision, JOHNSON filed a fraudulent lawsuit claiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault and lied in a deposition. This scheme caused the insurance company for the tractor-trailer to pay over $140,000.00 in settlement funds for the May 11, 2017 collision. The Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing in this matter for July 13, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni; Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.
New London Man Who Received Cocaine Mailed from Puerto Rico is SentencedRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAUL ROBLES, 38, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Robles and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ residence on Blackhall Street in New London, which he shared with his cousin, Abraham Rosado, had received approximately 25 parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to the Blackhall Street residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at the residence revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Robles was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 9, 2021. On September 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Robles, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on April 28.
Rosado pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022, and is detained while awaiting sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
Nevada Woman Pleads Guilty to Hiring Hitman on Dark Web to Kill Ex-HusbandRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kristy Lynn Felkins, 37, of Fallon, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Felkins admitted that she sent 12 bitcoin (valued at approximately $5,000 at the time) to a dark web hitman website, known as Besa Mafia, to have her ex-husband murdered. From February to May 2016, Felkins regularly communicated with the administrator of the site to pay and arrange for the murder of her ex-husband. Felkins gave the administrator the specific location of her husband in an attempt to have him murdered.
Besa Mafia operated as a “hidden service” on the Tor network, which is an anonymizing internet service that is known informally as the “dark web.” The Besa Mafia website was in fact a scam, and Felkins was not refunded the bitcoin she sent to the site, which is no longer in operation.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as part of the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, consisting of agents from HSI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a joint, federal task force focused on targeting all forms of dark web and cryptocurrency criminal activity in the Eastern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
Felkins is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 16, 2022. Felkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Nampa Man Sentenced for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Nampa man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
According to court records, on May 19, 2021, during an Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole search, Daniel Vega, 44, of Nampa, was found in possession of a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. At the time of the search, Vega was on probation because of a 2017 felony conviction and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
Vega is a documented gang member with a lengthy criminal history, including two convictions for felony domestic battery.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye also ordered Vega to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Vega pleaded guilty to the federal firearms charges on December 1, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, and the Nampa Police Department, which led to charges.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Michigan man was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Oji Williams, 42, of Ann Arbor, admitted that on August 1, 2020, law enforcement officers seized over 200 grams of fentanyl from behind the glovebox of a vehicle in which he was a passenger, after conducting a traffic stop in Charleston. Williams admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the fentanyl. Law enforcement officers also seized two firearms from Williams’ home after he was arrested.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00025.
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Mexican national pleads guilty to illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Elizabeth Talamantes, 39, pleaded guilty on March 16 in federal court to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Talamantes will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Talamantes on Aug. 25, 2020. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Talamantes, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States on Sept. 18, 2017. She was found present in Albuquerque on July 28, 2020, and admitted that she knowingly reentered the United States illegally.
On Aug. 4, 2020, while executing a search warrant on Talamantes’ residence, law enforcement found Suboxone strips, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, two Glock handguns, a bag of ammunition, and 89 Clonazepam pills (50 grams). Talamantes admitted to possessing the narcotics with intent to distribute and that she possessed the firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
During the search of the residence, law enforcement also found 11 large glass jars and one large plastic bag of marijuana with a gross weight of 8,015.1 grams. Talamantes’ son, Ricardo Barron, 24, of Albuquerque, who lived at the residence with his mother, pleaded guilty on Feb 17 to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Barron is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25. He faces up to five years in prison.
Talamantes faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, and has consented to removal from the United States upon completion of her sentence.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 7 ½-Year Prison Term for Attacks on Motorists over Three-Day PeriodRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adrian Proctor, 23, of Fort Washington, Md., has been sentenced to a 7 ½-year prison term for carjacking and other charges stemming from a pair of crimes that took place over a three-day period, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Proctor pleaded guilty in October 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to carjacking, attempted robbery and a felon-in possession firearms offense. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed upon 7 ½-year prison term. Yesterday, the Honorable James A. Crowell IV approved the agreement and sentenced Proctor accordingly. Judge Crowell denied the defense request for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. Following his prison term, Proctor will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 19, 2020, at approximately 6:45 a.m., Proctor was in a car that rammed into an Audi in the 1400 block of P Street NW. Both the victim and Proctor got out of their vehicles, and Proctor, who was armed with a firearm, demanded the victim’s car keys. He then got into the victim’s car and fled westbound on P Street NW.
In a second incident, on June 22, 2020, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Proctor was in a vehicle that double-parked next to a Chevrolet Camaro in the 2900 block of V Street NE. The victim was in the Camaro, attempting to take a nap. Proctor reached inside, unlocked the door, and attempted to pull the victim out of the driver’s seat. The victim complained and screamed to people nearby to call the police. The victim took the key out of the ignition and ran. Proctor unsuccessfully attempted to start the vehicle with another key that was left inside. He then fled with a backpack and portable speaker that he took from the car, but he was arrested afterward by the Metropolitan Police Department and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Vivien Cockburn, Special Agents Geoffrey Guska, Mark Crawford, and Nelson Rhone, all of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit, and Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin M. DeRiso, Sarah Folse, and Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.