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Friday 7 January 2022
Dubuque Fentanyl and Heroin Dealer Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man that intended to distribute fentanyl and heroin was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Samson S. Jackson, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 28, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Jackson admitted that, on April 10, 2020, law enforcement officers searched his residence in Dubuque and recovered over 20 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture and over 9 grams of heroin. Jackson admitted that he intended to distribute some or all of the heroin and heroin/fentanyl mixture to another person.
Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Jackson was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jackson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1028.
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Drug Trafficking Investigations Result in Federal Prison Sentences for Three MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of three cases involving the trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Western District of Louisiana. Two of these cases were Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) cases. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Clay Bryant Lonadier, 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Lonadier pleaded guilty September 9, 2021 to the charge. In July 2020, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Shreveport area after receiving information that Lonadier’s co-defendant, Demetrius Loston, was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine. This OCDETF investigation was named “Operation Lost and Found” and resulted in federal indictments against nine defendants for conspiring together to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During their investigation, agents were able to intercept phone calls between Lonadier and Loston, wherein they communicated about buying and selling methamphetamine. Agents set up surveillance and observed Loston and Lonadier meet on more than one occasion and conduct drug transactions. On November 6, 2020, Lonadier was arrested by officers with the Shreveport Police Department for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Shreveport Police Department and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
Arnelius Danta Terrell, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by Chief Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 60 months (5 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. During an OCDETF investigation into the drug trafficking activities in the Shreveport area, agents met with a confidential informant about undercover purchases that had been made. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted surveillance around the Lamar Street area in Shreveport area on April 15, 2019 and observed Terrell arrive at a residence and deliver methamphetamine to an individual. Through phone conversations, agents learned that Terrell brought the methamphetamine at the direction of his uncle. The methamphetamine was seized, and field tested positive for methamphetamine. A laboratory analysis confirmed it to be 53.7 grams of actual methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
In another drug trafficking case, Darren Dewayne Cooper, 33, of Tallulah, Louisiana, was sentenced this week by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Through an investigation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), agents learned that Cooper made arrangements with another individual on the telephone wherein they discussed the sale of narcotics, including the amount and type of narcotics and the sale price. On August 13, 2020, Cooper met the individual at a gas station in Monroe, Louisiana and sold methamphetamine to them. The amount sold was determined to be at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.
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Convicted Felon, Wanted on Aggravated Assault Charge, Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia resident with a prior felony found in illegal possession of multiple weapons on two separate occasions—at one time while wanted for aggravated assault in Monroe County, Georgia—pleaded guilty to a firearms charge.
Scott Rusmisel, 28, of Juliette, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell today. Rusmisel is facing a maximum ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 6. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat felons with violent criminal histories have no business carrying weapons—it is a federal offense for convicted felons to possess firearms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute repeat offenders who violate this federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I commend the law enforcement teams across the Middle District of Georgia for their daily persistence in helping us hold violent offenders accountable for their crimes and working to make our region a safer place.”
“ATF is always there to assist our local partners by providing federal resources when needed,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stricklin. “We are pleased that ATF was able to assist the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in removing a repeat armed offender from the streets of our community.”
According to court documents, Rusmisel’s vehicle was stopped for a tag violation by a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Aug. 14, 2019. Rusmisel, the driver, was wearing a large knife and there was a black handgun in plain view. Rusmisel was later found to be carrying a second knife in his pocket. A search of the vehicle discovered a total of four firearms: a .357 magnum caliber revolver, two 12-gauge shotguns and a 7.62 mm rifle. Rusmisel admitted that all of the firearms belonged to him.
On Nov. 20, 2020, Rusmisel was detained on a warrant for aggravated assault by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Rusmisel was carrying a .380 caliber pistol in his back pocket at the time of arrest. ATF examined each of the five weapons seized from Rusmisel and determined that two of his weapons were required to be registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). One 12-gauge shotgun had a shortened barrel measuring just 11 1/8 inches and the second 12-gauge shotgun had a shortened barrel measuring just 12 inches. Neither gun was registered in the NFRTR to Rusmisel. Rusmisel was previously convicted in Circuit Court of Bay County, Michigan, for second degree home invasion. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess firearms.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Collin County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Heroin Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Plano man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Nathaniel Edward Gonzalez, 36, pleaded guilty on March 16, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute heroin resulting in death and was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison on Jan. 6, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 16, 2019, Gonzalez distributed heroin to an individual at his place of business in Plano. That individual was found deceased by his coworkers with the needle still in his arm. An investigation led officers to Gonzalez, who had previously been convicted of the same conduct in 2005 when he provided heroin to a 16-year-old resulting in an overdose death. Gonzalez was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 7, 2019.
"Illegal drugs continue to damage our communities," said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. "We will use all our tools to arrest and prosecute those who choose to harm others by peddling their dangerous poisons."
The case was investigated by the Plano Police Department Narcotics Unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson.
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Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Economic EspionageRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On January 6, 2022, Haitao Xiang, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty in front of District Court Judge Henry Autrey to conspiracy to commit economic espionage in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1831(a)(5). Xiang conspired to steal a trade secret from an internationally based company doing business in St. Louis, Missouri for the purpose of benefitting a foreign government, that being the People’s Republic of China.
“Mr. Xiang used his insider status at a major international company to steal valuable trade secrets for use in his native China,” said United States Attorney Sayler Fleming. “We cannot allow U.S. citizens or foreign nationals to hand sensitive business information over to competitors in other countries, and we will continue our vigorous criminal enforcement of economic espionage and trade secret laws. These crimes present a danger to the U.S. economy and jeopardize our nation’s leadership in innovation and our national security.”
“When economic espionage is done at the behest of a foreign government, the loss of proprietary trade secrets destroys more than just the victim company. A foreign government can exploit and scale the information in such a way that it robs U.S. companies of their market share and competitive advantage,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans of the FBI St. Louis Division. “The FBI aggressively investigates theft of trade secret and economic espionage. If your organization is a victim or has questions about how to prevent such crimes, please contact FBI St. Louis at 314-589-2500.”
Xiang faces a maximum term of incarceration of 15 years, a potential fine of $5,000,000 and a term of supervised release of not more than three years. Sentencing is set for April 7, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice and the Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison.
Leon Sheley, age 24, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after a July 19, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Sheley admitted that, on May 20, 2020, he knowingly possessed a pistol after having been convicted of three crimes punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. Sheley admitted he had prior convictions for theft in the second degree in 2016, theft in the first degree in 2016, and escape from custody in 2017.
Sheley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sheley was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 21-17.
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Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Larrien Brown-Austin, 37, of Canton, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday, January 6, 2022, to participating in a sex trafficking conspiracy that forced multiple women to perform commercial sex acts for profit.
According to court documents, from June through August of 2018, Brown-Austin lived at a residence in Canton provided by his father that he used to facilitate commercial sex acts. In June of 2018, Brown-Austin met Victim #1 and Victim #2 and forced both victims to live at the residence, perform commercial sex acts and provide him with the profits.
Court records state that Brown-Austin supplied his victims with drugs in an attempt to foster an addiction and withdrawal dependency cycle that forced them to rely upon him for more drugs. Documents show that Brown-Austin used force, threats, acts of violence and leveraged the drug dependency of his victims to coerce them into performing additional commercial sex acts. Brown-Austin also kept a mobile tracking application on the cell phones of his victims in order to determine their whereabouts at all times.
Also charged in this matter as co-defendants are Shannon Marzano, 30, and Larry Brown-Austin, 76, both of Canton. Marazano and Larry Brown-Austin have both previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.
Larrien Brown-Austin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Canton Police Department, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the FBI, Canton Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.
Brooklyn Park Man Sentenced to Prison for Arson in St. Paul’s Midway AreaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release and $33,826.64 in restitution for his role in the arson of the Great Health and Nutrition store in St. Paul. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.
According to court documents, on May 28, 2020, Samuel Elliott Frey, 20, and co-defendant McKenzy Ann DeGidio Dunn, 21, joined other individuals who had gathered near the Great Health and Nutrition store located at 1360 University Avenue West, in St. Paul. Frey and others arrived together to the Midway area near University Avenue and walked through multiple businesses before they arrived inside the Great Health and Nutrition retail store. While inside the store, Frey poured a bottle of hand sanitizer onto a shelving unit located on the floor. Frey then lit paper on fire and placed the flaming paper where he had poured the hand sanitizer. Frey poured on more hand sanitizer to accelerate the fire. The Great Health and Nutrition store sustained fire damage because of Frey’s conduct.
Dunn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson and, on May 10, 2021, was sentenced to three years of probation and $31,578 in restitution. On July 20, 2021, Frey pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the St. Paul Police Department, the St. Paul Fire Department, Brooklyn Park Police Department, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division, and the FBI.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Ebert and Joseph Teirab.
Breaux Bridge Woman Sentenced for Failure to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Joan Chauvin Edgar, 71, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 41 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on tax fraud charges. Edgar was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $375,213.54.
Edgar was charged in July 2020 and pleaded guilty September 10, 2021 to failing to pay over withholding and F.I.C.A. (Social Security) Taxes. According to information presented to the court, Edgar established NGE Techs, LLC (NGE) in New Iberia, Louisiana, in 2012 and the company existed until 2017. NGE provided employees and other services to oilfield production companies. As an employer, NGE was required to withhold employment taxes from its employees’ wages throughout a quarter and maintain them in “trust” to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the end of the quarter.
As the sole owner of NGE, Edgar was responsible for collecting, accounting for, and paying over the trust fund taxes on behalf of the company. She submitted Forms W-3 (“Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements”) to the Social Security Administration for 2012 through 2017, reflecting the total wages paid to her employees by the company and taxes withheld by the company from its employees’ paychecks. However, Edgar never paid any of the withheld taxes to the IRS as required. Edgar admitted that during the second quarter of 2015, although she had deducted and collected taxes from her employees to pay to the IRS, she failed to pay them when they became due. Edgar admitted to knowing she had a duty to pay those taxes and to voluntarily and intentionally violating that duty.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker.
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Brandon Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Brandon man was sentenced to 120 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and $2,250 in restitution, for distributing methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on December 21, 2020, Joshua Rashad Brown, 31, possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
This OCDETF case is the result of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Attorney Erin Chalk.
Boston Man Sentenced for Marijuana and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for marijuana distribution and tax offenses.
Zachary Sweener, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sweener was also ordered to pay $156,457 in restitution. On July 6, 2021, Sweener pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of filing a false tax return and two counts of failing to file tax returns.
From 2014 to 2017, Sweener conspired with others to distribute marijuana. On January 10, 2017, a search of Sweener’s residence recovered 1,000 marijuana vape oil pens and over $90,000 in cash, two gold bars and other luxury items. Sweener also filed a false income tax return for 2013 by substantially under-reporting his income and failed to file tax returns for tax years 2014 and 2015, despite earning over $250,000 in each of those years. For tax years 2013 through 2015, Sweener failed to report over $625,000 in income and therefore failed to pay over $150,000 in federal income taxes.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Christopher O’Donnell of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Bvi National Arrested for Failure to Heave to While Operating a Vessel in Coral Bay, St. JohnRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – A BVI National was arrested on December 28, 2021, in St. Thomas, USVI on a criminal charge related to his failure to stop his vessel when ordered to do so by United States Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine (“CBP-AMO”) agents.
According to court documents, William Malone was operating a vessel in Coral Bay, St. John on December 28, 2021. CBP-AMO agents activated their blue lights and sirens to stop Malone’s vessel, and verbally ordered him to stop the vessel. Malone did not comply. Agents fired several warning rounds and, when Malone did not stop, fired a disabling round into his engine. Malone then turned off the engine, after traveling for a short distance.
Malone is charged with failure to heave to, under 18 U.S.C. §2237(a)(1). If convicted, Malone faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
CBP-AMO and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Arizona Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting A Woman on the Fort Mohave Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — An Arizona man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman at a Laughlin resort and casino on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison.
According to court documents, on September 24, 2018, Richard Anthony Hernandez (26) punched a woman multiple times before sexually assaulting her. As a result of the assault, the victim — a Native American — suffered multiple facial abrasions and contusions, bleeding from head injuries, and loss of consciousness with a concussion, all of which required medical treatment at a hospital.
Hernandez pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of aggravated sexual abuse. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Hernandez to 15 years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Fort Mohave Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Penelope Brady prosecuted the case.
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Angelina County Man Sentenced for Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Colby Allen, 20, pleaded guilty on August 11, 2021, to distributing child pornography and was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield on Jan. 6, 2022.
According to information presented in court, on Feb. 20, 2020, an undercover law enforcement officer accessed an instant messaging chat group known to have users who posted images and videos of child pornography. The officer observed that a particular user posted two videos to the group, including a video depicting the sexual abuse of a minor. Further investigation revealed that the user of the messenger account was Allen. On Nov. 19, 2020, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Allen’s residences in Lufkin and Beaumont. During the search of Allen’s Beaumont residence, officers seized his cellular telephone, which was later forensically imaged. A review of the forensic imaging revealed numerous video and image files depicting child pornography. The images and videos located on Allen’s phone included the two videos uploaded to the instant messaging group on Feb. 20, 2020. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Allen with federal violations on Jan. 20, 2021.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lufkin and Beaumont offices; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Lufkin Police Department; and the Lamar University Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
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Anchorage Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2020 Ronald Fetuao Maefau, 45, drove a car to an Anchorage apartment complex and began firing multiple rounds into one of the units. He then proceeded to drive away. Later the same day, APD made a traffic stop of the car used in the apartment shooting and took the driver, Maefau, in for questioning. After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, law enforcement found a Glock pistol in the glove compartment, .45 ammunition and multiple spent .45 caliber cartridge casings. A trace on the firearm indicated that it had been reported stolen. Maefau had multiple prior felony convictions, including attempted murder, which made it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
Maefau pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in March 2021.
“Congress made it a crime for convicted felons to possess firearms in order to keep guns away from persons determined to be potentially dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr., of the District of Alaska. “Maefau’s violent criminal history and recent dangerous conduct shooting a gun into a dwelling illustrate for all of us the importance of enforcing this offense. I commend the ATF, the Anchorage Police Department and our prosecutor for their efforts to protect Alaskans.”
“The callousness of Mr. Maefau’s actions clearly warrant this sentence,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “The rounds he fired could have killed anyone – man, woman or child. Thankfully, through the use of Anchorage Police Department’s NIBIN system we were able to definitively tie Mr. Maefau to this shooting. This sentence will make Anchorage’s streets safer.”
“Good police work led to the apprehension of Mr. Maefau,” said Anchorage Chief of Police Kenneth McCoy. “This is an example of how the Anchorage Police Department and our federal partners are working to keep Anchorage citizens safe.”
The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Alleged Christmas Eve Bank Robber ArrestedRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – A man was arrested today in connection with the Christmas Eve armed bank robbery of a Capital One Bank.
Devin Chaney was arrested today and charged by complaint with Bank Robbery 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). It is alleged that on Dec. 24, Chaney robbed the Capital One Bank branch, located at 313 Carondelet Street in New Orleans.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans and FBI New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force.
A complaint is merely an allegation.
262 Month Prison Sentence for Repeat Felon Convicted in Meth Case, Apprehended Following Helicopter, K-9 SearchRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia armed robbery parolee with fourteen prior felony convictions was sentenced in federal court for distributing methamphetamine in a case involving a multi-agency search for the escaped defendant, including the use of a helicopter and K-9 unit.
Monterrius Digby 36, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to serve a total of 262 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self on Thursday, Jan. 6, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Digby’s flight after his initial apprehension made a bad situation worse. Thanks to the collective and rapid response by law enforcement in the region, Digby was safely apprehended within a short time, without harm to citizens, officers or himself,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Convicted felons who chose to continually create havoc and break the laws governing our community will face the possibility of federal prosecution for their crimes.”
“I am very pleased with the outcome of this case and thankful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and every agency involved in helping bring Monterrius Digby to justice. Digby is a dangerous felon and can’t expect to commit violent crimes and get away with it,” said Wilcox County Sheriff Robert Rodgers. “Wilcox County is proud of the work done in this case. Digby deserves to be held accountable for his crimes.”
According to court documents, law enforcement received a 911 call on Feb. 12, 2019, detailing that a man driving a particular car and tag number on Ga. Highway 215 was carrying methamphetamine and a firearm. Law enforcement spotted the matching vehicle and tag number and conducted a stop on Ga. Highway 215 near Rochelle, Georgia. Digby was driving the car and told the officer that he was on parole for armed robbery. Digby was driving without a license. Digby ran off while his vehicle was being searched but was later apprehended with the assistance of a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) helicopter and troopers, K9 units and the U.S. Marshals.
Law enforcement found a bag under the driver’s seat with ten individually wrapped bags of methamphetamine weighing 18.141 grams, empty baggies, a set of digital scales and two firearms. One firearm was a stolen semi-automatic pistol and the other firearm was a 9x19mm Glock. Law enforcement also found a box of ammunition in the front passenger seat which contained 32 rounds of 9mm and 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Digby later told agents he purchased both firearms for $200.
Digby has five prior burglary convictions, two aggravated assault convictions, an armed robbery conviction, a theft by taking conviction and a conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Troup County, Georgia. Additionally, he has been convicted of obstruction or hindering of a law enforcement officer, criminal attempt to escape, and theft by receiving stolen property in Meriwether County, Georgia, along with theft by receiving stolen property in Bibb County, Georgia.
The case was investigated by the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from GSP Aviation, Abbeville Police Department’s K-9 Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.
Thursday 6 January 2022
Virginia Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud CARES Act Unemployment FundRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Pound, Virginia man, who admitted to conspiring with others to defraud the government of nearly $500,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.
Jeffrey R. Tackett, 30, and his co-conspirators, concocted a scheme to gather personal identification information and then submit unemployment claims to the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) website for individuals who were known to be ineligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits, including various inmates in Virginia Department of Corrections’ facilities.
“While Virginians were battling a global pandemic, this defendant and his co-conspirators were busy defrauding the federal and state unemployment system of nearly $500,000 in much-needed benefits,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful for the collaborative work of the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General, IRS, and the Norton and Russell County authorities in bringing this conspiracy to justice.”
“Jeffrey Tackett engaged in a criminal scheme in which he and his co-conspirators filed fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment assistance for individuals he knew to be ineligible for benefits, including incarcerated individuals. The sentence today should serve as a deterrent for those contemplating committing similar crimes and signal the commitment of the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General to work with its partners, such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, to investigate this type of fraud,” stated Special Agent-In-Charge Syreeta Scott, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General.
“Stealing pandemic unemployment benefits and taking assistance away from taxpayers who are truly in need is a serious crime. Today, another co-conspirator faced the consequences of his actions,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington D.C. Field Office. “We will continue to work with our investigative partners to seek out those who attempt to defraud the government.”
Conspiracy members lied on the VEC forms as part of the scheme to make filers appear eligible for benefits. Because pandemic unemployment benefits were paid weekly, each of those filings to the VEC website re-verified and re-certified the false statements on numerous occasions throughout the scheme.
Tackett conspired with others, including his brother, Gregory Tackett, and Gregory’s girlfriend, Leelyn Danielle Chykta, to collect personal identification information of more than 35 other co-conspirators, including 15 inmates in the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections, and then filed false claims that resulted in payments totaling more than $499,000.
Both Chytka and Gregory Tackett were sentenced last summer to 108 months in prison apiece for their roles in the conspiracy.
The Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted 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.
United States Attorney Announces Flint, MI, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BISMARCK - United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Patrick Robert McKee, a/k/a William Patrick O’Hara, Age 77 from Flint, MI, to two years in federal prison for the charges of Social Security False Statements, False Statements, Health Care Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Judge Traynor also sentenced McKee to 3 years supervised release and a $400 Special Assessment.
Investigation determined that Patrick Robert McKee stole the identity of J.C. (Identity Protected) in 1997 and then converted J.C.’s identity to William Patrick O’Hara while retaining J.C.’s social security number. Since 1997, McKee fraudulently lived and worked under J.C.’s identity. He used J.C.’s identity to obtain healthcare benefits, home mortgages, credit cards and for numerous other fraudulent pretenses.
"It has become far too common for people to have their identification stolen and suffer financial disruption and damaged credit," said United States Attorney Nick Chase, and "it is appropriate that this defendant received the maximum penalty under the law for the crime of Aggravated Identity Theft."
"We will continue to pursue those who misuse the Social Security number of others for their own personal gain. For decades, by obtaining benefits and services as
someone else, McKee abused the identity of another person," said Christian Assaad, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Denver Field Division. "I thank our law enforcement partners for working with in this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in prosecuting this case and holding this individual accountable."
"Fraudsters who steal the identity of others to loot taxpayer-funded federal health care programs often do so at the immeasurable risk of undermining the integrity of these programs," said Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "In coordination with law enforcement partners, our oversight agency will continue to investigate those who participate in health care fraud schemes."
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General; Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; United States Department of Agriculture; and the United States Marshals Service, and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell assigned to the case.
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U.S. Military Contractor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Have Sex with a 13-Year-Old Girl in JapanRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Florida man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct while he was working in Japan as a U.S. military contractor.
Garrett Michael Pako, 29, is a United States Citizen who worked for a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor in Japan. For months, Pako engaged in an online “relationship” with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Pako met the girl on a proximity-based social media dating application while travelling in Okinawa. During the relationship, Pako sent the girl sexually-explicit images and videos, including Hentai cartoons of young toddlers being sexually abused, and a video of himself masturbating. Pako then attempted to arrange to have the purported girl fly to visit him in Northern Japan to have sex. No meeting occurred. Pako was later arrested.
Pako is being prosecuted under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which provides jurisdiction over certain offenses committed by United States citizens employed by the Department of Defense outside the United States. Pako pled guilty to the charge on October 22, 2021. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed today’s sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Julio Escareno, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Japan Office, announced the sentence.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division with support from the Air Force Office of Special Investigation and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. This case was prosecuted by Southern District of Florida Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lacee Monk and Dayron Silverio and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 21-cr-14021.
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Two Sentenced for Falsifying MSHA Training FormsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Dustin Fannon and Bryan Bouton were sentenced in United States District Court in Abingdon, Virginia, this week for falsifying a Mine Safety and Health Administration [MSHA] training form designed to reflect mandated annual safety training for miners. Bouton also was sentenced for lying to MSHA special investigators about his role in falsifying the official training document.
Bouton, 35, of Wise County, was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in creating the false training document and for lying about it when he was interviewed by special investigators.
Fannon, 35, of Wise County, Virginia, was sentenced today to four months’ home detention for submitting a falsified MSHA training form showing he had received training that he had not attended or received.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the safety of our country’s miners,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Working with our partners at the MSHA and the Department of Labor, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who put coal miners in harm by ignoring critical health and safety training measures.”
“Without adequate training, miners pose a risk to themselves and others,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Jeannette Galanis. “Mine operators and MSHA work hard to ensure every miner receives the training needed to keep them safe and to ensure safety throughout the mines. Preventing falsification of training documents is critical to ensure the health and safety of the mining industry’s most precious resource: the miner.”
“Falsifying Mine Act records is a crime,” said Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda. “As this case shows, the Department of Labor will not hesitate to use all of the tools in our toolbox to protect miners, including working with the Department of Justice to seek criminal penalties where appropriate.”
In August 2016, Fannon attempted to apply for a position with a mining company that required him to show that he had received annual MSHA safety training. Fannon had not. Instead, he submitted a falsified form, signed by a known provider of the MSHA-required training. After his falsification was discovered, Fannon admitted he had not received the training but had been given the form by Bouton, who Fannon witnessed filling out the form and forging the name of the authorized trainer. Bouton, when interviewed about the incident, lied about his involvement to federal special investigators.
MSHA requires every miner receive at least eight hours of safety training every year on a variety of topics, including MSHA’s mandatory health and safety standards, transportation controls and communications systems, barricading, roof or ground control, ventilation, emergency evacuation and firefighting plans, first aid, electrical hazards, prevention of accidents, self-rescue and respiratory devices, explosives, mine gases, and health.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Norton Office of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grover from the Department of Labor prosecuted the case for the United States.
Two Portland Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—This week, in separate criminal cases, two Portland gang members were sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms as convicted felons.
On January 4, 2022, Timothy DeWayne Smith, Jr., 28, a member of the Hoover Criminal Gang, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
Today, Derek Brandon Conley, 38, a former Crip gang member, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
U.S. v. Smith
According to court documents, as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation into the racketing activities of the Hoover Criminal Gang, investigators learned of Smith’s involvement in various gang activities including sex trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms.
On August 24, 2019, law enforcement responded to a report of someone flashing a gun at a local bar. A police air support unit saw Smith run out of the back of the bar and enter a vehicle. Police followed and stopped the vehicle and located a firearm in its center console. Smith denied flashing or possessing the gun. A forensic laboratory report later confirmed the presence of Smith’s DNA on the gun along with the DNA profiles several other people.
Later, on June 10, 2020, Smith was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Oregon State Police troopers traveling south through Eugene, Oregon. A 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a chambered round was located in the vehicle’s center console. The gun was seized and Smith and the vehicle’s driver were released. Further investigation revealed that the seized firearm belonged to Smith. He was later arrested without incident.
U.S. v. Conley
In September 2020, probation officers visited Conley’s Portland residence where he lived with his fiancé and three children. Conley, who had recently been released from prison after being convicted in April 2017 in Multnomah County Circuit Court for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, led the officers to his bedroom where bullets and a laser sight rifle attachment were clearly visible. He consented to a search of the room and officers located a rifle Conley admitted to owning. Two other firearms were found in the residence including one located in an accessible bin in the children’s room adjacent to a toy firearm. Conley was arrested on-site without incident.
These cases were investigated by the FBI and ATF with assistance from the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oregon State Police. They were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Two Florida Men Indicted in Insider Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Florida men were indicted today in connection with their alleged roles in a multi-million-dollar insider trading scheme.
Kris Bortnovsky, a/k/a “Kris Bort,” 40, of Surfside, Fla., and Ryan Shapiro, 44, of Bay Harbor Island, Fla., were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. Both defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint on Dec. 6, 2021. A third defendant, David Schottenstein, 38, also of Surfside, Fla., was charged separately by an Information with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and has agreed to plead guilty.
As alleged in the charging documents, Bortnovsky served as a financial services professional for more than 20 years and Shapiro was an entrepreneur and founder of two privately held companies. From at least August 2017 to at least May 2019, it is alleged that Bortnovsky and Shapiro conspired to trade in the stocks of certain publicly traded companies, including At Home Group, Inc., Aphria, Inc., DSW, Inc. and Rite Aid Corp., among others, based on material nonpublic information (MNPI) regarding the earnings results and merger-and-acquisition activity of those companies. In many instances, Bortnovsky and Shapiro allegedly obtained the information from Schottenstein, who was a relative of one or more directors of these companies or of companies involved in proposed acquisitions of them. In another instance, Bortnovsky obtained the MNPI and shared it with Shapiro and Schottenstein.
The charge of securities fraud conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal/Cyber Division, Washington Field Office, made the announcement today. The Securities & Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank and Seth B. Kosto – Chief and Deputy Chief, respectively, of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit – are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Truck driver sentenced for smuggling fentanyl hidden in lime shipmentRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 33-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for importing 4.6 kilograms of fentanyl and 43 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Nestor Carbajal-Alvarez pleaded guilty April 19, 2021.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered him to prison for 60 months. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the sentencing, the defense argued for a minimal sentence since he was only acting as a “courier” and did not have much knowledge as to the overall drug trafficking scheme. However, the government contended it was a substantial load of controlled substances that could have potentially harmed many citizens.
On Jan. 29, 2021, Carbajal-Alvarez arrived at the Pharr Port of Entry with a shipment of limes. He was eventually sent to secondary inspection where authorities discovered the drugs hidden in the floor of the trailer.
Carbajal-Alvarez admitted he knew his trailer contained narcotics and was delivering them to an unknown individual in McAllen.
The total estimated street value of the drugs was approximately $1,063,500.
Carbajal-Alvarez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Toomsuba Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Toomsuba man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2020, Kristopher Calvin Branch, 44, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department during an unrelated investigation concerning trespassing. Branch has four prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Branch to possess any firearm.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Three men convicted for string of six armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Tyvonne Wiley, Tevin Mitchell, and Torey Starling have been sentenced for committing a series of five armed robberies at retail stores in the metro-Atlanta area in the fall of 2016. Wiley and Mitchell committed an armed robbery in Texas before traveling to Atlanta.
“Innocent store clerks and customers were terrorized and lives were endangered by Wiley, Mitchell, and Starling during these armed robberies,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “The violent acts committed by these defendants ended as a result of the collective efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
“The arrest and conviction of this violent multi state robbing crew would not have been possible without the efforts of the Cobb County Police Department and our other local partners,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brent Quinn. “We are pleased that these violent criminals will be off the streets and in federal prison for the foreseeable future.”
“The Cobb County Police Department remains steadfast in our commitment to keeping our community safe. We are proud of our continued partnership with other local, state, and federal agencies to help us in that regard. This case is another example of the dedication of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those criminals who would seek to victimize the public at large,” said Interim Chief O.S. Hamilton, Cobb County Police Department.
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: In September and October of 2016, Wiley, Mitchell, and Starling committed a string of violent armed robberies in Oklahoma, Texas, and then Fulton and Cobb Counties in the metro-Atlanta area.
Wiley, sometimes accompanied by Mitchell, charged into retail stores with a loaded gun, ordered everyone to lie flat on the ground, and forced the store clerks to empty the registers into a bag while holding a gun to their heads. Wiley pointed a gun at employees during each robbery and threatened to shoot and kill multiple people. Starling served as the getaway driver during two of the robberies.
Mitchell, Wiley, and Starling were eventually captured on October 28, 2016 at Starling’s house in Marietta, Georgia. When Cobb County Police searched the house, they recovered two firearms and two masks used during multiple robberies, as well as some of the cash that the defendants had stolen at gunpoint.
U.S. District Judge Leigh M. May sentenced each of the defendants to the following:
- Tyvonne Wiley, 25, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced on January 5, 2022, to 35 years and one day of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,330.29, in restitution to the businesses he robbed. Wiley was convicted by a jury on May 5, 2021 of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and five counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
- Tevin Mitchell, 27, of Enid, Oklahoma, was sentenced on February 3, 2020 to 11 years, three months of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $13,330 in restitution. Mitchell pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
- Torey Starling, 28, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced on June 11, 2021 to six years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. Starling pled guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annalise K. Peters, Ryan K. Buchanan, and Stephanie Gabay-Smith prosecuted the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cobb County Police Department, the Marietta Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Sandy Springs Police Department, and the Dallas, Texas Police Department investigated this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Three Men Charged for COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Three men made their initial appearances in federal court today for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to apply for and use Nevada and California unemployment insurance benefits debit cards — approved for over $900,000 — that were issued in other peoples’ names.
Luigi J. Montes (41), of Sugarland, Texas, Alexander Hoyos Rivera (24), of Marion, Ohio, and Peter Alexander Stincer (33), of Sylmar, California, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to allegations contained in the complaint, from about March 1, 2020 to January 6, 2021, Montes, Rivera, and Stincer conspired with others — including Alan Ray, who was previously charged and pleaded guilty in October 2021 to his role in the conspiracy — to defraud the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). As part of the scheme, the defendants fraudulently applied for unemployment insurance benefits with DETR and EDD, using stolen personal identifying information. The debit cards were sent to mailing addresses to which the defendants had access. After receiving the unemployment insurance debit cards, Montes, Rivera, and Stincer withdrew the funds at various ATMS located in several states, including Nevada, California, and Texas. In total, the fraud scheme involved at least $934,129 in benefits approved by the state workforce agencies, and implicated $1,149,250 in actual and potential benefits.
Montes, Rivera, and Stincer each appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 26 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
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South Carolina Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Carolina man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for interstate stalking, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Dustin Beach, 27, to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Beach pleaded guilty in June 2021.
According to court records, during the days leading up to July 25, 2019, Beach drove a female victim from South Carolina to Maine. During the drive to Maine, Beach threatened the victim and physically assaulted her with his hands and other objects, including a hammer and a metal chain. These assaults resulted in bodily injury to the victim and caused her substantial emotional distress.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Singal described Beach’s conduct as “sadistic” and found him to be “a danger to society.”
“I want to commend the strong and collaborative law enforcement response to this vicious crime,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “I hope the example of this prosecution and the significant sentence imposed by the Court sends a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated in the District of Maine.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the case.
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South Bend Man Sentenced to 30 Months of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND-Michael Dale Kindley, 45, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Kindley was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by 1 years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in the case, in August of 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in which they learned Kindley was driving without a driver’s license in a car that did not belong to him. At the time of the stop, Kindley had a handgun, over $2,000 cash, two bags filled with an assortment of prescription pills, and was on probation for a felony conviction of possessing methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Schultz.
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.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 21 Months of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND-Tyshawn Williams, 26, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in the case, in March of 2021, Williams was stopped with a 9-millimeter handgun and marijuana in his car. He then tried to run away from officers but was apprehended. Williams was on parole for a reckless homicide felony conviction when he committed this offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mishawaka Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome McKeever.
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.
Sloan Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 5, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
Brett Michael Walking Eagle, 42, from Sloan, Iowa, pled guilty April 15, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a protected location.
At the hearings, evidence showed that on or about December 2, 2019, Walking Eagle had a discussion with another individual regarding the sale of meth. Walking Eagle instructed the individual to travel to the Boys and Girls Home parking lot in Sioux City, Iowa to meet with a coconspirator who would provide the methamphetamine. Law enforcement then apprehended the coconspirator at the Boys and Girls Home as he was waiting to distribute the methamphetamine.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Walking Eagle remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. Walking Eagle was sentenced to 70 months’ and must serve an 8-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4086. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Salem Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm While on Post-Prison SupervisionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Salem, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Bernard McEllen Welch, 33, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 21, 2020, a Salem Police officer pulled a car over for a traffic violation when Welch jumped from the vehicle’s rear passenger door and ran away. The officer called for backup and stayed with the vehicle. A nearby resident alerted police that a man had jumped into his backyard. Officers searched the area and located Welch hiding under a bush.
After Welch was arrested, officers returned to the home where the resident had reported seeing Welch enter his backyard. They located a discarded pistol with an obliterated serial number and a chambered round. In an adjacent property, they located a loaded magazine compatible with the pistol. Investigators at the Oregon State Forensic Laboratory later matched DNA found on the firearm with a sample collected from Welch.
At the time of his arrest, Welch had prior state felony convictions for assaulting a public safety officer, second-degree robbery with a firearm, third-degree assault, and third-degree robbery.
On August 5, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a one-count indictment charging Welch with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On September 16, 2021, he pleaded guilty to the single charge.
This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Salem Man Pleads Guilty to Small Business Loan Fraud and Filing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salem man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with two fraud schemes involving COVID-19 relief funds and tax returns for other individuals.
Roosevelt Fernandez, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2022. Fernandez was charged in December 2020.
Fernandez applied for 10 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), either in his own name or in the names of entities he controlled. EIDL funds were available to eligible individuals and businesses pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In June 2020, Fernandez applied for an EIDL under the name Soluciones Multi Service, an entity he controlled, and submitted a false tax filing in support of the application. As a result, the SBA deposited $124,900 into a bank account controlled by Fernandez from which he withdrew more than $80,000 in cash over the next two weeks. In August 2020, Fernandez applied for an EIDL in the name of another business using fraudulent tax filing information. As a result, the SBA deposited $149,900 into the same bank account.
In addition, Fernandez used the identities of various individuals to submit fraudulent state and federal tax returns. A number of these returns included fraudulent W-2 Forms purportedly issued by employers for whom the named taxpayer did not in fact work. Various fraudulent refunds were deposited into an account in the name of Soluciones Multi Service. In addition, a May 2020 fraudulent Economic Income Payment – stimulus authorized by CARES Act – was deposited into this same account. Fernandez was depicted on ATM surveillance footage depositing another fraudulent tax refund check into this account. Overall, the investigation uncovered approximately 40 fraudulent tax returns associated with Fernandez, totaling over $620,000 in requested refunds.
The charges of wire fraud provide 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 aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, up to one year 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 other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division for the Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of Mendell’s 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.
Rhode Island Man Charged in Manhattan for Trafficking ‘Ghost’ GunsRead the Press Release
A Rhode Island man was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today with conspiring to traffic firearms and with making false statements. According to court documents, Robert Alcantara, 34, of Providence, was arrested today and presented in the District of Rhode Island.
“Untraceable ‘ghost guns’ pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “As alleged, the defendant agreed with others to buy the parts for these firearms, put them together at his home, and then unlawfully sold or attempted to sell over 100 of them. Thanks to our law enforcement partners, the defendant has been arrested, and his deadly ghost gun business has been shut down.”
“As alleged, Robert Alcantara engaged in trafficking untraceable, Privately Made Firearms (PMF’s), commonly called 'ghost guns,'” said Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito of ATF New York. “Stopping the flow of these firearms is a top priority of ATF, and we will rigorously pursue those who illegally sell these firearms. I applaud the NYSP who initiated this investigation through superb investigative actions, as well as our partners at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement and the NYPD for their vital and continued contributions to the investigations.”
“As is alleged to have happened here, the trafficking of PMFs poses a danger to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement New York Field Office. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal smuggling of firearms, including ‘ghost guns’ that are difficult to trace.”
According to the allegations in the complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
From September 2019 up to November 2021, Alcantara and others entered an agreement in which Alcantara purchased the parts for more than 100 ghost guns, machined the ghost guns at his house in Providence, Rhode Island, and then illegally sold the working and completed ghost guns. On Nov. 20, 2021, law enforcement recovered parts for 45 ghost guns from Alcantara’s car. When interviewed by law enforcement, Alcantara falsely told them that he had never sold or transferred ownership of a firearm to any other individual, and that he had never transported a firearm to the Dominican Republic.
Below are photographs of the 45 ghost guns seized from Alcantara’s house, as well as photographs of firearms Alcantara intended to sell to buyers:
Alcantara is charged with: (1) conspiracy to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and (2) making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York; Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Special Agent in Charge Johnathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement’s New York Field Office made the announcement.
U.S. Attorney Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the Department of Commerce. U.S. Attorney Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police Department, the Providence Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island for their assistance in the case.
The case is being handled by the office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mead is in charge of the prosecution.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rhode Island Man Charged in Manhattan for Trafficking ‘Ghost’ GunsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), and Johnathan Carson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office, announced that ROBERT ALCANTARA was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today with conspiring to traffic firearms and with making false statements. ALCANTARA was arrested today and presented in the District of Rhode Island.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Untraceable ‘ghost guns’ pose a serious threat to public safety. As alleged, the defendant agreed with others to buy the parts for these firearms, put them together at his home, and then unlawfully sold or attempted to sell over 100 of them. Thanks to our law enforcement partners, the defendant has been arrested, and his deadly ghost gun business has been shut down.”
John B. DeVito, ATF New York Special Agent-in-Charge said: “As alleged, Robert Alcantara engaged in trafficking untraceable, Privately Made Firearms (PMF’s), commonly called ghost guns. Stopping the flow of these firearms is a top priority of ATF, and we will rigorously pursue those who illegally sell these firearms. I applaud the NYSP who initiated this investigation through superb investigative actions, as well as our partners at the US Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement and the NYPD for their vital and continued contributions to the investigations.”
US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement New York Field Office Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson said: “As is alleged to have happened here, the trafficking of Privately Made Firearms poses a danger to our communities. The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal smuggling of firearms, including ‘ghost guns’ that are difficult to trace.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
From September 2019 up to November 2021, ALCANTARA and others entered an agreement in which ALCANTARA purchased the parts for more than 100 “ghost guns,” machined the ghost guns at his house in Providence, Rhode Island, and then illegally sold the working and completed ghost guns. On November 20, 2021, law enforcement recovered parts for 45 ghost guns from ALCANTARA’s car. When interviewed by law enforcement, ALCANTARA falsely told them that he had never sold or transferred ownership of a firearm to any other individual, and that he had never transported a firearm to the Dominican Republic.
Below are photographs of the 45 “ghost guns” seized from ALCANTARA’s house, as well as photographs of firearms ALCANTARA intended to sell to buyers:
ALCANTARA, 34, of Providence, Rhode Island, is charged with: (1) conspiracy to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and (2) making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the Department of Commerce. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police Department, the Providence Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island for their assistance in the case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Mead is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Rhinelander Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Child EnticementRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Richard M. Duellman, 43, Rhinelander, Wisconsin pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release to follow, for attempting to persuade and entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
On July 21, 2020, Duellman began chatting online with an undercover detective pretending to be a 15-year-old girl. During those chats, Duellman gave the detective a cell phone number and they began to text message each other. The two exchanged text messages for several hours, during which the detective told the defendant “she” was 15 and the defendant said numerous times he wanted to “get in her pants.” The defendant then talked on the phone to a second undercover employee pretending to be the same 15-year-old girl, during which the defendant again discussed getting into the girl’s pants and asked about having sex. Duellman and the undercover employee agreed to meet at a business in Rhinelander that same day, and the defendant was taken into custody shortly after he arrived.
In a post-arrest interview, Duellman admitted meeting a female online and said the female told him that she was 15 years old. He said they had conversations about sexual things and birth control and then he decided to meet her. At today’s hearing, the defendant admitted that he intended to meet the girl to have sex with her.
In sentencing Duellman, Judge Peterson expressed his concern about the defendant’s criminal history and continued sexual interest in teenage girls, noting that a 10-year sentence was warranted to protect the public.
The charge against Duellman was the result of an investigation conducted by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Rhinelander Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
Readout from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Meeting on the One Year Anniversary of the January 6th Attack on the CapitolRead the Press Release
This morning, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met with many of the Department of Justice employees who are assigned to the January 6th investigation.
Along with Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, the Attorney General thanked agents, analysts, task force officers, prosecutors and professional staff from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and additional offices around the country for their tireless work this past year to hold accountable those who attacked the Capitol one year ago today.
Building on his remarks from yesterday, the Attorney General commended their incredible commitment to this investigation, which has resulted in more than 725 arrests in nearly all 50 states. The Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General and FBI Director also recognized the challenges of conducting this investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the work on this case is far from done. They encouraged the team to remain dedicated and, as the Attorney General said yesterday, to follow the facts wherever they lead.
RV Salesman Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A former Arkansas resident pleaded guilty today to tax evasion and admitted he lied to IRS special agents.
According to court documents, Joshua Wood, previously of Alma, Arkansas, instructed his employer not to withhold income taxes from his paycheck and then did not file tax returns from 2014 through 2016. During those years, Wood earned more than $378,000 selling recreational vehicles (RVs) and automobiles. When questioned by IRS special agents, Wood falsely claimed to have been shot down and wounded on a Navy mission, causing him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. He also falsely stated that a CPA had prepared tax returns on his behalf, when in fact the CPA had never prepared Wood’s taxes.
Wood is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and Nicholas Schilling of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Project LEAD Graduates 25 Students in the Municipality of BayamónRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Last December, a total of 25 students from the Epifanio Fernández Vanga Elementary School and the Mariano Feliú Balseiro Middle School in Bayamón graduated from the Project LEAD school program in a ceremony held in U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. In August of 2021, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico began a 20-week school curriculum in both schools. The curriculum focused on the legal and social consequences of juvenile crimes and included techniques to help students resolve conflicts and resist peer pressure. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Zenón Matos was the facilitator in charge of leading the weekly sessions with the students.
Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment and Decision-making) was established in 1993 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Its goal is to teach children that the choices they make today can affect their lives forever. An evaluation of the program conducted by Bernadette Chi, PhD and Ellen Middaugh, M.A. of the University of California, Berkley showed that Project LEAD provides:
- Protective factors that decrease students’ propensity to become involved in negative and illegal activities.
- An increase in students’ knowledge about the legal system.
- An increase in positive dispositions, for example: Confidence in their own decision-making capacities; Attitudes about the legal system; and Attitudes about authority.
The USAO launched the program in two public schools in Loíza in December of 2020. The USAO translated the Project LEAD program into the Spanish language and tailored the curriculum to focus on situations that youth in the District of Puerto Rico are likely to encounter. The 20-week curriculum, taught by AUSA Kelly Zenón, focuses on the social and legal consequences of juvenile crimes, such as truancy, illicit drug use, shoplifting, graffiti, animal abuse, and bullying. Project LEAD also teaches students techniques to resolve conflicts, resist peer pressure, promote tolerance and respect for diversity, and the role of education to achieve economic stability. Students also learn about the federal and state judicial systems, including how each operates, and the roles played by prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and defendants in the litigation process. The curriculum concludes with the students’ performance of a scripted mock trial, putting into practice what they have learned about the criminal justice system.
United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow stated: “We are very proud to continue this program despite the constraints imposed during the pandemic. We are grateful for the schools and the parents who trusted the USAO personnel along with other state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, to provide the students with the skills and experience to evaluate challenging situations and help them make good decisions.”
This Project was possible with the collaboration of many federal and state agencies. Special thanks to the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; Federal Public Defender; PR Department of Justice; PR Department of Education, in particular, the personnel at the Bayamón Regional Office; U.S. Marshals Service; PR Police Bureau; PR Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Administration of Juvenile Institutions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Anti-Bullying 10-8 In Service; and Common Cause for Paws.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Distributing Sexually Explicit Material Involving MinorsRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – An Evansville man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for the production and distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors.
According to court documents, in February 2018, an individual contacted the Evansville Police Department to report that she had been contacted by an unknown female stating she had received inappropriate messages from the individual’s social media accounts. The individual further discovered that someone was using her name and photographs to set up social media accounts to contact and communicate with underage girls to receive nude photographs. That person was named Wesley Trafford, who she did not know or give him permission to do so.
After further investigation, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Wesley E. Trafford, 35, Evansville. Evidence was collected and sent to the Indiana State Police for examination. The forensic examination of the evidence found that Trafford took images from social media accounts belonging to other people to create fake accounts. He would then use the fake accounts to obtain nude images of minor victims and distributed those nude images of minors to others. Trafford had previously been convicted of child exploitation in September 2014 in Vanderburgh County, and was a registered sex offender at the time he committed these federal offenses.
“Every parent and child should be aware of the dangers lurking online. Often, the person on the other side of the screen is not who they pretend to be, and in fact may be a serial sexual predator seeking additional minor victims. Recidivist sex offenders against children are a particular federal priority, and my office will work tirelessly to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “The serious consequences imposed today are an important part of protecting the public and demonstrating to would-be offenders that they will be found, and they will be brought to justice.”
“This case demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable of our society, our children,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “Every time sexually explicit images of children are viewed it revictimizes a child and the FBI will continue to work diligently to ensure those who would harm them are held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Indiana State Police and the Evansville Police Department also provided invaluable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young also imposed five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Portland Area Drug Trafficker Indicted for Kidnapping and Murder of Washington State ManRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal superseding indictment was unsealed today charging a Mexican National residing in Clackamas County, Oregon for his role in the 2019 kidnapping and murder of a Washington State man and other drug trafficking crimes.
Marcos Alonso Castillo-Bernal, 46, has been charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances, killing while engaged in drug trafficking, distribution of heroin and methamphetamine, kidnapping resulting in death, conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, hostage taking resulting in death, conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, felon in possession of a firearm, and fraud and misuse of a visa.
According to the superseding indictment, beginning on an unknown date and continuing until his arrest in October 2019, Castillo-Bernal conspired with others to traffic and distribute large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine in an around Portland. Castillo-Bernal and his co-conspirators would import large quantities of the illegal narcotics from numerous suppliers to stash houses throughout the metro area where they were processed and prepared for sale.
On or about April 13, 2019, Castillo-Bernal and others kidnapped, held hostage, and murdered Ricardo Corral-Moreno, of Olympia, Washington, and disposed of his body in a rural area near Molalla, Oregon. Castillo-Bernal and his co-conspirators targeted Corral-Moreno because of money Corral-Moreno owed to Castillo-Bernal and others.
Castillo-Bernal made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on April 12, 2022.
Killing while engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping resulting in death, and hostage taking resulting in death are all capital offenses with maximum custodial sentences of life in federal prison. Kidnapping and hostage taking resulting in death also carry a mandatory life sentence upon conviction. Killing while engaged in drug trafficking and drug trafficking conspiracy carry mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years and 15 years in federal prison, respectively.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.
Pennsylvania Man Admits Bank Fraud Conspiracy that Operated in South Jersey and Southeastern PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Pennsylvania man today admitted his role in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted over 12 financial institutions in southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Ayanniyi Alayande, 47, of Darby, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Alayande was part of a multi-defendant, Nigerian-based, multi-layered criminal organization that engaged in a massive bank fraud conspiracy in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island, between June 2016 and March 2020. Members of the group acquired numerous business checks that were stolen from the United States mail, altered the payee on the checks to a fraudulent name and deposited the checks into bank accounts that had been opened with forged foreign passport documents and fraudulent U.S. visas that matched the names on the stolen checks. Once the banks credited all or a portion of the funds to the accounts – but before the checks had cleared – the defendants withdrew the funds from ATMs or purchased money orders, using debit cards associated with the fraudulent accounts. Members of the organization used over 400 fraudulent accounts opened with fake identity documents to defraud the victim banks. To date, the total loss to the victim banks is approximately $6 million.
Ayanniyi Alayande today admitted his role in the conspiracy, which included using false identities to make several deposits to and withdrawals from the fraudulent accounts. As part of his plea, Alayande agreed to forfeit his interest in approximately $90,000 worth of money orders, which were proceeds of the bank fraud and which were seized from a public storage facility in Philadelphia used by the conspirators to store additional fraudulent identity documents and proceeds of the bank fraud.
The bank fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bellmawr office and Philadelphia Division Office, under the direction of Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge, Philadelphia Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington, D.C. Division Office, under the direction of Peter R. Rendina, Washington Division Inspector in Charge; Homeland Security Investigations, Cherry Hill Office and Newark Division Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Division Office, under the Direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; Homeland Security Investigations Maryland Division Office, under the direction of James R. Mancuso, Special Agent in Charge, Baltimore; Homeland Security Investigations Rhode Island Office, under the direction of Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge, Boston Division Office; and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), under the direction of R. Mike Escott, Resident Agent in Charge, Philadelphia Resident Office, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
Charges against 11 other defendants remain pending.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints and indictments against the 11 defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pain Clinic Doctor and Staff Member Charged with Unlawful Distribution of OpioidsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Dr. Qing McGaha (55, Tampa) with conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, as well as monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The indictment also charges Camille Mohammed (52, Tampa) with conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the drug conspiracy count, McGaha and Mohammed each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. McGaha also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each unlawful distribution count (15 counts) and 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count (4 counts). If convicted on all counts, McGaha and Mohammed each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies McGaha that the United States intends to forfeit $774,216.12 in U.S. currency, $170,482.34 seized from bank accounts, and two real properties located in the Tampa Bay area, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense or used to facilitate the crimes.
According to the
indictment , McGaha was a Florida-licensed medical doctor who owned and operated MD Care Clinic, a pain management clinic in Hillsborough County. McGaha employed Mohammed, who served as the clinic’s receptionist and scheduled patient appointments, collected patient fees, and recorded vital measurements. Mohammed also falsified urine screen results, managed the overcrowded waiting room and parking lot, and fielded calls from pharmacists concerned about McGaha’s controlled substance prescriptions.Over a 20-month period, undercover agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted numerous appointments with McGaha and at each appointment received an opioid controlled substance (hydrocodone, hydromorphone, or oxycodone), not for a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice.
In addition, McGaha engaged in multiple monetary transactions over $10,000, which monies she criminally derived from the operation of her clinic and which she used to purchase a piece of real property located in Clearwater or deposited into her bank account.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration—Tampa District Office and by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office, which focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. This case was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit over $18 Million in Stock and Properties After Stealing Millions in Covid-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today after stealing millions of dollars in loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Aaron Lloyd, 51, of Lebanon, Oregon, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Lloyd was also ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution and forfeit 25 properties and more than 15,000 shares of Tesla, Inc. stock seized by law enforcement.
Lloyd took advantage of economic relief programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These programs were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans and small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, beginning in April 2020, Lloyd began submitting CARES Act loan applications using numerous business names and personally identification information of relatives and business associates without their consent. Lloyd submitted false documentation to justify the loan amounts requested, including IRS forms listing the 2019 wages purportedly paid by entities controlled by Lloyd. Lloyd claimed these entities paid employees as much as $4.7 million. Lloyd’s loan applications included lists of dozens of purported employees and the total wages paid to each. The loan application packages included some of the same information across the different business entities, including the businesses’ physical locations and the names of several dozen employees.
The IRS forms, the total amount of wages and earnings, the employee names, and the
wages paid to each employee were all created by Lloyd and false.
In total, Lloyd submitted nine PPP loan applications, six of which were accepted, resulting in a payout of more than $3.4 million. Lloyd also applied for numerous EIDLs, of which one was accepted, resulting in an additional $160,000 in payments to Lloyd.
Upon receipt of the funds, Lloyd purchased real estate and invested in securities. Lloyd transferred more than $1.8 million of the above-described PPP loan funds to his securities brokerage account. Securities Lloyd purchased using the fraudulently acquired funds substantially increased in value. In addition, Lloyd purchased more than 25 properties in Oregon and California with the proceeds of his fraud.
In January 2021, agents seized Lloyd’s brokerage account, which included 15,740 shares of Tesla, Inc. purchased with proceeds of his fraud. In March 2021, agents seized another account containing more than $660,000 in securities and cash. The securities and cash seized from Lloyd’s accounts are presently valued at more than $18 million.
On January 5, 2021, Lloyd was charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Later, on June 6, 2021, he was charged by superseding criminal information with bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. On June 17, 2021, Lloyd pleaded guilty to all three charges.
An accomplice of Lloyd’s, Russell Anthony Schort, 39, of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, was charged alongside Lloyd for similar conduct. Schort pleaded guilty to bank fraud and, on November 16, 2021, was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay $294,552 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the SBA Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce and Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
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.
Nigerian Sentenced for Federal Fraud Violations in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Nigerian man has been sentenced to federal prison for fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Shalom Olumide Ayotunde, 39, pleaded guilty on July 1, 2021, to passport fraud, false claim to U.S. citizenship, wire fraud, and false statement to a financial institution, and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III. Ayotunde was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,067,000.
According to court documents, in June 2018, Ayotunde provided false identifying information in his application for a U.S. passport, and in doing so, also falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. Ayotunde was also involved in falsifying information in connection with numerous applications for Payment Protection Program loans, and ultimately received more than $1 million in fraudulent PPP loan proceeds. Additionally, evidence showed that Ayotunde was part of a conspiracy to defraud companies through business email compromise schemes and acted as a money mule when he knowingly received and transferred proceeds of fraudulent activity. Evidence showed that Ayotunde received or attempted to receive more than $800,000 in stolen funds. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ayotunde with federal violations on Nov. 13, 2020.
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.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State- Diplomatic Security Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camelia Lopez.
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New York Woman Indicted for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York woman was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking over 400 grams of fentanyl.
Shanese DeJesus, 25, was indicted on one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more fentanyl.
According to the charging document, on or about Oct. 20, 2021, DeJesus distributed fentanyl in Andover.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl 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 up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Colonel Nathan Noyes, Director of the New Hampshire State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New York Man Indicted on Fentanyl Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston on drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl.
Ruben Davila Cardenas, 43, of Sunnyside, N.Y., was indicted on one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more fentanyl.
According to the charging documents, on or about Oct. 19, 2021, Cardenas distributed more than 400 grams of fentanyl in Woburn and elsewhere.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl 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 up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Colonel Nathan Noyes, Director of the New Hampshire State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mission Woman Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on January 6, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Mareca Rodriquez, age 30, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, a fine in the amount of $500, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Rodriquez was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2021. She pled guilty on September 30, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from a traffic stop that occurred on March 3, 2021, in Mission. Rodriquez knowingly possessed approximately 329 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Rodriquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Immigration and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUCIANO SOLIS-SANCHEZ, 36, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment for immigration and controlled substances offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Solis-Sanchez has never held legal status in the U.S. In April 2007, Solis-Sanchez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) in Arizona and was granted voluntary return to Mexico. In November 2017, he was again encountered by USBP and was removed to Mexico. Approximately one week after his removal, Solis-Sanchez was again encountered by USBP in Arizona while attempting to unlawfully enter the U.S. He was charged and convicted of illegal entry and was again removed to Mexico.
On two occasions in May 2019, Solis-Sanchez was encountered by USBP in Texas and was removed to Mexico.
On March 3, 2020, Solis-Sanchez was arrested by Waterbury Police on charges of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of drugs near a prohibited place, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. He was released by the state on a promise to appear. Federal authorities subsequently learned of the arrest and obtained an arrest warrant for Solis-Sanchez charging him with illegal reentry.
On January 8, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected a UPS package that originated in Zapopan, Mexico, and was addressed to “Alfonso Perez, 39 Bucks Hill Rd, Waterbury, CT 06704 United States,” which was Solis-Sanchez’s residence. The package contained a handcrafted lamp that had two bundles containing approximately 498 grams of methamphetamine hidden behind a fiberglass panel.
On January 13, 2021, law enforcement made a controlled delivery of the package to 39 Bucks Hill Road, and then executed a search warrant at the residence. The search revealed a distribution quantity of cocaine. Solis-Sanchez was arrested a short time later. At the time of his arrest, he possessed an additional quantity of cocaine that he intended to sell. Solis-Sanchez subsequently admitted that he arranged for the delivery of the package containing methamphetamine, and also received cocaine shipments from the same supplier.
Solis-Sanchez has been detained since January 13, 2021. On June 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty one count of reentry of a removed alien and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Connecticut State Police, Statewide Narcotics Task Force, Northwest. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to selling a fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl mixture to an undercover agent on five occasions.
Andi Guerrero-Lara, a/k/a “Manny Sierra,” 24, pleaded guilty to a seven count superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2022.
In December 2019, Guerrero-Lara was indicted along with co-defendant Angel Rivera-Valle. He was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment on Sept. 2, 2020.
The defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization operating in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts that regularly sold large quantities of fentanyl. Between September and October 2019, an undercover agent purchased a fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl mixture from the defendants on five separate dates. According to court documents, after Rivera-Valle was arrested, Guerrero-Lara led agents on a high-speed car chase that spanned numerous miles and three cities during which Guerrero-Lara endangered multiple lives, as he narrowly missed crashing into a construction zone and police vehicles. Ultimately, Guerrero-Lara stopped his vehicle at an apartment complex in Lawrence and was arrested.
On Sept. 8, 2020, Rivera-Valle was sentenced by Judge Sterns to 64 months in prison and four years of supervised release.
This case is part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley called “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams of acetyl fentanyl, each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.