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17 March 2022
Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force Ministerial Joint StatementRead the Press Release
Following the launch meeting of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force, the members from participating countries released the following joint statement:
“We, the undersigned Finance, Justice, Home Affairs, and Trade Ministers and European Commissioners, jointly commit to prioritizing our resources and working together to take all available legal steps to find, restrain, freeze, seize, and, where appropriate, confiscate or forfeit the assets of those individuals and entities that have been sanctioned in connection with Russia’s premeditated, unjust, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the continuing aggression of the Russian regime.
“Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine represents a further assault on the fundamental norms and laws, including the UN charter, that underpin the international order. By working together to hunt down the assets of key Russian elites and proxies and to act against their enablers and facilitators, we take a further step to isolate them from the international financial system and impose consequences for their actions, and we encourage other countries to also take up this critical effort.
“The Task Force that we have launched today demonstrates our unwavering support for Ukraine and our collective resolve and joint commitment to holding accountable those who have complicity in Russia’s unjust war. We are determined to deny them the ability to hide and benefit from their assets in all jurisdictions, and to undermine the integrity of the international financial system.”
- Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment, Australia
- Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Canada
- Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, European Commission
- Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
- Bruno Le Maire, Minister for Economy, Finance and Recovery, France
- Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice, France
- Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance, Germany
- Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany
- Marta Cartabia, Minister of Justice, Italy
- Daniele Franco, Minister of Economy and Finance, Italy
- Ninoyu Satoshi, Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission, Japan
- Furukawa Yoshihisa, Minister of Justice, Japan
- Suzuki Shunichi, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services, Japan
- Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, United Kingdom
- Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom
- Janet L. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, United States
- Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, United States
Robertsdale Man Sentenced in Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Robertsdale man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Joshua John Soudelier, 42, was arrested during a traffic stop by Foley Police Department officers on December 15, 2020 for not having a court-ordered ignition interlock device installed on his car. While taking him into custody, officers asked Soudelier if he had anything in the car that he was not supposed to have. Soudelier admitted that he had a gun—a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol—which officers found wedged between the driver’s seat and center console of the car. Soudelier was previously convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles, California. His prior felony conviction rendered his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.
United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Soudelier to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Soudelier to pay $100 in special assessments.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Prezioso named Civil ChiefRead the Press Release
William Ihlenfeld and Chris PreziosoWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Prezioso has been selected to lead the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for West Virginia’s Northern District.
U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced today that Prezioso will serve as Civil Chief for the office, overseeing a team of attorneys who defend federal agencies when sued in court, prosecute civil enforcement matters, and collect debts owed to the United States.
“Chris is a highly skilled lawyer with nearly two decades of legal experience, including 15 years in the private sector,” said Ihlenfeld. “He has been a major contributor to the office, especially in his role as the health care fraud coordinator. I’m excited for him to take the reins of the civil division.”
Since joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2018, Prezioso has acted as lead counsel in a wide variety of civil matters, handling Federal Tort Claims Act and employment discrimination cases, as well as the affirmative civil enforcement cases.
Prezioso is a lifelong resident of West Virginia and has practiced law throughout the state. Before joining the United States Attorney’s Office, he worked at Dinsmore in its civil litigation practice group. Prezioso is a 2003 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law and lives in Wheeling with his family.
Portland Police Bureau Officer to Receive Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The Justice Department announced today that a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officer has been selected to receive the Attorney’s General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.
Officer Kristen Schmidt, of PPB’s North Precinct, is one of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies receiving the award from 12 jurisdictions across the country. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta today.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” the Attorney General said. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
“On behalf of everyone at the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in Oregon, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Officer Kristen Schmidt on her receiving this most distinguished commendation,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug. “The compassion and care she showed in one valued community member’s time of greatest need was exceptional and will serve as a model for officers and deputies throughout the state. We are very grateful for the person and officer Kristen Schmidt is and thank her for her exemplary service.”
Officer Schmidt is being recognized for her work on PPB’s Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team. Recently, she responded to a call from the Oregon Humane Society where a woman trying to recover her cats from a shelter had become belligerent. Responding officers did not know the woman was experiencing an extended period of psychosis and that the sudden appearance of several uniformed officers as well as an ambulance would exacerbate the woman’s condition.
To calm the situation, Officer Schmidt sat with the woman and calmly explained the need for her to go to the hospital. When the woman refused to sit on a gurney and enter an ambulance, Officer Schmidt drove the woman to the hospital herself. The woman later reported that she and Officer Schmidt talked while driving to the hospital and that Officer Schmidt treated her with “dignity and respect and looked for ways to connect.” Officer Schmidt kept in close contact with the woman during her three-week hospitalization, picked the woman up when she was released from the hospital, and drove her to retrieve her dog from the shelter.
One year later, the woman met Officer Schmidt at PPB’s North Precinct to express her gratitude and share how differently she felt the day of her hospitalization could have gone had it not been Officer Schmidt who responded. The woman described Officer Schmidt as a powerful role model for sensitive and compassionate police work for people in vulnerable situations.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
For more information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Pennsylvania man admits to sex offender registry violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Edward Hunker, of East Berlin, Pennsylvania, has admitted to a sex offender registry violation, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Hunker, 40, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration.” Hunker, who is required to register as a sex offender, failed to update is registration when he traveled from out-of-state to stay in Preston County from May to August of 2020.
Hunker faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Pender County Narcotics Trafficker Receives 14+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Elmer “E.J.” Holmes, Jr., 38, of Pender County, was sentenced to 175 months in prison for (1) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of Cocaine and 100 grams or more of Heroin and (2) Distribution of a quantity of Heroin and Cocaine and aiding and abetting another.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, law enforcement was able to determine that E.J. Holmes received large amounts of narcotics at the Pender County home of his cousin Johnny Holmes in 2019. E.J. would leave drugs for Johnny to distribute and have the remainder transported to another location. Between April and September 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms conducted several controlled purchases from Johnny Holmes of ounce amounts of heroin and cocaine in Pender County. On April 29, 2019, following a controlled purchase of cocaine and heroin from Johnny Holmes’ house, a Highway Patrol Officer conducted a traffic stop on a car being driven by E.J. with Johnny as a passenger. The officer found the buy money from the earlier controlled purchase.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement uncovered that E.J. Holmes was responsible for distributing more than 3 kilograms of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin from December 2018 until the time of his arrest. Following his federal arrest on these charges E.J. tried unsuccessfully to have Johnny Holmes write a letter to law enforcement saying that E.J. was not involved in the drug trafficking organization.
EJ Holmes had two prior federal convictions at the time of his arrest on these charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2004) which he received a 21 month active sentence, and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 grams of Cocaine (2006) in which he received an active sentence of 76 months in prison.
Johnny Holmes received a sentence of 56 months in federal prison for distributing heroin and cocaine.
This is part of operation “Ahab’s Harpoon” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Pender, New Hanover, Onslow, and Duplin County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Jacksonville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-cr-00191-FL.
Pablo meth dealer sentenced to more than six years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA —A Pablo man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and heroin in the Lake County community was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Keith Charles Baylor, 35, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in May 2021, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Flathead Tribal Police officers were on routine patrol when they made a traffic stop of Baylor when he failed to signal. Officers determined that Baylor was on state probation, which had a pick-up order for him, and also had an active tribal arrest warrant. Baylor was arrested and during a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found gram quantities of meth and heroin along with drug paraphernalia. A search of a cell phone found in the vehicle indicated that Baylor was involved in drug distribution. Baylor told officers he had made several trips to Spokane to transport drugs and had been working with larger drug dealers in Billings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead Tribal Police and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Oklahoma City Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing a Child and Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment today charging an Oklahoma City man for sexually abusing a child, capturing the abuse on video, and sharing the video online.
Jeremy L. Peterson, 42, has been charged with production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a video depicting child sexual abuse. The video was discovered during a review of evidence seized by HSI agents in a separate case in Iowa.
Agents reviewed the digital video file and determined it was created in a residential apartment complex in Eugene. The agents further identified several distinctive physical characteristics of the abuser in the video, including a scorpion tattoo on the man’s chest. In the video, the minor victim repeatedly asks the man to stop the abuse. Despite these requests, the man continued to abuse the victim.
HSI agents surveilled the apartment complex and interviewed its property manager. They obtained rental documents from a unit in the complex where they believed the abuse video was created and found the name of another adult and child listed as members of the household. The agents then interviewed the principal of a nearby elementary school who positively identified the child from a screen capture taken from the abuse video. The principal checked school records and confirmed that the child’s address matched the apartment in question.
On February 24, 2022, investigators searched the apartment and identified furniture, carpeting, and bed sheets consistent with those appearing in the abuse video. They then found photos of Peterson on Facebook and observed that his likeness matched that of the abuser depicted in the video. Upon searching Peterson’s criminal history records, agents obtained a booking photo from a 2011 arrest in Nebraska that showed Peterson had a scorpion tattoo like the one observed in the video.
On February 28, 2022, Peterson was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court in the Western District of Oklahoma, pleaded not guilty, and was detained pending transfer to Oregon. On Tuesday, March 15, he made his first appearance in the District of Oregon, where he ordered detained pending further court proceedings. He will be arraigned on today’s indictment on April 13, 2022.
If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum, a $250,000 fine, and a life term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Oklahoma, with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by William McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the NCMEC’s website at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ohio man sentenced for drug distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Tyler Oliver, of St. Louisville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 37 months of incarceration for a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Oliver, age 36, pleaded guilty in October 2019 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 3,4-Dichloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino) cyclohexyl]-Nmethylbenzamide (“U47700”).” Oliver admitted to working with another to distribute “U47700,” a synthetic opioid, from June 2016 to December 2016 in Ohio County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated.
U.S. District Judge James Preston Bailey presided.
Ohio Man Convicted of Kidnapping and Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. - A Portsmouth, Ohio, man was convicted on Wednesday, by a federal jury in Ashland, of kidnapping and sexual assault.
After an hour of deliberations, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 53-year-old Charles Glorioso, 53, of one count of kidnapping and one count of sexual assault.
According to the testimony at trial, on July 10, 2020, and the early hours of July 11, 2020, Charles Glorioso and Nathan Welch kidnapped a woman at knifepoint. The victim was driving the two men in her vehicle, from Portsmouth, into Greenup County, Kentucky. There, the victim testified, both men physically and sexually assaulted her, until she was allowed to leave, when she traveled back across the river on foot. The incident was reported to the police and she was transported to the hospital, for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the assault. Later, where the assault took place in Greenup County, officers located the victim’s abandoned vehicle, her belt, shoe, and sandal, as well as the knife used during the kidnapping, all in or near the vehicle.
Welch and Glorioso were both indicted in January 2021. Welch was convicted by a federal jury in December 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville Division; Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Debby Brewer, Portsmouth Police Department, jointly announced the verdict.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos.
Glorioso is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2022, and Welch is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2022. They each face a maximum of life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Non-Citizen Charged with Failure to Depart to the Dominican RepublicRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonathan Pena-Charles, age 30, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on two counts of failure to depart.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Pena-Charles is a removable alien who has a final order of removal issued by an Immigration Judge. Pena-Charles is alleged to have knowingly taken steps to prevent his own removal from the United States by (1) failing to participate in an interview with his home country of the Dominican Republic, (2) failing to execute documents necessary to permit travel, and (3) failing to submit to a COVID-19 test which is necessary for air travel.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.
Pena-Charles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty in Staged Automobile Collision SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that LATRELL JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 30, of New Orleans, pled guilty on March 16, 2022, to count one (1) of her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss two counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2. In pleading guilty to count 1, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 31.
According to court documents, JOHNSON falsely claimed that she was a passenger in a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. In fact, the defendant conspired with Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), and others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans. After the intentional collision, JOHNSON filed a fraudulent lawsuit claiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault and lied in a deposition. This scheme caused the insurance company for the tractor-trailer to pay over $140,000.00 in settlement funds for the May 11, 2017 collision. The Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing in this matter for July 13, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni; Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.
New London Man Who Received Cocaine Mailed from Puerto Rico is SentencedRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAUL ROBLES, 38, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Robles and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ residence on Blackhall Street in New London, which he shared with his cousin, Abraham Rosado, had received approximately 25 parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to the Blackhall Street residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at the residence revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Robles was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 9, 2021. On September 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Robles, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on April 28.
Rosado pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022, and is detained while awaiting sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
Nevada Woman Pleads Guilty to Hiring Hitman on Dark Web to Kill Ex-HusbandRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kristy Lynn Felkins, 37, of Fallon, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Felkins admitted that she sent 12 bitcoin (valued at approximately $5,000 at the time) to a dark web hitman website, known as Besa Mafia, to have her ex-husband murdered. From February to May 2016, Felkins regularly communicated with the administrator of the site to pay and arrange for the murder of her ex-husband. Felkins gave the administrator the specific location of her husband in an attempt to have him murdered.
Besa Mafia operated as a “hidden service” on the Tor network, which is an anonymizing internet service that is known informally as the “dark web.” The Besa Mafia website was in fact a scam, and Felkins was not refunded the bitcoin she sent to the site, which is no longer in operation.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as part of the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, consisting of agents from HSI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a joint, federal task force focused on targeting all forms of dark web and cryptocurrency criminal activity in the Eastern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
Felkins is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 16, 2022. Felkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Nampa Man Sentenced for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Nampa man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
According to court records, on May 19, 2021, during an Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole search, Daniel Vega, 44, of Nampa, was found in possession of a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. At the time of the search, Vega was on probation because of a 2017 felony conviction and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
Vega is a documented gang member with a lengthy criminal history, including two convictions for felony domestic battery.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye also ordered Vega to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Vega pleaded guilty to the federal firearms charges on December 1, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole, and the Nampa Police Department, which led to charges.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Michigan man was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Oji Williams, 42, of Ann Arbor, admitted that on August 1, 2020, law enforcement officers seized over 200 grams of fentanyl from behind the glovebox of a vehicle in which he was a passenger, after conducting a traffic stop in Charleston. Williams admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the fentanyl. Law enforcement officers also seized two firearms from Williams’ home after he was arrested.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00025.
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Mexican national pleads guilty to illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Elizabeth Talamantes, 39, pleaded guilty on March 16 in federal court to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Talamantes will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Talamantes on Aug. 25, 2020. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Talamantes, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States on Sept. 18, 2017. She was found present in Albuquerque on July 28, 2020, and admitted that she knowingly reentered the United States illegally.
On Aug. 4, 2020, while executing a search warrant on Talamantes’ residence, law enforcement found Suboxone strips, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, two Glock handguns, a bag of ammunition, and 89 Clonazepam pills (50 grams). Talamantes admitted to possessing the narcotics with intent to distribute and that she possessed the firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
During the search of the residence, law enforcement also found 11 large glass jars and one large plastic bag of marijuana with a gross weight of 8,015.1 grams. Talamantes’ son, Ricardo Barron, 24, of Albuquerque, who lived at the residence with his mother, pleaded guilty on Feb 17 to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Barron is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25. He faces up to five years in prison.
Talamantes faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, and has consented to removal from the United States upon completion of her sentence.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 7 ½-Year Prison Term for Attacks on Motorists over Three-Day PeriodRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adrian Proctor, 23, of Fort Washington, Md., has been sentenced to a 7 ½-year prison term for carjacking and other charges stemming from a pair of crimes that took place over a three-day period, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Proctor pleaded guilty in October 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to carjacking, attempted robbery and a felon-in possession firearms offense. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed upon 7 ½-year prison term. Yesterday, the Honorable James A. Crowell IV approved the agreement and sentenced Proctor accordingly. Judge Crowell denied the defense request for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. Following his prison term, Proctor will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 19, 2020, at approximately 6:45 a.m., Proctor was in a car that rammed into an Audi in the 1400 block of P Street NW. Both the victim and Proctor got out of their vehicles, and Proctor, who was armed with a firearm, demanded the victim’s car keys. He then got into the victim’s car and fled westbound on P Street NW.
In a second incident, on June 22, 2020, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Proctor was in a vehicle that double-parked next to a Chevrolet Camaro in the 2900 block of V Street NE. The victim was in the Camaro, attempting to take a nap. Proctor reached inside, unlocked the door, and attempted to pull the victim out of the driver’s seat. The victim complained and screamed to people nearby to call the police. The victim took the key out of the ignition and ran. Proctor unsuccessfully attempted to start the vehicle with another key that was left inside. He then fled with a backpack and portable speaker that he took from the car, but he was arrested afterward by the Metropolitan Police Department and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Vivien Cockburn, Special Agents Geoffrey Guska, Mark Crawford, and Nelson Rhone, all of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit, and Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin M. DeRiso, Sarah Folse, and Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Martinsburg residents admit to drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Quasym Divad John Finch and Brittany Marie Breeden, both of Martinsburg, West Virginia, have admitted to drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Finch, 30, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine Base, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine Hydrochloride” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Finch admitted to working with Breeden to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl, and methamphetamine hydrochloride from January 2020 to February 2021 in Berkeley County. Finch, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a .410 revolver, a .380 pistol, and a semi-automatic rifle in February 2021 in Berkeley County.
Breeden, also known as “Brittany Marie Finch,” 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl.” Breeden admitted to selling fentanyl in February 2021 in Berkeley County.
Finch faces up to 20 years of incarceration and fine of up to $1,000,000 for the conspiracy charge and faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge. Breeden faces up to 20 years of incarceration and fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. ATF and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Marion Man Sentenced for Distributing Graphic Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man who used the online messaging application KIK to distribute child sex abuse materials featuring prepubescent children was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in federal prison.
Travis Shane Smith, 38, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of knowingly distributing visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Smith was identified as being a member of a known child pornography online chat room by an undercover law enforcement officer working out of Wisconsin.
While on KIK’s chatroom messaging board, Smith used the KIK username “tman_1983” to post multiple graphic videos of preteen children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including two videos of adult males having sex with prepubescent females.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marion Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Marion County Man Sentenced for Distributing Bombmaking InstructionsRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Jefferson man has been sentenced for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Beau Daniel Merryman, 21, pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2021, to distribution of information relating to explosives and destructive devices and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.
“Anyone who provides others with the technical know-how to commit acts of violence against innocent people will suffer the wrath of local, state and federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “No stone will be left unturned to catch and prosecute such individuals.”
“The defendant threatened the safety of countless lives by sharing bomb-making information. That information and training could have caused immeasurable harm and damage if it was given to a dangerous individual,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the communities we serve. We ask the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
According to information presented in court, between September and October 2019, Merryman engaged in a series of online conversations with covert FBI employees. During those conversations, Merryman provided detailed instructions on how to make multiple types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), such as pipe bombs and pressure-cooker bombs. Merryman explained how to construct the IEDs, select explosives, pack shrapnel for maximum damage, and construct fuses or detonating devices. Merryman also directed that the IEDs be used to target federal law enforcement and critical infrastructure, such as electrical substations.
Merryman was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 16, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tyler Resident Agency, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta Police Department, and Tyler Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Coan and Ryan Locker.
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Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual abuse at Kirtland Air Force BaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Zechariah Freemen, 45, was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years and one month for sexual abuse. A federal jury convicted Freeman on July 30, 2021.
A federal grand jury indicted Freemen on Jan. 9, 2020. According to the indictment and other court records, on the evening of June 15, 2019, Freeman, a civilian, attended a gathering at a house on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, where the victim was also present. In the early morning hours of June 16, 2019, Freeman sexually abused the victim while she was physically incapable of declining or communicating her unwillingness to participate.
Upon his release from prison, Freeman will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Letitia Carroll Simms and Sarah J. Mease prosecuted the case.
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Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Offering to ‘Break’ Sex Trafficking VictimRead the Press Release
A 39-year-old man who volunteered to torture a sex trafficking victim for money was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Billie Joe Sanford, of Eustace, Texas, was charged via criminal complaint in November 2020 and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in November 2021 to attempted kidnapping and was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown.
According to plea papers, Mr. Sanford admitted that he responded to an online advertisement for a sex trafficking victim who “needs breaking.” Unbeknownst to Mr. Sanford, the ad had been posted by an undercover agent.
“I am willing to help break her into a proper slave,” Mr. Sanford wrote.
In subsequent messages, he asked for $5,000 a week to brutalize the victim, demanding “complete privacy” without neighbors nearby.
A few weeks later, Mr. Sanford and the undercover agent met in person in Plano, TX.
Posing as the head of a sizable human trafficking ring, the agent told Mr. Sanford he planned to “make a fortune” pimping out the victim, but was concerned by her refusal to engage in commercial sex and her repeated attempts at escape. He stated he had resorted to handcuffing the victim and locking her in a bathroom.
In response, Mr. Sanford bragged that he had “broken” trafficking victims previously and outlined the methods of torture he planned to use: flogging, caging, shock therapy, blaring heavy metal music, whips, and black-out contacts. He explained that while he understood how to cause “excruciating pain,” he would not leave any scars that would affect the victim’s later sale.
“You want someone that when it’s done, if she gets just a smidgen out of line, then you can say, ‘hey, I’m going to call him back,’” he told the agent. “You want her to believe that whenever she leaves her job, if she does not report back to you, she is going back to Bill… I just make sure they understand they never want to experience this again.”
A week later, on Nov. 5, Mr. Sanford and the agent met again in Irving, TX. Mr. Sanford agreed to follow the agent to a nearby location, where a second undercover agent, posing as the victim, sat restrained in the back seat of a vehicle.
When he arrived, Mr. Sanford unloaded a suitcase and bag containing leather restraints, flogs, spurs, and other equipment.
In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Mr. Sanford said he’d been living the “kink” lifestyle for several years. Asked about the victim he’d offered to break, Mr. Sanford stated he was hard up for money and simply wanted to “help her enjoy life.”
“Tragically, all human trafficking victims endure trauma. But the cruelty this defendant was prepared to inflict is almost unthinkable. We are grateful agents were able to apprehend Mr. Sanford before he could get his hands on a living, breathing young woman,” said U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with HSI, will do everything in its power to end the scourge of human trafficking.”
“This sentence is a result of the investigative efforts of the HSI Dallas led, North Texas Trafficking Task Force that was organized to combat the horrific abuses of human trafficking,” said Christopher Miller, acting Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “We will exhaust all resources to stop the predators who seek to exploit vulnerable individuals through this form of modern-day slavery.”
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Investigator, the Fort Worth Police Department, the Colleyville Police Department, and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Briggs and Rebekah Ricketts are prosecuting the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Two Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
A Bixby man pleaded guilty Thursday to robbing two Oklahoma banks of nearly $320,000, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
In a blind plea, Jerry Ray Brown, 44, admitted to two counts of bank robbery through the use of intimidation. Brown lived in Skiatook at the time of the robberies and later in Bixby while criminal proceedings were pending.
“Jerry Brown robbed two banks, and while awaiting federal court proceedings for those crimes, he attempted to stage his own kidnapping to avoid prosecution. He ultimately fled to Kansas where he was apprehended for a second time,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Thanks to a concerted law enforcement effort from Oklahoma to Kansas, Jerry Ray Brown has been brought to justice.”
“The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate violent crimes such as the ones committed by Mr. Brown,” said Edward Gray, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Division. “Anyone who carries out such menacing behavior and inflicts such trauma on innocent citizens has no right to be in our communities.”
Brown admitted to robbing Oklahoma Capital Bank in Skiatook on March 12, 2020, and Exchange Bank in Sperry on May 7, 2020. In both robberies, Brown demanded bank employees take him to their vaults and open their ATMs.
Bank tellers and surveillance video at both locations described or showed the suspect as being around 6 feet tall and weighing between 200 and 250 pounds. The suspect wore a black mask, distinctive black and gray gloves with a yellow logo; carried a black backpack; and drove a silver SUV. One of the tellers at the Skiatook bank suggested the robber’s mannerisms and build reminded her of Jerry Brown, who banked there.
During the investigation, law enforcement was able to link Brown to the robberies and arrested him. He was charged in federal court on Oct. 27, 2020, and later released while awaiting further criminal proceedings in the case.
On Oct. 25, 2021, authorities initially received a report that Jerry Brown was potentially kidnapped from his residence in Bixby in the early morning hours. Later that morning, Nowata police officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle registered to Brown and alleged that Brown eluded officers and disappeared. Just after 8 am, Brown was arrested by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas for the alleged theft of gasoline, evading authorities, and other charges. Brown was later returned to federal custody.
Brown’s likely motive for the robberies was to alleviate the numerous professional and personal financial problems he had been experiencing.
The FBI, Skiatook Police Department, and Owasso Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Roberts is prosecuting the cases.
Man Indicted for Smuggling over 150 Pounds of Methamphetamine Across the U.S.-Mexico BorderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Tuesday, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a four-count indictment against Cesar Alberto Palomares, 23, of Somerton, Arizona.
The indictment alleges four violations of United States law related to Palomares’ importation and intended distribution of methamphetamine. On January 27, 2022, Palomares is alleged to have entered the United States through San Luis, Arizona. At the Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered over a hundred packages containing a white crystal-like substance that were hidden in Palomares’ car. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine and the combined weight of the packages was over 150 pounds.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations-Yuma conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-158-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-024_Palomares# # #
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.Leader of Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay More Than $350k in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Lawrence Lawson, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on March 15, 2022, to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution after Lawson pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy that fraudulently obtained COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.
“Mr. Lawson and his codefendants stole taxpayer dollars intended to help our neighbors and community members pay their bills and obtain basic necessities while the pandemic disrupted lives and caused many to lose their jobs or livelihood,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “This is not a victimless crime. If you steal from the government, you will be caught and you will be held accountable.”
“The deliberate actions of these individuals to cheat a program designed to assist people who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is inexcusable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge, Eric B. Smith. “Financial crimes involving pandemic unemployment assistance affects self-employed individuals, independent contractors, gig-economy workers, and others who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment benefits. The FBI will continue to stand steadfast with other federal agencies to enhance the investigative work needed when examining complex financial fraud cases.”
“The egregious and self-serving actions of these fraudsters robbed federal aid and assistance from hard-working Americans experiencing unprecedented economic hardships as a result of the global pandemic,” stated Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brandon Gardner with the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of federally funded housing programs and diligently pursue action against those who seek to illegally benefit from them.”
Charged as co-conspirators in the indictment were Cierra Clifton, 38, Willowick, Ohio; Emanuel Smith, 49, Cleveland, Ohio; Terrance Jones, 27, Cleveland, Ohio; Quantez Lawson, 29, Cleveland, Ohio; Charles Moore, 35, Cleveland, Ohio and Mark Dailey, 54, Cleveland, Ohio.
According to court records, from May through November of 2020, Lawson would recruit co-conspirators and other individuals to file pandemic unemployment insurance benefit claims on their behalf in exchange for a portion of the proceeds received.
Court records state that these individuals then provided Lawson and Clifton with their personal identifying information, and Clifton would file the claims on their behalf from her residence in Willoughby, Ohio. Clifton submitted claims through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) and other State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, Arizona and California.
If a claim was processed successfully, a pre-loaded bank-issued debit card was mailed to the recipient. Lawson and Clifton then took a portion of the funds received as payment. As ODJFS and the other SWAs required re-certification of an unemployed person’s status, Lawrence and Clifton charged an additional weekly fee to provide this service to their co-conspirators. If an individual failed to pay this fee, Lawrence and Clifton ceased verification of the unemployment status and the benefits would stop.
As a result of the scheme, ODJFS and other SWAs suffered a loss of approximately $355,849.
Previously sentenced in this matter were:
- Cierra Clifton was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution.
- Emmanuel Smith was sentenced to 17 months in prison and ordered to pay $23,783 in restitution.
- Terrance Jones was sentenced to 26 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution.
- Charles Moore was sentenced to 8 months in prison and ordered to pay $15,246 in restitution.
- Quantez Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2022.
“Lawrence Lawson conspired to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, diverting vital taxpayer resources away from those in dire need of unemployment benefits. Protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program remains one of our highest priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the unemployment benefits for those who need it, especially during this critical time,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Chicago Region.
This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan R. Miller and Erica D. Barnhill.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of unemployment insurance fraud, please report the matter to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling (866) 720-5721 or visiting www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.
Lancaster Company Agrees to Pay $820,000 for Improper Billing of Defense Intelligence AgencyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Reveal Global Consulting, LLC (“Reveal”) has agreed to pay $820,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing time and expenses in its performance of a contract with the Defense Intelligence Agency (“DIA”).
In 2017, Reveal entered into a Spearheading CIO Applied Research and Leading Edge Technologies (“SCARLET”) contract with DIA. The contract was a time-and-materials contract under which Reveal could bill the United States only for time it actually expended and materials it required to fulfill its contractual obligations. Instead, Reveal allegedly billed the DIA for one twelfth of the total contract even for months in which less than one twelfth of the total required effort was devoted to the contract; devoted fewer than the promised employees for multiple months; submitted inflated and misstated bills for work by subcontractors; and invoiced the DIA for work supposedly performed by Reveal employees who had already left the company. Throughout the contract, Reveal allegedly failed to establish and maintain an adequate, effective timekeeping system.
“There is no excuse for invoicing the United States for work that was not done,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Companies that work for the United States have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that the United States receives the goods and services for which it is paying, and the United States Attorney’s Office is ready to investigate and punish contractors who flout this fundamental rule.”
“This case is a result of the stalwart, dedicated and collaborative work of investigators, DIA Office of the Inspector General (OIG), DOD OIG, Defense Criminal Investigations Services, the DCAA, and DOJ. The Office of the Inspector General, DIA, will continue to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in DIA processes while improving government funds stewardship from our civilian and contractor workforce,” said William Borden, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, DIA.
“Investigating allegations of cost mischarging on Department of Defense (DoD) contracts is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The settlement agreement announced today is the result of a joint investigative effort with the Defense Intelligence Agency Office of the Inspector General and demonstrates the DCIS’ ongoing commitment to protect the integrity of DoD procurement.”
This investigation was conducted as part of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Strike Force with investigators from the Defense Intelligence Agency Office of Inspector General and DCIS, with assistance the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Kaufman handled the investigation and settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Justice Department and FTC Launch Listening Forums on Firsthand Effects of Mergers and AcquisitionsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a series of listening forums to hear from those who have experienced firsthand the effects of mergers and acquisitions beyond antitrust experts, including consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, farmers, investors and independent businesses. The four forums will be held virtually over the next three months and helmed by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Antitrust Division and FTC Chair Lina M. Khan.
The four forums will focus on industries and labor markets that are commonly impacted by mergers that may reduce competition. The dates are as follows:
- Monday, March 28 at 3pm ET – Food and Agriculture
- Thursday, April 14 at 2pm ET – Health Care
- Wednesday, April 27 at 1:30pm ET – Media and Entertainment
- Thursday, May 12 at 2pm ET – Technology
The listening forums will be open to the public, webcast on the FTC’s website, transcribed, posted online, and included as part of the public record.
Assistant Attorney General Kanter and Chair Khan will attend each event with staff from both agencies. At each event, Assistant Attorney General Kanter and Chair Khan will provide a brief introduction followed by remarks from each speaker. Speakers will include independent business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers, workers and other market participants. At the conclusion of the speakers’ remarks, members of the public will have an opportunity to comment. Those who wish to participate may register to speak virtually at one of the events. Due to challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, these forums will be held virtually. Additional forums may be added at a later date.
The forums will supplement the agencies’ recent request for comments on merger enforcement guidelines to ensure that the agencies hear from affected groups who might not otherwise participate in the process. The agencies have also extended the deadline for written comments submitted through regulations.gov. Comment submission will be open through April 21.
In January, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and FTC launched a joint public inquiry aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal mergers. Recent evidence indicates that many industries across the economy are becoming more concentrated and less competitive – imperiling choice and economic gains for consumers, workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. These problems are likely to persist or worsen due to an ongoing merger surge that has more than doubled merger filings from 2020 to 2021. To address mounting concerns, the agencies are soliciting public input on ways to modernize federal merger guidelines to better detect and prevent illegal, anticompetitive deals in today’s modern markets.
In addition to the public comment period and these listening forums, the agencies will hold a Spring Enforcers Summit on April 4. The summit will include conversations about merger enforcement as well as discussions on how to work with industry regulators as part of a whole-of-government approach to competition policy.
For more information on these listening forums, please visit the event page.
Justice Department Sues to Block Verzatec’s Proposed Acquisition of CraneRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit today to stop Grupo Verzatec S.A. de C.V. (Verzatec) from acquiring its biggest competitor, Crane Composites (Crane), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crane Co. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that the proposed $360 million transaction would harm competition in production and sale of pebbled fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) wall panels, whose product and performance characteristics make it the wall covering of choice for many restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals and convenience stores across the United States.
“Verzatec’s proposed acquisition of Crane is a brazen attempt to eliminate a rival and cement a monopoly in this market,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Acquisitions that create or entrench monopoly power are illegal and violate the Sherman and Clayton Acts. The proposed transaction would leave countless American businesses facing higher prices and reduced quality, choice and innovation for this important building material.”
As alleged in the complaint, Verzatec’s internal documents acknowledged that the proposed acquisition would eliminate the “fierce competition” that Verzatec has faced from its “biggest competitor” Crane in the production and supply of pebbled FRP wall panels. Building supply distributors and home-improvement retailers across the nation benefit from the head-to-head competition that exists between these rivals today, resulting in better pricing, financial incentives, and delivery terms, which accrue to the benefit of restaurants, retail outlets and hospitals, among others, that use pebbled FRP in applications where low cost, durability and sanitary performance are paramount.
The department further alleged in its complaint that Verzatec’s senior management wanted to acquire Crane to gain “pricing and market control” and to achieve “FRP dominance.” As a result of the acquisition, Verzatec would dominate the industry, controlling about 80% of current sales and production capacity of pebbled FRP wall panels in the United States. As alleged in the complaint, the proposed acquisition would allow Verzatec to unlawfully monopolize the U.S. market for the production and sale of pebbled FRP in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act and substantially lessen competition in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
Verzatec is a privately held Mexican corporation with its headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico. Stabilit America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verzatec with headquarters and principal place of business in Moscow, Tennessee. Verzatec and its subsidiary Stabilit sell building materials and wall coverings, including pebbled FRP wall panels, in the United States under several business units, including Glasteel, Marlite and Nudo.
Crane Company is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Crane Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Crane Composites Inc. manufactures and sells pebbled FRP wall panels in the United States. Crane Composites’ headquarters and principal place of business is located in Channahon, Illinois. Crane sells pebbled FRP wall panels in the United States under several brand names, including Glasbord and Sequentia.
Justice Department Secures Settlement to Resolve Disability Discrimination Against People with Opioid Use DisorderRead the Press Release
Today the Justice Department reached a settlement agreement with Ready to Work, a not-for-profit residential, work and social services program for individuals who are homeless, with facilities in Aurora and Boulder, Colorado.
The settlement agreement addresses civil rights violations identified during the course of an investigation conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. It resolves a complaint under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that Ready to Work discriminated against an individual with opioid use disorder (OUD) by denying her admission to its residential, work and social services program because she uses a prescribed medication to treat her OUD.
Under the agreement, Ready to Work will not deny services on the basis of disability, including OUD, or apply standards or criteria that screen out individuals with disabilities. The agreement also requires Ready to Work to adopt non-discrimination policies, train staff on its non-discrimination obligations, and report on compliance. Ready to Work will also pay damages to the Complainant.
“People with opioid use disorder are too often subject to discrimination rooted in myths and stereotypes rather than in science,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will ensure that people with opioid use disorder do not face discriminatory barriers when seeking access to housing, jobs and social services, which are critical to support recovery and combat the epidemic of opioid addiction. Ensuring that people with opioid use disorder can obtain essential services without facing discrimination is an important priority for the Civil Rights Division.”
For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. The settlement agreement can be viewed here.
Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the recipients of the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This year’s awards recognize the exceptional work of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta. Later, he attended a ceremony for three award recipients from the DeKalb County Police Department.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult — but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” said Attorney General Garland. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Attorney General Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing 2021
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber, DeKalb County (Georgia) Police Department
Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber’s work for the Police Athletic League (PAL) has taken their outreach efforts to new heights and helped many children stay connected in the process. This was especially true during the summer of 2020, when the pandemic threatened to leave at-risk youth with no summer programs. The detectives implemented a virtual summer academy that connected participants via Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook, focusing on mentorship, education, and athletics. Community leaders, teachers, coaches, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other nonprofits partnered with the PAL to make this innovative event happen. The program reached a total of 1,018 children and adults. When the summer ended, the unit launched its Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway, providing supplies to students who otherwise would have had trouble getting them. Next, was the second annual virtual Gaming with a Cop event, to keep students busy while they were out of school for the Presidents’ Day holiday. The event allowed kids to bond with DeKalb County police officers while competing against them in live video games.
When officers began noticing children selling bottled water on interstate ramps, they knew this was both a safety hazard and a potential breeding ground for other crimes. The detectives of the DeKalb County PAL once again put their heads together and implemented a career development program — a four-month life skills program to provide students with personal growth opportunities and to prepare them for future careers. PAL partnered with Georgia Piedmont Technical College, local entrepreneurs, youth mentors, volunteers, and other police department support units. After the first session, eight of the nine participants were helped through the interview process and are now employed, with the remaining participant enrolling in the Georgia Piedmont College dual enrollment program.
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Angelico, Martin County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office
Since joining the Community Oriented Policing Unit in 2005, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Angelico has established excellent relationships with the community and earned the trust of community members, who often provide him with critical information. A recent example occurred in May 2021, when a local restaurant fire was declared a case of arson. Within days, Angelico had identified the suspect.
Deputy Sheriff Angelico views problems as challenges, and his goal is looking for solutions. For example, Angelico sought a proactive solution to the problem of crime in the summer, when the beach community is flooded with tourists. He coordinated countless hours of all-terrain vehicle beach patrols and bicycle parking lot patrols, giving out criminal opportunity reports to visitors to educate them and enlist them in crime prevention efforts.
Deputy Sheriff Angelico has also established a strong working relationship with the local Department of Human Services to work on helping the homeless population. One homeless Navy veteran, who consistently refused services and shelter, now has both housing and a new outlook on life because of Angelico’s compassion and tireless work.
Deputy Sheriff Angelico especially made his skills work for the community during the pandemic, when he spearheaded many small operations. He used a substation facility at the local mall to meet with community members, answering their questions and giving them information. During the summer of 2020, he also worked hard to allow protesters to voice their concerns while preventing violence and ensuring public safety. His professionalism and dedication are unparalleled, and his knowledge and experience in community policing have established him as a leader and mentor to others in the office.
Officer Tom Hart, Walpole (Massachusetts) Police Department
Officer Tom Hart’s community policing efforts have gone a long way toward building relationships between law enforcement and the community in Walpole, and his efforts have had an impact well beyond the city limits. Hart joined the department in 2013 after a career as a special education teacher. He quickly became involved in many community policing initiatives involving Walpole’s youth. He initially served as a mentor in Walpole schools, with a focus on positive interactions with children who suffer from developmental disabilities. Hart’s efforts include a “positive ticket” campaign to reward “kids caught doing right;” a basketball-cop program, where officers play sports with area youth; and a ride to school program, where each month a student is given a full police escort from his or her home to school. Hart also serves as a leader in the Student Police Advisory Council, and he leads a community-based crisis intervention team that assists with finding resources for those with mental illness.
Officer Hart’s efforts to bridge the gap between Walpole’s youth and the police department resulted in him being named a school resource officer in 2017. He hit the ground running and established the Walpole Junior Police Academy, where middle school students spend a week learning about discipline, physical fitness, and police functions. He also took students with learning disabilities on a field trip to visit an organization called Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI), which trains service dogs for a variety of needs.
The visit was so well-received that Officer Hart began discussing the idea of police using service dogs as an ice breaker, as well as to assist individuals when responding to traumatic incidents. Hart received approval from town officials, and GOFI donated a golden retriever named “Rebel” to the police. The program has proved such a success that a number of other departments in the state now have a service dog assigned to them, and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would be funding a grant to purchase service dogs for other jurisdictions. Other states have also expressed an interest in replicating the program. Hart’s innovative ideas have proved invaluable in furthering the department’s community policing efforts (and Rebel, the service dog, has now become the face of the Walpole Police Department).
Officer Danielle St. Peter, Barnstable (Massachusetts) Police Department
Officer Danielle St. Peter’s commitment to the Barnstable Police Community Impact Unit (CIU) has dramatically benefited local residents. The CIU works with partner agencies to bring medical care, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and housing services to homeless and disadvantaged populations. St. Peter routinely assumes the role of case manager, counselor, and problem-solver by using an individualized approach to de-escalate tense situations and connect people with services tailored to their needs.
In the fall of 2020, the CIU received information about a mother with mental illness living with her baby in a homeless camp. Officer St. Peter forged a relationship with the young mother, building trust with her over a period of time, and addressing her fear of criminal enforcement. She connected her with the appropriate services and eventually was able to move the mother and child into more suitable housing, watching as their quality of life improved dramatically.
Recently, Officer St. Peter skillfully managed a tense situation, as police officers tried to persuade a mentally-ill woman who was living in her car to leave her vehicle for a psychiatric committal. Using compassion and skills honed over time, St. Peter provided comfort to the scared woman and de-escalated the situation. She ultimately oversaw her transfer to a care facility and reconnected with her after treatment, helping her to secure temporary housing and get the mental health treatment she needed. Because of St. Peter’s compassion, care, and philosophy of community policing, the woman remains stabilized and they communicate regularly. St. Peter’s upbeat attitude, conflict resolution skills, patience, and work ethic are part of her extreme effectiveness and a true demonstration of community policing.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Sergeant Kurt Berardino and Sergeant Christopher Perez, Miami-Dade (Florida) Police Department
In July 2020, a ShotSpotter alert showed that 21 shots had been fired on a Miami street. The aftermath left a seven-year-old dead and another child and two adults injured. The investigation revealed that the victims were returning home from shopping and were fired on as they were getting out of their car. Detectives Kurt Berardino and Christopher Perez (now both sergeants) immersed themselves in the subsequent investigation, poring over multiple Crime Stoppers tips, reviewing hours of surveillance footage, and questioning potential witnesses. As Berardino and Perez developed the case, they established a rapport with two of the survivors, and those survivors provided a positive identification of the subjects involved in the shooting. This positive identification was key in furthering other leads that were gathered. Evidence collected was crucial in solidifying victim statements and the timeline of the events. Arrest warrants were eventually issued, and in September 2020, the detectives traveled to Georgia, where one suspect was taken into custody and later confessed; a second suspect was also arrested. It was the tenacity, persistence, and determination of Detectives Berardino and Perez that closed this case and brought justice to the families of the victims and to the community.
Detective Victor Powell† and Detective Jonathan Smith, Norfolk (Virginia) Police Department
In September 1980, a woman was brutally murdered in her Norfolk apartment. No solid leads into the case were developed until cold case detectives Victor Powell and Jonathan Smith took on the case 38 years later and pursued a DNA analysis. The results showed a potential suspect in Michigan. Powell and Smith conducted numerous witness interviews, on the basis of which they obtained a warrant and arrested the suspect. The suspect was extradited to Norfolk and eventually confessed to the 1980 murder. He also admitted to previously unresolved, uncharged sexual assaults between 1976 and 1977 in San Diego, California. In the summer of 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, rape, and burglary arising from the brutal attack on the victim in 1980. The court sentenced the defendant to a life term of imprisonment on both the first-degree murder and the rape convictions, and 20 years in prison on the burglary conviction. Also, as a result of the resolution of the case in Norfolk, the state of Michigan was able to return the defendant to the state to stand trial for pending charges related to the 1989 death of his adopted daughter. Smith and Powell’s dedication to this investigation brought great credit to the Norfolk Police Department from across the United States, and brought peace to a family who fought for justice for 40 years.
†Detective Powell, a 31-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department, passed away May 21, 2020; he is remembered for his outstanding service to the department.
Detective Ben Pender, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake (Utah)
In November 2010, a woman was found brutally murdered in her South Salt Lake, Utah bookstore. The scene was processed and fingerprints, a palm print, and DNA were recovered, which later provided a profile of an unknown male suspect. In 2018, cold case Detective Ben Pender worked with a genetic genealogist and was eventually given more than 300 names for target testing. Pender researched their names and addresses and sent letters to those individuals across the country, requesting voluntary participation in the investigation. He ultimately traveled to eight states and was able to foster relationships with 50 target test subjects, who provided swabs for DNA testing. In the fall of 2020, Pender was provided a close genetic match with the DNA left at the crime scene.
After more research and questioning potential relatives, Detective Pender identified the name of a suspect. Pender worked with detectives from the Major Investigations Unit to conduct surveillance on the suspect and collect a DNA sample, which turned out to be a match with the DNA collected at the murder scene. Pender arrested the suspect, who admitted to the murder and provided critical details. If not for Pender’s tenacious efforts, this homicide might never have been solved and a grieving family might still not have found justice. Pender has closed several unresolved homicides and missing persons cases and worked homicides for other agencies. In addition, in 2018 he organized the first annual Hope Conference for families of unresolved homicide victims, during which participants learned that every open unresolved case would be examined no less often than every 18 months.
Detective-Sergeant Jeffrey Araujo and Major Christopher Reed, Central Falls (Rhode Island) Police Department
In July 2007, a cab driver was shot in his cab and died by the time he was transported to the hospital. Witnesses reported seeing three young men run from the scene, some tossing their baseball caps as they ran. When processing the scene, Detective (now Detective-Sergeant) Jeffrey Araujo and Detective (now Major) Christopher Reed discovered two baseball caps in the vicinity of the shooting. The detectives later spoke with the victim’s wife, who said she was on the phone with her husband just before the shooting. She said her husband had called to say he was not comfortable with the three men in his taxi and wanted to keep her on the phone in case something went wrong. Shortly after, his wife heard a struggle and the phone disconnected.
Detectives Araujo and Reed were later contacted by a confidential informant, who identified a man he said had shot the driver. The detectives also received information about the other two men in the car. The detectives continued to pursue the investigation over the years but lacked hard evidence. Through their continued efforts, however, in May 2017, the detectives spoke with a subject who wanted to talk about the taxi driver’s murder and provided information on the suspects who were involved. At the same time, the detectives spoke with another individual who reported the suspects had talked about the murder the day after it happened. Araujo and Reed then resubmitted both baseball hats and requested they be tested against the profiles of the three suspects. There was a match, and thanks to this match and other evidence, the detectives secured an indictment. After a trial, the suspect was convicted and sentenced. Although the victim’s wife had passed away in the interim, because of the detectives’ tenacious work, the victim’s children and family were able to see that justice was finally served.
FIELD OPERATIONS
Deputy Sarah Merriman, Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Department
When Deputy Sarah Merriman was dispatched to a call for a domestic dispute in progress, she was told in advance that the suspect had a firearm and had already assaulted a woman. Upon her arrival outside of the residence, she saw a very agitated man with a shotgun in his hand, and one of several women on the scene was bleeding profusely from her head. Merriman had to decide instantly whether to draw her weapon; recognizing the subject’s state of mind, she chose to talk to him. She pleaded with him to drop the weapon — and once additional patrol deputies arrived and aimed their guns at him, she encouraged him to focus on talking to her. The suspect taunted Merriman for several minutes, yelling at her to pull her weapon and shoot him. Finally, Merriman was able to calm him down and he lowered the shotgun; she then took him into custody.
Deputy Merriman’s actions exemplify what it is to be a guardian. Her ability to recognize the individual’s state of mind — and her realization that drawing her weapon would escalate the situation — prevented a tragic outcome and saved at least one life that day.
Officer Kristen Schmidt, Portland (Oregon) Police Bureau
Officer Kristen Schmidt is part of the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team at the Portland Police Bureau. She responded to a call from the local humane society, where a woman trying to recover her cats from the shelter had become belligerent. Schmidt did not know at the time that the woman was in the midst of an extended period of psychosis; the sudden appearance of several uniformed officers, an ambulance, and staff from a community health agency exacerbated her condition.
In an effort to calm the situation, Officer Schmidt sat with the woman and patiently explained the need to go to the hospital. When the ambulance driver told the woman to get on the gurney and her agitation returned, Schmidt then drove the woman to the hospital herself. She talked to her during the drive; the woman reported, “She treated me with dignity and respect and looked for ways to connect with me.”
Officer Schmidt kept in touch with the woman during her three-week hospitalization, picked her up when she was released, and drove her to the shelter to retrieve her dog, who had also been left there. The woman said she felt treated with “compassion and humanity.” A year after the incident, the woman met Schmidt at the precinct to express her gratitude and share how differently she felt that day could have gone if Schmidt had not been the officer on the scene. She believes that Schmidt is a powerful role model for sensitive and compassionate police work for people in vulnerable situations.
Officer Travis Allen and Officer Brendan Fowler, Irving (Texas) Police Department
In the winter of 2021, officers responded to a call of a drowning in-progress. A family had ventured out onto an ice-covered canal to take photos, but the father and mother had fallen through the ice into the frigid waters. When Officer Brendan Fowler arrived on the scene, he threw a lifeline out to both, telling them to wrap it around themselves to remain above water. Officer Travis Allen arrived next and communicated with Fowler to develop a rescue plan. The fire department arrived and slid two ladders out onto the ice, but the woman was succumbing to the cold and began to go under. Allen immediately crawled out on the ladder and held the woman’s face above the water. A firefighter crawled out on the other ladder just as the ice broke under Allen, dumping him into the water. Allen and the firefighter, now exposed to the extremely cold water, worked quickly and managed to lift the woman onto a ladder. Other officers who were now on the scene made sure that everyone was attached to the ladder and pulled the ladder onto the shore. The husband was responsive, but the wife was unresponsive and showed signs of hypothermia onset. They were then transported to the hospital, where both recovered. If it were not for the quick response and heroic actions taken by Allen and Fowler, the outcome could have been very different.
Officer Cody Hubbard, Pottsville (Arkansas) Police Department
In May 2021, officer Cody Hubbard responded to a call of a cardiac arrest of a three-week-old child who was not breathing. Immediately upon his arrival, Hubbard began life-saving efforts and started the Heimlich maneuver for infants. The baby soon began to cry and breathe on his own. The Pope County emergency medical services team then arrived and took over the scene. Hubbard was awarded the department’s Life Saving Award for his actions. Under a very stressful situation, he was able to retain, recall, and apply the lifesaving training he had received. Officer Hubbard saved a young life and earned the respect of the community.
Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—The Justice Department today announced the recipients of the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This year’s awards recognize the exceptional work of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Attorney General Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, he attended a ceremony for three award recipients from the DeKalb County Police Department.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” he said. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
“This is a monumental moment for Officer Cody Hubbard and the Pottsville Police Department” stated United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. “Officer Hubbard is among the few officers to be recognized for this distinguished award and we are so proud of him. As a recent graduate from the law enforcement training academy, Officer Hubbard aptly applied his training and was able to save a baby who was in cardiac arrest. Thank you, Officer Hubbard, for your quick actions and answering the call to serve and protect.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Attorney General Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing 2021
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Officer Cody Hubbard, Pottsville (AR) Police Department
In May 2021, Officer Cody Hubbard responded to a call of a cardiac arrest of a three-week-old child who was not breathing. Immediately upon his arrival, Hubbard began life-saving efforts and started the Heimlich maneuver for infants. The baby soon began to cry and breathe on his own. The Pope County emergency medical services team then arrived and took over the scene. Hubbard was awarded the department’s Life Saving Award for his actions. Under a very stressful situation, he was able to retain, recall, and apply the lifesaving training he had received. Officer Hubbard saved a young life and earned the respect of the community.
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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
Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the recipients of the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This year’s awards recognize the exceptional work of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta. Later, he attended a ceremony for three award recipients from the DeKalb County Police Department.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult — but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” said Attorney General Garland. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced the recipients of the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This year’s awards recognize the exceptional work of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Attorney General Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, he attended a ceremony for three award recipients from the DeKalb County Police Department.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” he said. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha added, “Doing justice is about a lot more than arrests and convictions - it’s about working hand-in-hand with every one of our communities to understand their needs and to serve as partners in keeping our families and neighbors safe. Today’s awards represent well-earned recognition of exactly that kind of partnership in policing. I am proud to congratulate Central Falls Police Department Investigative Bureau Major Christopher Reed and Central Falls Police Department Detective Commander Sgt. Jeffrey Araujo on their superb work as reflected by this award.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
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Justice Department Honors Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced the recipients of the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This year’s awards recognize the exceptional work of 18 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Attorney General Garland announced the award recipients in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, he attended a ceremony for three award recipients from the DeKalb County Police Department.
“The work of law enforcement has always been difficult—but perhaps no more so than in the recent past, as officers have faced a host of significant challenges. The officers and deputies receiving this year’s awards demonstrate how so many go above and beyond, even in the midst of trying circumstances,” he said. “Every day, thousands of people who work in law enforcement forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. The recipients of this award represent quintessential examples of such critical efforts. It is an honor to recognize them.”
“We are pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice has honored Unified Police Department Detective Ben Pender with an Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing,” said United States Attorney Andrea T. Martinez. “Detective Pender is a shining example of the success of community policing programs in our nation. Detective Pender has worked closely with the refugee population in Utah for over a decade and has run a cold-case homicide task force which works closely with the families of the victims of cold case homicides. We congratulate Detective Pender on being one of 18 law enforcement officers honored by the U.S. Attorney General for their efforts in the field of community policing.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. This year, the Department received 185 nominations from 145 agencies, recognizing a total of 347 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
The work being honored this year reflects numerous examples of law enforcement officers working closely with the community to build trust, solve problems, reduce crime, and improve public safety.
The Department of Justice works closely with national law enforcement stakeholder groups during the award review period, taking advantage of their expertise and experience to determine the recipients in a competitive nomination process. The Department also works closely with its components, utilizing the breadth of knowledge within the Department to ensure a successful program that honors the exceptional service of our nation’s law enforcement officers and deputies.
Complete information on the Fifth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Attorney General Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing 2021
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber, DeKalb County (GA) Police Department
Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber’s work for the Police Athletic League (PAL) has taken their outreach efforts to new heights and helped many children stay connected in the process. This was especially true during the summer of 2020, when the pandemic threatened to leave at-risk youth with no summer programs. The detectives implemented a Virtual Summer Academy that connected participants via Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook, focusing on mentorship, education, and athletics. Community leaders, teachers, coaches, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other nonprofits partnered with the PAL to make this innovative event happen. The program reached a total of 1,018 children and adults. When the summer ended, the unit launched its Back to School Backpack Giveaway, providing supplies to students who otherwise would have had trouble getting them. Next was the second annual virtual “Gaming with a Cop” event, to keep students busy while they were out of school for the Presidents’ Day holiday. The event allowed kids to bond with DeKalb County police officers while competing against them in live video games.
When officers began noticing children selling bottled water on interstate ramps, they knew this was both a safety hazard and a potential breeding ground for other crimes. The detectives of the DeKalb County PAL once again put their heads together and implemented a Career Development Program—a four-month life skills program to provide students with personal growth opportunities and to prepare them for future careers. PAL partnered with Georgia Piedmont Technical College, local entrepreneurs, youth mentors, volunteers, and other police department support units. After the first session, eight of the nine participants were helped through the interview process and are now employed, with the remaining participant enrolling in the Georgia Piedmont College dual enrollment program.
Deputy Joseph Angelico, Martin County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Since joining the Community Oriented Policing Unit in 2005, Deputy Joseph Angelico has established excellent relationships with the community and earned the trust of community members, who often provide him with critical information. A recent example occurred in May 2021, when a local restaurant fire was declared a case of arson. Within days, Angelico had identified the suspect.
Deputy Angelico views problems as challenges, and his goal is looking for solutions. For example, Angelico sought a proactive solution to the problem of crime in the summer, when the beach community is flooded with tourists. He coordinated countless hours of all-terrain vehicle beach patrols and bicycle parking lot patrols, giving out Criminal Opportunity Reports to visitors to educate them and enlist them in crime prevention efforts.
Deputy Angelico has also established a strong working relationship with the local Department of Human Services to work on helping the homeless population. One homeless Navy veteran, who consistently refused services and shelter, now has both housing and a new outlook on life because of Angelico’s compassion and tireless work.
Deputy Angelico especially made his skills work for the community during the pandemic, when he spearheaded many small operations. He used a substation facility at the local mall to meet with community members, answering their questions and giving them information. During the summer of 2020, he also worked hard to allow protesters to voice their concerns while preventing violence and ensuring public safety. His professionalism and dedication are unparalleled, and his knowledge and experience in community policing have established him as a leader and mentor to others in the office.
Officer Tom Hart, Walpole (MA) Police Department
Officer Tom Hart’s community policing efforts have gone a long way toward building relationships between law enforcement and the community in Walpole, and his efforts have had an impact well beyond the city limits. Hart joined the department in 2013 after a career as a special education teacher. He quickly became involved in many community policing initiatives involving Walpole’s youth. He initially served as a mentor to Walpole schools, with a focus on positive interactions with children who suffer from developmental disabilities. Hart’s efforts include a “positive ticket” campaign to reward “kids caught doing right”; a basketball-cop program, where officers play sports with area youth; and a ride to school program, where each month a student is given a full police escort from his or her home to school. Hart also serves as a leader in the Student Police Advisory Council, and he leads a community-based crisis intervention team that assists with finding resources for those with mental illness.
Officer Hart’s efforts to bridge the gap between Walpole’s youth and the police department resulted in him being named a school resource officer in 2017. He hit the ground running and established the Walpole Junior Police Academy, where middle school students spend a week learning about discipline, physical fitness, and police functions. He also took students with learning disabilities on a field trip to visit an organization called Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI), which trains service dogs for a variety of needs.
The visit was so well received that Officer Hart began discussing the idea of police using service dogs as an ice breaker, as well as to assist individuals when responding to traumatic incidents. Hart received approval from town officials, and GOFI donated a golden retriever named “Rebel” to the police. The program has proved such a success that a number of other departments in the state now have a service dog assigned to them, and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would be funding a grant to purchase service dogs for other jurisdictions. Other states have also expressed an interest in replicating the program. Hart’s innovative ideas have proved invaluable in furthering the department’s community policing efforts (and Rebel, the service dog, has now become the face of the Walpole Police Department).
Officer Danielle St. Peter, Barnstable (MA) Police Department
Officer Danielle St. Peter’s commitment to the Barnstable Police Community Impact Unit (CIU) has dramatically benefited local residents. The CIU works with partner agencies to bring medical care, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and housing services to homeless and disadvantaged populations. St. Peter routinely assumes the role of case manager, counselor, and problem solver by using an individualized approach to de-escalate tense situations and connect people with services tailored to their needs.
In the fall of 2020, the CIU received information about a mother with mental illness living with her baby in a homeless camp. Officer St. Peter forged a relationship with the young mother, building trust with her over a period of time, and addressing her fear of criminal enforcement. She connected her with the appropriate services and eventually was able to move the mother and child into more suitable housing, watching as their quality of life improved dramatically.
Recently, Officer St. Peter skillfully managed a tense situation, as police officers tried to persuade a mentally ill woman who was living in her car to leave her vehicle for a psychiatric committal. Using compassion and skills honed over time, St. Peter provided comfort to the scared woman and de-escalated the situation. She ultimately oversaw her transfer to a care facility and reconnected with her after treatment, helping her to secure temporary housing and get the mental health treatment she needed. Because of St. Peter’s compassion, care, and philosophy of community policing, the woman remains stabilized and they communicate regularly. St. Peter’s upbeat attitude, conflict resolution skills, patience, and work ethic are part of her extreme effectiveness and a true demonstration of community policing.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Sergeant Kurt Berardino and Sergeant Christopher Perez, Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department
In July 2020, a ShotSpotter alert showed that 21 shots had been fired on a Miami street. The aftermath left a seven-year-old dead and another child and two adults injured. The investigation revealed that the victims were returning home from shopping and were fired on as they were getting out of their car. Detectives Kurt Berardino and Christopher Perez (now both sergeants) immersed themselves in the subsequent investigation, poring over multiple Crime Stoppers tips, reviewing hours of surveillance footage, and questioning potential witnesses. As Berardino and Perez developed the case, they established a rapport with two of the survivors, and those survivors provided a positive identification of the subjects involved in the shooting. This positive identification was key in furthering other leads that were gathered. Evidence collected was crucial in solidifying victim statements and the timeline of the events. Arrest warrants were eventually issued, and in September 2020 the detectives traveled to Georgia, where one suspect was taken into custody and later confessed; a second suspect was also arrested. It was the tenacity, persistence, and determination of Detectives Berardino and Perez that closed this case and brought justice to the families of the victims and to the community.
Detective Victor Powell and Detective Jonathan Smith, Norfolk (VA) Police Department
In September 1980, a woman was brutally murdered in her Norfolk apartment. No solid leads into the case were developed until Cold Case Detectives Victor Powell and Jonathan Smith took on the case 38 years later and pursued a DNA analysis. The results showed a potential suspect in Michigan. Powell and Smith conducted numerous witness interviews, on the basis of which they obtained a warrant and arrested the suspect. The suspect was extradited to Norfolk and eventually confessed to the 1980 murder. He also admitted to previously unresolved, uncharged sexual assaults between 1976 and 1977 in San Diego, California. In the summer of 2020, the defendant pled guilty to first-degree murder, rape, and burglary arising from the brutal attack on the victim in 1980. The court sentenced the defendant to a life term of imprisonment on both the first-degree murder and the rape convictions and a term of 20 years in prison on the burglary conviction. Also, as a result of the resolution of the case in Norfolk, the state of Michigan was able to return the defendant to the state to stand trial for pending charges related to the 1989 death of his adopted daughter. Smith and Powell’s dedication to this investigation brought great credit to the Norfolk Police Department from across the United States and brought peace to a family who fought for justice for 40 years.
†Detective Powell, a 31-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department, passed away May 21, 2020; he is remembered for his outstanding service to the department.
Detective Ben Pender, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake (UT)
In November 2010, a woman was found brutally murdered in her South Salt Lake, Utah bookstore. The scene was processed and fingerprints, a palm print, and DNA were recovered, which later provided a profile of an unknown male suspect. In 2018, cold case Detective Ben Pender worked with a genetic genealogist and was eventually given more than 300 names for target testing. Pender researched their names and addresses and sent letters to those individuals across the country, requesting voluntary participation in the investigation. He ultimately traveled to eight states and was able to foster relationships with 50 target test subjects, who provided swabs for DNA testing. In the fall of 2020, Pender was provided a close genetic match with the DNA left at the crime scene.
After more research and questioning potential relatives, Detective Pender identified the name of a suspect. Pender worked with detectives from the Major Investigations Unit to conduct surveillance on the suspect and collect a DNA sample, which turned out to be a match with the DNA collected at the murder scene. Pender arrested the suspect, who admitted to the murder and provided critical details. If not for Pender’s tenacious efforts, this homicide might never have been solved and a grieving family might still not have found justice. Pender has closed several unresolved homicides and missing persons cases and worked homicides for other agencies. In addition, in 2018 he organized the first annual Hope Conference for families of unresolved homicide victims, during which participants learned that every open unresolved case would be examined no less often than every 18 months.
Detective-Sergeant Jeffrey Araujo and Major Christopher Reed, Central Falls (RI) Police Department
In July 2007, a cab driver was shot in his cab and died by the time he was transported to the hospital. Witnesses reported seeing three young men run from the scene, some tossing their baseball caps as they ran. When processing the scene, Detective (now Detective-Sergeant) Jeffrey Araujo and Detective (now Major) Christopher Reed discovered two baseball caps in the vicinity of the shooting. The detectives later spoke with the victim’s wife, who said she was on the phone with her husband just before the shooting. She said her husband had called to say he was not comfortable with the three men in his taxi and wanted to keep her on the phone in case something went wrong. Shortly after, his wife heard a struggle and the phone disconnected.
Detectives Araujo and Reed were later contacted by a confidential informant, who identified a man he said had shot the driver. The detectives also received information about the other two men in the car. The detectives continued to pursue the investigation over the years but lacked hard evidence. Through their continued efforts, however, in May 2017 the detectives spoke with a subject who wanted to talk about the taxi driver’s murder and provided information on the suspects who were involved. At the same time, the detectives spoke with another individual who reported the suspects had talked about the murder the day after it happened. Araujo and Reed then resubmitted both baseball hats and requested they be tested against the profiles of the three suspects. There was a match, and thanks to this match and other evidence, the detectives secured an indictment. After a trial, the suspect was convicted and sentenced. Although the victim’s wife had passed away in the interim, because of the detectives’ tenacious work, the victim’s children and family were able to see that justice was finally served.
FIELD OPERATIONS
Deputy Sarah Merriman, Richland County (SC) Sheriff’s Department
When Deputy Sarah Merriman was dispatched to a call for a domestic dispute in progress, she was told in advance that the suspect had a firearm and had already assaulted a woman. Upon her arrival outside of the residence, she saw a very agitated man with a shotgun in his hand, and one of several women on the scene was bleeding profusely from her head. Merriman had to decide instantly whether to draw her weapon; recognizing the subject’s state of mind, she chose to talk to him. She pleaded with him to drop the weapon—and once additional patrol deputies arrived and aimed their guns at him, she encouraged him to focus on talking to her. The suspect taunted Merriman for several minutes, yelling at her to pull her weapon and shoot him. Finally, Merriman was able to calm him down and he lowered the shotgun; she then took him into custody.
Deputy Merriman’s actions exemplify what it is to be a guardian. Her ability to recognize the individual’s state of mind—and her realization that drawing her weapon would escalate the situation—prevented a tragic outcome and saved at least one life that day.
Officer Kristen Schmidt, Portland (OR) Police Bureau
Officer Kristen Schmidt is part of the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team at the Portland Police Bureau. She responded to a call from the local Humane Society, where a woman trying to recover her cats from the shelter had become belligerent. Schmidt did not know at the time that the woman was in the midst of an extended period of psychosis; the sudden appearance of several uniformed officers, an ambulance, and staff from a community health agency exacerbated her condition.
In an effort to calm the situation, Officer Schmidt sat with the woman and patiently explained the need to go to the hospital. When the ambulance driver told the woman to get on the gurney and her agitation returned, Schmidt then drove the woman to the hospital herself. She talked to her during the drive; the woman reported, “She treated me with dignity and respect and looked for ways to connect with me.”
Officer Schmidt kept in touch with the woman during her three-week hospitalization, picked her up when she was released, and drove her to the shelter to retrieve her dog, who had also been left there. The woman said she felt treated with “compassion and humanity.” A year after the incident, the woman met Schmidt at the precinct to express her gratitude and share how differently she felt that day could have gone if Schmidt had not been the officer on the scene. She believes that Schmidt is a powerful role model for sensitive and compassionate police work for people in vulnerable situations.
Officer Travis Allen and Officer Brendan Fowler, Irving (TX) Police Department
In the winter of 2021, officers responded to a call of a drowning in progress. A family had ventured out onto an ice-covered canal to take photos, but the father and mother had fallen through the ice into the frigid waters. When Officer Brendan Fowler arrived on the scene, he threw a lifeline out to both, telling them to wrap it around themselves to remain above water. Officer Travis Allen arrived next and communicated with Fowler to develop a rescue plan. The fire department arrived and slid two ladders out onto the ice, but the woman was succumbing to the cold and began to go under. Allen immediately crawled out on the ladder and held the woman’s face above the water. A firefighter crawled out on the other ladder just as the ice broke under Allen, dumping him into the water. Allen and the firefighter, now exposed to the extremely cold water, worked quickly and managed to lift the woman onto a ladder. Other officers who were now on the scene made sure that everyone was attached to the ladder and pulled the ladder onto the shore. The husband was responsive, but the wife was unresponsive and showed signs of hypothermia onset. They were then transported to the hospital, where both recovered. If it were not for the quick response and heroic actions taken by Allen and Fowler, the outcome could have been very different.
Officer Cody Hubbard, Pottsville (AR) Police Department
In May 2021, Officer Cody Hubbard responded to a call of a cardiac arrest of a three-week-old child who was not breathing. Immediately upon his arrival, Hubbard began life-saving efforts and started the Heimlich maneuver for infants. The baby soon began to cry and breathe on his own. The Pope County emergency medical services team then arrived and took over the scene. Hubbard was awarded the department’s Life Saving Award for his actions. Under a very stressful situation, he was able to retain, recall, and apply the lifesaving training he had received. Officer Hubbard saved a young life and earned the respect of the community.
Judge Sentences Penn Hills Man to 31 Years in Prison for 2014 Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 31 years’ imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release on his conviction of firearms charges, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton imposed the sentence on George Wilson, III, age 39. The Court also ordered Wilson to pay $3,027 in restitution.
According to information presented to the court, Wilson committed a series of armed robberies of retail businesses and gas station convenience stores throughout the Pittsburgh area from November 2014 through December 2014. Wilson committed each of the robberies at gunpoint and callously shot a store employee during the attempted robbery of The Exchange store in Ross Township. Wilson pleaded guilty only after the government had presented its case to a jury.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Walton acknowledged the audacity of Wilson’s gunpoint robberies and referred to the video footage of Wilson shooting a store employee simply because he was new to the job and unable to open the cash register as “one of the most shocking things I have ever seen.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Heidi M. Grogan and James R. Wilson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Pittsburgh Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department, the Ross Township Police Department, and the Wilkins Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wilson.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 5+ Years on Firearm Charges Related to Crack Cocaine SalesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Elias Johnson, 21, of Jacksonville, was sentenced today to 62 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a felon. Johnson pled guilty to the charges on September 14, 2021.
According to court records and statements made during hearings, the Jacksonville Police Department, using a confidential informant (CI), conducted three controlled buys of crack cocaine from Johnson in Jacksonville in June and July of 2019. The third controlled buy took place on July 5, 2019, at an apartment complex on Wilmington Highway. When the CI arrived at the apartment, Johnson greeted the CI and led them into the living room. There, the CI saw a second man sitting on the couch, weighing crack cocaine on a digital scale with a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol sitting on the couch beside him. The CI asked to look at the pistol and then offered to buy it. Johnson responded with a price, and the CI continued to negotiate with both Johnson and the third man, eventually agreeing to pay $300 for the handgun. As they negotiated, Johnson stated that he sometimes has “problems out here” and needed a commitment that the CI would bring back the pistol if Johnson needed it. The CI left with the firearm and turned it over to police. Later the same day, the CI returned to the apartment, and Johnson provided him crack cocaine in a plastic bag.
Prior to his federal conviction, Johnson had been convicted of four felony drug distribution offenses under North Carolina law, as well as two misdemeanor charges related to his unlawful possession of firearms.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Jacksonville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-cr-0013-FL.
Ice Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Waterloo, Iowa man, Buddy Hal Gunter, 45, has been sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Gunter worked with his co-defendant to distribute over 500 grams of ice methamphetamine in both Illinois and Iowa. The government detailed Gunter’s criminal history, noting that this was his fourth felony drug trafficking conviction.
Also at the hearing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Darrow discussed the seriousness of Gunter’s offense, describing him as a “prime example” of the devastation caused by methamphetamine. The Court found that Gunter posed “a very high risk to recidivate,” noting that he upped his game in this case after having previously trafficked smaller quantities of methamphetamine.
Gunter was convicted following a jury trial on August 19, 2021. Gunter’s co-defendant, Michael James Grommet, was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment on March 9, 2022.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine are a mandatory minimum term of ten years and up to life in prison, up to a $10 million fine, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
“These sentences are the result of collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement and serve to remind drug dealers that we remain dedicated to disrupting illegal drug trafficking,” said Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Raya.
The case investigation was conducted by the Rock Island Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Bremer County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Raya and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Haverhill Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston on fentanyl distribution charges.
Bernardito Carvajal, 30, who most recently resided in Haverhill, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Nov. 22, 2021, Carvajal was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of distribution of fentanyl. He was acquitted of distribution of fentanyl and cocaine resulting in death. Carvajal was indicted in January 2020 and has been in custody since his arrest in July 2019.
“This case is a painful lesson in the devastating and irreversible toll opioids and other substances take on lives and communities. This defendant is responsible for distributing a lethal drug that took a 26-year-old man’s life and yesterday’s sentence reflects that,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “The young man who died here was a beloved son, grandson, brother, stepson and so much more. Opioids are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths, which have recently reached a record high. Every one of these deaths represents a person, not a mere statistic. In virtually every community across the nation, drug traffickers and local dealers are preying on vulnerable individuals and profiting off of pain, addiction, and trauma. In Massachusetts, law enforcement partners are working collaboratively to bring those who peddle deadly narcotics to justice.”
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA's top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “This sentence not only holds Mr. Carvajal accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to others who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
In June 2019, Carvajal sold drugs on 11 separate occasions to a 26-year-old victim who, after being sold drugs from Carvajal on June 12, 2019, died of an overdose the following day. Carvajal continued to sell fentanyl after this fatal overdose, including another sale six weeks later on July 31, 2019, to an undercover officer. Carvajal was subsequently arrested following that drug deal. At trial, the jury convicted Carvajal of the underlying fentanyl distribution counts.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; DEA SAC Boyle; and Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Wan and Stephen Hassink of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Gwinnett County violent felon enters guilty plea to unlawful firearm possessionRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Henry Jonathan Saravia has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. Saravia was previously convicted of several violent felonies, including homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault.
“Preventing felons from possessing firearms, especially individuals like Saravia with a prior history of violence, is a priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Our federal and local partnership and collaboration plays a critical role in making our streets safer by preventing future acts of violence by this type of defendant.”
“Firearms in the hands of convicted felons pose a danger to all communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We are pleased that we were able to work with our partners at the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office to remove Saravia from the streets of our community and put him in Federal prison.”
“This case is an example of how effective joint collaboration between local, state, and Federal government can be and in doing so come together to get a dangerous and violent offender off of our streets,” said Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: On May 2, 2021, a concerned citizen called 911 about a car blocking traffic in Toccoa, Georgia. Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene and encountered Saravia asleep at the wheel, and his vehicle in drive.
Deputies found a firearm in Savaria’s waistband when they removed him from the vehicle. Savaria was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions of Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Sentencing for Henry Jonathan Saravia, 35, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has not been scheduled yet. Saravia pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Grant County woman sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Carrie A. Aughtry, of Petersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years of probation for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Aughtry, also known as “Corey Aughtry,”, 43, pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Aughtry admitted to selling methamphetamine in July 2019 in Grant County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Grant County man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – William Glenn Vance, of Petersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to three years of probation for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Vance, 44, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Buprenorphine – Aiding and Abetting.” Vance admitted to selling buprenorphine in September 2019 in Grant County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the Moorefield Police Department, the West Virginia State Police and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Five Children in Indiana and South CarolinaRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Matthew O. Walker, 28, of Augusta, Georgia, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court documents, Walker sexually exploited 3 Indiana children and 2 children from South Carolina. Walker first came to the attention of federal authorities in the fall of 2019, when Walker had engaged in sexually explicit Snapchat communications with two minor boys in the Southern District of Indiana. Walker misrepresented himself on Snapchat as a teenage girl, persuading minors to create and send him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Walker threatened the minors that he would distribute these images and videos of these minors to their respective families if they did not do as he instructed.
Federal investigators discovered that Walker was living in Georgia. With assistance from law enforcement there, a search warrant was executed at Walker’s residence. Evidence was seized and Walker admitted to communication with multiple underage boys online. Walker also admitted to receiving child sexual abuse material through Snapchat and other social media platforms. Walker pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in a plea that incorporated his criminal conduct against three Indiana children and others.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton made the announcement.
The FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. As part of the sentence, Judge Sweeney ordered that Walker be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and ordered Walker to pay $10,000 in restitution to each of the minor victims. Walker must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina M. Korobov who prosecuted this case.
In fiscal year 2019, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Georgia Man Sentenced for Stealing Millions from San Felipe Del Rio ISDRead the Press Release
DEL RIO – A Douglassville, GA man was sentenced today to 52 months in prison for stealing over $2 million from the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
According to court documents, Donald Ray Lockard, 67, while doing business as DL Investments from August 2019 to February 2020, stole school district funds and used them for his own personal benefit. According to court records, unknown co-conspirators sent fraudulent emails to the school district’s comptroller claiming to be representatives of the financial institution to which the school district made bi-annual bond payments. Those fraudulent emails resulted in the diversion of the school district’s bond payments to a different financial account established and controlled by Lockard. There were three separate fraudulent wire transfers to Lockard’s account on February 12, 2020 that totaled $2,013,762.50.
On April 12, 2021, Lockard pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. In addition to the prison sentence, Lockard was ordered to pay $277,957.33 in restitution.
“We are grateful to the FBI for their expedient and diligent investigative efforts, which secured recovery for most of the funds stolen, and we look forward to the restoration of those funds to the community to which they rightfully belong,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This case demonstrates the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s dedication to protecting our communities, our continued commitment to seek out and bring to justice those who steal from municipal coffers, and our resolve to restore losses to victims whenever possible.”
“Today’s sentence should send a clear message to those who seek to lie, cheat and steal from others for their own financial gain,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson. “This case is especially repugnant due to the fact that a school district was defrauded out of more than $2 million. The defendant showed complete disregard for the school district and the children it served while he bilked them out of needed resources and fraudulently used those funds for his own personal financial gain. The FBI will vigorously pursue those who carry out these deceitful and illegal schemes without regard to their victims.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Franco handled the forfeiture aspects.
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Georgia Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Launder $2.5 Million in Romance Scam ProceedsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Smyrna, Georgia man, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, was sentenced today to 71 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit money laundering. On October 21, 2021, Kolaogunbule pleaded guilty to the charge. As part of sentencing, Kolaogunbule was further ordered to pay criminal restitution totaling $2,307,020 to the victims of his offense. A forfeiture money judgment was also entered against him.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between 2014 and 2018, Kolaogunbule opened, maintained, and controlled approximately 20 different bank accounts at multiple financial institutions that were used to receive approximately $2.5 million in romance scam proceeds. Romance scammers exploit victims who are looking for companionship by creating fake profiles on online dating websites that include false personal details, such as the death of a spouse or military service. After creating the illusion of a romantic relationship to gain the victim’s trust, the scammer will typically solicit the victim for money to alleviate some fabricated crisis, such as a medical or business emergency.
More than 60 victims were directed to send money to Kolaogunbule’s accounts, many of which were titled in the names of purported export companies, including DSC Exports and Belmont Integrated Logistics. In fact, these companies were fronts for Kolaogunbule’s money laundering business.
“Romance scammers use dating apps and social media to prey upon lonely, vulnerable, and often elderly victims looking for love,” stated US Attorney Michael Easley. “These swindlers target the most vulnerable in our society, inflicting tragic financial and psychological tolls, and are facilitated by professional money launders like the defendant, who move illicit gains to co-conspirators offshore. Our office will identify and prosecute those who profit from these crimes.”
Easley provided several tips to ensure safety online: “We have an obligation to look after our seniors. People should check in on their elderly friends and family members. Ensure they know to never send money or financial information to people they meet online and don’t know in person. Scammers are sophisticated. Be sure our seniors know they should never be embarrassed to speak up to report suspicious behavior.”
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, investigated the case. The South African Police Service provided valuable assistance to the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-27-BO-2.
Garyville Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRYANT DAIGRE, age 33, of Garyville, Louisiana, pled to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
According to court documents, DAIGRE conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, on August 15, 2020, DAIGRE possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in St. John the Baptist Parish.
DAIGRE faces a sentence of between 5 years and 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown set sentencing for June 23, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.
Gary Man Sentenced to 78 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- William Hawkins, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to selling a firearm to a felon and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Hawkins was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 24, 2020, Hawkins sold a .380 caliber pistol to another individual whom Hawkins knew to be a felon. At that time, Hawkins himself had a prior felony conviction for dealing marijuana making his possession of the firearm illegal.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT) and the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra McTague.
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.
Gary Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Fredrick Jenkins, 39, of Gary, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Jenkins was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on June 23, 2021, Jenkins sold cocaine to an undercover officer. After the transaction, Jenkins was arrested, and from his person, law enforcement recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol. During an interview, Jenkins admitted to possessing the firearm for protection during the sale of cocaine. Jenkins’ criminal history revealed he had prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Padilla, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas R. Mahoney.
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.
Former West Virginia Police Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
Former Logan Police Department Officer Everett Maynard, 45, was sentenced to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release for violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him.
On Nov. 17, 2021, a federal jury convicted Maynard of using excessive force against an arrestee while Maynard was a police officer with the Logan Police Department in West Virginia. At trial, the jury heard evidence that Maynard assaulted the victim in the bathroom of the Logan Police Department before dragging him into an adjoining room, hauling him across the room, and ramming his head against a doorframe. The assault initially rendered the victim unconscious and left him with a broken shoulder, a broken nose, and a cut to his head that required staples to close. While the defendant assaulted the victim, the defendant berated the victim for “making demands” of him by, among other things, asking to go to the bathroom. After the assault left the victim unconscious in a pool of his own blood, the defendant bragged about his use of force.
“This defendant’s abuse of law enforcement authority inside a police station was egregious and caused serious injuries,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Police misconduct undermines community trust in law enforcement, and impedes effective policing. This sentence confirms that law enforcement officers who use excessive force against arrestees will be held accountable.”
“The outstanding work of the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, and the prosecution team ensured that justice was served in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson of the Southern District of West Virginia. “When Mr. Maynard abused his position of authority to violate the civil rights of an arrestee, he betrayed the public’s trust and dishonored the policing profession. We will continue to work with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and our law enforcement partners to protect the civil rights of all citizens and hold officers accountable for criminal misconduct.”
“The actions of Mr. Maynard are disturbing and violate the trust placed in him by the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is the result of the FBI’s dedication to Civil Rights by holding people accountable when they abuse their authority and violate the constitutional rights of those they swore to protect. No one is above the law. “
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office with the support of the West Virginia State Police and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Former State Legislator, Justice of the Peace, Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Keith Allan Bee, 56, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to six months in prison for filing a false tax return. Bee is a former Arizona state legislator and justice of the peace.
Bee, who owns a company providing school bus transportation, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false tax return. Bee admitted that during each tax year from 2011 to 2013, to reduce his company’s profits and the taxes he owed on them, he inflated his business expenses by including personal expenses and the depreciation of personal assets as if they were costs incurred by his business. Those personal assets included several Ford Mustangs, a Chevrolet Corvette, and a Porsche. Bee agreed that the tax loss resulting from his conduct was $214,414.
“Reporting income and paying taxes are important aspects of patriotism,” observed U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “Let this case serve as a reminder that all people, no matter their rank and circumstance, may face prison time when they cheat on their taxes. Thanks to our partners at the Internal Revenue Service for pursuing these cases fairly and comprehensively.”
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-1793-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-025_Bee# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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