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16 March 2022
El Departamento de Justicia resuelve acusaciones relacionados con E-Verify contra un proveedor de atención en el hogar radicado en el estado de WashingtonRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con Bianchi Home Care Inc. (Bianchi), un proveedor de atención en el hogar radicado en el estado de Washington. El acuerdo resuelve las acusaciones del Departamento de que Bianchi vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés) al discriminar a individuos que no eran ciudadanos de los EE. UU. mediante su uso de E-Verify. Administrado por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, E-Verify es un programa electrónico que da a los empleadores inscritos la posibilidad de confirmar que sus empleados tienen permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
«Los empleadores no pueden usar E-Verify para discriminar a empleados por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles está comprometida a proteger a los trabajadores de la discriminación ilícita por motivos de su ciudadanía y a quitar barreras discriminatorias en toda etapa del proceso de contratación».
El Departamento inició su investigación para determinar si Bianchi discriminó a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. a la hora de usar E-Verify. Con base en su investigación, el Departamento determinó que Bianchi solamente usó E-Verify para confirmar el permiso para trabajar de sus empleados no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. y que no usó el programa para sus empleados que son ciudadanos estadounidenses. Aunque, según E-Verify, todos los empleados de Bianchi que no eran ciudadanos de los EE. UU. sí contaban con permiso para trabajar, al someterlos solo a ellos a E-Verify, Bianchi les impuso una carga adicional en el proceso de contratación debido a su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía. Conforme la INA y las normas del programa E-Verify, los empleadores no pueden distinguir en su uso de E-Verify según el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía.
La conciliación prohíbe que Bianchi use E-Verify de manera selectiva para discriminar a empleadores con base en su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía. Asimismo, Bianchi deberá capacitar a sus empleados acerca de los requisitos de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA, cambiar sus políticas y procedimientos y someterse a la supervisión del Departamento durante un período de tres años.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Aquellos solicitantes de trabajo o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o durante el proceso de verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
En inglés
Eagle Grove Man Sentenced to over 5 years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced March 16, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
On October 12, 2021, Celestin Loux, 64, from Eagle Grove, Iowa, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from December 2019 through February 2020, Loux sold a total of 51.54 grams of methamphetamine to law enforcement in the course of three transactions. Evidence further showed that, on November 10, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Loux after receiving a report of a vehicle theft. Law enforcement seized seven bags from Loux’s person totaling 14.39 grams of methamphetamine. While on pretrial release, Loux violated court orders on multiple occasions, including continued use of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm, and failing to comply with directives from his supervising probation officer.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Loux was sentenced to 62 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 4-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Loux remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-3024.
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Eagle Butte Man Found Guilty for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Joseph Elsey, age 27, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, was found guilty of Assaulting, Impeding or Resisting a Federal Officer as a result of a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on March 16, 2022.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 1 year in custody and/or a $100,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Elsey was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 9, 2021.
The conviction stems from an incident on October 26, 2020, in Ziebach County, South Dakota, when law enforcement was called to the residence where Elsey was staying to have him removed. When law enforcement arrived, Elsey was detained but then became upset and attempted to get away from the officer. While the officer was trying further detain Elsey, he struck the officer in the leg.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl Thunem and Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date is to be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Role in 2011 Reston MurderRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national, formerly of Reston, Virginia, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for aiding and abetting a drug-related murder over a decade ago.
According to court documents, Saul Pacheco Mejia, 55, arranged to sell cocaine to individuals in Reston on December 12, 2011. On that date, Mejia and two associates arrived at an apartment in Reston in anticipation of the cocaine transaction. Instead of purchasing the cocaine, the intended customer attempted to steal the cocaine and flee. Mejia’s associates chased, shot, and killed the man. Mejia did not have a firearm, but knew the two other individuals did have firearms. Mejia and the others fled to Honduras shortly after the crime. In late 2019, Mejia was located in the United States and arrested in Texas.
Mejia pleaded guilty on July 15, 2021, to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, causing death, and abetting the use of a firearm in connection with a drug conspiracy resulting in death.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-2.
Dominican National Sentenced to Prison for Heroin Trafficking and Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGEL DeJESUS-CONCEPCION, 40, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 80 months of imprisonment for heroin and fentanyl trafficking and immigration offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began an investigation of an organization that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that members of the organization were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers. They then stored, processed and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments located at 280 Collins Street in Hartford where some members of the organization also resided, and then distributed the drug in the Hartford area, and also the Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts area.
A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at the Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, which was owned and operated by DeJesus-Concepcion’s girlfriend, Gisel De La Cruz. Investigators made multiple controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from De La Cruz, DeJesus-Concepcion and other members of the drug trafficking organization in and around the Neighborhood Supermarket.
DeJesus had previously been deported from the U.S. after a conviction for a federal narcotics offense. The investigation revealed that De La Cruz paid $20,000 to smuggle DeJesus-Concepcion back into the U.S. and, in December 2016, DeJesus-Concepcion illegally reentered the country using fake Venezuelan identification documents.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, much of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags. Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin additive. Seven firearms also were seized.
Fourteen individuals have been charged with various narcotics, firearms and immigration offenses as a result of this investigation.
DeJesus-Concepcion has been detained since his arrest on June 29, 2017. On September 17, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
De La Cruz pleaded guilty to related charges and has been sentenced.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
District Man Sentenced to 39-Month Prison Term on Weapons and Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Kenneth Deberry, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 39 months in prison for illegal possession by a felon of a firearm and assault, stemming from his arrest in separate cases, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Deberry pleaded guilty in October 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a federal offense, as well as simple assault, a District of Columbia offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan to 33 months in prison on the weapons charge, and another 180 days for assault. Following completion of his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 14, 2020, at approximately 4 p.m., MPD responded to the area of 17th and I Streets NW after reports of assaults occurring during a march taking place that day. Deberry, who was suspected of carrying out one of the assaults, was apprehended by officers. During a search, police recovered a loaded .38-caliber revolver in his waistband. Deberry was barred from possessing a firearm because of previous convictions in the District of Columbia for robbery, sexual abuse of a child, and other felony offenses. As part of the plea, the government dismissed assault and disorderly conduct charges in this incident.
Six months later, on May 14, 2021, while he was on home detention pending trial, Deberry got into an argument with a male relative at his home. During the argument, he strangled the relative, repeatedly punched him in the face, and later pushed him from behind when the man tried to flee. The man was hospitalized and suffered a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, a broken nose, and other injuries. Deberry was arrested and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the officers from the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated both incidents. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the cases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary L. Dohrmann and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily (Meg) Ariotti, who prosecuted the matter with assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle McLeod and Thomas Caldwell.
Detroit man admits to his role in a drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kaemon Bernard-Donyell King, of Detroit, Michigan, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
King, also known as “Twin,” 20, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl in Proximity to a Protected Location.” King admitted to selling fentanyl near Fairmont Senior High School and Fairmont State University in July 2020 in Marion County.
King faces at least one and up 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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 Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug Task Force and the Fairmont Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-and-detroit-residents-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation
Delaware County Man Charged with Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Murray, age 69, of Sidney, New York, was arrested and charged yesterday with possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to the complaint, Murray possessed child pornography images and videos on his phone.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Murray appeared yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was detained pending further proceedings. If convicted on this charge, Murray faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Cudahy Man Indicted on Child Pornography Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on March 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging that Gerald E. Belmore, Jr. (age: 55) of Cudahy, Wisconsin, distributed child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
If convicted, Belmore faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years of incarceration.
According to court filings, Belmore allegedly utilized a popular messaging platform to participate in chat rooms dedicated to the exchange and viewing of child pornography. He is also alleged to have acted as an “administrator” for some of these chat rooms.
Belmore’s indictment is a direct result of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office (https://go.usa.gov/xzPYS).
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer [email protected]
414-297-1700
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Armed Robberies of Two Banks and Minneapolis Apparel StoreRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for a Hobbs Act robbery and multiple armed bank robberies. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.
According to court documents, on February 4, 2018, Richard Alonzo Woods, 38, and two accomplices entered Project SoZo, a business that sold apparel and accessories in Minneapolis, brandishing handguns and threatening customers and employees. Woods and his accomplices stole jewelry, money, and cell phones from the customers, approximately $600 in cash from the register along with other store merchandise, including Nike Air Jordan shoes valued at $1,900.
According to court documents, on February 22, 2018, Woods and two accomplices entered Lake Area Bank in White Bear Lake brandishing guns and demanding money from the tellers. Surveillance video footage from the bank showed Woods jump over a counter and demand money a teller’s drawer while pointing a firearm at the teller’s head. Woods and his accomplices stole approximately $9,816 in cash from the bank.
According to court documents, on May 4, 2018, Woods and an accomplice entered Bremer Bank in Brooklyn Center brandishing guns and demanding money from the tellers. They also threatened to kill the tellers if they did not comply with the demands. A third accomplice was waiting in a getaway car. Woods and his accomplices stole approximately $88,618 in cash from the bank.
On November 10, 2021, Woods pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), two counts of armed bank robbery, two counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery.
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.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Minneapolis Police Department, the White Bear Lake Police Department, and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates and Amber M. Brennan.
Colorado Springs Woman Charged with Distributing Fentanyl Which Resulted in the Death of a Juvenile Girl at SchoolRead the Press Release
DENVER - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Alexis Nicole Wilkins has been charged by criminal complaint with distributing fentanyl resulting in death, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court documents, Wilkins allegedly distributed a fentanyl pill to two juvenile females in the parking lot of the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs, on or about December 2, 2021. The two juvenile girls to whom Wilkins allegedly dealt the fentanyl pill took the pill to school the next morning, where they shared it with a third juvenile female who overdosed and died in class as a result of taking the fentanyl.
Wilkins made her initial appearance in Federal Court in Denver on Wednesday, March 16, where she was advised by a Federal Magistrate Judge of the charge pending against her.
Distribution of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, carries a potential penalty of no less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of no more than $1,000,000, and no less than three years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department Metro, Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence (MVNI) Unit, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter McNeilly and Alyssa Mance are handling the prosecution.
The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 21-mj-00046-STV
Clifton Park Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child Pornography and Failing to RegisterRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eric William Tompkins, age 38, of Clifton Park, New York, was sentenced today to serve 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography. Tompkins also received a 43-month term of imprisonment for failing to register as a sex offender; that sentence will run concurrent to the term of imprisonment for child pornography possession.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; United States Marshal David L. McNulty; and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his previous guilty pleas, Tompkins acknowledged that, in 2009, he was convicted of a sex offense in Washington State and was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Tompkins further acknowledged that, from February 2017 until his arrest by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) in March 2019, he failed to register as a sex offender in New York and failed to update his SORNA registration in Washington. Tompkins also admitted that, at the time of his arrest in March 2019, he possessed child pornography images on his cell phone.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy further imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Tompkins is released from prison. Tompkins will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
Tompkins’ case was investigated by the USMS along with the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
Charles Phelps, Member of A Prison Gang, Sentenced to 156 Month for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On March 14, 2022, Charles Phelps, 36, currently of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 156 months by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Phelps pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual Methamphetamine, U.S.C. 21 U.S.C. § § 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(A). Following his release from prison, Phelps will be on supervised release for five years.
According to the written plea agreement filed with the court, Phelps, a member of a prison gang led by co-defendant Charles Elsea, Jr., conspired with gang members and others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine into Tennessee. One of Phelps’ roles was collecting and delivering money for the organization. On February 16, 2020, Phelps was traffic stopped with $119,000 in cash, concealed in the spare tire of his vehicle. The money was being transported out west to purchase pounds of methamphetamine. The money was seized by local law enforcement during the traffic stop. The investigation spanned the country, with multiple local and federal agencies working together to identify persons involved.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the DHS-HSI, DEA, USPS, and with the assistance of Tennessee Department of Correction Office of Investigations and Conduct; Elizabethton, and Carter County Joint Drug Task Force; Huron Undercover Narcotic Team with the Michigan State Police; the Arkansas Highway Patrol; Missouri Western Interdiction Task Force with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; California Visalia Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI Special Agent John Bulla.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez represented the United States at sentencing.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Firearm Attack on New York City Police Department OfficersRead the Press Release
Dzenan Camovic pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn to robbing a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer’s firearm and discharging the firearm at NYPD officers during the course of the robbery. The offenses took place on June 3, 2020, when Camovic attacked multiple police officers on patrol in Brooklyn. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner on March 15, 2022.
When sentenced, Camovic faces 30 years’ imprisonment pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement with the government. Camovic has stipulated that the terrorism enhancement to the United States Sentencing Guidelines—an enhanced sentence for certain criminal conduct that was calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion—is applicable to his offense. As part of his plea agreement, Camovic, a Bosnian citizen illegally in the United States, agreed to the entry of an order of removal so that he will be deported after completing his sentence. Camovic also pleaded guilty today in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn to charges arising out of the same conduct.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, FBI, New York Field Office and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the guilty plea.
“With this guilty plea, Camovic admitted robbing a police officer’s gun and shooting that gun during an extremely violent attack on officers keeping the city safe during a public emergency,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Inspired by terrorists, the defendant viciously attacked officers, stabbing one officer in the neck and shooting another in the hand. Protecting our community from terrorist attacks will always be a priority of this Office, and we will bring to justice those who commit such reprehensible acts against the community and against our law enforcement partners.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for its outstanding work on the case and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
“When Mr. Camovic ambushed and feloniously assaulted several heroic NYPD officers, it was also an attack on our city and our collective sense of security. Yesterday’s plea ensures Mr. Camovic will never again be in a position to commit such a heinous act on our soil. His case should serve as an example of the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities against extremists, while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our law enforcement partners,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“An attack on police officers who are sworn to protect the public is an attack on all of us,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell, “and our society will never tolerate such destructive violence. This prosecution affirms our joint commitment to confront, combat, and defeat violent extremism in all its forms, anywhere. I commend the NYPD detectives, FBI agents, and representatives of the more than 50 agencies that make up the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for their investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.”
As set forth in court filings and during the plea proceeding, on the evening of June 3, 2020, in the midst of a public health emergency and while New York City was under a nightly curfew order due to civil unrest, Camovic attacked several uniformed NYPD officers assigned to an anti-looting post near the intersection of Flatbush and Church Avenues in Brooklyn. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Camovic walked past two police officers on foot patrol and appeared to crouch for several minutes watching them. Camovic then moved around the block in an apparent effort to approach the two police officers from behind.
At approximately 11:50 p.m., Camovic rounded the corner from Flatbush Avenue onto Church Avenue and stabbed one of the officers (“Officer 1”) in the neck with a knife. After stabbing Officer 1, Camovic chased the second officer (“Officer 2”), lunging at him and attempting to stab him. Camovic then ran back to Officer 1, attacked him, forcibly took control of Officer 1’s firearm and fired multiple shots at Officer 2 and other officers who responded to the scene. Responding officers ultimately shot Camovic and took him into custody. Several officers suffered injuries during Camovic’s attack and robbery, including Officer 1, who was stabbed in the neck, and Officer 2, who was shot in the hand.
During his attack on the police officers, Camovic repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is the greatest,” that has been used by perpetrators of violent jihadist terror attacks during the commission of violent attacks. Prior to the attack, Camovic possessed a significant volume of radical jihadist propaganda.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig R. Heeren, Artie McConnell and Josh Hafetz are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DZENAN CAMOVIC
Age: 22
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-326 (RPK)
Birmingham Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Birmingham men pleaded guilty to the charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
Darius Emale Craig, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty on February 24, 2022, to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine. His sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2022, before Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala. Horace Dantai Burgess, Jr., 25, pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022, to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine involving his brother Darius Emale Craig, Jr., two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. His sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2022, before Judge Haikala.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine is 40 years in prison and a fine of not more than $5,000,000.
Both men are linked to the Hard to Kill gang. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the Hard to Kill gang, better known as H2K. This gang operates in the Birmingham, Alabama area and is known to be involved in acts of violence, illegal drug distribution, and illegal firearm possession.
These cases are a 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.
FBI investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Peoples and Darius Greene prosecuted the cases.
Berkeley County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Shane Worrell, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, has admitted a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Worrell, 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Worrell, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in June 2020 in Berkeley County.
Worrell faces up to 10 years of incarceration and 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 Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty to Wire and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that WAYNE TRICHE, 72, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and tax fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), respectively.
According to Court documents, TRICHE was responsible for managing a portion of the New Orleans Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund’s (“NORPRF”) investments. Rather than return the profits earned to the NOPRF, TRICHE embezzled approximately $937,658.77 and used those funds for personal expenses such as a civil court judgment, credit card charges, and gambling. The tax fraud charges stem from TRICHE’s failure to claim the embezzled funds on his personal income tax returns, resulting in tax due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $329,895.00.
As to the wire fraud charge, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. As to the tax fraud, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, a fine of up to $100,000, up to one year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. TRICHE will be sentenced on June 14, 2022.
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like Mr. Wayne Triche who engage in financial fraud will be discovered and held accountable. The FBI is determined to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who are committing financial crimes to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana and Internal Revenue Service for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight.
Austin Powder Company Agrees to Improve Wastewater Treatment Facilities at Red Diamond Plant in McArthur, Ohio; Pay $2.3 Million Civil PenaltyRead the Press Release
Austin Powder Company, owner and operator of the Red Diamond explosives manufacturing plant located near McArthur, Ohio, has agreed to implement significant upgrades to that facility’s wastewater treatment operations to resolve numerous Clean Water Act violations. It will also pay a civil penalty of $2.3 million.
The complaint, filed contemporaneously with the settlement, alleges that since 2013 the facility has had hundreds of discharges of pollutants in violation of the effluent limitations in its permits and failed to fully comply with an earlier EPA Administrative Order on Consent which sought to resolve these concerns.
“Industrial dischargers must ensure their operations do not foul our nation’s waters,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The improvements required by this settlement will greatly improve Austin Powder’s compliance with its permits and improve the health of the Ohio River and its tributaries.”
“This settlement will prevent tens of thousands of pounds of pollutants from entering Ohio streams and rivers each year,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Ohio communities will benefit from cleaner water and a healthier environment.”
Under the proposed settlement, Austin Powder will invest approximately $3 million to improve two of its wastewater treatment plants, including implementing comprehensive operation and maintenance plans. The company has already eliminated discharges from four other on-site plants and under the consent decree will eliminate discharges from a fifth plant. These improvements will be completed on or before Dec. 31.
This agreement will improve water quality in the tributaries of Raccoon Creek and Elk Fork, both of which are tributaries to the Ohio River. Implementing the consent decree will reduce pollutants discharged from the Red Diamond Plant into these two water bodies by approximately 84,000 pounds annually.
The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval after it is published in the Federal Register. To view the consent decree or to submit a comment, visit the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
Auburn Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Auburn man was sentenced today in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced John Edwards, 50, to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Edwards’ criminal history includes a 2015 Ohio conviction for felony domestic violence; it is against federal law for a felon to possess a firearm.
According to court records, on November 14, 2020, an Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the area of Sullivan Road in Greene for a report of a male walking outside a residence shooting a firearm. Upon arrival in the area, the deputy observed Edwards holding a shotgun and firing it. After multiple commands, Edwards dropped the weapon and put his hands above his head. The deputy also observed that Edwards was intoxicated.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
The prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. PSN is customized to account for local violent crime problems and resources. Across all districts, PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.
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15 March 2022
York Man Sentenced to 165 Months’ Imprisonment for Smuggling Cocaine Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Elmer Rodriguez, age 51, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 14, 2022, to 165 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. In July 2018, Rodriguez attempted to receive five parcels he knew each contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. The parcels had been shipped from Puerto Rico and were destined for five different addresses in York County. United States Postal Inspectors intercepted the parcels and discovered the cocaine. Law enforcement authorities continued the investigation by conducting a controlled delivery of one of the parcels. When Rodriguez’s wife, Marangely Olivencia, took custody of the parcel, she was arrested. Olivencia, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment for her role in the offense.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom prosecuted the case.
This case was part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Wetzel County woman admits to mail fraudRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Rhonda Kay Spencer, of Pine Grove, West Virginia, has admitted to mail fraud, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Spencer, 52, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Mail Fraud.” At the time of the offense, Spencer was employed as the Recorder for the Town of Pine Grove, West Virginia. Spencer submitted an application to WorkForce West Virginia, requesting CARES Act unemployment distributed by the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program in April 2020. Spencer then submitted weekly certifications to WorkForce, falsely stating that she was unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spencer obtained approximately $14,308 during this scheme.
Spencer faces up 20 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 Danae DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Auditor’s Office Public Integrity Fraud Unit and WorkForce West Virginia Office of Inspector General investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Waianae Man Receives 25 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Brandan Grilho, 37, of Waianae, was sentenced today in federal court by United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and a consecutive five years imprisonment for possession of a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking, plus five years on supervised release. Grilho has been detained since his arrest on August 12, 2020.
According to court records, Grilho led a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Waianae from December 2019 to April 2020. During the conspiracy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) used a confidential informant and an undercover officer to make five controlled purchases of methamphetamine in amounts ranging from one to three ounces from the conspirators. On April 29, 2020, DEA and HPD executed search warrants at two Waianae residences used by conspirators, seizing methamphetamine, two firearms, more than 300 rounds of ammunition, approximately $6,500 cash, and items that subsequently led to the seizure of approximately $10,000 cash from a safety deposit box. Based on the evidence presented by the government, the Court determined that Grilho distributed at least 120 pounds of methamphetamine during the two years prior to the execution of the search warrants.
Codefendants Kanio Aipolanikaaihue and Jaime Wallace were sentenced by Judge Watson to 57 months imprisonment plus three years supervised release on October 21, 2021, and December 7, 2021, respectively. Codefendant Leslie Reyes-Grilho is scheduled for sentencing on April 19, 2022.
This case was the result of an investigation by DEA and HPD with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan is prosecuting the case.
Violent robbery spree leads to nearly two decades in prison for Savannah felonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison after admitting his role in a series of convenience store armed robberies.
Garnell Dewitt Quarterman, 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered Quarterman to pay restitution of $19,201.49 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Garnell Quarterman and his co-defendant terrorized store employees and customers during a three-month period until the diligent work of our law enforcement partners halted their crime spree and brought them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office will be relentless in targeting violet criminals who threaten the safety of our communities.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Quarterman had multiple prior felony convictions for drugs, theft, and violence. Months after being released from custody in Maryland for armed robbery, Quarterman came to Savannah and robbed or attempted to rob 12 Chatham County convenience stores at gunpoint from Nov. 9, 2019, through Jan. 6, 2020. During one of the robberies, an accomplice fired a bullet near a store clerk to facilitate Quarterman’s escape. Quarterman chose to rob some of the same stores on multiple occasions, and as a result, some victims had to endure being robbed twice by Quarterman at gunpoint days or weeks apart.
Quarterman’s co-defendant, Malic Stephens, 28, of Savannah, previously pled guilty to his role in the robbery conspiracy and is serving a 150-month federal sentence.
“Carrying weapons into peaceful places of business and terrorizing hard-working citizens is something the FBI and our law enforcement partners will make every effort to prosecute and punish,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully the lengthy sentence received by Quarterman will bring some sense of comfort to the victims he terrorized.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, Garden City Police Department, and Chatham County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Announces the Successful Forfeiture and Return of Stolen Cryptocurrency to Elderly Man Victimized by Government Imposter ScamRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today the civil forfeiture and return of cryptocurrency worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that was stolen from an older adult victimized by a government imposter scam. This is the latest public legal action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its ongoing efforts to combat fraudsters seeking to financially exploit the elderly.
According to allegations contained in the civil complaint, in August 2021, fraudsters likely operating from overseas contacted by telephone the victim, who is an elderly Asheville resident, claiming to be with the “Office of the Inspector General.” The fraudsters deceived the victim into believing his personal information had been used to facilitate a drug trafficking and money laundering scheme, and as a result all of the victim’s assets would be frozen. One of the imposters, who identified himself as Agent James Hoffman, told the victim that he was required to deposit funds into a secure government account until the government verified that the victim was not involved in criminal activity. The imposters further demanded all of the victim’s personal identifying information (PII) and details regarding his financial accounts.
According to the filed complaint, the imposters directed the victim to use hundreds of thousands of dollars of his retirement funds to purchase Bitcoin through Coinbase Global, Inc. (Coinbase). On August 31, 2021, 12.164699 Bitcoin, worth approximately $574,766, was transferred from the victim’s Coinbase account to the account controlled by the imposters. Coinbase and the FBI ultimately identified the transfer as possible elder financial fraud. Following an investigation and successful civil forfeiture proceedings, the seized cryptocurrency was forfeited to the United States and will be returned to the victim.
“Government imposter scams are pervasive and can be financially and psychologically devastating for those who fall prey. Thankfully, in this instance, the fraud was detected quickly and the stolen funds will be returned to the victim. Unfortunately, the majority of these cases do not share a similar ending,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Law enforcement and federal prosecutors will continue to use all tools at our disposal to make sure that thieves do not get to keep criminal proceeds, but public awareness and education remain key, especially when it comes to protecting older adults from becoming victims. I urge everyone to learn how to spot imposter scams and help warn others.”
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI for its work in this case and thanked cryptocurrency exchanges and entities and financial institutions operating in the Western District of North Carolina for their cooperation and ongoing efforts to detect and report financial fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, handled the civil forfeiture proceedings and Trial Attorney Jane Lee of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section assisted with remitting the assets to the victim.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative, continues to combat financial fraud against older Americans by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors, educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud, and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners.
Some examples of financial scams targeting seniors are:
• Lottery phone scams – Scammers persuade seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
• Grandparent scams – Scammers convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to pay rent, repair a car, or make bail.
• Romance scams – Scammers lull victims into believing that they are in a romantic relationship and that the scammers need money to travel to the U.S. or for some other purpose.
• IRS or government imposter scams – Scammers pose as IRS or other government officials claiming that the victims owe the government money.
• Sham business opportunities – Scammers convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.
Many of these schemes involve not only scammers stealing money from seniors but also using seniors as unwitting financial “money mules” to transfer criminal proceeds stolen from other fraud victims.
To avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
• Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
• Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
• Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
• Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls or texts.
• Don’t send gift cards, checks or money orders, wire money, make cryptocurrency payments or give your bank account information to a stranger.
• Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.
• If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
• Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
• Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
• A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
If you have been contacted by a scammer or believe you have fallen victim to a scam please file a report with:
- The Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-Fraud-11 (1-833-372-8311).
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their website or by calling 877–FTC–HELP (877-382-4357).
- The FBI, for law enforcement action at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud.
The National Elder Fraud hotline was created for the public to report fraud against individuals who are age 60 or older. The hotline is open seven days a week. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.
Two Springfield Residents Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Five Grams or More of Actual MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A woman and a man from Springfield, Illinois, Brandy Friday, 36, and Brent Garner, 42, both of the 1200 block of South Livingston, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
Friday pleaded guilty to the offense on March 2, 2022, and her sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2022, at the federal courthouse in Springfield. Garner entered a plea of guilty on March 14, 2022, and his sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2022, also at the federal courthouse in Springfield.
Both Friday and Garner remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
Friday faces statutory penalties of up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. Garner faces statutory penalties of up to life imprisonment, up to an $8,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the West Central Illinois Task Force; the Quincy Police Department; and the Springfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir is representing the government in the prosecution.
Two Mexican Nationals Extradited to U.S. on Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Two Mexican nationals were extradited to the United States to face firearm charges.
According to court documents, Maria Crisol Zuniga Alvarado, 40, and Carlos Antonio Torres Sandoval, aka Pichi, 42, were extradited by Mexican authorities for their roles in firearms violations. An investigation by law enforcement authorities identified a group of individuals in El Paso that were responsible for unlawfully exporting large numbers of firearms from the United States to Mexico between June 2017 and March 2018. The investigation identified Sandoval as the leader of the organization.
The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs (OIA) worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas to prepare a formal extradition request that was presented to Mexican authorities on November 9, 2020. Sandoval and Alvarado were arrested pursuant to that extradition request.
Alvarado and Sandoval are charged with one count of Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States and one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States and Aiding and Abetting the Same. Sandoval also is charged with one count of False Statement During a Firearm Acquisition and Aiding and Abetting the Same. On March 8, 2022, Alvarado was detained without bond. Sandoval is scheduled for an arraignment and detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Miguel A. Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to smuggle charge and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the smuggling charge. Sandoval also faces an additional maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the false statement charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek, II; and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Frank Burrola made the announcement.
The ATF and HSI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Rasmussen is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Admit Roles in Burlington County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Two members of an extensive drug-trafficking organization, including the leader of the organization, today admitted distributing large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Burlington County, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
Herbert Mays, 65, of Willingboro, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court to Counts One and Two of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine.
Julius Thigpen, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, another member of the same organization, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Ten other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy – Andre Perkins, Brandon Watts, Craig Moore, John Petrovich, Mecca Grant, Nathaniel McCoy, Ronnie Dawson, Samantha Bolhert, Teron Huggins, and Tracy Williams – previously pleaded guilty. The charges against eight other defendants remain pending.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between July 2019 and September 2019, the defendants and others engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in municipalities throughout Burlington County – including Willingboro, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Bordentown Township, and Edgewater Park – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine. Law enforcement officials learned that defendants obtained regular supplies of cocaine from co-conspirators in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere and then redistributed that cocaine, portions of which defendants converted into crack cocaine, for profit, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users throughout Burlington County and elsewhere. Law enforcement officials intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine and crack cocaine quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.
The counts to which Mays pleaded guilty each carry a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of a life in prison, and up to a $10 million fine. The count to which Thipgen pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and up to a $5 million fine. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for July 20, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Field Office, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Scott Coffina; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Bruce Painter; officers of the Willingboro Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Ian Bucs; officers of the Burlington City Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Fine; officers of the Florence Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Boldizar; officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Pesce; officers of the Edgewater Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Hess; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Albert Rhodes; officers of the Westampton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Stephen Ent; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Steve Wilson with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton and Andrew B. Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints against the eight remaining defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy that Distributed over 1,100 Pounds of Cocaine in the Cleveland AreaRead the Press Release
Federal law enforcement officials today announced the arrest of three men charged in a 30-count indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that is alleged to have brought over 500 kilograms, or approximately 1,100 pounds, of cocaine from Mexico to be redistributed in the Cleveland area.
“Drug trafficking organizations target communities like Cleveland because they mistakenly assume nobody is paying attention,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “To those drug traffickers, both foreign and domestic, who think that our communities and neighborhoods here in Northern Ohio are open for your businesses – know that we are watching, we are paying attention, we will act and we will not stand for it.”
“Thanks to the professionalism and diligence of the agents and officers working this case, we have disrupted an organization that coordinated not only the delivery of significant amounts of cocaine into Cleveland, but the delivery of drug proceeds into the hands of their Mexican source of supply,” said Kent R. Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Detroit Field Division. “These arrests are a testament to the coordinated efforts between state, local and federal law enforcement. We will continue to maximize all of our combined resources to bring those who traffic drugs into our communities to justice.”
Arrested today and charged in the indictment are Christopher Ficklin, 49, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Robert Atkinson, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally charged in the indictment as part of the drug trafficking organization is David Gomez-Orrantia, 41, of Mexico. Gomez-Orrantia was arrested on March 11, 2022. Other members of the organization remain at large.
Each member of the drug trafficking organization is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Members of the drug trafficking organization are also charged with various additional counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, international money laundering and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Defendant Ficklin is also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, around June of 2020, Gomez-Orrantia and others shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico to a warehouse controlled by defendant Ficklin on Carnegie Avenue in the city of Cleveland. The indictment states that Ficklin then redistributed the drugs to Atkinson and others to be further redistributed throughout the area.
It is alleged that the conspirators used trucks and vehicles fitted with traps and hidden compartments to store the cocaine when it was transported to the city. After the drugs were delivered, it is alleged that members of the conspiracy then transported drug trafficking proceeds back to Mexico using the same vehicles and hidden compartments and documented the transactions in a hand-written ledger.
Furthermore, the indictment charges members of the conspiracy with using multiple cell phones and coded terminology in an attempt to conceal their activity.
In total, it is alleged that the drug trafficking organization shipped over 1,100 pounds of cocaine from Mexico to be distributed in the Cleveland area and sent approximately 13 million in drug trafficking proceeds back to Mexico.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the DEA, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sherriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Additional assistance was provided by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA – El Paso, Customs Border Patrol (CBP) Sandusky Bay Border Patrol Intelligence, CBP – El Paso and the Lorain County Drug Taskforce.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Kolansky.
Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy Causing More Than $5 Million in False Tax Refund FilingsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida–United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Eurich Z. Griffin III has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States by promoting a tax fraud scheme and helping others prepare and file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Griffin faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between 2013 and 2018, Griffin offered tax-preparation and consulting services to clients for a fee and recruited clients by convincing them that their mortgage debt payments entitled them to tax refunds, and helped to prepare and present false tax returns on their behalf. These tax returns falsely claimed that banks and other financial institutions had withheld large amounts of income tax from the clients, thereby entitling them to refunds. In reality, the financial institutions had not paid any income to or withheld any taxes from these individuals. To make the refund claims appear legitimate, however, Griffin and the conspirators filed tax documents with the IRS that matched the withholding information listed on the tax returns. These tax returns collectively sought $5,231,749.15 from the IRS. As part of the conspiracy, Griffin also independently submitted six fictitious instruments totaling $1,354,809.21 to the IRS.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. The IRS-CI investigates those who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty of filing and paying their fair share of taxes. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
Strongsville Man Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling $375k from Employer and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that Angelo Kanaris, 42, of Strongsville, Ohio, was sentenced on Monday, March 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko to six months in prison, six months of home confinement and ordered to pay $87,068 in restitution to the IRS after Kanaris pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of bank fraud and four counts of filing a false tax return.
According to court documents, beginning in 2013, Kanaris worked as an accountant for a Cleveland-area company, where he was responsible for writing checks to the company vendors and preparing sales tax returns. During this time, Kanaris began writing checks ostensibly on behalf of the company to third-party vendors; however, Kanaris used a mobile deposit feature to deposit these checks into his bank account for personal use.
From in or around 2013 through 2017, Kanaris embezzled approximately $375,656.55 from the company while working as an accountant. Additionally, Kanaris failed to report this income change as taxable income on his personal tax returns for the years 2013 through 2017.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro A. Abreu.
St. Albans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shane Kelly Fulkerson, 44, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to federal drug crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 2021 until September 2021, Fulkerson participated in a drug trafficking ring operating in and around St. Albans. Fulkerson admitted he obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from out-of-state and distributed it in and around St. Albans. Fulkerson admitted selling more than 100 grams of methamphetamine to an informant on three occasions in July and August 2021. On August 11, 2021, Fulkerson fled on a motorcycle from Putnam County Deputies in Poca. He was arrested after dropping the motorcycle in a private yard near Winfield and fleeing on foot. Police recovered 95 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded pistol, and more than $70,000 from Fulkerson’s backpack. The next morning, FBI and drug task force personnel executed a search warrant at Fulkerson’s St. Albans residence where they seized more than eight pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 22 firearms, and several vehicles which were used to facilitate drug trafficking or were purchased with drug proceeds.
Fulkerson pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on June 16, 2022.
This case is part of a long-term investigation of a methamphetamine distribution network that resulted in 17 individuals being charged with various drug and firearms offenses in three separate indictments.
James Edward Bennett, III, Denise Marie Cottrill, Angie Lane Harbour, Michael Antonio Smith, and Jason Robert Oxley have already pleaded guilty. Timothy Wayne Dodd is scheduled for trial on March 22, 2022. The remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on May 3, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is handling the prosecution.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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 Nos. 2:21-cr-00172, 2:21-cr-00171, and 2:21-cr-00211.
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Serial Fraudster Pleads Guilty in U.S. District Court in Maryland to Two New Fraud Schemes and to Violating His Supervised Release for a Previous Federal Fraud ConvictionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Jason Evans, age 47, formerly of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of bank fraud, in connection with two separate fraud schemes, to aggravated identity theft, and to violating his supervised release on a previous federal bank fraud conviction.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Russell E. Hamill III of the Laurel Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, in 2015, Evans was sentenced to four years in federal prison, and began five years of supervised release on January 17, 2018. Evans admitted that from June 29, 2019 through August 30, 2019, he fraudulently obtained and used a credit card in the name and identity of “JM” using JM’s name, date of birth and social security number. The bank approving the credit card application also opened a business account connected to that credit card. Evans then obtained a counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license bearing the name of JM and a photograph of Evans, with the date of birth altered to be consistent with Evans’ age.
On July 30, 2019, Evans presented the credit card and the counterfeit driver’s license at a bank in the 7900 block of Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and requested a cash advance of $14,400, which the bank approved. The next day, Evan used the credit card and counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license at a store in Annapolis, Maryland, to purchase Apple merchandise totaling $12,114.74, including nine iPhone XS Max cell phones. On August 6, 2019, Evans presented the credit card and counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license in JM’s name at a bank in the 1000 block of Washington Boulevard in Laurel, Maryland, and requested a cash advance of $14,400. The cash advance was not immediately approved due to a problem with the bank’s computer system, but before the system could be rebooted and the transaction identified as fraudulent, Evans left the bank, leaving the fraudulently obtained credit card and counterfeit license in JM’s name behind.
Evans obtained or attempted to obtain at least $65,000 using accounts opened in the identities of JM and other victims.
On December 11, 2019, Evans was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court in Maryland, as well as with violating his supervised release. Evans was placed on 24/7 home detention with electronic monitoring. On October 19, 2020, Evans was allowed out on a curfew, but still had electronic monitoring. On April 21, 2021, Evans was released from electronic monitoring.
After he was taken off 24/7 lockdown, Evans resumed his criminal conduct with an entirely new fraud scheme. From on or about January 12, 2021, through on or about August 2, 2021, Evans used counterfeit credit cards bearing real numbers of accounts from two separate, federally insured, banks to purchase gift cards and other items from food stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland, ultimately obtaining at least $59,837.79 in gift cards. The counterfeit credit cards were embossed with the number to be used, but were not properly encoded, so that they did not “swipe” and had to be hand entered by the clerks.
Evans used two separate counterfeit credit cards to purchase a $450 Visa gift card, plus a $5.59 fee, at a food store in Lusby, Maryland on June 21, 2021, and to purchase a $480 Visa gift card, plus a $5.59 fee and a $1.00 donation to charity, at a food store located at Bel Air, Maryland on July 9, 2021.
On July 25, 2021, Evans was arrested in Delaware as a result of attempting a fraudulent transaction and was found to have counterfeit credit cards and identifications, an embosser, and drugs in his possession.
As part of his plea agreement, Evan will be required to forfeit and pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $124,837.79.
Evans and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Evans will be sentenced to between 57 and 66 months in federal prison, not including the anticipated penalty of between eight and 14 months in prison for the violation of supervised release, which U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett advised Evans he would impose consecutively to the sentence for the new fraud offenses. Judge Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2022, at 11 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Secret Service and the Laurel Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Probation Office and the Delaware Department of Justice for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamera L. Fine and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Seneca County Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the U.S. Coast GuardRead the Press Release
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dennis Daniels, 72, of Romulus, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to mail fraud and willful failure to file an income tax return. The charges carry a maximum of penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that Daniels owned and operated Sea Tech Marine Training, which offered U.S. Coast Guard approved training courses to include operator uninspected passenger vessel (OUPV), one-hundred-ton masters license (Masters), assistance towing endorsement and auxiliary sail endorsement. Daniels also owned and operated Sea Test, a business that offered drug testing programs for United States Coast Guard license holders. Between 2014 and 2017, Daniels received gross income totaling approximately $665,327 but failed to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for those years. The tax owed on the unreported income was approximately $115,757.
In addition, in January and February 2019, Daniels taught 24 students the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved OUPV course with a Masters upgrade. The course should have included 80 hours of classroom instruction time, however, Daniels only provided 51 hours of classroom instruction. In addition, Daniels provided the students with the answers to certain examination questions and instructed students to provide false information regarding prior sea service.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Neal Marzloff, Special Agent-in-Charge, Central Region; the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 7, 2022, before Judge Sinatra.
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San Fernando Valley Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Illegal Gun SalesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A North Hollywood man has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an unlicensed gun broker by selling 16 rifles and handguns – many without serial numbers – as well as various firearms accessories over a seven-week period.
In a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court, Arthur Muradyan, 32, of North Hollywood, agreed to plead guilty to engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.
Muradyan also agreed to plead guilty to distributing methamphetamine for selling nearly a pound of the drug to an undercover operative.
Muradyan “willfully offered to, and did, sell firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition, including: machineguns; semiautomatic firearms with large capacity magazines; firearms bearing no legitimate manufacturer’s mark or serial number (commonly referred to as “ghost guns”); and unregistered and unserialized short-barreled rifles,” he admitted in the plea agreement. Many of the guns had been trafficked from Las Vegas.
The firearm sales were made to an informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives between August 11 and September 29, 2021.
Muradyan sold 423.7 grams of methamphetamine to the informant on September 8, 2021, the same day he also sold a semi-automatic 9mm handgun and a machinegun conversion device commonly called a “Glock switch.”
After the last gun sale on September 29, 2021 – in which Muradyan sold a short-barreled AR-15-type rifle with no serial number that also had a 3D printed machinegun conversion device attached to it, another AR-15-type rifle with an obliterated serial number, a semi-automatic 9mm handgun, and another 9mm pistol with no serial number – authorities search his residence and recovered 23 firearms, assorted magazines and ammunition of various calibers, and firearms component parts and accessories. Muradyan illegally possessed those seized firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of felony burglary offenses in two cases.
The court has not yet scheduled a date for Muradyan to formally enter his guilty pleas.
Once he pleads guilty, Muradyan will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the narcotics distribution offense, as well as a maximum statutory penalty of five years for the firearms-related offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles Firearms Trafficking Strike Force, which is spearheaded by the ATF and the United States Attorney’s Office. The Los Angeles Police Department provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregg E. Marmaro of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this matter.
Sales Representative Charged in Federal Indictment Alleging Procurement Fraud at Chicago Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An ongoing federal investigation into an alleged procurement fraud scheme at a Chicago elementary school has resulted in charges against a sales representative for a Chicago Public Schools vendor.
An indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges that DEBRA M. BANNACK schemed with the Principal and Business Manager of Brennemann Elementary School on the North Side of Chicago to submit false purchase orders to CPS for school materials that Bannack’s company would purportedly supply. In reality, Bannack’s company provided iPhones, iPads, and pre-paid gift cards to the Principal, Business Manager, and others at the school, for their personal use, the indictment alleges. As a result of the scheme, Bannack and the CPS employees fraudulently misappropriated approximately $75,000 in CPS funds to which they were not entitled, the indictment states.
Bannack, 62, of Schaumburg, Ill., is charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Each of the counts is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The Principal – SARAH JACKSON ABEDELAL, of Chicago – and the Business Manager – WILLIAM JACKSON, of Chicago – were previously charged with participating in the fraud scheme. Abedelal and Jackson have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The Bannack indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Will Fletcher, Inspector General of the Chicago Board of Education, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Terry M. Kinney and Patrick Mott.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Roger Roberts, 50, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to receipt of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that between May 5 and October 19, 2020, Roberts engaged in Snapchat communications with a 13-year-old girl living in England. Roberts persuaded the girl to send sexually explicit photos and videos involving herself and a five-year-old girl.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
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Providence Man Admits Accessing Child Pornography via Anonymous Internet NetworkRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man today admitted in federal court in Rhode Island that he accessed child pornography via an Internet network designed to facilitate anonymous communications and hide the identity of individuals seeking to view, upload, or download child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
John A. Amaral, 29, pled guilty to possessing and accessing child pornography.
According to charging documents and information presented to the court, Amaral was among individuals whose IP address was identified by the FBI as being used to access the online network. Administrators of the network had established protocols that made it difficult for law enforcement to identify individual IP users. They did so by utilizing software that caused users to move through several online networks around the world before finally accessing the website’s content, thus making it difficult to identify the IP address.
With the authorization of a federal court judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, the FBI employed a Network Investigative Technique that allowed them to log in to the network and, through investigative techniques, identify IP users who were accessing the network. The FBI determined that an IP address used by Amaral at his residence accessed the network on several occasions to view sexually explicit videos and images depicting prepubescent children and prepubescent children being sexually abused.
As a result of the FBI investigation, the Department of Justice seized the website.
Amaral is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2022.
This Project Safe Childhood case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly.
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Prior Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to New Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jerry Stearns, 50, of Clifton Springs, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor following a prior conviction. The charge carries carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that in February 2005, Stearns was convicted in on a federal charge of possession of child pornography and sentenced to serve 120 months in prison and 10 years supervised release. On May 13, 2019, while still on supervised release, Stearns possessed images of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent minors.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2022, before Judge Wolford.
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Pennsylvania man indicted for bank robberiesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William J. Birdsall, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, was indicted today in connection to two bank robberies, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Birdsall, 50, was indicted today on two counts of “Bank Robbery.” Birdsall is accused of robbing the Bank of Romney in Hampshire County on September 22, 2021, taking $13,420 in cash. He is also charged with robbing the M&T Bank in Mineral County on February 3, 2022, taking $1,200 in cash.
Birdsall is facing up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. 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 Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
PPEI and President Kory Willis Plead Guilty and Agree to Pay $3.1 Million in Criminal Fines and Civil Penalties for the Manufacture and Sale of Illegal Delete Devices and Tunes for Diesel TrucksRead the Press Release
Louisiana-based company Power Performance Enterprises Inc. (PPEI) and its President and owner, Kory B. Willis, pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court in Sacramento, California. Both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and to violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with the monitoring devices of emissions control systems of diesel trucks.
In addition to the criminal charges, the United States also filed a civil complaint against PPEI and Willis today in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act’s prohibition against the sale or manufacture of devices that bypass, defeat, or render inoperative emissions controls. Under the criminal plea agreements and a proposed civil consent decree, PPEI and Willis agreed to pay a total of $3.1 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. Under the civil settlement, both Willis and the company agree not to manufacture, sell or install any device that defeats emissions controls.
“The manufacture and sale of illegal delete devices and tunes such as the ones targeted by today’s actions put at risk decades of progress in controlling harmful pollution from motor vehicles in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “As the plea agreements and civil settlement show, we will vigorously enforce the prohibitions on delete devices and tunes, using all appropriate enforcement tools.”
“The defendants sold products nationwide that allowed drivers to illegally tamper with emissions controls in a manner that caused dramatic increases in emissions,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Environmental laws that control diesel pollution protect the environment and the health of the general public and are especially important to protect sensitive populations such as the young, the elderly, and people who suffer from respiratory conditions. Thanks to the work of the EPA, these guilty pleas will send a message to the delete device industry that disregarding federal environmental laws will result in federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who place profit above the public’s health and the environment.”
“The actions of Power Performance Enterprises Inc. and its President and owner, Kory B. Willis, that advanced them to the top of the delete tuning market have caused and will continue to cause the emissions of dangerous compounds into the environment which could contribute to serious health issues,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “This proposed civil settlement sends a clear message that these types of violations will not be tolerated and those who violate these environmental laws will be held accountable.”
“EPA estimates that the defeat devices illegally sold by the defendants are expected to cause the release of over 100 million pounds of excess air pollutants over the life of the diesel trucks in which they were installed,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case clearly demonstrates the negative environmental impact of defeat devices and EPA’s commitment to vigorously enforcing laws designed to protect public health and the environment.”
According to court documents, from PPEI’s incorporation in 2009 until 2019, PPEI and Willis were among the nation’s most prominent developers of custom software known as “tunes,” and in particular, “delete tunes.” Generally, tunes can alter a diesel truck’s fuel delivery, power parameters and emissions. PPEI and Willis were well known for their custom delete tunes, software which allows a “deleted” truck to appear to run normally. A deleted vehicle is one that has had emissions controls removed or disabled, resulting in vastly increased emissions of air pollution.
Willis and PPEI reached the top of the illegal delete tuning market, tuning over 175,000 vehicles according to Willis. Willis also stated that PPEI was the biggest custom tuning company in the world, had over 100,000 customers, and tuned more than 500 vehicles a week. According to internal PPEI records, PPEI typically sold well over $1 million dollars of product a month. According to EPA calculations of the estimated emissions impact, PPEI’s sales of delete tunes between 2013 and 2018 alone are anticipated to cause over 100 million excess pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions over the life of the diesel trucks equipped with those products.
Deleting a diesel truck causes its emissions to increase dramatically. For example, for a fully deleted truck, which has had all emissions equipment removed or disabled, EPA testing quantified the increased emissions as follows: NOx increased 310 times, non-methane hydrocarbons increased 1,400 times, carbon monoxide increased 120 times, and particulate matter increased 40 times. EPA’s Air Enforcement Division released a report in November 2020 finding that more than half a million diesel pickup trucks in the United States — approximately 15% of U.S. diesel trucks that were originally certified with emissions controls — have been illegally deleted.
Diesel emissions include multiple hazardous compounds and harm human health and the environment. Diesel emissions have been found to cause and worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung cancer. One study indicated that 21,000 American deaths annually are attributable to diesel particulate matter. Exposure to polluted air in utero also has been associated with a host of problems with lifelong ramifications including low birth weight, preterm birth, autism, brain/memory disorders and asthma.
Under the proposed civil settlement, defendants PPEI and Willis will pay $1,550,000 in civil penalties and agree not to manufacture, sell, or install any device that bypasses, defeats, or renders inoperative motor vehicle emissions controls. The defendants will not sell or transfer the intellectual property associated with these products, and will destroy illegal products still in inventory, cease warranty support for previously sold products, revise marketing materials, notify customers and dealers of the law and the settlement, and train employees and contractors. According to civil court documents, Willis and PPEI halted sales of specified delete devices in the fall of 2019 following enforcement activity by EPA.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in the criminal case by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Aug. 23. Willis faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years of incarceration on the conspiracy count, two years of incarceration on the tampering count, and for each count a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. PPEI faces for each count a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. Under the plea agreements, the defendants agree to jointly and severally pay a $1,550,000 criminal fine. The sentences will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of all applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The criminal case was the product of an investigation by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine T. Lydon of the Eastern District of California and Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) are prosecuting the criminal case. The federal civil case is being handled by Senior Counsel Nicole Veilleux of the Environmental Enforcement Section of ENRD and Attorney-Advisor Ed Kulschinsky of the Air Enforcement Division of the EPA.
Stopping the manufacture, sale and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for EPA. To learn more, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines.
The consent decree for this settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree, and information on submitting comments will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
PPEI and President Kory Willis Plead Guilty and Agree to Pay $3.1 Million in Criminal Fines and Civil Penalties for the Manufacture and Sale of Illegal Delete Devices and Tunes for Diesel TrucksRead the Press Release
Louisiana-based company Power Performance Enterprises Inc. (PPEI) and its President and owner, Kory B. Willis, pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court in Sacramento, California. Both defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and to violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with the monitoring devices of emissions control systems of diesel trucks.
In addition to the criminal charges, the United States also filed a civil complaint against PPEI and Willis today in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act’s prohibition against the sale or manufacture of devices that bypass, defeat, or render inoperative emissions controls. Under the criminal plea agreements and a proposed civil consent decree, PPEI and Willis agreed to pay a total of $3.1 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. Under the civil settlement, both Willis and the company agree not to manufacture, sell or install any device that defeats emissions controls.
“The manufacture and sale of illegal delete devices and tunes such as the ones targeted by today’s actions put at risk decades of progress in controlling harmful pollution from motor vehicles in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “As the plea agreements and civil settlement show, we will vigorously enforce the prohibitions on delete devices and tunes, using all appropriate enforcement tools.”
“The defendants sold products nationwide that allowed drivers to illegally tamper with emissions controls in a manner that caused dramatic increases in emissions,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Environmental laws that control diesel pollution protect the environment and the health of the general public and are especially important to protect sensitive populations such as the young, the elderly, and people who suffer from respiratory conditions. Thanks to the work of the EPA, these guilty pleas will send a message to the delete device industry that disregarding federal environmental laws will result in federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who place profit above the public’s health and the environment.”
“The actions of Power Performance Enterprises Inc. and its President and owner, Kory B. Willis, that advanced them to the top of the delete tuning market have caused and will continue to cause the emissions of dangerous compounds into the environment which could contribute to serious health issues,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “This proposed civil settlement sends a clear message that these types of violations will not be tolerated and those who violate these environmental laws will be held accountable.”
“EPA estimates that the defeat devices illegally sold by the defendants are expected to cause the release of over 100 million pounds of excess air pollutants over the life of the diesel trucks in which they were installed,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case clearly demonstrates the negative environmental impact of defeat devices and EPA’s commitment to vigorously enforcing laws designed to protect public health and the environment.”
According to court documents, from PPEI’s incorporation in 2009 until 2019, PPEI and Willis were among the nation’s most prominent developers of custom software known as “tunes,” and in particular, “delete tunes.” Generally, tunes can alter a diesel truck’s fuel delivery, power parameters and emissions. PPEI and Willis were well known for their custom delete tunes, software which allows a “deleted” truck to appear to run normally. A deleted vehicle is one that has had emissions controls removed or disabled, resulting in vastly increased emissions of air pollution.
Willis and PPEI reached the top of the illegal delete tuning market, tuning over 175,000 vehicles according to Willis. Willis also stated that PPEI was the biggest custom tuning company in the world, had over 100,000 customers, and tuned more than 500 vehicles a week. According to internal PPEI records, PPEI typically sold well over $1 million dollars of product a month. According to EPA calculations of the estimated emissions impact, PPEI’s sales of delete tunes between 2013 and 2018 alone are anticipated to cause over 100 million excess pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions over the life of the diesel trucks equipped with those products.
Deleting a diesel truck causes its emissions to increase dramatically. For example, for a fully deleted truck, which has had all emissions equipment removed or disabled, EPA testing quantified the increased emissions as follows: NOx increased 310 times, non-methane hydrocarbons increased 1,400 times, carbon monoxide increased 120 times, and particulate matter increased 40 times. EPA’s Air Enforcement Division released a report in November 2020 finding that more than half a million diesel pickup trucks in the United States — approximately 15% of U.S. diesel trucks that were originally certified with emissions controls — have been illegally deleted.
Diesel emissions include multiple hazardous compounds and harm human health and the environment. Diesel emissions have been found to cause and worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung cancer. One study indicated that 21,000 American deaths annually are attributable to diesel particulate matter. Exposure to polluted air in utero also has been associated with a host of problems with lifelong ramifications including low birth weight, preterm birth, autism, brain/memory disorders and asthma.
Under the proposed civil settlement, defendants PPEI and Willis will pay $1,550,000 in civil penalties and agree not to manufacture, sell, or install any device that bypasses, defeats, or renders inoperative motor vehicle emissions controls. The defendants will not sell or transfer the intellectual property associated with these products, and will destroy illegal products still in inventory, cease warranty support for previously sold products, revise marketing materials, notify customers and dealers of the law and the settlement, and train employees and contractors. According to civil court documents, Willis and PPEI halted sales of specified delete devices in the fall of 2019 following enforcement activity by EPA.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in the criminal case by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Aug. 23. Willis faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years of incarceration on the conspiracy count, two years of incarceration on the tampering count, and for each count a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. PPEI faces for each count a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. Under the plea agreements, the defendants agree to jointly and severally pay a $1,550,000 criminal fine. The sentences will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of all applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The criminal case was the product of an investigation by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine T. Lydon of the Eastern District of California and Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) are prosecuting the criminal case. The federal civil case is being handled by Senior Counsel Nicole Veilleux of the Environmental Enforcement Section of ENRD and Attorney-Advisor Ed Kulschinsky of the Air Enforcement Division of the EPA.
Stopping the manufacture, sale and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for EPA. To learn more, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines.
The consent decree for this settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree, and information on submitting comments will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Orlando, Florida Woman Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Interstate Domestic Violence Involving a MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Deriyan Woodson, age 27, of Orlando, Florida yesterday to 16 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for interstate domestic violence.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Gregory J. Der of the Howard County Police Department.
According to her plea agreement, in May 2017, Woodson met a 17-year-old female (Victim 1) on a social media platform and began communicating with Victim 1 via facetime, messaging applications, and other social media platforms. Victim 1 resided in Florida with her father at the time. Eventually, Victim 1 met Woodson in person and left her Florida home to be with and date Woodson as a romantic partner.
According to police reports, Victim 1’s parents reported Victim 1 as a missing child in July 2017. From July 15, 2017, to July 21, 2017, Victim 1 stayed with Woodson in a Florida hotel. Woodson knew she was on probation for assault stemming from a prior romantic relationship. Woodson also was aware that Victim 1 was 17 years old at the time.
On July 21, 2017, Victim 1 left Florida and traveled unaccompanied to her mother’s Halethorpe, Maryland home on a greyhound bus. Initially, Victim 1 planned to finish high school in Maryland then return to Florida to reside with Woodson. While traveling to Victim 1’s mother’s house, Victim 1 remained in communication with Woodson on social media and other free texting applications.
Once Victim 1 arrived in Maryland, Woodson became controlling of Victim 1 and demanded that Victim 1 remain at home and not interact with any of Victim 1’s friends. As a result, Victim 1 stopped communicating with Woodson. In response, Woodson demanded that Victim 1 return to Florida and excessively called Victim 1’s mother’s Halethorpe, Maryland residence where Victim 1, Victim 1’s mother, and grandmother resided. Victim 1’s mother instructed Woodson to cease communication.
As stated in her plea agreement, Victim 1’s mother reported Woodson’s excessive communications to Florida police. As a result, an officer with the Kissimmee Police Department Unit wrote Woodson a letter demanding that Woodson cease all communication attempts with Victim 1 and warned Woodson that felony charges may follow suit based on Woodson’s “history”. In response, Woodson posted a redacted version of the letter on one of her social media accounts with a caption that included the phrase “How are you trying to put me in jail when my probation is 3 days away”.
On July 30, 2017, Woodson traveled from Orlando, Florida to Maryland where Woodson entered Victim 1’s residence and duct taped Victim 1’s grandmother’s hands together. When Woodson heard Victim 1 and a friend (Victim 2) enter the residence, Woodson confronted Victim 1 and Victim 2 with a handgun and kitchen knife.
Woodson pointed the handgun at Victim 2 and ordered Victim 2 to go down to the basement. Woodson then held the gun at Victim 1’s head and ordered Victim 1 into Woodson’s car. Woodson then stabbed Victim 1 and assaulted Victim 1 with the gun. At some point during the night, Woodson forced Victim 1 out of her car at a residential area in Howard County where they ran on foot until they located a hotel in Elkridge, Maryland. Police later recovered Woodson’s gun and shoes in the area.
As detailed in her plea agreement, after a hotel clerk observed Victim 1’s wounds, the clerk contacted the police. Howard County Police Department officers (HCPD) arrived at the hotel and identified Victim 1 as a minor that had been recently reported as missing. HCPD officers then arrested Woodson and transported Victim 1 to a hospital where she was treated for an orbital fracture and multiple stab wounds to the head, hands, and one eyelid.
After Baltimore County Police Department officers read Woodson her Miranda rights, Woodson informed officers that she drove from Orlando, Florida to Maryland to take Victim 1 back to Florida. Woodson also claimed that Victim 1 willingly left the Halethorpe residence, and that Victim 1 wanted to return to Florida. Woodson also informed BCPD officers that she duct taped Victim 1’s grandmother’s hands together, had a gun and knife and that the weapons were already located at Victim 1’s residence.
Victim 1 later informed investigators that Woodson had at least two cell phones that she would contact her on. Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant on one of Woodson’s cell phones and discovered a series of text messages between Woodson and Victim 1. The text messages directly contradicted Woodson’s claim that Victim 1 asked Woodson to pick her up in Maryland and that Victim 1 wished to return to Florida with Woodson.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the BCPD, HCPD, and the Kissimmee Police Department (Florida) for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and LaRai N. Everett, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and domestic violence resources, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/victim-witness-assistance.
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Nurse Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jennifer Hansen has pleaded guilty to three counts of filing false tax returns. Hansen faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison for each count.
According to the plea agreement, Hansen, a registered nurse, was employed by a medical examination company to evaluate individuals who were seeking life insurance policies. In that role, Hansen earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in income during the years 2016, 2017, and 2018, all of which she intentionally omitted from her federal income tax returns. Through her false returns, Hansen caused a tax loss to the United States of $257,830.44. As part of her plea agreement, Hansen will make full restitution to the United States in that amount.
During the investigation into Hansen’s tax crimes, investigators also learned that a substantial portion of Hansen’s unreported income was illegitimately earned. In that regard, Hansen generated the illegitimate income by submitting false records to her employer claiming that she had examined a real patient, when, in fact, she had not. As part of her plea agreement, Hansen will make full restitution to her previous employer in the amount of more than $1,000,000.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The IRS-CI investigates those who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty of filing and paying their fair share of taxes. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
North Shore Drug Trafficking Leader Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Involving Pressed Fentanyl Pills and Machine GunsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was pleaded guilty today to operating a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that used multiple high-volume pill press machines to produce tens of thousands of fentanyl pills per hour to sell to street gangs for local distribution.
Vincent Caruso, 27, a/k/a “Fatz,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery); and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2022. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Caruso will be sentenced to at least 15 years.
Caruso was initially arrested and charged by complaint on June 30, 2021 along with co-conspirators Ernest Johnson, Laurie Caruso and Nicole Benton as part of Operation Street Sweepah: Guns and Butter, an investigation that began in 2020 in direct response to an increasing number of shootings in communities north of Boston committed by street gangs whose violence is fueled by drug distribution. Caruso was later indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 19, 2022. Benton and Laurie Caruso have each pleaded guilty to their roles in the DTO and are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8, 2022, and June 29, 2022, respectively. Ernest Johnson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
According to the charging documents, Caruso, a self-admitted Crip gang member, operated a large and sophisticated DTO with multiple subordinates that sold counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl to street gangs for further distribution on the North Shore. During the investigation, Caruso’s DTO was identified as a common supply source of counterfeit, pressed fentanyl pills and other controlled substances for several street gangs responsible for the uptick in violence. During today’s plea hearing, Caruso admitted that his DTO distributed over 30 kilograms of fentanyl, largely in the form of pressed fentanyl pills. At times during the conspiracy, Caruso manufactured his own fentanyl pills, and later, the DTO received multiple large deliveries of at least 50,000 pills.
In furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, Caruso possessed and used firearms and orchestrated violent offenses such as an armed robbery. Specifically, in March 2020, while on pretrial release for state fentanyl and firearm charges, Caruso orchestrated an armed robbery and home invasion in which two individuals robbed the occupants of an apartment of approximately $18,000 and jewelry. In addition, while on state pretrial release Caruso sent photos and videos using social media that depicted him in possession of firearms and machine guns, large quantities of fentanyl that would be distributed by his organization, large amounts of cash and high-end jewelry. Caruso also conspired with others to conduct hundreds of thousands of dollars in transactions in order to launder illegal proceeds of the drug trafficking operation. Over a kilogram of pressed fentanyl and over a dozen firearms were recovered through various search warrants executed in this and related investigations.
The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy involving a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy: Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorneys’ Offices; Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Hancock (Maine) County Sheriffs’ Departments; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, Revere, Bolton (Maine), Bangor (Maine), Portland (Maine) and Westbrook (Maine) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
North Carolina Man Sentenced for $1.7 Million COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Tristan Bishop Pan, 40, of Garner, submitted numerous fraudulent PPP loan applications to federally insured banks, including on behalf of entities named Pan Insurance Agency, White Walker, Khaleesi, and The Night’s Watch. In support of the fraudulent PPP loan applications, Pan made false statements about the companies’ employees and payroll expenses. The PPP loan applications were supported by fake documents, including falsified tax filings. According to court documents, Pan submitted at least 14 PPP loan applications seeking over $6.1 million and received more than $1.7 million in benefits. Pan pleaded guilty to wire fraud in August 2021.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina; Special Agent in Charge Mark Morini of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) – Southeast Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) – Atlanta Region; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
The TIGTA, FDIC-OIG, and the FBI, with the assistance of the SBA Office of Inspector General, investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan A. Ontjes and John Harris for the Eastern District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Nine Defendants Indicted for Drug and Firearms ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Nine people were arraigned today on illegal drug and firearms charges contained in a 17-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Gilbert Bermudez, aka “Troub,” 29; Brian Elijah Mitchell, aka “Slash,” 32; Jaahan Mitchell, 32; Keith Rogers, aka “Dog,” aka “Z,” 45; Isaiah Bullock, 26; Jennifer Rivera, 41; and Shamika Richardson, 25, all of Newark; Mark Washington, 58, of Irvington, New Jersey; and Torell Brown, 46, of Orangeburg, South Carolina were indicted on various drug and weapons charges last month.
According to documents filed in these case and statements made in court:
On May 14, 2021, in the vicinity of the Pennington Court housing complex in Newark, Bermudez, Brian Mitchell, and Jaahan Mitchell were involved in a shooting. On May 20, 2021, the firearm that Bermudez used in that shooting was recovered from his Essex County residence, loaded with seven rounds of 9mm ammunition.
From April 2021 through May 18, 2021, Brown, a convicted felon, conspired to unlawfully sell firearms. He trafficked six firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from South Carolina to New Jersey, with the intent to sell these weapons to at least one New Jersey resident. On May 18, 2021, Washington attempted to thwart law enforcement from recovering certain of these firearms.
From March 2021 through May 18, 2021, Brown also conspired with Brian Mitchell and Rogers to traffic firearms and ammunition into New Jersey from at least one other state and to use those firearms and ammunition in connection with at least one other felony offense.
From October 2020 through July 23, 2021, Rogers, Bullock, Rivera, and Richardson conspired to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine base. Rogers and Bullock, both convicted felons, possessed firearms. The four defendants maintained two Pennington Court residences for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, and using a controlled substance, and possessed with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
Each firearms trafficking conspiracy carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The drug conspiracy count, and the count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, each carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million. Each count of maintaining a drug-involved premises carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime each carry a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
It is also part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Newark. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Board of Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; and special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, with the investigations leading to the charges. He also thanked the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Brian O’Hara, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, for their significant assistance with these cases.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Fasanello of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment and all related complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Newport Woman Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Newport woman who solicited and received a video depicting the sexual exploitation of a toddler and an image depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Karissa A. Cave, 25, pleaded guilty on February 26, 2020, to receipt of child pornography.
At the time of her guilty plea, Kave admitted to the court that, in December 2016, while communicating on Facebook messenger with a person known to her, she requested that the person send her a video that she knew the person possessed. The video depicted an adult engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a female toddler. After receiving the video, she asked, “Is there anymore?” In return, the person sent her an image of prepubescent girls and boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The government’s evidence showed that after receiving the video, Kave and the person who sent it to her engaged in graphic sexual chats about the video and the depicted toddler.
At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., sentenced Cave to sixty months in federal prison to be followed by eight years of federal supervised release.
This Project Safe Childhood case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Woonsocket Police Department.
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Newark City Council Member Admits Scheming to Obtain Bribes and Kickbacks and Subscribing to False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of the Newark Municipal Council and Board of Directors of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) today admitted scheming to obtain bribes and kickbacks and subscribing to a false personal tax return for 2018, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Joseph A. McCallum Jr., 66, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud for devising a scheme, using interstate wire communications, to defraud Newark and the NCEDC of the right to McCallum’s honest services and one count of subscribing to a false personal tax return for calendar year 2018.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court:
As a member of the Newark City Council, representing the West Ward, and of the NCEDC (now known as Invest Newark!), from 2017 through February 2020, McCallum schemed to receive concealed bribes and kickbacks from an associate, funded by developers, contracting companies, and other businesses seeking contracts and approvals principally related to development, construction, and real estate projects and deals in Newark. These developers and others were solicited by the associate to hire his consulting company for “access,” and were introduced to McCallum as the councilman behind the particular project or deal of interest to them. McCallum then received and planned to receive concealed bribes and kickbacks derived from the fees that the associate obtained from those who retained his company.
In exchange, McCallum used his official positions to assist those who retained the associate’s company. For those who refused or hesitated to pay, McCallum and the associate intended to prevent them from obtaining contracts and work from the NCEDC and the City of Newark. McCallum and the associate used interstate emails and phone calls to further this scheme and took significant steps to conceal these bribes and kickbacks.
The bribes and kickbacks received and sought by McCallum through the associate included the following:
- A $16,000 bribe funded by a payment from a contracting company;
- a $25,000 bribe and kickback funded by a payment from a developer’s company; and
- $500 in cash to cover travel expenses for an out-of-country trip and an attempt to receive part of a $50,000 payment from a second developer.
The honest services wire fraud charge in Count 1 of the information to which McCallum pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest. The false tax return charge in Count 3 of the information to which McCallum pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. Sentencing for is scheduled for July 21, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge in Newark George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea by McCallum.
The government is represented by Deputy Chief Jihee G. Suh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York Man pleaded guilty today to charges arising from a scheme to fraudulently obtain business loans and unemployment pandemic relief funds made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Ronald Buie, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock who scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2022. Buie was charged on Jan. 25, 2022.
Buie engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by submitting fraudulent applications for loans offered in connection with the CARES Act. As part of this scheme, Buie used various false identities to apply for and obtain fraudulent SBA loans in amounts exceeding $219,000. Buie also submitted fraudulent documentation to apply for and obtain a fraudulent SBA loan for $60,000 for his company, Platinum Car Service LLC. Specifically, in support of his loan application, Buie provided what he purported to be a monthly bank statement for his business checking account showing an ending balance of more than $198,000, whereas bank records for that particular month show that the actual balance was less than $3,000. In addition, Buie’s scheme also involved the utilization of various false identities to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in Massachusetts and Ohio.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office; Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance; and the New York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division, is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for His Role in a Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TAURUS RUSSELL, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced on March 10, 2022 to a three-count superseding bill of information. In Count 1, RUSSELL was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and 846. In Count 2, RUSSELL was charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b). In Count 3, HARRIS was charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).
According to court documents, RUSSELL conspired with other members of a drug trafficking organization to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. Additionally, RUSSELL used a communication facility, the telephone, to facilitate the distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
United States District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced RUSSELL on March 10, 2022. For Count 1, RUSSELL received a term of imprisonment of 120 months, a period of supervised release of 4 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For Counts 2 and 3, RUSSELL was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 48 months, a period of supervised release of 1 year per count, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 per count. All terms of imprisonment and supervised release are to run concurrently.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Brittany Reed, André Jones, and Melissa Bücher of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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