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21 April 2022
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Re'Shaun Lamonte Wilborne, 36, admitted he possessed a Jimenez Arms, model JA NINE, 9mm caliber handgun found by Charleston Police officers when they arrested him on July 20, 2021, for an active state warrant.
Wilborne knew he has prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his January 2004 conviction in Fayette County Circuit Court for second-degree sexual assault and his August 2017 conviction in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Wilborne is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department for conducting the investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting 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-162.
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California Men Sentenced to More Than Six Years for International Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced T’Andre McNeely (Los Angeles, CA) and Michael Carr (Los Angeles, CA) each to six years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy relating to their participation in a large-scale international tax fraud scheme. Both Carr and McNeely had pleaded guilty on December 28, 2021. A third conspirator, Brandon Williams, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on March 29, 2022. His sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2022.
According to court documents, from Summer 2014 through approximately Spring 2018, Carr, McNeely, and Brandon Williams operated a scheme to defraud the United States government of more than $17 million through the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns in the names of hundreds of identity theft victims. The conspirators used sophisticated cyber means to obtain the personal data used to file the tax returns. Conspirators—including individuals located in Nigeria and Vietnam—then prepared and filed the returns quickly and in large batches. The tax returns were filed from real CPA firms across the United States, all of whom had been hacked.
Carr and McNeely were hired by a Nigeria-based conspirator to collect the proceeds of the tax fraud and send those proceeds to him in Nigeria. Carr and McNeely opened bank accounts, obtained prepaid debit cards, and provided addresses to which tax fraud proceeds could be deposited or mailed. Cards and accounts that McNeely and Carr obtained were used on thousands of false and fraudulent tax returns claiming in excess of $17 million in refunds, to which the conspirators were not entitled.
“Tax fraud is not a victimless crime, and is in fact a crime against the American people. The defendants conspired with foreign nationals to steal the identities of U.S. taxpayers, using cyber tools to breach accounting firms’ security protocols, all for the purpose of lining their pockets with ill-gotten gains” said Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. “Let this case serve as notice to criminals domestic and foreign, that our investigators are some of the best in the business, and they’re committed to protecting this country and the American public from identity theft and financial fraud.”
This case was investigated by the Tampa and Oakland Field Offices the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Tampa Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special assistance was provided by the Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles Field Offices of the IRS-CI, and the Tampa Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
Cabell County Woman Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Cabell County woman was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kassie McNeeley, 22, of Lesage, delivered a package of methamphetamine for Myreo Dixon to an individual in an apartment on Crestmont Drive in Charleston on January 9, 2021. Dixon had directed McNeeley to deliver the package and collect $31,500 as payment for the methamphetamine. McNeeley utilized her cell phone to maintain contact with Dixon throughout the drug deal by texting him multiple times. When McNeeley left the apartment in her vehicle, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop and seized the $31,500 in drug proceeds.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman prosecuted the case.
This case is part of a long-term investigation, dubbed the “Woo Boyz,” which resulted in federal charges against 15 individuals and was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the law enforcement agencies for conducting the investigation.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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-00032.
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Berkeley Duo Charged with Conspiracy to Sell and Sales of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the TenderloinRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – David Ordonez and Juan Carlos Hernandez-Ordonez appeared in United States District Court today to face federal charges of conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and of distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. David Ordonez is also charged with distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
The federal criminal complaint unsealed today alleges that Ordonez, 19, and Hernandez-Ordonez, 18, repeatedly traveled from their shared apartment in Berkeley to the Tenderloin of San Francisco to sell narcotics in the open-air drug market of the 7th Street and Market Street area. The complaint charges the two Berkeley men with engaging together in a conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl in the Tenderloin from February 9 to March 29, 2022. The complaint specifically describes five narcotics sales during this time period to undercover San Francisco police officers. In each sale, either Ordonez or Hernandez-Ordonez sold fentanyl or methamphetamine, and sometimes both, to an undercover officer. In addition to the conspiracy charge, the complaint charges each man with specific narcotics sales. Ordonez is charged in the complaint with selling approximately 59 grams of fentanyl for $1,000 to an undercover officer in an alley near the area of 7th Street and Market Street on February 24, 2022. The complaint describes that Ordonez at the same time sold the undercover officer approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine for $200. The complaint next charges Ordonez with selling approximately 71 grams of methamphetamine for $500 to an undercover officer on March 10, 2022, in the same location and alleges that at the same sale he sold approximately 28 grams of fentanyl to the officer for $500. The complaint next charges Hernandez-Ordonez with selling approximately 59 grams of fentanyl for $1,000 to a different undercover officer on March 29, 2022. That alleged sale also occurred in the area of 7th Street and Market Street.
The four counts in the federal complaint each carry the same minimum and maximum criminal penalties. The complaint charges Ordonez and Hernandez-Ordonez with one count of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi). The complaint also charges Ordonez and Hernandez-Ordonez each with separate counts of distributing 40 or more grams of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi). The complaint lastly charges Ordonez with one count of distributing five or more grams of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii). The statutory penalty for each one of these counts is a minimum of five years of imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years of imprisonment, a maximum of a 5,000,000 fine, and a minimum of 4 years of supervision following release from prison with a maximum of life. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. As in any criminal case, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ordonez and Hernandez-Ordonez made their initial federal court appearances today before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson. The next court appearance for Ordonez is scheduled on April 22 for appointment of an attorney and to set a detention hearing. Hernandez-Ordonez is next scheduled for April 27 for a detention hearing. Both remain in custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Harding is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the San Francisco Police Department Narcotics Division.
Bakersfield Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Katerrin McCray, 25, of Bakersfield, was charged today by a federal grand jury with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 15, 2022, law enforcement officers attempted to stop a vehicle in which McCray was the passenger for traffic infractions in Bakersfield. The vehicle sped off and McCray discarded a loaded Glock Model 22 .40‑caliber handgun out the passenger window during the pursuit. Officers apprehended McCray and shortly afterwards located McCray’s handgun in the street where he discarded it, along with a high-capacity magazine and 21 rounds of 40-caliber ammunition. Because of his prior criminal convictions, including a 2017 conviction for being a felon in possession of firearm and a 2018 conviction for receiving known stolen property, McCray may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, McCray faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 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 charge is only an allegation; the defendant is 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.
Austin-Area Man Guilty of Federal Fraud and Money Laundering ViolationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Leander man has been found guilty of federal fraud and money laundering violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
James Clark Nix, 73, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting. The verdict was reached today following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented at trial, James Nix and his son, Bradley Nix, used their businesses, AMIG and NECO, to defraud victim investors of at least $6 million, under the false promise of small business investments and high interest returns of up to 10 percent. Once in possession of the fraudulent funds, James Nix used the money for various expenses such as luxury homes, hotels, and vehicles. During the investigation, investigators lawfully seized a Maserati and Land Rover that were tied to James Nix’s fraudulent conduct. The jury convicted James Nix on all counts - conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.
“This case represents our district’s continued efforts to root out and prosecute those persons who scam and victimize well-meaning investors. said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Although the case was complex and difficult to investigate and prosecute, our investigative partners and prosecution team rose to the occasion. The excellent investigation and prosecution provided ease to the jury to deliberate only an hour before finding the defendant guilty.”
“Under the guise of an established, professional tax business Mr. Nix solicited investments from individuals and secured their trust. In return, the investors found their 401(k) and bank accounts empty, and little hope in recovering their funds. The defendant’s Ponzi scheme stole a lifetime of financial resources from multiple victims, and turned them into lavish homes, cash and cars for his personal benefit,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to investigate financially devastating schemes and seek justice for victims of fraud.”
Nix was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 19, 2020. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Eastern District of Texas.
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Augusta Man Charged for Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced today that Derik Broox Wight, 41, of Augusta has been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 20, 2022, Wight entered the Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building in Augusta with a knife and attacked a security officer contracted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, at one point holding the knife near the officer’s throat. A second officer shot Wight who was then arrested and transported to the hospital for treatment of his wound.
If convicted of the charge, Wight faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both, followed by up to three years supervised release.
A charge in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Abingdon Man to Serve More Than 17 Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Ralph Allen Phillips, Jr., 62, was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials executed several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Phillips in early 2021. While executing a search warrant of Phillips’s residence, federal agents found approximately one pound of methamphetamine in his bedroom safe along with nearly $40,000 in cash, some of which bore the same serial numbers as cash used during the controlled purchases. Elsewhere, agents found a loaded 9 mm handgun, several thousand dollars in additional cash, and more methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
The investigation revealed that Phillips began selling multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia for approximately two-and-a-half years, and then escalated to trafficking over a pound of methamphetamine every two weeks.
As part of his plea agreement, Phillips is forfeiting a total of $44,550 in cash, the 9mm handgun and ammunition, as well as four motorcycles.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Jared Forget, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Division, made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Abingdon Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
2 defendants sentenced to prison for crimes connected to burying murder victims, narcotics traffickingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two local men were sentenced in federal court for their roles in crimes related to the 2018 murders of three victims and a related narcotics ring.
In September 2021, a federal grand jury charged five Columbus men with crimes related to the three murders. An alleged narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence allegedly resulted in the shooting death of another resident within that house. To cover up for this murder, it is alleged one defendant murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.
The indictment also charges defendants with crimes related to trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin.
In total, 13 individuals have been charged federally for their alleged involvement in either the murders, the cover-up of the murders, or the related narcotics conspiracy.
Lashawn Lee White, 47, was one of four defendants charged with crimes related to the alleged narcotics conspiracy. White possessed fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, Oxycodone, three pistols, one sawed-off shotgun and $20,000 in cash at his residence.
He was sentenced on April 19 to 12 years in prison.
Charles Koon, 52, was one of four other defendants charged in February 2021 for their alleged involvement with moving, dismembering, relocating and then burying the bodies of murder victims Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He was sentenced 63 months in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; James C. Harris III, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in the cases.
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20 April 2022
“Fedora Bandit” Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Bank Robberies and CarjackingRead the Press Release
Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal judge sentenced Daniel Wade Shaw, age 32, of Centennial, to 108 months in federal prison for holding up four banks and carjacking a woman.
The defendant admitted in a plea agreement to four counts of bank robbery and one count of carjacking between February 2, 2021, and April 2, 2021. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, the defendant robbed the Wells Fargo on West 52nd Avenue in Arvada wearing a fedora and mask on February 2, 2021. On February 12, 2021, the defendant entered the US Bank on West Bowles Avenue in Littleton, verbally demanding money. Out of fear, the victim teller complied with the demand. The defendant ran off. He was observed wearing a light tan fedora, a blue surgical mask, and a dark coat. A search of the area surrounding the bank located the tan fedora hat and blue surgical mask. The hat was later tested for DNA, and it matched a DNA profile from a swab obtained from the defendant.
According to the plea agreement, detectives executed search warrants during the investigation, and records obtained from Google showed the defendant’s phone at or near several other bank robberies, including the Wells Fargo Bank located at 6722 S. University Boulevard on March 22, 2021, and the 1st Bank at 10367 Federal Boulevard in Westminster on March 23, 2021, where he threatened to use a gun. Gmail records show the defendant at both scenes at the time of the robbery.
According to the plea agreement, on March 30, 2021, the defendant approached a woman who was filling up washer fluid in her vehicle. The defendant got into her car, pointed a handgun in her direction, cycled the slide, and motioned for the victim to step away. Out of fear, the victim complied. The defendant took the car and fled the area. Gmail records show the defendant’s phone near the scene at the time of the carjacking.
On April 4, 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies contacted Daniel Shaw outside his residence and arrested him on an active search warrant. A search of the residence and found items of evidence related to some of the bank robberies. They also found a stolen car that had been used in several robberies.
“This defendant left a trail of terrified victims, who were just doing their jobs and going about their daily lives. This lengthy sentence will not make those victims whole again, but it does send a clear message that we will prosecute criminals who rob innocent people of their peace of mind,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We appreciate our federal and state partners who work tirelessly to take repeat offenders off the streets.”
“Bank robbery is not a victimless crime. Bank personnel and customers can be traumatized, and of course, we all pay for the loss and the increased security measures,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael H. Schneider of the Denver FBI Field Office. “This defendant did not learn his lesson the first time, and today's sentence will hopefully provide him with more time in prison to reflect upon his criminal conduct.”
“Violent crimes are on the rise in the Denver metro area. Our investigators, crime lab, and all other supporting resources are crucial to not only prosecuting these suspects, but to also helping the victims of violent crime. While we celebrate the outcome of this case, we remain focused and relentless in our pursuit to bring more violent criminals to justice,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader.
U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico imposed a 108-month prison sentenced after a hearing in federal court on April 20, 2022.
Case 21-cr-00109 was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn. The charges were the result of an investigation by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Woman sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for second-degree murder and intentional child abuse for death of infantRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Sophia Zayas, 40, was sentenced in federal court on April 19 to 30 years in prison for charges relating to the 2007 death of her infant daughter. On Aug. 4, 2021, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on one count of second-degree murder, one count of intentional child abuse resulting in death, four counts of intentional abuse resulting in great bodily harm and two counts of intentional child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm.
On Feb. 19, 2014, her husband, Peter Zayas, 37, pleaded guilty to negligent child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. In his plea agreement, Peter Zayas admitted that between August 16, 2007, and Oct. 22, 2007, he permitted his infant to be in a situation that endangered her life knowing that there was a foreseeable risk that she would be physically harmed or killed by leaving her in the care of Sophia Zayas, knowing that she had a history of alcohol abuse. At the time of the offenses, Peter Zayas was a sergeant with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base. On Oct. 2, 2018, Peter Zayas was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The infant sustained fractures to her skull, ribs, and radius and ulna as a result of the abuse. Physicians testified that the child's injuries stemmed from multiple blunt force trauma that was the result of abusive behavior. The jury heard testimony that Sophia Zayas’s daughter died as the result of an axonal injury in her brain and that the injury was caused by a blow to the head. Additionally, the jury heard testimony that Sophia Zayas had a serious drinking problem, that she was the only steward for the infant on the day of her death, and that the baby suffered numerous abusive incidents in her short life.
Previously, Sophia Zayas pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2014, to negligent child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. However, in November of 2015, her counsel filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea, asserting that her plea was not knowing and voluntary following a change in the relevant child abuse law. The district court denied that motion on Feb. 8, 2017. On Sept. 27, 2018, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but successfully appealed the district court’s decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. On Feb. 6, 2020, the Tenth Circuit remanded the case back to the district court with instructions to vacate her guilty plea.
The FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo and Christopher S. McNair is prosecuting the case.
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Wise County Man Sentenced for Possession of Fentanyl, Guns Following Single-Vehicle CrashRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise County, Virginia man, who was found to be in possession of over 40 grams of fentanyl and a pair of firearms at the scene of a single-vehicle accident, was sentenced today in federal court to 195 months in federal prison.
Malcolm T’Rell Pinkston, 31, of Big Stone Gap, Va., pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of possession with the intent of distribute and attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, law enforcement arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Route 23 in Duffield, Virginia where they found Pinkston visibly impaired and handling a 9 mm pistol next to his crashed vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found 48 grams of fentanyl, a 5.56 caliber pistol, and several magazines and rounds of ammunition. Two Scott County Sheriff’s Deputies were taken to the hospital following fentanyl exposures from processing the evidence.
Pinkston was serving a term of supervised release at the time of his accident due to a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police made the announcement today.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Wisconsin Rapids Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Shamont Lindsey, 38, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Lindsey pleaded guilty to this charge on January 24, 2022.
An investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies in central Wisconsin determined that Lindsey distributed substantial amounts of methamphetamine in the Wisconsin Rapids area for a number of years. In May 2019, he was recorded by law enforcement delivering nearly 4 ounces of methamphetamine to a customer in Plover, Wisconsin. In August 2019, Lindsey was stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol as he returned to Wisconsin from the West Coast with 6 ½ pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a large PVC tube hidden in his car. Lindsey intended to distribute the methamphetamine in Wisconsin.
In sentencing Lindsey, Judge Conley said that 12 years was a reasonable and necessary sentence considering that Lindsey was a major drug trafficker in the Wisconsin Rapids area rather than engaging in lawful employment. Judge Conley noted that although Lindsey had previous criminal convictions, this would be the first meaningful prison term for his conduct. However, an aggravating factor considered by the court was Lindsey’s purposeful submission of false affidavits and information to the court when attempting to influence the court’s decision on pretrial motions raised by Lindsey who represented himself.
The charges against Lindsey were the result of an investigation conducted by the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Anderson and Chadwick Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Wisconsin Man Charged with Seeking to Intimidate and Interfere with Housing Rights Following Racially-Motivated IncidentsRead the Press Release
A federal criminal complaint was issued charging William A. McDonald, 54, of West Allis, Wisconsin, with using force and threatening to use force to injure, intimidate and interfere with the housing rights of multiple individuals because of their race, color or national origin. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin made the announcement.
According to a publicly filed complaint, law enforcement has been investigating a series of racially motivated incidents involving property damage and threats of bodily harm unless individuals move from West Allis. The complaint alleges that McDonald violated federal law with respect to one or more of these incidents.
The FBI’s Milwaukee Field Office and the West Allis Police Department are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Kovoor and Christopher Ladwig for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, in collaboration with Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney for the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wisconsin Man Charged with Seeking to Intimidate and Interfere with Housing Rights Following Racially-Motivated IncidentsRead the Press Release
A federal criminal complaint was issued charging William A. McDonald, 54, of West Allis, Wisconsin, with using force and threatening to use force to injure, intimidate and interfere with the housing rights of multiple individuals because of their race, color or national origin. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin made the announcement.
According to a publicly filed complaint, law enforcement has been investigating a series of racially motivated incidents involving property damage and threats of bodily harm unless individuals move from West Allis. The complaint alleges that McDonald violated federal law with respect to one or more of these incidents.
This case was investigated by the FBI Milwaukee Field Division and the West Allis Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Kovoor and Christopher Ladwig for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, in collaboration with Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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William Kelly Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison in Connection with the AnC Vermont EB-5 Project in the Northeast KingdomRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that William Kelly, 73, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and previously of Weston, Florida, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in United States District Court. Chief Judge Crawford also ordered a three-year term of supervised release and ordered Kelly to pay $8,338,600.77 in restitution. Today’s sentencing follows Kelly’s guilty plea in June 2021 to conspiring with co-defendants Ariel Quiros, Jong Weon (Alex) Choi, and William Stenger in a multi-year wire fraud scheme to defraud immigrant investors seeking green cards through the EB-5 program. He also pleaded guilty to concealing material facts in a matter within the jurisdiction of a federal agency, namely United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversaw the EB-5 program.
According to court records and proceedings, the AnC Vermont project was designed to raise $110 million from 220 immigrant investors in order to construct and operate a biotechnology facility in Newport, Vermont. EB-5 investors could qualify for permanent resident status (commonly known as a green card) by investing $500,000 in a commercial enterprise approved by USCIS and the Vermont Regional Center (VRC), which had the authority to approve and monitor EB-5 projects in Vermont. In order to obtain a green card, each investor needed to demonstrate to USCIS that his or her investment had created, or would create within a few years, ten jobs. From 2012 to 2016, approximately 169 investors invested approximately $85 million in the AnC Vermont project, in addition to paying approximately $8 million in “administrative fees.” Fundraising was never completed, and the AnC Vermont facility was never constructed.
When he pleaded guilty, Kelly admitted that he and his co-conspirators misled AnC Vermont investors about how investor funds would be used, about how many jobs would be created by the project, and about the timeline for this job creation. For example, Kelly and others knew that it was necessary to demonstrate a plan to create at least 2,200 jobs in order to obtain USCIS approval of the AnC Vermont project, and that USCIS approval and business revenues were both important to investors. The jobs report for the project was directly based on hiring and financial projections generated by Kelly, Choi, and Stenger to justify the job creation number required for EB-5 approval. Kelly knew that no one had assessed whether the purported financial projections in the project’s business plan were reasonable. Between 2012 and 2016, Kelly and his co-conspirators maintained the jobs numbers in spite of the fact that no one associated with the AnC Vermont project was making progress toward identifying customers for clean room rentals, acquiring commercially viable stem cell products, or developing the potential artificial organs.
Kelly also admitted that between March 2013 and October 2014, he helped Quiros and Stenger pay over $47 million in AnC Vermont investor money to Jay Construction Management (JCM), a Quiros-controlled entity that was designated as a pass-through corporation for approximately $52 million that was to be paid to a Korean company created and controlled by Choi. During this period, Kelly knew that Quiros forwarded less than $6 million from JCM to Choi’s company. Kelly knew that Quiros used approximately $21 million of the AnC Vermont investor funds sent to JCM to pay off a Raymond James loan that was used for expenses unrelated to the AnC Vermont project. In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy charge, Kelly admitted helping conceal from the VRC that Quiros had used the $21 million in AnC Vermont investor funds for purposes unrelated to the AnC Vermont project.
As part of his plea agreement, Kelly agreed to cooperate in the government’s ongoing matters related to this case. The plea agreement signed by Kelly and the government capped Kelly’s potential jail sentence at 36 months, so long as he abided by the terms of the agreement. In connection with Kelly’s sentencing proceeding, the government informed the Court that Kelly had abided by the agreement’s terms and would be called as a witness at any trial of Kelly’s co-defendants.
Co-defendant Quiros pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and concealment charges in August 2020 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2022. Co-defendant Stenger pleaded guilty to submitting false documents to the VRC and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution, on April 14, 2022. Co-defendant Choi remains at large.
Nikolas P. Kerest, United States Attorney, expresses his gratitude for the outstanding investigation assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, and for the assistance of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Office of International Affairs. The prosecutors handling the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cate and Paul Van de Graaf. William Kelly is represented by Robert Goldstein, Esq. and Mary Kehoe, Esq. Ariel Quiros is represented by Neil Taylor, Esq. and Robert Katims, Esq. William Stenger is represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq. and David Williams, Esq.
Virgin Islands Assistant United States Attorney Receives Prestigious Attorney General's AwardRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper has been awarded an Attorney General’s Award by the United States Department of Justice for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee. "The Annual Attorney General’s Awards recognize Department of Justice employees for their extraordinary contributions to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice," U.S. Attorney Shappert said. "AUSA Sleeper joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the fall of 2019 and currently serves as the Appellate Chief for the office. In addition to his responsibilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, AUSA Sleeper supports our colleagues in the Eastern District of Oklahoma by handling appeals from that district as needed. He has also provided exceptional assistance to attorneys here in the Territory and across the United States."
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, AUSA Sleeper clerked for a federal judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and for U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez in the District of the Virgin Islands. He is a graduate of Cornell Law School and of Connecticut College.
More information regarding the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-vi.
Verona Man Indicted on Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. A resident of Verona, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating various federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Anthony Kenney, age 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Kenney is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fluorofentanyl and fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl on or about Jan. 4, 2022. Additionally, Kenney is alleged to have possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and Kenny is also alleged to have possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon on or about Jan. 4, 2022.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Upper Marlboro Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Heroin and Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Charles Benjamin Stewart, Jr., age 49, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on April 18, 2022, to eight years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine; for illegally transporting a firearm obtained out of state; and for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod A. Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans; St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from at least June 2016 through July 2017, Stewart conspired with Patrick Nathan Broxton, Stephen Eugene Clark, Jr., Stephen Michael Kinnison, Robert Eugene Davidson, and others to distribute heroin and cocaine in Calvert and Prince George’s County. Stewart obtained heroin from Broxton and then sold smaller quantities of heroin to Kinnison, Davidson, and others. Stewart also supplied cocaine to Kinnison and others for further distribution.
During the course of the conspiracy, Stewart regularly communicated with Broxton, Clark, Kinnison, Davidson, and others, both in person and via phone calls and text messaging, to arrange narcotics transactions. Between September 8, 2016 and February 10, 2017 law enforcement arranged controlled purchases of heroin from Stewart on four occasions, totaling 23 grams. Law enforcement also obtained court-authorized wiretaps for the cellular telephones used by Stewart, Broxton, Clark, Kinnison, and Davidson.
For example, between April 11 and 13, 2017, Stewart and Broxton communicated by telephone to arrange a heroin transaction at a convenience store in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Law enforcement conducted surveillance and saw Broxton meet Stewart at the convenience store, where Stewart bought 150 grams of heroin. Immediately following the meeting, Stewart returned to his residence and contacted one of his customers to see if the customer needed more heroin.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on three occasions between April 15 and May 6, 2017, Stewart purchased a total of more than 210 grams of cocaine from Clark. For example, on April 24, 2017, Stewart arranged by phone to purchase 4.5 ounces of cocaine from Clark for $4,000. Later that day, law enforcement surveilled the meeting at a fast-food restaurant in Prince George’s County, where Stewart and Clark completed the transaction.
On July 6, 2017, law enforcement executed search warrants at locations associated with the drug distribution conspiracy, including Stewart’s two residences in Upper Marlboro. From Stewart’s residences, law enforcement recovered, among other things, a total of approximately 138 grams of heroin; approximately three grams of cocaine, crack cocaine and procaine (a local anesthetic drug); a prescription pill bottle containing approximately 89 Oxycodone pills; approximately three grams of a white powdery substance consisting of cocaine, heroin, caffeine, and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine); approximately 15 grams of cocaine; a total of $40,235 in cash; and drug paraphernalia, including an electric grinder and digital scale, both with heroin and cocaine residue; two bottles of Mannitol powder (a cutting agent); and empty zip-lock baggies. Stewart admitted that he possessed the controlled substances, baggies, and grinder as part of his drug trafficking business and intended to distribute the drugs.
In addition, law enforcement officers also located and seized a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with nine rounds of ammunition and a spare magazine loaded with nine rounds of .40 caliber ammunition; a 9mm luger caliber semi-automatic pistol; a 12-gauge pump-action firearm; nine rounds of 9mm ammunition; approximately 21 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition; seven 12-gauge shotgun shells; and approximately $16,687 in cash. Stewart admitted that he possessed the firearms and ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking business. Further investigation revealed that the 12-gauge pump-action firearm and the .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol were both stolen. Stewart also admitted that, between January 24, 2014 and July 6, 2017, he caused the transportation of a Smith and Wesson model SD9VE, from outside Maryland to his residence, while he was on probation.
Co-defendants Patrick Nathan Broxton, age 50, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Stephen Eugene Clark, Jr., age 57, of Laurel, Maryland; Stephen Michael Kinnison, age 47, of Lusby, Maryland; and Robert Eugene Davidson, age 32, of Sunderland, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and were sentenced to between 19 months and 10 years in federal prison.
This case is 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. Project Safe Neighborhoods (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.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the ATF, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Engelking and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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United States District Court Appoints Randy S. Grossman to Serve as U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
Media Relations Director Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 or [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 20, 2022
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. District Court has appointed Randy S. Grossman to remain as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.
“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as the U.S. Attorney,” Grossman said. “I am grateful to the district judges for appointing me to serve in this special role, and I’m proud to work beside members of this talented office and our law enforcement community to protect our district and seek justice on behalf of the United States”
Grossman, who previously served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, began serving as Acting U.S. Attorney upon the resignation of former U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer on February 28, 2021. Attorney General Merrick Garland then appointed Grossman to be the interim U.S. Attorney, effective December 26, 2021, and Grossman was to serve in that role for 120 days. The United States District Judges in the Southern District of California have voted to appoint Grossman as U.S. Attorney until the appointment and qualification of a successor to the Southern District of California as provided by law. An order signed by the district court judges was entered on April 19, 2022, and Grossman’s appointment under that order becomes effective on April 25, 2022.
The Southern District of California encompasses San Diego and Imperial Counties. The U.S. Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement official for the district.
Grossman joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in March 2020. He served in the Border Enforcement Section and the Major Frauds & Public Corruption Section. He was selected to become First Assistant U.S. Attorney in September 2020.
Grossman began his legal career as a Deputy District Attorney for Ventura County and then San Diego County. During his more than eight years as a state prosecutor, Grossman tried more than 70 cases, including homicides and other crimes of violence. Grossman also worked in private practice as a partner at two international law firms. His practice areas included complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations and pro bono representation of refugees seeking asylum.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger Announces Launch of Anti-Hate Crime Initiative in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today his office’s participation in a first of its kind, anti-hate crime outreach program entitled United Against Hate, which seeks to directly connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division joined U.S. Attorney Sellinger, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly to announce their federal and state partnership on this new initiative. After they spoke to an audience of community leaders, civil rights advocates, and community members, subject matter experts from their offices engaged in a presentation and direct discussions with community leaders and advocates about taking steps to identify, report, and prevent hate crimes and incidents.
“Hate crimes and discrimination are antithetical to the core principles underlying our democracy,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “No one should ever be subject to acts of discrimination or hate because of where they are from, what they look like, whom they love, or how they worship. In response to a dramatic increase in hate crimes and hate incidents, we are launching the United Against Hate Initiative in New Jersey. Combatting hate crimes, hate incidents, and discrimination is core to our mission, and through dynamic outreach and prevention efforts, we are eager to take steps to combat hate beyond prosecution.”
“The U.S. Department of Justice continues to marshal all resources at its disposal to hold people who engage in unlawful, bias-motivated acts of hate accountable,” Assistant Attorney General Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Through United Against Hate, we are bringing together the Justice Department, local law enforcement, and community leaders to strengthen our overall efforts to combat hate crimes and prevent hate incidents. Our communities, schools, workplaces and homes are all safer when we stand unified in the fight against hate.”
“The ripple effect of hate crimes is felt hundreds, even thousands of miles away,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Reilly said. “People who identify with those victims see themselves and wonder ‘will it happen here?’ and ‘Will I be next?’ The Constitution of the United States grants us many freedoms. When any one of those freedoms – or any other constitutional right – is threatened or violated, we have to respond. And when I say ‘we,’ I’m not speaking just as a member of the FBI. I’m speaking as a member of the community. Because if we don’t respond, we risk the erosion of our very identity as a nation. That's why the FBI embarked on a hate crimes awareness campaign last year. We want people to call us if they have witnessed or been subjected to a hate crime.”
“The numbers are clear. Hate and bias are at an all-time high across our nation and in New Jersey,” Acting Attorney General Platkin said. “One of the strongest tools we have at our disposal is the collaboration between government and community stakeholders. That is why I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with federal and state partners who share the same commitment and urgency to stem the tide of hate.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey was chosen as one of three districts, out of 94 districts in the nation, to advance the United Against Hate outreach initiative. The U.S. Attorney’s Office plans to engage with communities across New Jersey to deepen connections with those communities, further hate crimes prevention efforts, and encourage more people to report hate crimes and hate incidents.
Last month, U.S. Attorney Sellinger announced the creation of a Civil Rights Division within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This new division, which enforces both civil and criminal civil rights laws, will engage with local community members, advocacy groups, and other federal and state agencies to protect civil rights. The division will lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts in implementing the United Against Hate initiative.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations through the https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or may call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Announces New Civil Rights TeamRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney Dena J. King announced today the formation of a new Civil Rights Team within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which will focus on prioritizing the enforcement of federal civil and criminal civil rights laws across Western North Carolina and enhance the Office’s presence in the community through increased education and community outreach efforts.
“Our role as federal prosecutors is to ensure that equal protection under the law is a reality for all people living in the Western District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The Civil Rights Team was established to prioritize the investigation of potential violations of civil rights statutes, ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are thoroughly investigated, and bring criminal charges and civil enforcement actions when warranted. Communities thrive only when fairness and equality are a reality for all people, and everyone can have equal opportunities, live free from hate, exercise the right to vote without fear, have access to equal justice, and enjoy all the protections guaranteed by federal law. When those fundamental principles are threatened or violated, it is our duty to act.”
The Civil Rights Team comprises federal prosecutors and staff from the Office’s Criminal and Civil Divisions in Charlotte and in Asheville. U.S. Attorney King has appointed a Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator to lead the Team’s efforts in investigating and prosecuting criminal civil rights violations, including hate crimes, color of law violations, and human trafficking cases. U.S. Attorney King also appointed a Civil Civil Rights Coordinator, who is tasked with prioritizing civil enforcement actions related to discrimination in housing, lending, employment, and education and the protection of voting rights and disability rights or access, among other areas. The team will continue to foster a strong relationship with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and coordinate with other Department of Justice components and federal agencies as needed.
In addition to enforcement efforts, the Civil Rights Team will enhance the District’s multi-prong approach to advancing the protection of civil rights by focusing on public awareness and increasing the Office’s presence in the community through engagement, to encourage reporting of potential civil rights violations to the appropriate offices, agencies or components. The Team will also enhance its prevention efforts by working with state and local agencies, law enforcement, community groups, advocates, stakeholders and public and private entities to conduct proactive training to educate stakeholders on their rights and obligations under the law.
“Putting the enforcement of civil rights at the forefront of our priorities brings us a step closer to our nation’s founding ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney King. “I’m looking forward to the work of our Civil Rights Team in this important area of the law and fulfilling the Justice Department’s responsibility of ensuring equal protection for all.”
Two More Defendants Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents to Defraud Insurance and Trucking CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that CHANDRIKA BROWN (“BROWN”), age 31, and AISHA THOMPSON (“THOMPSON"), age 44, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, were sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to documents filed in federal court, BROWN, along with her co-defendants, Doniesha Gibson (Gibson), of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Ishais Price (Price), of New Orleans, and a co-defendant driver conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident with a co-defendant driver on October 15, 2015. THOMPSON, along with her co-defendants, Dewayne Coleman, Erica Lee Thompson (“Erica Lee”), Donisha Lee, Passenger A, and another individual, conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident with the same co-defendant driver, occurring on September 6, 2017. Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-six (36).
BROWN claimed that on October 15, 2015, she was a passenger in a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned and driven by Gibson that was hit by a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510. Also in the vehicle was defendant Price. In truth, a co-defendant asked Gibson to recruit Brown and Price to ride along as passengers and he then sought out a commercial vehicle to intentionally hit. After the staged accident, the co-defendant driver switched seats with Gibson, and they called the N.O.P.D. Gibson, along with the passengers, falsely stated that the Hotard bus illegally changed lanes and caused the accident. Thereafter, BROWN, Gibson, Price, and the co-defendant driver each retained counsel and made demands against Hotard’s owner and insurer for personal injury damages. As a result of the claims, the insurer utilized the U.S. mails to send the settlement drafts to BROWN, Gibson, Price, and the co-defendant driver’s counsel. The total settlement for the Hotard bus accident was approximately $677,500.
Similarly, THOMPSON falsely claimed that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 near the Almonaster exit, she was a passenger in co-defendant Erica Lee’s 2015 RAV4 being driven by their former co-defendant, when he intentionally crashed into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express. After the staged accident, the driver exited the RAV4 and told Erica Lee to get behind the wheel of the RAV4 to make it appear that Erica Lee was driving the vehicle at the time of the staged accident. The defendants contacted the NOPD and falsely claimed that Erica Lee was the driver at the time of the collision. Passenger A falsely claimed to the NOPD that she was THOMPSON. Approximately one or two days after the staged accident, Coleman, Donisha Lee, Erica Lee, THOMPSON, and another individual went to an attorney’s office for the purpose of collecting money from the insurance and trucking company. THOMPSON and her co-defendants sought medical treatment from doctors and healthcare providers. THOMPSON was treated despite not being in the RAV4 at the time of the staged accident. THOMPSON retained counsel and made a claim for damages. The total settlement for the Averitt accident was $30,000. On March 26, 2019, Coleman, Donisha Lee, and another individual each provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. On April 9, 2019, THOMPSON provided false testimony in a deposition taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit. In these depositions, THOMPSON and her co-defendants lied about the September 6, 2017 accident including, but not limited to, who was driving the RAV4 and the extent of their injuries.
United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced BROWN to 3 years’ probation, 100 hours community service, restitution in the amount of $121,076.75, and a $100.00 special assessment fee. and THOMPSON to 18 months incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, restitution in the amount of $677,500.00, and a $100.00 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long.
Two Defendants Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Two men from the Shreveport/Bossier City area have been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. in separate cases on child pornography charges, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced.
Daniel Robert Bissell, 55, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 172 months (14 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography. Bissell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $33,000 to victims in the case.
Bissell pleaded guilty on December 6, 2021 to receipt of child pornography as the result of an investigation by the Special Victims Unit with the Louisiana State Police and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Investigators located a suspect IP address which was sharing numerous files of child pornography and obtained information from a cable provider identifying the customer to be Bissell. On July 30, 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Bissell’s residence and found him at the home. He admitted to using software to download to his computer and share files containing child sex abuse material. A forensic examination of Bissell’s computer hard drives revealed that he had approximately 365,523 images and 8,520 videos of child pornography, which included images of prepubescent minors who had not reached the age of 12 and of minors being bound with rope/straps around their ankles, wrists, and necks. The images and videos specifically depicted children under 12 years of age being sexually exploited.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Louisiana State Police, and the Bossier City Marshal’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.
In a separate case, Johnny Lee Henderson, Jr., 45, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced to 188 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Henderson pleaded guilty on December 13, 2021 to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
In March 2020, the mother of a 12-year-old female issued a complaint at the local police department in Kansas where the victim lived alleging that her minor daughter had been communicating with an adult male from Shreveport on social media and a cell phone. The mother claimed that her minor daughter and the adult male had exchanged sexually explicit video clips of each other and engaged in sexually explicit video chats. Detectives with the police department interviewed the minor daughter and she confirmed her mother’s allegations. The minor admitted that from January to March of 2020, she had been communicating with the adult male named “Chuck” Henderson. The communications included social media chat messages, phone conversations, text messages and video chats. The minor told detectives that when she and “Chuck” began communicating, she told him that she was 12 years old.
Detectives obtained search warrants for the social media accounts for “Chuck” and the minor female and examined phone records and logs. They discovered evidence of numerous sexually explicit video clips that were sent to “Chuck” as well as messages from him encouraging and enticing the minor female to produce and send them to him. Law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were able to determine that the phone number and social media accounts belonged to Henderson. The minor victim positively identified Henderson’s picture from his Facebook profile and his voice as the person she knew as “Chuck.” At the time of the offense, Henderson was a registered sex offender in Louisiana as the result of a conviction in 2006 for Sexual Molestation of a Juvenile.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Baldwin City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell.
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Two Defendants Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LEON HENRY, age 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, and JABAR GIBSON, age 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana, were sentenced on April 19, 2022 before the Honorable Jay C. Zainey on charges of violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the court records, HENRY and GIBSON conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. HENRY admitted to dispatching two couriers on trips between Baton Rouge and Houston with kilograms of heroin and cocaine.
Judge Zainey sentenced HENRY to 225 months and GIBSON to 188 months, respectively, in the federal Bureau of Prisons. Each also received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.
Two Clearfield County Men Plead Guilty in Operation Return to Sender Meth CaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Two residents of Penfield, Pennsylvania each pleaded guilty in federal court to violation federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
Terry Kelly, age 48, and Jason Whitaker, age 60, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. Kelly and Whitaker were two of 47 defendants charged in six related indictments as part of the Return to Sender investigation.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on April 21, 2021, investigators received information that couriers were transporting a large amount of methamphetamine from Houston, Texas to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Investigators obtained a search warrant and seized over ten kilograms of pure methamphetamine from a truck parked in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn located in Clearfield County. Investigators determined that the methamphetamine was destined for a residence shared by Kelly and Whitaker.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Whitaker on August 25, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. and Kelly on August 25, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that both defendants remain out on bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Lusty and Michael R. Ball are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Tulsa Man Convicted on Coercion and Enticement and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a 28-year-old Tulsa man Wednesday for enticing a girl between the ages of 15 and 17 years old and for possessing sexually explicit pictures and videos of the girl, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Alexander Nicholaus Sweet was found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor (count 1); production of child pornography (counts 2,5,6,7); receipt of child pornography (count 3); and possession of child pornography (count 4).
“Alexander Sweet targeted and groomed a vulnerable teenager struggling with the loss of two loved ones and a difficult childhood. This week, she showed tremendous courage when she faced him in a federal courtroom,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This predator thought he was above the law but has now been convicted and sits behind bars where he can no longer victimize another child.”
“There is nothing more disgraceful than a person who intentionally exploits a child’s vulnerabilities to ingratiate themselves and manipulate their decisions,” said Edward Gray, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City Field Office. “The FBI is, and will continue to be, determined in its efforts to ensure people like Mr. Sweet do not move forward with impunity.”
In December 2020, the FBI received numerous reports that Sweet was in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable 16 year old girl and was in possession of explicit photographs and videos of the girl that would be considered child pornography. Agents further reviewed posts made by Sweet across several social media platforms where he specifically discussed his sexual interest in female minors. For example, in one post, a Reddit poster asked, “What was sexy 10 years ago but isn’t now?” Sweet replied “My 22-year-old niece.” Per his post, Sweet implied that he thought his niece was sexier when she was 12 as opposed to 22.
Sweet initially reached out to the victim online when she was 15 years old after he saw a post she had made on social media indicating that she recently lost a family member. The teenager had recently lost two people she cared about within a month and told authorities she had felt very alone at that time. Sweet, who was aware of the victim’s age, groomed the minor on and off social media for several months until September 2020 when he initiated a “relationship” with the minor. The minor’s guardian opposed Sweet’s interest in the child and eventually applied for a protective order against him. Sweet threatened the guardian when she tried to keep him away from the girl.
Over the course of the grooming, Sweet coerced the victim into sending a significant number of sexually explicit photographs and videos to him using multiple platforms, including Google Meet and Google Hangouts. The victim indicated that most of the images were sent using her school laptop. Law enforcement discovered a Google photos folder and a Google Hangouts conversation associated with Sweet’s account that corroborated what the victim had told authorities.
After he realized that law enforcement was pursuing a case against him, agents learned that Sweet took the minor to Payne County to apply for a marriage license. The victim testified that Sweet incorrectly believed that if the two were married, she could not testify against him. The victim’s guardian contacted the courthouse and advised them that she did not provide consent. Sweet then took the minor to Arkansas to marry her without the guardian’s consent.
At that time, agents also learned that Sweet planned to leave the country with the minor. Sweet was arrested as he was leaving Tulsa driving a car with “Just Married” written across the back window. The victim was also in the vehicle, and her hair had been bleached. Inside the vehicle, agents found “doll clothing,” multiple electronic devices, over $1,000 in cash, United States passport applications for both Sweet and the minor victim, and a Polish citizenship application for Sweet. During a search of relevant accounts, authorities discovered multiple videos of Sweet engaged in sexual acts with the victim.
In court, the victim testified that Sweet regularly provided her alcohol and drugs during the period in which he groomed her. She also testified that she was working to get the fraudulent marriage annulled. Sweet, who at times represented himself during the trial asked the victim if she would be willing to get back together with him to which the victim replied “Under no circumstance.”
During the course of the investigation, several other victims came forward. Although, they were not part of the indictment filed against Sweet, they hope to be heard at sentencing.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Snow and Leah Paisner are prosecuting the case.
Three Sentenced to Prison in Nationwide Card Fraud, Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Nicholas Pilchak (619) 546-9709
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 20, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Three men were sentenced in federal court today for engaging in a years-long, nation-wide fraud conspiracy that stole victims’ financial information from ATMs and gas pumps in San Diego and across the country, and then used the stolen information to make fake credit and debit cards.
Davit Simonyan was sentenced to 46 months in prison, together with forfeiture of $642,347.16 and restitution of $116,408.00. His brother, Vahram Simonyan, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, forfeiture of $642,053.31, and identical restitution. Arsen Galstyan was sentenced to 18 months in prison and $47,796.00 in forfeiture and an identical restitution award, based on his conviction for fraud.
Including today’s defendants, a total of seven people have admitted to participating in the conspiracy, and in a related money laundering conspiracy, that together netted over $1 million in ill-gotten gains.
In sentencing the men, U.S. District Judge Michael M. Anello observed that “this was a huge criminal enterprise, nationwide.”
Throughout the scheme, the coconspirators stole unwitting victims’ credit and debit card information by using skimming devices installed in common points of sale such as gas pumps and ATMs. With the stolen information in hand, the conspirators made a host of unauthorized cards that they then used to buy postal money orders and make withdrawals from victims’ accounts. According to court documents, the fraud victimized consumers in New York, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and across Southern California, including in San Diego.
The defendants’ scheme inflicted both real and attempted losses of at least $1.2 million, according to their plea agreements. The two lead defendants—brothers Davit and Vahram Simonyan—each admitted to obtaining over $642,000 in stolen money over the course of the conspiracy, which stretched from 2017 to 2020. They also acknowledged structuring their withdrawals from the banks to avoid bank reporting requirements. For example, in one month alone, the Simonyan brothers withdrew $91,500 in cash from a single bank account.
Davit Simonyan also staged a phony car accident in order to commit insurance fraud, according to his plea agreement. He planned an accident involving cars insured by two of his codefendants, including Arsen Galstyan, who was also sentenced today. Then Simonyan had one of the damaged vehicles repaired at a collision shop owned by an unindicted co-conspirator who kicked back thousands of dollars to Simonyan and his brother as part of their money laundering scheme. Davit Simonyan admitted that by staging a car accident, he caused the reckless risk of serious bodily injury.
“Identity thieves may believe that they can make easy money by stealing from unwitting victims in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “But this office will ensure that those defrauding the public will be brought to justice.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their excellent work on this case.
“We are thankful to all those who partnered with us in the investigation and prosecution of this organized criminal network. The Secret Service, along with our collaborative law enforcement partners, continue to work tirelessly investigating this type of skimming case, which targets unsuspecting victims,” said San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Scott. “We will continue to use all investigative means necessary to bring to justice those perpetrating these crimes.”
“Today’s sentencing is an example of our commitment and dedication to protect the American public from becoming victimized and to prevent Postal Service products from criminal attack and misuse,” said Carroll Harris, Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Working with our law enforcement partners we seek to stop these criminals and hold them accountable for their actions.”
Other conspirators to face sentencing have all received prison time. On April 21, 2021, co-defendant Arsen Minasyan was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael M. Anello to 37 months in custody. He was ordered to forfeit $75,145.90 and to pay restitution to victims in the amount of $109,834.14. Judge Anello sentenced co-defendant Mukuch Mkrtchyan on October 14, 2021, to 24 months in prison, forfeiture of $28,077.11, and restitution of $116,070. Co-defendant Smbat Shahinyan was also sentenced to 24 months in prison and similar financial penalties on January 12, 2022.
The remaining defendant, Gor Plavchyan, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2022.
Anyone who believes that they may be a victim of this offense can visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s large case website for more information: www.justice.gov/largecases.
DEFENDANTS Age Case Number 20cr314-MMA
- Davit Simonyan 30 Residence: Glendale, California
- Vahram Simonyan 34 Residence: Glendale, California
- Arsen Minasyan 34 Residence: Terminal Island FCI
- Gor Plavchyan 26 Residence: Winnetka, California
- Arsen Galstyan 40 Residence: Glendale, California
- Mukuch Mkrtchyan 32 Residence: Fair Oaks, California
- Smbat Shahinyan 41 Residence: Glendale, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h) (Defendants 1 through 3 only)
Maximum Penalty: twenty years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved
Conspiracy to Possess Fifteen or More Unauthorized Access Devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(b)(2), 1029(a)(3), and 1029(c)(1)(A)(i) (Defendants 1 and 3–7 only)
Maximum Penalty: five years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss
AGENCY
United States Secret Service
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Three Men Charged with Federal Firearm Violations After Exchange of Gunfire in Suburban Chicago Parking LotRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Three men involved in an exchange of gunfire in a store parking lot in a Chicago suburb have been indicted on federal firearm violations.
The indictment in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses ANTHONY HAYES and JAMARI WILLIAMS of each firing multiple rounds at REGINALD DANIELS in the store parking lot in Calumet City, Ill., on Aug. 9, 2021. Daniels and another individual with him were wounded. Daniels drew a gun from his waistband and fired multiple rounds at Hayes and Williams as they ran away, the indictment states. One of Daniels’s shots struck an individual who happened to be driving near the store and was not involved in the exchange of gunfire, the indictment states.
Three days after the shootings, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Hayes’s residence and discovered eight firearms, including the handguns used by Hayes and Williams in the shooting of Daniels and the individual with him, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Hayes, 24, of Dolton, Ill., Williams, 23, of Chicago, and Daniels, 40, of Chicago, with illegal possession of a firearm as previously convicted felons. Hayes also faces additional counts of illegal possession of machine guns. All three defendants are in law enforcement custody. Daniels is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing today at 3:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. Federal court appearances for Hayes and Williams have not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Substantial assistance was provided by the Calumet City Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, South Suburban Emergency Response Team, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Three Men Charged in Conspiracy to Distribute Millions of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Patrick Silfrain (40, Winter Garden), aka “Prada,” “Haitian Pat,” Kevin Jean-Gilles (39, Orlando), aka “G,” “Cole,” “Darren Tai,” “Vincent DiPietro,” and Jean Kesnor Choisil (50, Ocoee) with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, at least 400 grams of fentanyl. If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to court documents, from at least May 2020 through April 2022, Silfrain, Jean-Gilles, and Choisil conspired to manufacture and distribute fentanyl-laced pills throughout the Middle District of Florida. The pills were manufactured using multiple pill presses that were owned and operated by the defendants and could each produce 5,000 pills per hour.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is the result of a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation titled “Operation Pillgrim.” This operation specifically targets counterfeit pill production in an effort to reduce fentanyl and other dangerous pills from flooding communities in central and southern Florida.
It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ranganath Manthripragada.
Tampa Accountant Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Plotting A Murder-For-HireRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida– U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced DeAnna Marie Stinson (50, Tampa) to six years and six months in federal prison for murder-for-hire. The Court also ordered Stinson to pay $11,403.22 in restitution to the victim of the offense and a $1,000 fine. Stinson had pleaded guilty on January 19, 2022.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2021, Stinson created an account on a dark web website (“The Website”) that purported to provide murder-for-hire services to its customers. The following day, Stinson submitted an “order” requesting that a hitman be assigned to complete a “quick hit in southern Florida” to kill the spouse of Stinson’s former significant other. In the order, Stinson provided the victim’s name, address, and a photograph of the victim. Between June and July 2021, Stinson sent four additional orders and over $12,000 in bitcoin to effectuate the hit. During this time, Stinson repeatedly messaged administrators of The Website and purported hitmen requesting that the “job” be completed as soon as possible and even offered a “bonus” if the hit was completed by a specific date. When Stinson had not received a status update from administrators of The Website, on July 31, 2021, Stinson requested that the administrators “reassign the job to someone who has a history of getting jobs done” because she “need[ed] th[e] job done ASAP.”
Law enforcement agents received information regarding Stinson’s criminal activity and obtained records from her virtual currency exchange account. The records showed that Stinson had paid Bitcoin to The Website. An agent contacted Stinson while acting in an undercover capacity as a hitman for The Website. In a recorded phone call, Stinson confirmed that she wanted the victim killed and agreed to send additional money to the undercover agent via Bitcoin so that the transaction could not be traced. On September 13, 2021, Stinson sent $350 in bitcoin to the undercover agent so that the agent could purchase a revolver to commit the murder.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Miami). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
Supervisor at Long Island Drug Manufacturer Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Medical ProductsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gregory Settino, a resident of Bethpage, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to a year and a day’s imprisonment for theft of approximately $750,000 worth of medical products. The Court also ordered Settino to pay restitution of $847,093.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ronne G. Malham, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office (FDA-OCI), announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence is the finish line of Gregory Settino’s criminal conduct. He stole thousands of bottles of drugs, ignored safe handling practices, and allowed them to be given to horses at New York racetracks without regard for the health of the animals – only focusing on his own personal gain,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Those who jeopardize drug safety and risk the health of others will be held accountable and face serious consequences.”
“The FDA ensures that veterinary drugs are safe and effective so that animals remain healthy. Drugs that are taken out of the legitimate supply chain pose a risk to the animals that take them,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Malham. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who endanger the health of animals.”
As admitted at defendant’s plea, Settino, the production supervisor of manufacturing at a Long Island Drug Manufacturer, American Regent formerly Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Shirley, New York, Settino stole Adequan, a drug manufactured there. Adequan is an injectable equine drug administered to horses to treat degenerative joint disease Settino’s thefts of thousands of bottles of Adequan covered a period of eight years, from 2012 to 2020, and Settino sold those drugs worth $750,000 for hundreds of thousands of dollars to trainers and veterinarians at New York racetracks, including Belmont Park. Settino’s conduct endangered the health of horses because the drugs were not maintained, stored or transported in accordance with proper procedures for ensuring the safety, effectiveness and efficacy of the drugs. At times, Settino transported the drugs in shoeboxes stored in his car.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant: GREGORY SETTINO
Age: 60
Bethpage, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-340 (JS)
Stericycle Agrees to Pay over $84 Million in Coordinated Foreign Bribery ResolutionRead the Press Release
Stericycle Inc. (Stericycle), an international waste management company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to pay more than $84 million to resolve parallel investigations by authorities in the United States and Brazil into the bribery of foreign officials in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
According to court documents, Stericycle entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice in connection with the filing of a criminal information charging the company with two counts of conspiracy to violate (1) the anti-bribery provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and (2) the FCPA’s books and records provision. Pursuant to the DPA, Stericycle’s criminal penalty is $52.5 million. The department has agreed to credit up to one-third of the criminal penalty against fines the company pays to authorities in Brazil in related proceedings, including an amount of approximately $9.3 million to resolve investigations by the Controladoria-Geral da União (CGU) and the Advocacia-Geral de União (Attorney General’s Office) in Brazil. In addition, Stericycle has agreed to pay approximately $28 million to resolve a parallel investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“Stericycle today accepted responsibility for its corrupt business practices in paying millions of dollars in bribes to foreign officials in multiple countries,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The company also maintained false books and records to conceal corrupt and improper payments made by its subsidiaries in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Today’s resolution demonstrates the Department of Justice’s continuing commitment to combating corruption and protecting the international marketplace.”
“Today’s resolution with Stericycle shows that the FBI and our international law enforcement partners will not allow corruption to permeate domestic or international markets,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The consequences of violating the FCPA are clear: Companies that bribe foreign officials for business advantage will be held accountable.”
According to the company’s admissions and court documents, Stericycle conspired to corruptly offer and pay approximately $10.5 million in bribes to foreign officials in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina in order to obtain and retain business and other advantages for Stericycle. The company earned at least $21.5 million in profits from the corrupt scheme.
Specifically, between 2011 and 2016, Stericycle caused hundreds of bribe payments to be made to officials at government agencies and instrumentalities in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina to obtain and retain business and to secure improper advantages in connection with providing waste management services. In perpetrating the scheme, an executive at Stericycle’s Latin America division directed employees in the company’s offices in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina who paid bribes, typically in cash, that were calculated as a percentage of the underlying contract payments owed to Stericycle from government customers. In all three countries, the co-conspirators tracked the bribe payments through spreadsheets and described the bribes through code words and euphemisms, such as “CP” or “commission payment” in Brazil; “IP” or “incentive payment” in Mexico; and “alfajores” (a popular cookie) or “IP” in Argentina.
As part of the DPA, Stericycle has agreed to continue to cooperate with the department in any ongoing or future criminal investigations relating to this conduct. In addition, under the DPA, Stericycle agreed to continue to enhance its compliance program and to retain an independent compliance monitor for two years, followed by self-reporting to the department for the remainder of the term.
The government reached this resolution with Stericycle based on a number of factors, including, among others, the company’s failure to voluntarily and timely disclose the conduct that triggered the investigation and the nature, seriousness, and pervasiveness of the offense. Stericycle received full credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation and engaged in extensive remedial measures. Although Stericycle has taken extensive remedial measures, it has not fully implemented or tested its enhanced compliance program, necessitating the imposition of an independent compliance monitor for a term of two years. Accordingly, the criminal penalty reflects a 25% reduction off the bottom of the applicable U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range.
In a related civil matter in the United States, Stericycle has agreed to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling approximately $28 million to resolve an investigation by the SEC. In related proceedings in Brazil, the company has agreed to resolve investigations by the CGU and the Attorney General’s Office.
The FBI’s New York Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Paul A. Hayden and Jil Simon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Authorities in Brazil and Mexico provided assistance in this matter, as did the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins on the First Circuit Ruling in U.S. V. Jasiel Correia IIRead the Press Release
“After six delays, today’s order from the First Circuit declares what so many have longed to hear in the case against former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia – he will begin his prison sentence in the coming days. Although we cannot erase the impact Jasiel Correia’s conduct and subsequent legal battle has had on the City and constituents he swore to honestly serve, this ruling marks the next step in bringing justice to the people of Fall River and the many others who fell victim to his corruption.”
St. Louis man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for series of armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge John A. Ross sentenced Jalon Moore, age 25, to 25 years in federal prison for several counts of armed robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence. Moore previously pleaded guilty in January.
According to the plea agreement, Moore and two co-defendants committed a string of armed robberies in 2019 within the Eastern District of Missouri. Each of the robberies involved a yellow Camaro (which was used as the getaway car), the brandishing of firearms, and the taking or attempted taking of money from local businesses, by the use of force, threatened force, or violence.
Moore and the others were responsible for robbing (or attempting to rob) the following businesses on the following dates:
- Mack Bar and Grill located at 4615 Macklind, St. Louis, Missouri on January 9, 2019;
- Jimmy John’s located at 6459 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri on February 9, 2019;
- Subway located at 1151 South Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri on February 17, 2019;
- Panda Express located at 4400 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 18, 2019; and
- Sprint located at 5441 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-St. Louis and the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois; the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield; and the Collinsville and Fairview Heights Police Departments.
Randolph County woman sentenced for methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Patricia Ann Mahoney, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 84 months of incarceration for methamphetamine charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Mahoney, 52, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of “Distribution of at Least Five Grams of Methamphetamine.” Mahoney admitted to selling at least five grams of methamphetamine in February 2020 in Randolph County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Prolific Fraudster Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 19, 2022, defendant Ramón Julbe-Rosa was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was ordered to pay $270,941.98 in restitution, by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
On January 27, 2022, Julbe-Rosa pleaded guilty to 12 counts including theft of government property and introducing unapproved new drugs into the United States. Ramón Julbe-Rosa defrauded the Social Security Administration and Medicare by receiving Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit payments while working.
Defendant Julbe-Rosa also committed fraud against the Department of Veterans Affairs for fraudulently receiving unemployability benefits, and fraud in connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits related to Hurricane María. Julbe-Rosa applied for an SBA Disaster Loan by falsely representing that on September 20, 2017, his primary residence, damaged by Hurricane María was located in Morovis, Puerto Rico when he well knew that this was not his primary residence. As a result, the defendant fraudulently received $50,000.00 from SBA.
In addition, Julbe-Rosa plead guilty to Introducing into Interstate Commerce Unapproved New Drugs. Defendant Julbe-Rosa established and operated the website www.aceitedeguanabana.com through which he promoted and sold various products intended as treatments for serious medical conditions without FDA approval. Defendant Julbe-Rosa sold at least $341,242.26 worth of unapproved new drugs.
Julbe-Rosa was ordered to make restitution as follows: $57,552.00 for the Social Security Administration; $118,943.94 for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; $47,002.10 for the Medicare Program and $47,443.94 for the Small Business Administration; for a total restitution amount of $270,941.98.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) with the collaboration of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA); Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG); Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG); and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa D. Bonano from the Social Security Administration prosecuted the case.
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Previously Removed Dominican Republic Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty yesterday in District Court before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr. to illegally reentering the United States.
According to court documents, Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia, age 33, presented himself to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for inspection to board a Spirit airlines flight from St. Croix, USVI to Fort Lauderdale, FL on March 23, 2022. He displayed a Washington State driver’s license in the name of another individual with a photo of his likeness as proof of identification to travel.
During questioning at the primary inspection, Mejia stated that he was born in Puerto Rico; however, the CBP officer noticed that Mejia’s accent sounded distinctive to the Dominican Republic. A subsequent fingerprint check positively identified Mr. Mejia-Mejia, and record checks revealed that he was previously deported by immigration officials in 2018 and 2019 from the United States to the Dominican Republic. CBP officers determined that Mejia-Mejia is not a citizen or national of the United States. Reynaldo Mejia-Mejia is in fact a citizen and national of the Dominican Republic, and he was not in possession of the required legal documents to be present or to enter the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ortiz is prosecuting the case. Mejia-Mejia is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2022, and he faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Orleans Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on April 19, 2022, defendant EDWARD DAVIS, age 45, resident of New Orleans, LA, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey to a federal weapons violation of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In Count 1 of the indictment, DAVIS is charged with possessing two firearms on January 11, 2022, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). DAVIS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. DAVIS’s sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2022.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Orleans Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Carjackings and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on April 19, 2022, defendant RICHARD JONES, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 10, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry to carjacking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, burglary of a federal firearms licensee, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Specifically, RICHARD JONES pled guilty to Counts One, Two, Three, and Six of the indictment. JONES pled guilty to Count One, which charges him with a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). JONES also pled guilty to Count Two, which charges him with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, that is, a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section, 924(c)(1)(A). JONES also pled guilty to Count Three, which charges him with burglary of a federal firearms licensee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(u). Finally, JONES pled guilty to Count Six, which charges him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) and 924(a)(2).
As to Count One, JONES faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. As to Count Two, JONES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Finally, as to Counts Three and Six, JONES faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For each count of conviction, JONES, must pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee at sentencing. JONES's sentencing is scheduled for August 9, 2022.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Orleans Parish Financial Manager Charged with Embezzling over $200,000Read the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KATIE LAROCHE, age 53, from New Orleans, was charged on April 19, 2022 with wire fraud, based on her embezzlement of $233,363.53 from a client.
The government filed a one-count bill of information that charged LAROCHE with wire fraud involving conduct from 2015 through 2021. According to the bill of information, LAROCHE was a financial manager who handled bookkeeping, accounting, and other financial services for her clients. From 2015 through 2021, LAROCHE embezzled funds from one of her clients. LAROCHE hid the embezzlements by falsely indicating that withdrawals and transfers out of the victim’s account were for tax payments, when in fact the money was deposited into LAROCHE’s personal account or used for LAROCHE’s own purposes.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, LAROCHE faces up to twenty years in prison. LAROCHE also faces up to three years of supervised release after release from prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to LAROCHE or the gross loss to any victims, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Moses and Jordan Ginsberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy that resulted in the trafficking of firearms to Mexican cartels. Andrew Scott, Pierson, 46, of Jay, Oklahoma, was sentenced this afternoon by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
In May 2017, an Arkansas resident received a shipment of firearm components that had been sent to him for cerakoting, a process in which a polymer-ceramic coating is added to a firearm or its parts to improve durability. The parts appeared to be 80% Colt lower receivers, and this individual recognized these firearm parts as counterfeit. He contacted law enforcement. The counterfeit receivers were traced to an organization in Laredo, Texas, which was transporting firearm parts to Pierson in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Pierson assembled the parts into functioning weapons for the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).
Pierson was arrested at the southern United States border on December 10, 2018. Pierson admitted to ordering and receiving firearm parts from the United States and manufacturing automatic weapons in Mexico for the CDN and CJNG cartels. Law enforcement later confirmed cartel firearm availability was impaired following Pierson’s arrest.
On September 3, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Pierson and seven others for their involvement conspiracies to traffic in counterfeit goods and to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Five codefendants have previously pleaded guilty, and one co-defendant remains a fugitive. In November 2021, Pierson pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act.
“Mr. Pierson’s participation in the exportation and manufacturing of illegal firearms to Mexican cartels is an inexcusable contribution to the violence carried out by these groups,” said United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. “We are committed to prosecuting any case that will help prevent violent criminal organizations from obtaining firearms.”
“Our Special Agents worked diligently on this investigation to intercept illegal weapon components being trafficked to criminal organizations in Mexico,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “Our goal is to disrupt and dismantle the illegal activity and this sentencing sends a message to those who seek to aid violent criminals that it will not be tolerated. ATF works aggressively to identify and investigate individuals who arm the ruthless organizations that are responsible for a majority of the extreme violence in Mexico.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service values our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Arkansas who helped bring this investigation to a successful conclusion,” said Thomas Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division. “Illegal shipments of weapons threaten the safety of all our communities. These crimes are a priority for Postal Inspectors and demonstrate the importance of our mission that includes the safeguarding of the Postal Service, its customers, and preventing the illegal use of the U.S. Mail.”
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Essential support and coordination for Operation Thor’s Hammer was supplied by Special Operations Division (SOD) personnel, including assigned agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and attorneys from the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Pine Bluff Police Department were also instrumental in the investigation, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anne Gardner.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Ocean County Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Series of Violent Assaults on Members of Orthodox Jewish CommunityRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man was charged with federal hate crimes for a series of violent assaults on members of the Orthodox Jewish community in and around Lakewood, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today.
Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester, New Jersey, is charged with four counts of violating the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of carjacking. With respect to the hate crimes violations, Marsh is charged with willfully causing bodily injury to four victims, and attempting to kill and cause injuries with dangerous weapons to three of them, all because they were Jewish. Marsh is in custody on related state charges and will make his initial appearance on the federal charges on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
At 1:18 p.m. on April 8, 2022, Marsh forced a visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man out of his car in Lakewood, assaulting and injuring him in the process. Marsh took control of the man’s car and drove away. A surveillance video in the area captured Marsh arriving in the area prior to the carjacking and assault.
At 6:06 p.m., Marsh was in Lakewood driving a different car when he deliberately struck another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man with the vehicle, attempting to kill the victim and causing him to suffer several broken bones.
At 6:55 p.m., Marsh, once again driving the vehicle that he had stolen from the first victim, attempted to kill another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man. Marsh used the stolen vehicle to deliberately strike the man, who was walking in Lakewood. Marsh got out of the vehicle and stabbed the man in the chest with a knife, causing the victim to suffer a stab wound and other injuries.
At 8:23 p.m., Marsh, still driving the vehicle that he had stolen from the first victim, used it to deliberately strike another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man who was walking in nearby Jackson Township, New Jersey, attempting to kill the man and causing him to suffer several broken bones and internal injuries.
At 12:00 a.m. on April 9, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Marsh at his residence.
The three hate crimes violations charging Marsh with attempting to kill those victims each carry a statutory maximum term of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The hate crime violation charging Marsh with assaulting the other victim carries a statutory maximum term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The carjacking charge carries a statutory maximum term of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.; officers of the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; officers of the Jackson Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Matthew Kunz; officers of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy; prosecutors and detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, and officers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Joseph Gribko of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Noble, LA Man Receives Sentence of 23+ Years in Federal Prison on Sexual Exploitation ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Dustin Lee Crow, 33, of Noble, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 286 months (23 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
In July 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported three cybertips to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The cybertips concerned images and videos of child pornography contained on three Twitter accounts belonging to Crow. The child pornography images which were uploaded contained videos and a still image of a victim under the age of 6. These videos and image were uploaded to Twitter and sent in a direct message to another Twitter account. Agents executed a search warrant at Crow’s house and admitted his involvement in the offenses to law enforcement agents. Crow pleaded guilty on June 9, 2021 to one count of sexual exploitation of children.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations Cyber Crime Unit and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy and Earl M. Campbell.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accident in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking Company Out of $4.7 MillionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KEISHIRA ROBINSON (“K. ROBINSON”), age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of her involvement in a staged automobile accident that occurred on October 13, 2015. Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-six (36).
According to documents filed in federal court, A. Robinson, Harris, Schaffer, and K. ROBINSON intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer in the area of Alvar Street and France Road in New Orleans. Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), who pled guilty to a previous indictment charging him and 10 others with staging automobile accidents, was driving A. Robinson’s vehicle at the time of this accident. Hickman intentionally struck a tractor-trailer owned and operated by C.R. England, and then was picked up from the collision site by Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), who has also pled guilty to a previous indictment as part of this investigation. After the accident, A. Robinson, who had been in Labeaud’s vehicle at the time of the accident, then got behind the wheel of his own vehicle to make it appear that he had been driving at the time of the staged accident. A. Robinson falsely reported to the NOPD that he had been driving and that the tractor-trailer had struck his vehicle.
All four defendants were referred to an attorney who paid Labeaud for staging this accident, among others. All of the defendants were treated by doctors and healthcare providers at the direction of their attorneys, and A. Robinson, Harris, and Schaffer underwent surgeries. In total, in July 2019, the victim trucking and insurance company paid out approximately $4.7 million for the fraudulent claims associated with this staged accident.
United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced K. ROBINSON to 5 years’ probation, restitution ordered in the amount of $4,725,000, $100 mandatory special assessment, and the court granted the preliminary order of forfeiture in the amount of $5,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long, Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera.
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New Jersey Man Sentenced to over Ten Years for Violent Carjacking in Philadelphia Restaurant Parking LotRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Sherman Artwell, 24, of Camden, NJ was sentenced to ten years and one month in prison, five year of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond for his participation in a violent carjacking in Philadelphia and flight to New Jersey in the stolen vehicle.
In November 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to carjacking and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges arose from an incident that occurred in May 2018 in which the defendant, armed with a shotgun, and a juvenile co-conspirator approached the victim and his friend while the two were talking in the parking lot outside a Dunkin Donuts in Philadelphia. The two forcibly pulled the victim from the driver’s seat, threw him onto the ground, and pointed guns at him. The co-conspirator jumped into the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle, and the defendant got into the passenger seat. The two fled to New Jersey, and Camden County Police officers apprehended the juvenile co-defendant after he crashed the vehicle. The defendant was separately identified through video and forensic evidence and apprehended a short time later.
“As we have said many times since launching the #AllHandsOnDeck initiative, our Office and our federal partners are doing everything we can to support the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecute cases federally when appropriate,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Here, the defendant participated in a brazen carjacking at gunpoint in the middle of the afternoon in busy neighborhood -- an offense that certainly meets the criteria for federal prosecution. We are committed to bringing the full might of the federal justice system to this battle against the escalating number of carjackings.”
“Imagine the terror of being pulled from your car with a shotgun pointed straight at you,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Sherman Artwell violently accosted an individual living his life, minding his business, just to take that vehicle. The FBI is firmly committed to working with our police partners to address the spate of carjackings that have been plaguing Philadelphia. People shouldn’t have to live in fear every time they get behind the wheel.”
This case is 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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Camden County (NJ) Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Parisi and Special Assistant United States Attorney Martin Howley.
New Jersey Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for String of Violent Assaults on Members of Orthodox Jewish CommunityRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man was charged with federal hate crimes for a series of violent assaults on members of the Orthodox Jewish community in and around Lakewood, New Jersey. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey announced today.
Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester, is charged with four counts of violating the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of carjacking. With respect to the hate crimes violations, Marsh is charged with willfully causing bodily injury to four victims, and attempting to kill and cause injuries with dangerous weapons to three of them, all because they were Jewish. Marsh is in custody on related state charges and will make his initial appearance on the federal charges on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
At 1:18 p.m. on April 8, Marsh forced a visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man out of his car in Lakewood, assaulting and injuring him in the process. Marsh took control of the man’s car and drove away. A surveillance video in the area captured Marsh arriving in the area prior to the carjacking and assault.
At 6:06 p.m., Marsh was in Lakewood driving a different car when he deliberately struck another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man with the vehicle, causing the victim to suffer several broken bones.
At 6:55 p.m., Marsh, once again driving the vehicle that he had stolen from the first victim, used it to deliberately strike another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man who was walking in Lakewood. Marsh got out of the vehicle and stabbed the man in the chest with a knife, causing significant injuries.
At 8:23 p.m., Marsh, still driving the vehicle that he had stolen from the first victim, used it to deliberately strike another visibly identifiable Orthodox Jewish man who was walking in nearby Jackson Township, New Jersey, causing the man to suffer several broken bones and internal injuries.
At approximately 12:00 a.m. on April 9, law enforcement officers arrested Marsh at his residence.
The three hate crimes violations charging Marsh with attempting to kill those victims each carry a statutory maximum term of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The hate crime violation charging Marsh with assaulting the other victim carries a statutory maximum term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The carjacking charge carries a statutory maximum term of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI Newark Field Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.; officers of the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; officers of the Jackson Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Matthew Kunz; officers of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy; prosecutors and detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, and officers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Joseph Gribko for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
NBA Player's Personal Assistant Sentenced to 70 Months for Theft of $4.7 MillionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Theodore Itsvan Joseph Kritza, 46, of Superior, Colorado (formerly of Chandler, Arizona), was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kritza was also ordered to pay $4,794,874 in restitution to the victim. Kritza previously pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud.
In April 2005, the victim, an NBA player, hired Kritza to serve as his personal assistant, taking care of his day-to-day tasks, including paying his bills. Between 2005 and 2012, Kritza fraudulently obtained funds by forging the victim’s signature on more than two dozen documents, including business loans, credit line applications, and a power of attorney. Kritza also forged his employer’s signature to open a bank account in the victim’s name so Kritza could conceal his use of the victim’s personal funds. Kritza stole money from the victim’s salary, endorsement contract, and sale of a condo. Kritza then used the stolen funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle for his family that included expensive luxury cars, homes, vacations, private school tuition for his children, business investments, and the attempted purchase of an airplane.
“We see this scenario time and again,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “A confidant abuses a position of trust and embezzles someone else’s assets. Thanks to our partners at the FBI for their hard work on the investigation.”
“For years, Theodore Kritza preyed upon the trust he gained with the victim and defrauded him of his hard-earned money and savings, choosing greed over trust. Today, Kritza found out the cost of his scheme,” said Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “This sentencing sends a clear message that fraud is a serious crime, with serious consequences. The FBI remains committed to pursuing justice for all victims of fraud.”
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra M. Hansen and Jane L. Westby with the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00938-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-047_Kritza# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Moss Point Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
According to information presented to the Court, on February 8, 2021, Bayliss Morris Jenkins, 44, was taken into custody by Moss Point Police officers after a traffic stop for operating a vehicle with a switched tag. Jenkins possessed two handguns in his vehicle.
Jenkins had prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, aggravated assault, and a felon in possession of a firearm. He was indicted on June 15, 2021, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on November 17, 2021.
The Court sentenced Jenkins to 120 months, which is the statutory maximum sentence for his offense.
The ATF and Moss Point Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Mercer County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mercer County man pleaded guilty today to distribution of hydromorphone.
According to court documents, Eric Hendricks, 46, of Bluefield, admitted he sold four hydromorphone pills for $100 to a confidential informant in the Bluefield, Mercer County, area on February 26, 2018. Hendricks further admitted to selling four hydromorphone pills to a confidential informant on February 21, 2018, and again on March 7, 2018.
Hendricks is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney John L. File is prosecuting 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. 1:18-cr-90.
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