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24 January 2022
Des Moines Apartment Shooter Sentenced to 183 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On January 21, 2022, United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Darreon Earl Wright, age 25, of Des Moines, to 183 months in prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery; interference and attempted interference with commerce through robbery; and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Wright was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the two-day federal trial held in September 2021, shortly before 9:00 p.m. on February 19, 2020, Wright and his co-conspirator lured the victim to an apartment complex in Des Moines under the false promise of selling the victim marijuana. Upon the victim’s arrival at the apartment complex, Wright’s co-conspirator led the victim to an enclosed stairwell within the apartment complex where Wright was waiting with a loaded gun to ambush and rob the victim of the $6,900 in cash he brought to purchase the marijuana. When the victim entered the enclosed stairwell, Wright’s co-conspirator grabbed the victim, and Wright shot the victim two times—once in the arm, and once in the chest. Wright fled the shooting scene with his pistol. The victim survived.
This investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Section. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Perjury by Threatening a Witness in Murder TrialRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Lakewood, Colorado, man convicted of Subornation of Perjury and Conspiracy to Commit Subornation of Perjury was sentenced on January 21, 2022, by Judge Karen E. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Jason Patrick Baca, age 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on each count, to run consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Baca was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2019, and pleaded guilty on December 22, 2021. The conviction stems from Baca threatening a material witness and dissuading the witness from testifying truthfully in the September 2021 jury trial for the 2016 assault and shooting death of Vincent Von Brewer III.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins and Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Baca was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Chester County Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking into Area College Computer NetworksRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Timothy Spillane, 39, of Chester Springs, PA, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Joel Slomsky to accessing a protected computer network without authorization, arising from his intrusions into the digital networks of two suburban Philadelphia-area colleges.
According to court documents, between November 2017 and January 2018, the defendant hacked into approximately 25 school network email accounts at two local colleges belonging to students and staff. After gaining access to these accounts, Spillane obtained the personal identifying information of the account holders and others, including W-2 tax forms and student financial information. The defendant then attempted to submit fraudulent tax returns using the stolen information, but he was unsuccessful because he could not accurately determine the victims’ adjusted gross income from the prior tax year. Spillane further admitted that he set up email, pre-paid phone and bank accounts in these individuals’ names in order to collect the fraudulently obtained tax return money.
“A significant number of Americans handle nearly all of their business online, which means that the information they store digitally can be vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Would-be thieves like this defendant demonstrate how quickly and easily personal information can be compromised. However, this case also demonstrates how quickly our Office and our law enforcement partners will respond; it was only a matter of weeks between the FBI receiving a tip and the day they knocked on the defendant’s door to execute a search warrant, stopping him in his tracks.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe.
Chapel Hill Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years Imprisonment for Elder Fraud Home Repair SchemeRead the Press Release
Greensboro, N.C. – Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, announced today that JORGE ALBERTO GARCIA, also known as “Alberto Garcia” and “Roberto Garcia,” was sentenced today in federal court for fraud and tax offenses.
GARCIA, age 41, had pled guilty on November 22, 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, that is, a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, in a home repair scheme, as well as two counts of failure to file income tax returns.
GARCIA was sentenced by United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., in Greensboro. GARCIA was sentenced to 121 months in prison as to Count One and 12 months in prison as to Counts Eleven and Twelve, to run concurrently with one another. He was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release as to Count One and one year of supervised release as to Counts Eleven and Twelve, also to run concurrently with another. He was ordered to pay $4,043,397.52 in restitution.
“The lengthy sentence in this case reflects the depravity of the scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “This prosecution sends a message to would-be fraudsters: fraud, especially fraud that targets the vulnerable elderly, is a top priority of federal law enforcement in this district, and an offense that carries substantial penalties.”
“The victims in this case trusted Jorge Garcia, but unfortunately they were manipulated and deceived. Garcia ripped off hundreds of elderly victims to fill his own pockets. Now he will pay for his crimes serving a federal prison sentence where he can't swindle anyone else,” said Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina.
“Illegal activity involving innocent taxpayers has brought financial ruin to many Americans,” stated Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to using our forensic accounting skills to help unravel complex fraud and money laundering schemes. We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who attempt to enrich themselves by fraudulent means, and to help put a stop to this and other types of white collar crime."
According to court documents, from on or about September 2015 to and including April 2020, GARCIA approached elderly, retired individuals at their private residences in Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties, offering home improvement services using the business names “J&J Home Improvement” and “JH Home Improvements, Inc.” Many of these victims had physical or mental infirmities. GARCIA—who never had a state general contractor’s license—would offer to perform home improvement projects and these elderly individuals would, in turn, pay him prior to the completion of any construction work via personal checks, credit cards, or withdrawals from investment accounts. GARCIA would often direct that these individuals leave the “to” line of the check blank (which would later be completed in the name of his wife), or issue the check directly to his wife, who, in turn, deposited the checks into personal accounts in her name or that of her business, La Cacerola. GARCIA’s wife would then withdraw the money in cash and/or issue a cashier’s check made out to GARCIA. GARCIA and his wife would also take the checks to the elderly individual’s bank or their bank and cash the checks without depositing the funds into their bank accounts.
Filed documents further state GARCIA would develop personal relationships with these elderly individuals, calling them “Momma” and “Poppa,” and encourage them to solicit their neighbors to engage his services in home improvement projects for their residences, as well. GARCIA also solicited loans from some of the elderly individuals for whom he had already contracted to perform home improvement projects, separate and apart from those projects. In at least one instance, he received a check from a victim for such a loan and returned to that victim’s home later that same day to request the loan again. The victim, not remembering that he had written the first check, issued yet another check for the same amount to GARCIA.
However, GARCIA would not complete the contracted home improvement projects, nor would he repay any loans in full. When the contracting individual, a concerned relative of that person, or a local law enforcement officer confronted GARCIA about the payments, GARCIA would respond in the following ways: a) GARCIA would promise to send workers to complete the project but never fully complete the project; b) GARCIA or his wife would return a small percentage of the monies paid for the project; and/or c) GARCIA or his wife would write a personal check to the contracting individual that would be returned by the issuing bank as lacking sufficient funds. On more than one instance, GARCIA urged the victim not to contact the authorities about the unfinished work.
Review of records from bank accounts known to be controlled by GARCIA and/or his wife for the time period spanning May 2014 through November 2019 indicates that, as a result of the above-described scheme to defraud, GARCIA obtained a total exceeding $3 million dollars belonging to multiple victims.
Further, as reflected in the factual basis filed in support of GARCIA’s guilty plea, GARCIA and his wife have filed no federal income taxes since 2007, either personally or for their respective businesses. For the tax years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, GARCIA and his wife had a joint income exceeding $3 million dollars. In calendar years 2017 and 2018, GARCIA had and received gross income exceeding the amount required to file an income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service; GARCIA knew this and willfully failed to file a return.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in coordination with the Durham Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Chapel Hill Police Department, Carrboro Police Department, and Cary Police Department) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys JoAnna G. McFadden and Ashley E. Waid.
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Cedar Rapids Nurse Sentenced in Drug Diversion and Tampering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids surgery center nurse, who diverted fentanyl to her own use at a local outpatient surgery center, was sentenced on January 21, 2022, to five years probation. Sabrina Thalblum, age 52, from Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a July 21, 2021, guilty plea to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of adulteration and misbranding with intent to defraud and mislead.
At her guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Thalblum admitted that, from about August 2018 to August 2019, she was an unlawful user of, and addicted to, fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid and controlled substance. Thalblum abused her position as a registered nurse to gain access to fentanyl at her employer, a local surgery center, and divert it to her own use. As a part of her scheme, Thalblum tampered with the vials of fentanyl. Thalblum removed the caps from vials of fentanyl at the outpatient surgery center and then carefully punctured the vials with needles and drew out the fentanyl. She then refilled the vials with saline to make the vials appear as if they still contained fentanyl. Thalblum also carefully reglued the caps of the vials to make it appear as if the vials were undisturbed, when, in truth, these consumer products no longer contained their declared values of fentanyl. In this way, the Thalblum made it appear as if the vials remained new, unopened, and filled with the controlled substance on their respective labels, that is, fentanyl, when, in truth, the Thalblum had diverted some or all of the fentanyl in the vials to herself.
Thalblum was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thalblum was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $10,000. She also must forfeit her nursing license. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-102.
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Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
According to court records, in 2017 and 2018, Arthur Merson, 67, of Scottsdale, Arizona, participated in a scheme to defraud involving investments in Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs). Investors were promised that they could receive a portion of the value of an SBLC, worth millions of dollars, for a much smaller initial investment. Investors were promised returns equal to many times the amounts of their initial investments in a matter of weeks. They were also promised that their money would remain in the attorney trust account of a co-conspirator—who at the time was a licensed attorney in Florida—until confirmation was received that the SBLC had been issued.
In his role as an intermediary between investors and the principal members of the conspiracy, Merson falsely represented to investors that the investment was not risky and that he had been involved in similar successful deals in the past. In fact, he had not been involved in prior successful transactions of this sort, nor had he made any significant amount of money from them.
After co-conspirators fraudulently transferred investor funds, Merson relayed a variety of excuses from other members of the conspiracy for why the transactions had not occurred. He also falsely represented that he was an independent consultant who was only going to receive a small finder’s fee, and claimed not to know the details of the transaction or the payouts the clients could expect. In fact, he had a significant independent financial interest in the investment transaction that he failed to disclose, and affirmatively misled investors about, as he responded to investor inquiries.
Merson faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Ambridge Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison in Project Safe Childhood Case: Kevin Lude Also Ordered to Pay More than $72,000 to 22 VictimsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 8 years’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of Receipt and Attempted Receipt of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Kevin Lude, age 31, of Ambridge, Pennsylvania on January 20, 2022.
According to information presented to the court, from August 21, 2019 through September 30, 2019, Lude knowingly received and attempt to receive visual depictions of minors, namely videos, engaging in sexually explicit conduct via peer-to-peer networks. Because a peer-to-peer network allows a user to download files directly from the computers of other users in the network, Lude was able to accrue an extensive collection of child sexual abuse material while permitting other individuals to do the same.
In imposing Lude’s sentence, Judge Ranjan stated: “[I]t is undisputed and supported by the victim-impact statements that there remains an ongoing harm to the victims as their images are re-distributed.” As part of his sentence, the Court ordered Lude to pay restitution to 22 of his victims, resulting a total order of restitution of $72,788.98.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended Homeland Security Investigations and the New Brighton Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lude.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
23 January 2022
Rosebud Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Jesse James Leader Charge, age 26, was indicted on September 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 21, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, mandatory minimum five years of supervised release, up to life, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between May 6, 2021, and September 14, 2021, in the District of South Dakota, Leader Charge, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Leader Charge is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Leader Charge was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Parmelee Man Charged with Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Hehaka Thunder Hawk, age 38, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 21, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, any term of years, not less than five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between September 1, 2020, and September 30, 2020, in the District of South Dakota, Thunder Hawk knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a minor female.
The charge is merely an accusation and Thunder Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Thunder Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Jury Finds Mission Man Guilty of Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Patrick Medearis, age 38, of Mission, South Dakota, was found guilty of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm as a result of a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Medearis was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16, 2020. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on April 22, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, law enforcement was searching for Medearis based on an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred the previous day, wherein he was suspected of possessing a firearm. Medearis was located at a residence south of Mission. When law enforcement arrived, Medearis attempted to flee in a vehicle. He was subsequently apprehended, and a .22 caliber long rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun were located in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Medearis has three prior felony convictions. He was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in U.S. District Court in 2006. He was convicted of Child Abuse and Neglect in U.S. District Court in 2010. He was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer in U.S. District Court in 2017. As a result of these convictions, it is illegal for Medearis to possess firearms or ammunition. Medearis will forfeit ownership of the firearms to the United States.
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.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Medearis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
21 January 2022
York County Man and Woman Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 12, 2022, Shiloh Edris Johnson, age 18, and Kadie Jean Swartz, age 18, both of York, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Johnson and Swartz conspired to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, and that they conspired to possess, and possessed, firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The indictment also charges Johnson with receiving a firearm while under indictment for robbery and aggravated assault.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses charged in the indictment is up to life imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and up to lifetime supervised release. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
This matter was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Weymouth Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Weymouth man pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a scheme to defraud a financial institution and to obtain money from its customers using fraudulent identification documents.
Judemario Josaphat, Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2022. Josaphat was charged with an alleged co-conspirator on Feb. 4, 2021.
Josaphat participated in and, at times, directed a scheme to defraud a financial institution. To carry out the scheme, Josaphat and others used fraudulent identification documents, among other means, to withdraw money from customers’ accounts at a federally-insured bank in the form of checks and cash. The fraudulently-obtained funds were then deposited in other bank accounts opened in the names of fictitious business entities before being withdrawn. The scheme resulted in over $800,000 in losses between December 2017 and February 2018.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright and Christopher J. Markham of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Webster Man Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communications to a West Virginia JudgeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Webster man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for mailing threatening communications to a West Virginia District Court Judge.
Keith Lessard, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served (approximately four months) and one year of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of two years in prison, the maximum sentence permitted by statute. On Sept. 15, 2021, Lessard pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications.
Lessard was charged and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2020 in the Southern District of West Virginia. The case was transferred to the District of Massachusetts in July 2021 for plea and sentencing proceedings.
From August 2019 through June 2020, Lessard engaged in a series of communications with a West Virginia District Court Judge, and others, using email and postal mail. Prior to becoming a judge, the victim had previously served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in a case against Lessard in 2010. The communications sent by Lessard were part of a scheme to extort money from the victim by threatening injury to her reputation by falsely claiming that she engaged in illegal prosecutorial misconduct when she prosecuted him.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS CASTRO, 34, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 68 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
On August 27, 2021, a jury found Castro guilty of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to the evidence and testimony at trial, in September 2018, a DEA Task Force investigation revealed that Castro was attempting to purchase two kilograms of cocaine. On September 10, 2018, task force officers conducted surveillance on individuals who were suspected of being the source of the cocaine as they traveled by car to Castro’s residence on Delaware Avenue in Waterbury. Investigators later stopped the car and recovered $67,000 in cash. A search of Castro’s residence that evening revealed more than 500 grams of a mixture containing cocaine, a kilogram press, items used to process narcotics for redistribution, and $8,292 in cash.
This is Castro’s second federal conviction. In March 2011, he was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to 18 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine, crack and firearms.
Castro, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of the court proceeding to begin serving his sentence.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Tara Levens.
University of Arkansas Professor Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Agents About Patents in ChinaRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – An Arkansas man and University of Arkansas Professor pleaded guilty today to one count of making a false statement to the FBI about the existence of patents for his inventions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Simon Saw-Teong Ang, 64, of Fayetteville, entered a guilty plea to count 58 on a Superseding Indictment charging him with making a materially false and fictitious, statement and representation to an FBI Special Agent. According to court documents, 24 patents filed in the People’s Republic of China bear Ang’s name or Chinese birth name. The University of Arkansas, where Ang worked as a professor, required individuals such as Ang to promptly furnish to the University “full and complete” disclosures of inventions, and University policy provided that it, not individual inventors, would own all inventions created by those subject to the policy. This policy was established “in furtherance of the commitment of the University to the widest possible distribution of the benefits of University Research, the protection of Inventions resulting from such research, and the development of Inventions for the public good.”
Despite this requirement, Ang did not disclose his Chinese patents to the university and, when interviewed by an FBI agent, lied about his involvement in the inventions. Specifically, when asked whether his name would be listed as “the inventor” of numerous patents in China, Ang denied being the inventor, despite knowing he was. In addition, Ang also received numerous talent awards from the PRC government, which he did not list on the university’s annual conflict of interest disclosure forms.
Ang’s sentencing is expected to take place in approximately four months. Ang faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the crime for which he pleaded guilty, however, the plea agreement also states that if the court wishes to sentence Ang to a sentence that is not a year and a day in federal prison, Ang will have the right to withdraw from the plea agreement. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas and Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division made the announcement.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), NASA Office of Inspector General and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo from the Department of Justice National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
plea agreement.pdfUniversity of Arkansas Professor Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Agents About Patents in ChinaRead the Press Release
An Arkansas man and University of Arkansas Professor pleaded guilty today to one count of making a false statement to the FBI about the existence of patents for his inventions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Simon Saw-Teong Ang, 64, of Fayetteville, entered a guilty plea to count 58 on a superseding indictment charging him with making a materially false and fictitious statement and representation to an FBI Special Agent. According to court documents, 24 patents filed in the People’s Republic of China bear Ang’s name or Chinese birth name. The University of Arkansas, where Ang worked as a professor, required individuals such as Ang to promptly furnish to the University “full and complete” disclosures of inventions, and University policy provided that it, not individual inventors, would own all inventions created by those subject to the policy. This policy was established “in furtherance of the commitment of the University to the widest possible distribution of the benefits of University Research, the protection of Inventions resulting from such research, and the development of Inventions for the public good.”
Despite this requirement, Ang did not disclose his Chinese patents to the university and, when interviewed by an FBI agent, lied about his involvement in the inventions. Specifically, when asked whether his name would be listed as “the inventor” of numerous patents in China, Ang denied being the inventor, despite knowing he was. In addition, Ang also received numerous talent awards from the PRC government, which he did not list on the university’s annual conflict of interest disclosure forms.
Ang’s sentencing is expected to take place in approximately four months. Ang faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the crime for which he pleaded guilty, however, the plea agreement also states that if the court wishes to sentence Ang to a sentence that is not a year and a day in federal prison, Ang will have the right to withdraw from the plea agreement. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The FBI, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), NASA Office of Inspector General and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo from the Department of Justice National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
United Development Funding Executives Convicted of FraudRead the Press Release
Four United Development Funding executives have been found guilty of fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
After five days of trial and almost 12 hours of deliberation, a federal jury convicted UDF CEO Hollis Morrison Greenlaw, UDF Partnership President Benjamin Lee Wissink, UDF CFO Cara Delin Obert, and UDF Asset Management Director Jeffrey Brandon Jester of ten counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud.
“UDF executives shuffled money from one fund to another without disclosing the comingling to investors or regulators,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The Justice Department takes financial improprieties seriously, and we are proud to hold these defendants accountable for their crimes. After a long battle, justice has been done.”
"These executives conspired to commit multiple fraud schemes in order to mislead investors and the SEC, with multi-million dollar losses," said Matthew DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Dallas Division. "One of the FBI's goals is to investigate corporate fraud in order to protect market integrity and investor confidence in the U.S. markets. I would like to thank the agents, analysts, and forensic accountants who spent years investigating these allegations, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office who worked to ensure justice in this case."According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants orchestrated a scheme to mislead investors and the SEC about their funds’ performance.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Grapevine, UDF utilized a family of five funds – UDF I, II, III, IV, and V – to invest in various residential real estate developers and private homebuilders.
When developers failed to repay money they borrowed from one fund, triggering multi-million dollar shortfalls, the defendants transferred money out of another fund in order to pay distributions to the original fund’s investors, all without disclosing the transfers to the SEC and the investing public.
The defendants now face up to 25 years each in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Eggers (NDTX Criminal Chief), Rachael Jones, Elyse Lyons, and Errin Martin prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor presided over the trial.
Tulare County Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Alejandro Cabrera-Gallegos, 40, of Porterville, was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 2, 2019, Cabrera distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine to an individual in Tulare County. On May 14, 2019, Cabrera was arrested in Tulare County attempting to distribute 5 pounds of methamphetamine. An additional 1 pound of methamphetamine was seized during a search warrant executed at Cabrera’s residence in Porterville on May 14, 2019.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Porterville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Schuh prosecuted the case.
Three Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SEAN MARTIN, age 55, of New Orleans, SEAN ESPRIT, age 26, of New Orleans, and GENE JACKSON, age 51, of New Orleans, were indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts on December 10, 2021. The indictment was unsealed on January 19, 2022. Among other charges, MARTIN, ESPRIT and JACKSON were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. MARTIN and ESPRIT were also charged with possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).
According to the indictment, MARTIN, ESPRIT and JACKSON conspired with each other and others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine hydrochloride in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere. MARTIN and ESPRIT possessed over 1 kilogram of heroin and over 400 grams of fentanyl, as well as a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride on November 19, 2019. MARTIN and ESPRIT also possessed a Smith and Wesson nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol on that date.
If convicted of the drug offenses, MARTIN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000,000, and at least 10 years of supervised release; ESPRIT faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release; and JACKSON faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and at least 3 years of supervised release. On the firearms charge, MARTIN and ESPRIT face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. For each count of the indictment, MARTIN, ESPRIT and JACKSON also face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of each defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
Texas Man Arrested for Making Election-Related Threats to Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Chad Stark has been arrested in Travis County, Texas for allegedly sending threatening election-related communications to government officials on Jan. 5, 2021.
This is the first criminal case brought by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in late June 2021, the task force is leading the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and investigates and prosecutes these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country as warranted.
“The Justice Department has a responsibility not only to protect the right to vote, but also to protect those who administer our voting systems from violence and illegal threats of violence,” said Attorney General Garland. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the country, will hold accountable those who violate federal law by using violence or threatening violence to target election workers fulfilling their public duties.”
“The intimidation of those in charge of carrying out free and fair elections in this country is against the law and cannot go unchecked,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “When someone threatens an election official working at any level of the voting process – whether that be an elected office holder or a volunteer poll worker – our democracy is put in jeopardy. We are grateful to all of those who endeavor to secure our elections and our democracy. We must protect them all.”
“Today’s arrest confirms the FBI’s commitment in our pursuit of justice against those who choose to threaten violence against anyone participating in our elections,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Election workers striving to protect our right to a fair and democratic process deserve nothing less than the utmost safety and assurance they can accomplish their roles without interference. The FBI will continue to focus on our mission of protecting these individuals and the important work they do, as well as every American’s right to vote.”
According to the indictment, on Jan. 5, 2021, Stark allegedly posted a message to Craigslist entitled, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.” The message stated:Georgia Patriots it’s time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. It’s time to invoke our Second Amendment right it’s time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. It’s our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia it’s time to spill blood…. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Let’s be very clear to our local law enforcement who have stood down and watch BLM antifa destroy our country and kill our citizens yet you’ll step up to stop Patriot supporters you’ll enforce face mask and you’ll close American businesses??? Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local….. we will find you oathbreakers and we’re going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife… we’re going to make examples of traitors to our country… death to you and all you communist friends.
Organized by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, the Election Threats Task Force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, and National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Chad Stark, 54, of Leander, Texas, is charged with one count of communicating interstate threats. Stark was arrested this morning in a law enforcement operation carried out by the FBI. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
The FBI is investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Deputy Director Sean F. Mulryne of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting this case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Texas Man Arrested for Making Election-Related Threats to Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
A Texas man was arrested today in Travis County, Texas, for allegedly sending threatening election-related communications to government officials on Jan. 5, 2021.
Chad Stark, 54, of Leander, was arrested this morning in a law enforcement operation carried out by the FBI. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas.
This is the first criminal case brought by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in late June 2021, the task force is leading the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and investigates and prosecutes these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country as warranted.
“The Justice Department has a responsibility not only to protect the right to vote, but also to protect those who administer our voting systems from violence and illegal threats of violence,” said Attorney General Garland. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the country, will hold accountable those who violate federal law by using violence or threatening violence to target election workers fulfilling their public duties.”
“Today’s arrest confirms the FBI’s commitment in our pursuit of justice against those who choose to threaten violence against anyone participating in our elections,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Election workers striving to protect our right to a fair and democratic process deserve nothing less than the utmost safety and assurance they can accomplish their roles without interference. The FBI will continue to focus on our mission of protecting these individuals and the important work they do, as well as every American’s right to vote.”
“The intimidation of those in charge of carrying out free and fair elections in this country is against the law and cannot go unchecked,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia. “When someone threatens an election official working at any level of the voting process – whether that be an elected office holder or a volunteer poll worker – our democracy is put in jeopardy. We are grateful to all of those who endeavor to secure our elections and our democracy. We must protect them all.”
According to the indictment, on Jan. 5, 2021, Stark allegedly posted a message to Craigslist entitled, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.” The message stated:
Georgia Patriots it’s time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. It’s time to invoke our Second Amendment right it’s time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. It’s our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia it’s time to spill blood…. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Let’s be very clear to our local law enforcement who have stood down and watch BLM antifa destroy our country and kill our citizens yet you’ll step up to stop Patriot supporters you’ll enforce face mask and you’ll close American businesses??? Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local….. we will find you oathbreakers and we’re going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife… we’re going to make examples of traitors to our country… death to you and all you communist friends.
Organized by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the Election Threats Task Force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Stark is charged with one count of communicating interstate threats. If convicted, 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.
The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.
Deputy Director Sean F. Mulryne of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that George Garcia (24, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Garcia faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Garcia owned and managed a construction company that he had registered with the State of Florida in October 2018. This company purported to supply construction services and labor for construction site contractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Garcia’s company was required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage.
Providers of worker’s compensation insurance base the premiums they charge and the amount of coverage they provide on the number of employees a company has and the total annual payroll of those employees. Garcia’s company had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Garcia’s employees at construction sites. These workers were often undocumented aliens who were working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Garcia or others regularly received “payroll checks” from contractors that were cashed at various financial institutions to pay Garcia’s purported “employees” and other related expenses.
During the time period charged in the criminal information, Garcia falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that his company had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Garcia also falsely and fraudulently sent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that his company’s employees had full worker’s compensation coverage. In reality, Garcia’s company received and cashed more than $19 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees”. This payroll figure far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Garcia had reported to his worker’s compensation insurance company. As a result, the employees of Garcia’s company, the employees of other entities, performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurers lost premiums that they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover.
As a result of these misrepresentations, Garcia’s company also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States, and that the required state and federal payroll taxes were being paid for these workers. The contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were thus also able to avoid responsibility for those taxes.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Twice Deported Mexican National Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport While Attempting to Re-Enter the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Luis Enrique De Jesus Colin Ochoa, age 25, and a Mexican National, appeared before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on January 19, 2022, for his initial appearance hearing following his arrest on January 18, 2022 on the charge of unlawful reentry of an alien after removal. On January 20, 2022, Ochoa again appeared before Magistrate Judge Miller for his detention hearing where Magistrate Judge Miller ordered Ochoa to secure 10 percent of a $25,000 bond and released him on home incarceration.
According to court documents, on January 18, 2022, Colin Ochoa appeared at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) primary inspection checkpoint at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, VI. Ochoa was a ticketed passenger on American Airlines Flight #1075 traveling to Charlotte, N.C. During CBP’s inspection, Ochoa presented a Mexican Passport which did not contain a United States Visa. Ochoa was then referred to secondary inspection for further records checks. While in secondary inspection, a routine records check revealed that Ochoa is a citizen and national of Mexico, and that Ochoa has no pending applications to enter or remain in the United States legally. Further examination of the records revealed that Ochoa was previously apprehended in the United States on at least four (4) occasions, and on two (2) occasions, May 16, 2018, and January 4, 2019, Orders of Removal were reinstated against him leading to his deportation.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and CBP, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith. 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.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to 13.6 years in Federal Prison on Federal Firearm and Carjacking OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that Chriss Cepeda, 25, of St. Croix, appeared before Judge Wilma A. Lewis in the District Court and was sentenced January 20, 2022 on the federal charges of Using a Firearm During a Violent Crime and Carjacking.
Judge Lewis sentenced Cepeda to 7 years imprisonment on the Using a Firearm During a Violent Crime charge, followed by a consecutive 80 month sentence on the Carjacking charge, for a total of 164 months in prison, with credit for time served. In addition, the defendant must serve a term of three years supervised release, pay a $1000 fine, a $200 special assessment fee, and restitution to the victims.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of September 10, 2017, the defendant, along with two co-defendants, broke into a couple’s home in Estate Rust Op Twist, on the North Shore of St. Croix, while brandishing a firearm. The defendants physically assaulted the male victim and threatened to kill the couple while demanding money. The defendants forced the couple at gunpoint into the rear seat of their Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck and drove to the location where the male victim had left his wallet. After obtaining the wallet, the defendants fled in the pick-up truck and a Jeep Wrangler. In addition to the vehicles, defendants stole $200 in currency, two iPhones valued at $600 each, and an iPad valued at $200.
The Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
St. Augustine Repeat-Offender Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Carleigh Michelle Wilson (27, St. Augustine) today pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, at the direction of law enforcement, a confidential informant (CI) arranged via a social media messaging application to purchase a half ounce of methamphetamine from Wilson for $290. The pair met as arranged on September 13, 2021, in a parking lot in Macclenny. The CI joined Wilson in an SUV that she was driving. After the CI paid Wilson, Wilson passed the CI a plastic bag containing approximately 15 grams of crystal methamphetamine. As the CI started to exit the SUV, Wilson stated that she could get more and that, hopefully, they could get the price down in the future.
Before Wilson could leave the parking lot, a Baker County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit stopped and arrested her. She was still in possession of the $290 the CI had paid her.
According to court documents, Wilson committed this new offense while serving a term of supervised release that had originally been imposed in connection with her prior federal conviction in 2020 for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute hydrocodone.
This case was investigated by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty for Distributing Marijuana on the Dark Web and Laundering ProceedsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On January 18, 2022, a Springfield, Oregon man pleaded guilty for distributing marijuana on the dark web and laundering his cryptocurrency proceeds.
Robert Kelly O’Neill, 59, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering.
According to court documents, beginning around January 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began investigating the widespread importation and online distribution of controlled substances on dark web marketplaces. As part of the investigation, HSI and USPIS exposed widespread laundering of illicit digital currency proceeds across the country, including in Oregon.
The investigation uncovered a money laundering operation involving a dark net vendor, GOLD, who exchanged Bitcoin for cash. GOLD received Bitcoin from customers and, in exchange for a fee, would mail or ship cash to a physical mailing address provided by the customer.
As the investigation continued, agents identified an individual using the alias “Resinate” who employed GOLD’s money laundering services. Resinate used various addresses, including several Oregon addresses, to receive cash shipments. Following delivery of the cash packages, known and unknown coconspirators would retrieve and deliver the packages to Resinate.
In October 2016, GOLD was arrested and an HSI agent in New York assumed his identity and continued conducting deals with Resinate. Between September 2015 and May 2018, Resinate laundered more than $725,000 in illicit proceeds through GOLD and another $167,000 in Bitcoin through a co-conspirator in Springfield. In addition, records from the dark web sites Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0 confirmed that, in 2013 and 2014, Resinate earned $390,000 in Bitcoin from the sale of marijuana.
In June 2018, law enforcement executed numerous federal search warrants at nominee house addresses and on O’Neill’s Springfield residence. Investigators discovered a marijuana processing and packaging operation in O’Neill’s garage and seized dozens of computers and electronic storage devices from O’Neill’s residence. Agents also found handwritten notes identifying O’Neill as Resinate. A forensic examination of O’Neill’s electronic devices returned Bitcoin wallet addresses, images and details of O’Neill’s various dark web marketplace vendor accounts, encrypted emails between O’Neill and the undercover HSI agent, and cryptocurrency wallet backups.
In addition to the electronic and physical evidence, investigators identified and seized more than $21,469 in U.S. currency, six Bitcoin, and 458 Bitcoin Cash.
On September 3, 2021, O’Neill was charged by criminal information with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering. He will be sentenced on April 26, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
Possession with intent to distribute marijuana is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years’ supervised release. Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater; and three years’ supervised release.
As part of his plea agreement, O’Neill has agreed to forfeit the U.S. currency, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash seized by agents.
U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by HSI, USPIS, IRS Criminal Investigation, in addition to assistance by numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gavin W. Bruce prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Dark Gold, a coordinated, national law enforcement operation, announced in June 2018, that used the first nationwide undercover action to target vendors of illicit goods on the dark web. HSI special agents in New York, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, posed as a money launderer on dark web market sites, exchanging U.S. currency for virtual currency. Through this operation, HSI New York identified numerous vendors of illicit goods, leading to more than 90 criminal cases across the country.
Smyrna Man Charged in Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Smyrna, Tennessee man was charged today with money laundering in relation to a fraudulent scheme in which he obtained a small business loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Mark Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Shawn Palmer, 53, the sole owner of Palmers Transportation, Inc., in La Vergne, Tenn., was charged in a criminal Information, which alleges that in June 2020, Palmer fraudulently applied for and received a PPP loan in the amount of $514,370.
According to the charging document, in June 2020, Palmer sent several documents to an individual who assisted him in applying for a PPP loan. These documents were then submitted to Kabbage, Inc., a lender approved by the Small Business Administration to provide funds under the program which was designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palmer’s loan application falsely represented that Palmers Transportation had 27 employees, when in fact it had two, including himself; and although Palmers Transportation’s 2019 income tax return indicated its gross revenue was less than $200,000 the application falsely represented an average monthly payroll of $205,748; gross receipts of $6,744,254.12 for tax year 2019; and represented that Palmers Transportation had gross wages of $2,322,567 and $87,311 in state income tax withholdings for tax year 2019.
After the loan was approved and deposited into Palmer’s account, the individual who assisted him with the loan application sent a text message to Palmer requesting $25,000. Palmer used portions of the loan proceeds to establish and fund other accounts and used the funds for non-authorized expenditures such as purchasing a 2020 Ford F-350; a Maserati Quattroporte; and a 2020 Freightliner Coronado.
The Information also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to recover money and property which represent the proceeds of the crime.
If convicted, Palmer faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General; the IRS-Criminal Investigation; and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Haffner are prosecuting the case.
The charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty 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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Six Men Facing Federal Drug Trafficking Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging six men for a drug trafficking conspiracy which allegedly distributed cocaine and other drugs in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties as well as the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The criminal complaint was filed on January 13, 2022. Charged in the criminal complaint are:
Fabricio Alexis Rivera, a/k/a “Breeze,” age 30, of Rockville, Maryland; William Reyes Garcia, a/k/a “Will,” age 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Adrian Josue Velasquez, a/k/a “AJ,” age 31, of Lanham, Maryland; Rodney Ricky Rivera, a/k/a “Rodney,” age 27, of Beltsville, Maryland; Noel Reyes, Jr., a/k/a “June,” age 28, of Bowie, Maryland; and
Joey Garcia King, a/k/a “Joe,” age 43, of Silver Spring, Maryland.The defendants will have initial appearances today beginning at 12:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms.
The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
“These arrests mark a significant victory for Homeland Security Investigations, the Montgomery County Police and for the state of Maryland,” said James R. Mancuso, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Baltimore. Investigations like this highlight the strength of our partnerships with other federal and local law enforcement organizations. This operation would not have been possible without the hard work of our partners at the Montgomery County Police, the Prince George’s County Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Maryland State Police, ATF and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, the drug trafficking organization (DTO) allegedly run by F. Rivera, Reyes Garcia, and Velasquez is a tiered organization with multiple members who participate in drug trafficking. Drug customers would contact the DTO leadership, normally via phone or text message. The DTO leadership was engaged in the high-level distribution of cocaine to lower-level dealers. Customers who contacted the phones used by the leaders typically purchased controlled substances—usually cocaine—in amounts consistent with individuals who are re-distributing the drugs. The affidavit alleges that the defendants participated in the drug conspiracy between at least September 2020 and December 2021.
As detailed in the affidavit, during the investigation several packages containing approximately 15.65 kilograms of cocaine were seized by law enforcement. The packages were shipped from Brownsville, Texas to an address associated with the DTO, Business 1 in Beltsville, Maryland. The same sender was found to have sent additional packages, which investigators believe also contained narcotics, to Business 1 and to Velasquez’s residence. Tracking information obtained from the shipping company revealed that IP addresses associated with Reyes Garcia and Velasquez queried the tracking numbers on the seized packages containing cocaine as well as the additional packages. In October 2021, law enforcement seized an approximately two-kilogram package of cocaine that was sent to Reyes, Jr. Intercepted communications following the seizure allegedly showed that this package of cocaine was intended for distribution by the DTO.
The affidavit includes conversations between the conspirators allegedly discussing DTO business, collecting drug debts, arranging drug transactions, and arranging travel to Texas to obtain narcotics for transportation to Maryland.
The six defendants were arrested on January 20, 2022, based on arrest warrants issued from the criminal complaint. As part of these arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants at 21 locations associated with charged and uncharged DTO members, seizing: approximately 4.2 kilograms of cocaine; approximately 280 pounds of marijuana; a distribution quantity of phencyclidine; and approximately 12 firearms, including a ghost gun, handguns, and a rifle. In total, as part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution by this DTO. Other DTO members were arrested on related state charges that will be prosecuted by the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys’ Offices.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the DEA, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland State Police, the ATF, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy and their offices for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan, and Joel Crespo, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Seven indicted for illegal firearms possession, drug offensesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Seven defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.
The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in an ongoing effort to reduce violent crime with measures that included targeting those who illegally possess firearms.
“As we continue to focus on the reduction of violent crime in the Southern District, we applaud the work of our law enforcement partners in removing guns illegally possessed by convicted felons,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Protecting the safety of our citizens is of paramount importance.”
In the past four years, more than 725 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the January 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Randall Walden, 42, of Savannah, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 or More Grams of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The indictment also charges Walden and Burney Cobb, 41, of Savannah, with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Davon Lamont Blackshear, 30, of Springfield, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Cocaine;
- Shaquille Green, a/k/a “OC,” a/k/a “Scrill Rip Chop,” 28, of Savannah, charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Phillip Allen Loughry, 41, of Baxley, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
- Hunter Cole Reavis, 25, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine;
- Treyon Antonio Williams, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- Timothy Lee Lanigan, 38, of Reidsville, Ga., was sentenced to 86 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Lanigan was on felony probation in June 2018 when Garden City Police officers found him in possession of a pistol during an investigation.
- Tron Smith, 34, of Savannah, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers responded in June 2019 to a report of a man brandishing a firearm at a motel and found a pistol inside the room Smith occupied. Smith’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for family violence and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
- Bryan Heyward, 21, of Savannah, sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Heyward in possession of a pistol during a September 2020 traffic stop.
- Damario Antron Williams, 35, of Augusta, sentenced 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a reported disturbance at an Augusta residence arrested Williams Jan. 16, 2021, when they found him with a pistol in his pocket.
- Joseph Deon Cuyler, 29, of Wrightsville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The U.S. Marshals Service and Wrightsville Police arrested Cuyler April 15, 2021, on an outstanding felony warrant and found him in possession of a handgun.
- Derek Hayes, 51, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms. Savannah Police officers arrested Hayes after finding two pistols in his vehicle during an October 2020 traffic stop, and later determined the pistols had been stolen.
- Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Albert in possession of a pistol during an April 2021 traffic stop.
- Charles Aimee Fields Jr., a/k/a “Slim,” 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Fields is among 14 defendants charged in September for their roles in operating an open-air drug market in an area of Savannah called “The Dips.”
- James Ricardo Harris, 29, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was arrested in May 2019 when Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found him in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop.
- Demont Latrell Gresham, 33, of Washington, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Gresham ran from Wilkes County Sheriff’s Deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers in July 2020 when they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, and officers found a rifle in his vehicle. He was arrested in August 2020 when located by Wilkes County deputies.
- David McCain III, 35, of Hephzibah, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was arrested on New Year’s Day 2020 when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating reports of celebratory gunfire found McCain, a convicted felon, in possession of an AR-15 style rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
- B’Quan Ferguson, 31, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Ferguson’s car during an October 2020 traffic stop. Ferguson has multiple prior state felony convictions, including violent felonies with firearms.
- Rasheen Dyshawn Stephens, 30, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers investigating a domestic disturbance on June 7, 2021, found a pistol and an extended magazine in Stephens’ pockets.
At least 15 firearms were seized and forfeited during these investigations and will be destroyed.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Jesup Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Wrightsville Police Department, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including John P. Harper III and Noah J. Abrams, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Timothy Ruffini, with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Sentinel Real Estate agrees to resolve Fair Housing Act discrimination claimsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into an agreement with Sentinel Real Estate Inc., Tina Brooks, and John's Creek, LLC (“Respondents”), a property owner and management company, to resolve allegations of discrimination concerning a Complainant who requested a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support and service animal.
“People with disabilities who need assistance animals to support them with daily activities should be allowed to keep these animals in their homes,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “A person who needs the continuous support of an emotional support animal should not have to face continuous obstacles to simply keep their pet at home. My office will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act to combat this type of discrimination.”
This matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). The Complainant, who had a mental health disability that limited his daily activities, required the continuous support of an emotional support animal. The Complainant alleged that he submitted a reasonable accommodation request asking Respondents to allow his emotional support pet to live with him. Complainant further alleged that Respondents discriminated against him when they delayed approval of his request for a reasonable accommodation, and then five months later, notified him that his lease would not be renewed. Complainant alleged that these actions violated the Fair Housing Act and caused him emotional distress.
As provided in the Agreement, Respondents will implement a reasonable accommodation policy concerning service/emotional support animals which has been approved by the United States. Respondents will also pay $35,000 to the Complainant's estate, train staff on the Fair Housing Act, and submit periodic reports to the United States Attorney’s office regarding implementation of the Agreement.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aileen Bell Hughes, Special Counsel, Civil Rights Unit, U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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.
Rockcastle County Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Dallas R. Clifford, 49, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier, after previously admitting to engaging in a conspiracy to distribute aggravated amounts of methamphetamine in Laurel, Madison, Rockcastle, and Fayette Counties.
In his guilty plea agreement, Clifford admitted to receiving pound quantities of methamphetamine from a source of supply and selling to others. Clifford was still on parole for a prior felony drug trafficking conviction at the time he joined the conspiracy.
Clifford is the last of four defendants to be sentenced in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Dustin Hurley, 34, Perry County was sentenced to 188 months; Brice Hubbard, 23, Laurel County, was sentenced to 135 months; and Jordan Moore, 23, Madison County was sentenced to 50 months.
Under federal law, Clifford and his co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Clifford will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years, after his release from prison.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J.Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office; and Chief Eric Scott, Berea Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, Kentucky State Police, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Berea Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.
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Rochester Man Going to Prison for Possessing Hundreds of Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joshua Vandervoort, 39, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. Vandervoort was also ordered to pay $42,000 in restitution to victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that on March 2, 2021, the defendant possessed approximately 450 images of child pornography on a laptop computer. Some of the images included prepubescent minors or minors under 12 years old, and depicted the minors being subjected to violence.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Resources to VGRIP Announced by FBI and United States Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Field Office announce today regional support for the FBI’s Violent Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program (VGRIP) employed to combat the increase in violent crime in the City of Jackson.
According to the Jackson Field Office of the FBI, local law enforcement with a presence in the tri-county area have agreed to devote officers to the effort of VGRIP. These additional officers will supplement the work of the Jackson Police Department (JPD) and assist JPD in the investigation of violent crimes occurring in the City with a view toward prosecution in federal court. Those local law enforcement agencies committed to assisting are Byram Police Department, Reservoir Patrol, Simpson County Sheriff’s office, Hinds County Sheriff’s office, Madison Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s office, Ridgeland Police Department, Alcohol Beverage Control of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. More local law enforcement agencies are anticipated to join in this effort.
United States Attorney Darren LaMarca stated, “The additional manpower these metro area law enforcement agencies bring to VGRIP cannot be overstated. The residents of Jackson and its surrounding communities will benefit from this support. We at the United States Attorney’s office will prosecute those cases brought to us by VGRIP to deter, punish and prevent the next act of violence.”
Real estate agent sentenced for running multi-year mortgage and real estate commission fraud schemesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Atlanta real estate agent Eric Hill has been sentenced for his participation in a mortgage fraud scheme that netted more than $21 million in fraudulent mortgage loans. Many of the fraudulent loans were insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), resulting in over $850,000 in claims being paid for mortgages that have defaulted. Hill also engaged in a scheme to defraud his employer, a national real estate developer, out of over $480,000 dollars in real estate commissions.
“Eric Hill and his co-conspirators defrauded mortgage loan holders out of millions of dollars, with taxpayers being saddled with much of the loss,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “We will vigorously prosecute those who commit mortgage fraud and enrich themselves at the expense of financial institutions and government programs that insure or guarantee the loans.”
“While it is easy to dismiss financial fraud cases as victimless crimes because of their lack of violence, there is, however, very real victimization to our economy and our taxpayers,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing sends the message that the FBI will persistently work to protect American citizens and the real estate market from predators who drag down our economy by deception for their own personal gain.”
“Eric Hill engaged in premeditated criminal acts with the sole purpose of enriching himself, without regard for millions of American homebuyers who rely on federal housing programs to insure their mortgages. His fraudulent actions strike not only at the fiscal integrity of the FHA, but also our neighbors and communities who are victims of these schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Wyatt Achord with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) is committed to holding accountable those who commit fraud in the housing and mortgage market and abuse the resources of the Government-Sponsored Enterprises regulated by FHFA. We are proud to have partnered with HUD-OIG, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia in this case,” said Edwin S. Bonano, Special Agent-in-Charge, FHFA-OIG, Southeast Region.According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: The defendants participated in a scheme in which homebuyers and real estate agents submitted fraudulent loan applications to induce mortgage lenders to fund mortgages. Eric Hill and Robert Kelske were real estate agents who represented a major nationwide homebuilder. Hill and Kelske helped more than 100 homebuyers who were looking to buy a home, but who were unqualified to obtain a mortgage, commit fraud. The agents instructed the homebuyers as to what type of assets they needed to claim to have in the bank, and what type of employment and income they needed to submit in their mortgage applications.
Hill and Kelske then coordinated with multiple document fabricators, including defendants Fawziyyah Connor and Stephanie Hogan, who altered the homebuyers’ bank statements to inflate their assets and to create bank entries reflecting false direct deposits from an employer selected by the real estate agent. The document fabricators also generated fake earnings statements that matched the direct deposit entries to make it appear that the homebuyer was employed, and earning income, from a fake employer. Other participants in the scheme then acted as employment verifiers and responded to phone calls or emails from lenders to falsely verify the homebuyers’ employment. Defendants Jerod Little, Renee Little, Maurice Lawson, Todd Taylor, Paige McDaniel and Donald Fontenot acted as employment verifiers. Hill and Kelske coordinated the creation and submission of the false information so that the lies to the lenders were consistent.
In another aspect of the scheme, Hill and Kelske conspired with real estate agents Anthony Richard and Cephus Chapman, who falsely claimed to represent homebuyers as their selling agents in order to receive commissions from the home sales. In reality, these real estate agents had never even met the homebuyers they claimed to represent. To avoid detection, the agents often notified closing attorneys that they would not be available for the home closing and sent wire instructions for the receipt of their commissions. When these purported selling agents received their unearned commissions, they kicked back the majority of the commissions to Hill or Kelske for enabling them to be added to the deal, keeping a small share for their role in the scheme.
Eric Hill, 52, of Tyrone, Georgia, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hill was convicted on these charges on September 21, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.
In addition to Hill, Defendants Donald Fontenot, Maurice Lawson, Stephanie Hogan, Jerod Little, Renee Little, Paige McDaniel, Fawziyyah Connor, and Anthony Richard have all been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracies.
- Todd Taylor pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2022.
- Robert Kelske also pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced April 14, 2022.
- Cephus Chapman was convicted at trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. O'Neal, Alison B. Prout, and former Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Providence Man Admits to Fraudulently Applying for COVID Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man admitted in federal court today that he fraudulently filed an application for unemployment benefits provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
Deeshawn Gadson, 32, pled guilty to wire fraud.
According to charging documents, in April 2020, Gadson, who lived and worked in Rhode Island, submitted online applications to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) for benefits made available by the CARES Act. In May 2020, Gadson began receiving benefits from RIDLT. He received approximately $20,302 in unemployment benefits.
In June 2020, Gadson submitted a fraudulent online application to the Arizona State Department of Economic Security, falsely stating that he lived and worked in Arizona. Gadson was paid $7,170 in PAU program benefits that he was not legally entitled to receive.
Gadson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2022.
This case, as well as other instances of criminal activity related to fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits are being investigated jointly by the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. Cases are jointly reviewed, charged, and prosecuted by a team of prosecutors that include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton, Stacey P. Veroni, and G. Michael Seaman, and Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General John M. Moreira, chief of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.
Rhode Islanders who believe their personal identification has been stolen and used to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits are urged to contact the Rhode Island State Police at [email protected] or the FBI Providence office at (401) 272-8310.
On May 17, 2021, the United States 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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Prior Felon Charged with Possession of Hundreds of Thousands of Images of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging John Douglas Looney, 79, of Rochester, NY, with three counts of possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior conviction. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that Looney was previously convicted on a federal charge of possession of child pornography. According to the indictment, On March 1, 2019, Looney possessed over 750,000 images of child pornography involving prepubescent minors.
Looney made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was released on conditions.The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Penitas public servants convictedRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two local officials have admitted to their respective roles in a bribery scheme and will forfeit a total of nearly $1 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Penitas chief of staff Andres Morales, 41, Mission, and council member Alex Guajardo, 38, Penitas, pleaded guilty today. As part of the pleas, they have agreed to forfeit $739,910.71, and $202,000, respectively, which they retained as proceeds from the scheme. Morales also admitted to making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm.
Both men were convicted of participating in a bribery scheme involving the payment of bribes and kickbacks to public servants and officials. The payments were in exchange for official votes or recommendations in support of granting energy savings contracts at various Hidalgo County political subdivisions.
Morales and Guajardo admitted to receiving over $1 million and $275,000, respectively, and to paying thousands in bribe and kickback payments to others. Those included La Joya Independent School District trustees and an administrator in exchange for their official votes and recommendation of the projects.
In addition, Morales also pleaded guilty to making false representations in connection with a purchase of a firearm. Specifically, he falsely claimed on firearms form 4473 that he had not been convicted of a felony, which, in fact, he had.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa accepted the pleas and set sentencing for April 6. At that time, each faces up to five years in federal prison for the bribery-related conviction. Morales also a maximum five-year-term of imprisonment for the firearms offense.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Insurance and McAllen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Palm Beach Gardens Resident Pleads Guilty to Interstate Transmission of Threats to InjureRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, 60-year-old Paul Vernon Hoeffer pled guilty in federal court in Ft. Pierce to making threatening phone calls to two members of Congress and a district attorney.
As part of the plea, Hoeffer admitted that in March 2019, he called a Congresswoman in Washington, D.C. and threatened to come a “long, long, way” to rattle her head with bullets and cut her head off. On the same day, Hoeffer also called a district attorney in the State of Illinois, telling her bullets were going to “rattle her brain.” Again, in November of 2020, Hoeffer called another Congresswoman, this time in New York. During this call, he threatened that he would “rip her head off,” and told her to sleep with one eye open.
U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon will sentence Hoeffer on April 1, at 11:00 a.m., in Ft. Pierce. Hoeffer faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting it.
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 number 21-cr-14042.
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Omaha Gang Member Sentenced for Robbery and Brandishing a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Delyahn R. Hill, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for robbery of United States property and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hill to 96 months’ imprisonment for the robbery count and 84 months on the brandishing count to run consecutively for a total sentence of 180 months. Hill will serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from the Bureau of Prisons. There is no parole in the federal system. At the time of the offense, Hill had an outstanding arrest warrant for absconding from his State of Nebraska parole.
On June 15, 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received information that Hill was in possession of a rifle and handgun and was willing to sell both firearms to a confidential source for $1,400. A controlled buy was to take place at 30th and Cuming Streets. Hill arrived at the meet location, accepted the money for the transaction, but instead of providing the gun to the confidential source, Hill took out the gun, racked the firearm, putting a round in the chamber, and made threats to the source including “I know where your mom lives.” The entire exchange was livestreamed to law enforcement.
Fearing that Hill would shoot the source, law enforcement sent a marked police cruiser to the parking lot to show a law enforcement presence. Hill then got out of the confidential source’s vehicle, retaining the money and the gun he was holding, before telling the confidential source “don’t try anything funny.” Hill was subsequently stopped and arrested for his outstanding arrest warrant. In Hill’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .380 caliber handgun and the $1,400 in serialized ATF currency.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Toledo, Ohio man pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun crimes.
According to court documents, La Percy Allen, 42, admitted that on multiple occasions in July and August 2021, he sold a total of approximately 30 grams of fentanyl and 53 grams of heroin to an undercover informant working with law enforcement. Allen also admitted that on August 10, 2021, he was in possession of approximately 53 grams of fentanyl that he intended to sell and a loaded firearm. Allen is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2013 felony conviction in Ohio for trafficking heroin.
Allen pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 13, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Beckley Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00154 and 5:22-cr-00002.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced for Defrauding Customers Through Unlicensed Bitcoin BusinessRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL YUSKO, III, age 47, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960. The charge stems from YUSKO’s sale of bitcoin to customers, and customers’ subsequent complaints that YUSKO had defrauded them by not providing them with the agreed-upon bitcoin after taking their money. YUSKO had previously pleaded guilty in this case pursuant to a plea agreement.
According to court documents, federal agents received complaints beginning in May 2018 that YUSKO was selling customers bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies but failing to follow through on transactions. YUSKO would promise customers any amount of bitcoin in exchange for U.S. dollars at five percent above market price for a five percent fee. He then directed these customers to deposit U.S. dollars into one of several business bank accounts, among them Nervous Light Capital LLC, Ready Demolition LLC, Patriot Concrete Pumping, LLC, Praetorian Energy, LLC, and Hudson Oak Partners LLC. YUSKO did not register these companies as money transmitting businesses with Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Department of Treasury, and he otherwise did not comply with the regulations of Title 31, United States Code, Section 5330. YUSKO also instructed his clients not to tell any bank employees that the purpose of their wire transfer was to purchase cryptocurrency. Agents have learned that banks frequently shut down accounts used to sell cryptocurrency, and banks had previously shut down YUSKO’s accounts for such activity.
The court documents detail how customers communicated with YUSKO and paid him tens of thousands of dollars for bitcoin. While YUSKO did carry out transactions with many customers, he failed to fulfill other transactions, and then he failed to return the U.S. dollars deposited in his accounts. YUSKO admitted to being responsible for $201,399.00 in losses to victims.
Judge Ashe sentenced YUSKO to one year and one day of prison, as well as three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. As part of his sentence, YUSKO was ordered to make full restitution to victims in the amount of $411,009.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Field Office and the U.S. Secret Service New Orleans Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Charged with Carjacking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MERVIN BAILEY, age 19, of New Orleans, was indicted by a federal grand jury for carjacking and violations of the Federal Gun Control Act on November 4, 2021. The indictment was unsealed on January 11, 2022. Specifically, BAILEY was charged with one count of carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k).
According to the indictment, BAILEY carjacked a 2019 BMW X7 from a victim in New Orleans on June 3, 2021. During that carjacking, BAILEY brandished a CZ-PF10F nine-millimeter Luger handgun with an obliterated serial number. If convicted of these charges, BAILEY faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years of imprisonment followed by up to 3 years of supervised release on the carjacking count. BAILEY faces a mandatory consecutive minimum sentence of 7 years up to life imprisonment, followed by up to 5 years of supervised release on the brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence count. Finally, BAILEY faces up to a maximum sentence of 5 years of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release on the possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number count. BAILEY also faces payment of $300 in mandatory special assessment fees.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TORIN JENKINS, age 27, of New Orleans, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act on December 17, 2021. Specifically, JENKINS was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
According to the indictment, JENKINS possessed a Glock Model 36, .45 caliber firearm on or about December 3, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. If convicted of this charge, JENKINS faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WARREN PICARD, age 26, of New Orleans, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act on August 12, 2021. The indictment was unsealed on January 12, 2022. Specifically, PICARD was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
According to the indictment, PICARD possessed a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter caliber pistol on or about July 21, 2020. If convicted of these charges, PICARD faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
Mississippi Man Going to Prison for Illegally Selling Guns in RochesterRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Raymond Hardy, 30, of Greenville, Mississippi, who was convicted of dealing firearms without a license, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who handled the case, stated that during the Spring and Summer of 2020, Hardy was a member of a firearms trafficking organization that brought numerous firearms to the Rochester area from Mississippi. The firearms were obtained from licensed firearms retailers and then re-sold at prices well above market value on streets of Rochester. On at least one occasion, Hardy and others unlawfully sold these firearms out of a tent, set up in the back yard of a residence on Jewel Street. On July 3, 2020, Rochester Police Officers executed a search warrant on a vehicle that Hardy, and co-defendants Jahbri Shelton and Hakeem Miller, were riding in. Officers recovered seven firearms, extended magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition.
Jahbri Shelton and Hakeem Miller were previously convicted and sentenced to serve 12 months and 30 months in prison respectively.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief David Smith.
# # # #Midland Man Indicted for Possession of Fentanyl and MethRead the Press Release
PECOS – A federal grand jury in Pecos returned an indictment last week charging a Midland man with allegedly possessing illegal drugs and a firearm.
According to court documents, Edgar Parra, 36, is charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine; three counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of being a felon in possession.
The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on January 27, 2022 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison on the conspiracy to possess and possession of fentanyl charges; up to 20 years in prison for the possession of methamphetamine charges; an additional five years in prison on the possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge; and up to 10 years in prison for the felon in possession charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Greg Millard made the announcement.
The DEA is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Charles Eaton is prosecuting 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican national in court to face carjacking chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jesus Manuel Castaneda-Villa, 31, of Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today, facing charges of carjacking and carrying, using, or possessing a firearm during, in relation to or in furtherance of a crime of violence. Castaneda-Villa remains in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 26.
According to a criminal complaint, the victim allegedly met with Castaneda-Villa, her ex-boyfriend, in a hotel in Las Cruces. After the two began to argue, Castaneda-Villa allegedly threatened the victim and threw a toolbox at her. He allegedly demanded her car keys, then pointed a firearm at her and took her purse and cell phone as well. As Castaneda-Villa was going through her purse, the victim jumped from an open window, injuring herself. Castaneda-Villa then allegedly fled in the victim’s vehicle.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Castaneda-Villa faces a minimum of seven years and up to life in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police and District Attorney's Office for the 3rd Judicial District of New Mexico. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Marshalltown Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Her Role in Large-Scale Drug RingRead the Press Release
A Marshalltown, Iowa woman who was involved in the distribution of nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Eva Ordaz Hernandez, age 45, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison sentence after an August 2, 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in 2018, investigators began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating between Mexico and Iowa. As part of the investigation, investigators learned that Ordaz Hernandez was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and collecting money on behalf of the organization. On one occasion, Ordaz Hernandez collected $20,000 in currency for an outstanding drug debt owed to the organization. This transaction occurred at Ordaz Hernandez’s residence in front of her minor granddaughter. On another occasion, Ordaz Hernandez’s minor son collected $5,000 in drug debt owed to Ordaz Hernandez and other members of the group.
Ordaz Hernandez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ordaz Hernandez was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Dillan Edwards. This case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Mid-Iowa Task Force (Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department), Iowa National Guard and Counter Drug Program, Tri-County Task Force (Cedar Falls Police Department, Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2034.
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Marion Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 36 months in prison for attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
Anthony Peter Arrindell, 20, ordered illegal fentanyl pills through the mail. Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Arrindell were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.
“Fentanyl, and other powerful opioids, continue to ravage Virginia communities as substance abuse disorder cases increase,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute those individuals who prey on the addictions of others and to support those struggling to overcome addiction.”
According to court documents, in early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia.
In June and July of last year, United States Postal Inspection Service investigators identified and intercepted two separate suspected drug parcels that were destined for Arrindell. In one parcel, investigators found roughly 1100 pressed fentanyl pills, and in the other they found more than 1,700 pressed fentanyl pills.
On August 16, 2021, investigators intercepted another suspected drug parcel sent to Arrindell that had the same California return address as the July parcel. Investigators conducted a controlled delivery of this parcel to the Post Office in Marion where Arrindell then came to collect the parcel. Upon leaving the Post Office, law enforcement confronted Arrindell and found roughly 200 pressed pills after opening the seized parcel in his possession.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce prosecuted the case.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty in Mail-Ordered Fentanyl CaseRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Kobe Malik Woods, 19, of Marion, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl after ordering the drugs through the U.S. Mail.
According to court documents, in early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia. As part of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted a parcel shipped from California, addressed to Woods’ residence, that contained approximately 800 fentanyl pills.
Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Woods were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.
On June 28, 2021, law enforcement executed a controlled delivery of the parcel to Woods’ home in Marion, Virginia. While conducting surveillance on the residence, investigators observed a woman retrieve the package and take it inside the home.
When Woods returned home, investigators executed a search warrant on the home. Woods was detained after trying to flee the rear of the residence, and later admitted to law enforcement that he ordered the pills through Snapchat from a supplier in California.
Woods is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 40 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 Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the guilty plea.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.