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21 January 2022
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.
Marion Man Is Sentenced to 55 Years for Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger has sentenced Jacob Daylen Ross, 47, of Marion, N.C., to 660 months in prison on child pornography charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Reidinger ordered Ross to serve a lifetime under court supervision upon completion of his prison term. A federal jury convicted Ross in March 2021 of five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
“Ross’s lengthy sentence reflects the depravity of his actions,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Perpetrators who rely on the anonymity of the internet to skirt our nation’s laws and engage in webcam sex tourism, or any other lewd conduct harmful to minors, ought to know that federal prosecutors and our law enforcement counterparts will do whatever it takes to protect all children – within our borders and beyond.”
“This sentence sends a strong message that HSI and our law enforcement partners are unified in our shared commitment to protect children here and abroad from predators such as Ross,” said Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “Thanks to the unique global investigative reach of HSI, coupled with the outstanding work of our special agents and the detectives with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office and federal prosecutors, we have ensured that Ross is being held fully accountable for his horrific actions.”
“I am very proud of the dedicated efforts from our investigators. These types of crimes that prey on our children sicken me. Our children depend on others to keep them safe and protect them, not hurt them. I appreciate our relationships with our federal partners, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and appreciate their attention to such heinous crimes,” said Sheriff Buchanan.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at Ross’s trial and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, in June 2020, law enforcement became aware that Ross was involved in the online sexual exploitation of children overseas. As trial evidence established, Ross paid individuals abroad in exchange for livestream videos depicting children being sexually abused. Specifically, the evidence showed that Ross communicated via the WhatsApp messenger application with a woman residing in the Philippines on multiple occasions and paid the woman to sexually abuse her young children while Ross watched a livestream video of the abuse. A forensic analysis of Ross’s seized cell phone revealed that he possessed 28 images of child pornography, which were screenshots taken during a livestream video chat. Furthermore, law enforcement located in Ross’s Google accounts additional screenshot images of the livestreamed sexual abuse of children.
Ross is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case and thanked the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.
Man who took sexually explicit photos of thirteen year old victim receives over 29 year sentenceRead the Press Release
A man who took sexually explicit photographs of a thirteen-year-old victim and distributed the photographs to an undercover officer online, was sentenced today to more than 29 years in federal prison.
Joshua Baird, age 40, from Anthon, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child.
At the guilty plea, Baird admitted that, in February of 2021, he knowingly photographed a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct with his cellular telephone. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed he later distributed these photographs to an undercover officer online because he thought they would “impress” her. Baird also engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with a teenager in Australia. At the sentencing hearing, Baird referred to his sentence as a “court ordered spiritual retreat” and further stated he was “excited” to be in prison.
Baird was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Baird was sentenced to 354 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe 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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Baird is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2012-CJW.
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Lehigh County Man Indicted for Bringing Explosive Device into Bethlehem-Area ERRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Brian James Kunsman, 44, of PhiladelphiaPA, was charged by Indictment with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of being a felon in possession of an explosive.
The Indictment alleges that in October 2021, the defendant possessed a ‘pipe bomb’ inside the emergency room at St. Luke’s University Hospital in the Fountain Hill section of the City of Bethlehem. An attending nurse discovered that Kunsman had brought the homemade destructive device in his backpack while he was a patient at the emergency room. Following the discovery, the emergency department of the hospital was evacuated for a two-hour period and all incoming trauma patients had to be diverted to other local hospitals.
The defendant is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court on these charges on Monday, January 24, 2022, before United States Magistrate Pamela Carlos in Allentown.
“Homemade explosive devices pose a grave threat to the general public when in the wrong hands, and bringing one into the emergency department of a hospital – an enclosed space where people are receiving acute medical care – is especially dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for working quickly and efficiently to mitigate the threat posed by this defendant’s alleged actions.”
“ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe from violence,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “As alleged, this defendant possessed a device which posed a substantial threat to hundreds of citizens. I would like to thank the Fountain Hill Police Department, the Allentown Bomb Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, up to 3-years of supervised release, and a $260,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Allentown Resident Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Borough of Fountain Hill Police Department, the Allentown Bomb Squad, and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly A. Lewis Fallenstein.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Las Vegas Woman Sentenced to Prison for $10 Million Tech Support Fraud Scheme That Exploited Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROMANA LEYVA was sentenced to 100 months in prison for participating in a fraud conspiracy that exploited elderly victims by remotely accessing their computers and convincing victims to pay for computer support services that they did not need, and which were never actually provided. In total, the conspiracy generated more than $10 million in proceeds from at least approximately 7,500 victims. LEYVA previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Romana Leyva was a leader of a conspiracy that caused pop-up windows to appear on victims’ computers – pop-up windows that claimed, falsely, that a virus had infected the victims’ computers. Through this and other misrepresentations, this fraud scheme deceived thousands of victims, many of whom are elderly, into paying a total of more than $10 million. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: Those who exploit the vulnerable for financial gain will pay a heavy price.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, court filings, and statements made in court, including at LEVYA’s plea proceeding and sentencing:
From approximately February 2015 through December 2018, LEYVA was a member of a criminal fraud ring (the “Fraud Ring”) based in the United States and India that committed a technical support fraud scheme that exploited elderly victims located across the United States and Canada, including in the Southern District of New York. The Fraud Ring’s primary objective was to trick victims into believing that their computers were infected with malware, in order to deceive them into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for phony computer repair services. Over the course of the conspiracy, the Fraud Ring generated more than $10 million in proceeds from at least 7,500 victims.
The scheme generally worked as follows. First, the Fraud Ring caused pop-up windows to appear on victims’ computers. The pop-up windows claimed, falsely, that a virus had infected the victim’s computer. The pop-up window directed the victim to call a particular telephone number to obtain technical support. In at least some instances, the pop-up window threatened victims that, if they restarted or shut down their computer, it could “cause serious damage to the system,” including “complete data loss.” In an attempt to give the false appearance of legitimacy, in some instances the pop-up window included, without authorization, the corporate logo of a well-known, legitimate technology company. In fact, no virus had infected victims’ computers, and the technical support phone numbers were not associated with the legitimate technology company. Rather, these representations were false and were designed to trick victims into paying the Fraud Ring to “fix” a problem that did not exist. And while the purported “virus” was a hoax, the pop-up window itself did cause various victims’ computers to completely “freeze,” thereby preventing these victims from accessing the data and files in their computer – which caused some victims to call the phone number listed on the pop-up window. In exchange for victims’ payment of several hundreds or thousands of dollars (depending on the precise “service” victims purchased), the purported technician remotely accessed the victim’s computer and ran an anti-virus tool, which is free and available on the Internet. The Fraud Ring also re-victimized various victims, after they had made payments to purportedly “fix” their tech problems.
LEYVA was a leader of the Fraud Ring. Her roles in the scheme included: (1) creating several fraudulent corporate entities that were used to receive fraud proceeds from victims, (2) recruiting others (including through misrepresentations) to register fraudulent corporate entities that facilitated the activities of the Fraud Ring, and (3) assisting others in setting up fraudulent corporate entities and bank accounts, including coaching them to make misrepresentations to bank employees where necessary.
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In addition to the prison sentence, LEYVA, 38, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, forfeiture of $4,679,586.93, and restitution of $2,707,882.91.
Mr. Williams praised the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations’ (“HSI”) El Dorado Task Force, Cyber Intrusion/Cyber Fraud Group, for its outstanding work on the investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance on this case.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Neff is in charge of the prosecution.
LSCI Allenwood Inmate Sentenced for Possessing Cellphone in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on January 20, 2022, Geraldo Rodriguez-Diaz, a 27-year-old inmate at the Low Security Correctional Institution, Allenwood (LSCI Allenwood), pleaded guilty to possessing a cellphone in prison.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on May 10, 2021, an LSCI Allenwood correctional officer’s handheld metal detector alerted on Rodriguez-Diaz. Staff then searched Rodriguez-Diaz and found a Samsung cellphone hidden in a pocket stitched on the inside of Rodriguez-Diaz’s prison uniform. Federal law prohibits inmates from possessing cellphones due to the institutional security risks posed by their use.
Following the acceptance of the guilty plea, U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Arbuckle sentenced Rodriguez-Diaz to two months’ imprisonment. Judge Arbuckle ordered the imprisonment term to run consecutively to his current 10-year prison sentence previously imposed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for Rodriguez-Diaz’s involvement in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
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KC Woman Sentenced for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, woman who was arrested with 19 firearms and quantities of illegal drugs in her home was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Robin A. Graham, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole.
On June 22, 2021, Graham pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
Investigators were conducting surveillance on co-defendant Dylan Lee Larson, 29, of Overland Park, Kansas, who engaged in a series of controlled drug transactions with a confidential source in October 2020. Officers followed Larson to Graham’s residence, which had at least two visible surveillance cameras mounted on the residence and pointed towards the front/street area, with what appeared to be a third surveillance camera mounted on the residence pointed directly at the front door. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence on Nov. 5, 2020. Graham and co-defendant Rusty W. Snow, 28, who shared the residence with Snow, were at home during the search and were arrested.
Officers noticed a Coach purse on the couch near where Graham had been sitting. Graham’s wallet was siting on top of the purse and a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun was visible in the open purse.
Officers found a loaded Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on the couch, along with a lunchbox that contained approximately 572 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Officers also found approximately 400.8 grams of marijuana in a shoebox on the floor, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia nearby.
Officers found a total of 19 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition littered throughout the residence. Six of those firearms – a shotgun, a rifle, and four semi-automatic pistols – had been reported stolen.
Additionally, as they continued the search, officers found another approximately 527.44 grams of marijuana, another approximately 33.39 grams of crystal methamphetamine, approximately 33.39 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, approximately 48.9 grams of THC concentrate/THC wax, and 38 full and 11 half pills of various controlled pharmaceuticals.
Officers also found four stolen motorcycles on the property, two police tasers, police identification and other police items stolen from Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan. officers.
Graham, who told investigators she was pregnant with Snow’s child, admitted she was aware of the drug distribution occurring in her residence. She also admitted she was aware of the numerous firearms in her residence.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or is a user of controlled substances, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Graham has four prior felony convictions for burglary, as well as prior felony convictions for tampering, theft/stealing, possession of methamphetamine, attempted theft. Graham was on state parole at the time of her arrest in this case.
Snow pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes and awaits sentencing.
Larson pleaded guilty on April 30, 2021, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and awaits sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Justice Department Seeks Permanent Injunction Against San Antonio-Area Pharmacist for Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
The United States filed a civil complaint today seeking to permanently enjoin the owner of a San Antonio-area pharmacy from unlawfully dispensing opioids and other controlled substances.
In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, the government alleges that Jitendra Chaudhary, the pharmacist-in-charge and part owner of Rite-Away Pharmacy and Medical Supply #2, unlawfully filled controlled substance prescriptions at Rite-Away in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The complaint alleges that Chaudhary and Rite-Away ignored numerous “red flags,” or obvious signs of abuse or diversion, when filling opioid prescriptions. The complaint further alleges that one patient died from toxic effects of fentanyl nine days after Rite-Away filled her prescription for that drug.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists have an important responsibility to help stop the illegal distribution of controlled substances,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will work with its law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who fill opioid prescriptions in violation of the law.”
“As pharmacists, the defendants had a legal obligation to ensure controlled substance prescriptions are prescribed for legitimate medical purposes before being sold and distributed to patients,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas. “Their choice to repeatedly ignore signs of abuse and diversion when dispensing opioids is a failure to meet this duty at the expense of patient health. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will use those resources available to stop pharmacies and pharmacists from avoiding their responsibilities amidst the opioid crisis.”
The complaint alleges that by ignoring signs of abuse and diversion, the defendants illegally filled controlled substance prescriptions outside the usual course of professional pharmacy practice and filled prescriptions that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose. The complaint further alleges that the defendants altered prescriptions that lacked required information in order to make them appear to be in compliance with DEA regulations. The complaint seeks civil penalties as well as a permanent injunction to prevent further violations.
The claims made in the complaint are merely allegations that the United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.
DEA’s San Antonio District Office is conducting the ongoing investigation.
The case is being handled by Trial Attorneys Scott Dahlquist and Ryan Norman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Van De Walle for the Western District of Texas.
Jury Convicts Tulsa Man for his Role in Two CarjackingsRead the Press Release
A man who was involved in two carjackings at apartment complexes in Tulsa was convicted in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
A federal jury found Raul Hernandez-Moreno, 21, of Tulsa, guilty of two counts of carjacking; two counts of carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally in the United States.
Codefendants Nicole Marie Rumualdo, aka Nicole Hughes, 28, and Carlos Alfredo Arroliga, 26, both pleaded guilty in November to two counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They are scheduled to be sentenced June 2, 2022. Hernandez-Moreno opted to proceed to trial.
“Criminals like Raul Hernandez-Moreno and his associates should take notice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners fight for victims and hold violent criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Law enforcement and federal prosecutors Gina Gilmore and Joel-lyn McCormick worked hand in hand to bring this case to trial and secure a conviction. I am proud of their work and dedication to Justice.”
On Oct. 26, 2021, Hernandez-Moreno, Rumualdo, and Arroliga were responsible for two carjackings in Tulsa. At 7:30 am, Hernandez-Moreno and his two accomplices pulled alongside a gray 2006 Mazda 3 in the Echo Trails Apartments in Tulsa. The defendants exited their blue SUV, and Rumualdo pointed a loaded handgun at the victim. Hernandez-Moreno blocked the victim from behind. Speaking in Spanish, Rumualdo demanded the victim’s wallet and cell phone. When the victim responded that he did not have his wallet and cell phone, Rumualdo snatched the victim’s keys. Hernandez-Moreno and Rumualdo drove off in the Mazda, and Arroliga followed in the blue SUV.
A few hours later, the three defendants targeted a maintenance worker in his parked vehicle at Bristol Park Apartments in Tulsa. The victim was preparing to perform repairs at the complex when the defendants pulled into a nearby spot. Hernandez-Moreno then approached the victim and pointed a loaded gun at the victim, ordering him to hand over his money. Hernandez-Moreno then took the victim’s keys and drove off in the victim’s 2010 gray Chevrolet Silverado. Arroliga and Rumualdo followed in the blue SUV.
Officers were able to locate surveillance footage of the crimes from one of the apartment complexes. The video showed the vehicle used by the defendants, a bright blue Ford Escape with a paper tag and unique license plate frame. The same day of the crime, the blue Ford Escape was observed on Garnett Road, and a traffic stop was initiated because it matched the description of the SUV seen in the surveillance video. Arroliga was driving the vehicle and taken into custody for questioning. On Oct. 27, 2020, Hernandez-Moreno and Rumualdo were found in the stolen Mazda at the Echo Trails Apartment complex. They were immediately taken into custody.
The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina S. Gilmore and Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Gulfport Man of Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi – On Thursday, January 20, 2022, a federal jury convicted a Gulfport man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration
According to Court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 8, 2021, Decorie Deshun Bates, 33, was arrested after the Gulfport Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance 911 call. Prior to officers’ arrival at the scene, Bates left the residence on foot. However, the caller took photos of Bates while he was leaving the residence. These photos depicted Bates carrying a firearm.
Bates was apprehended nearby unarmed. However, a firearm, matching the firearm depicted in the photographs, was found along his suspected route of travel. After being taken into custody, Bates admitted to purchasing the firearm approximately two weeks before the incident. A special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives testified that the gun was manufactured outside of the state of Mississippi. Bates had prior felony convictions for Aggravated Assault, Credit Card Fraud, and Burglary of a Dwelling.
Bates is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulfport Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie are 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.
Inmate Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Efrain Sanchez, age 28, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institution-Schuylkill (FCI-Schuylkill), Minersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 20, 2022, to 4 months’ imprisonment by United States Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. after pleading guilty to assault.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, at the time of the offense, Sanchez was an inmate at FCI-Schuylkill. Upon being informed that he was being removed from a drug abuse program, Sanchez became disruptive. When a Correctional Officer tried to restrain him, Sanchez assaulted the Correctional Officer by resisting and scratching the officer’s face.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney James Buchanan prosecuted the case.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Jan. 18 was:
Kim Renee Schildt, aka Kim LaPlant, 60, of Browning, on charges of wire fraud and theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schildt faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Schildt was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-83.
Brandon Lamar Louis James, 22, of Southfield, Michigan, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, James faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. James was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force, Russell Country High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-72.
Eric John Swensen, 42, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Swensen faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Swensen was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Deer Lodge Police Department, Powell County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Montana’s Division of Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-01.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Jan. 21 was:
Robert Medina, 38, of Miles City, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medina faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-45.
Damian Andrew Roman, 23, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Roman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release on the drug crimes and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison consecutive to any other crime, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the crime of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Roman was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-87.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indianapolis Man Indicted in Multi-Jurisdictional Firearm Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Indiana returned an indictment today charging an Indianapolis man with making false statements to purchase firearms on behalf of other people and dealing in firearms without a license.
According to court documents, over a two-month period, De’Angelo Carnell, 23, purchased 19 handguns from federally licensed gun stores in the Indianapolis area. These purchases were typically made on behalf of other people who could not legally buy guns at these stores. Carnell would then provide the firearms to these persons and accept a fee in exchange. One of the recovered handguns was confiscated in Chicago, Illinois, during a traffic stop.
Carnell is charged with 13 counts of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms and dealing in firearms without a license. If convicted of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, he faces up to ten years’ imprisonment as to each count. If convicted of dealing in firearms without a license, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Roland H. Herndon Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating the case.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
HOT SPRINGS. – An East St. Louis, Illinois man was sentenced yesterday to 144 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
According to court documents, On the evening of March 27, 2018, an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper, traveling in his ASP patrol vehicle, observed a silver vehicle with Missouri plates traveling eastbound on Interstate 30, in Hot Spring County, Arkansas.
After the Trooper observed a traffic violation, he executed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The Trooper made contact with the driver, Aliza RobertsWilliams, age 24, of East St. Luis Illinois, and Deanthony Leon Tillman, age 35, who was the sole passenger. After the Trooper identified himself and explained the reason for the stop, he asked for, and received, consent to search the vehicle from both Tillman and Roberts-Williams.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the Trooper locating a black bag in the vehicle's trunk, which contained at least 4,005.1 grams (slightly more than four kilograms) of cocaine hydrochloride.
Roberts-Williams will be sentenced at a later date.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Arkansas State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case.
Holdrege Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced that Reynaldo Gonzalez, age 23, of Holdrege, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for transportation of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Gonzalez to 72 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Gonzalez will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Gonzalez was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Between January and June of 2018, Gonzalez uploaded thirteen videos of child pornography to DropBox. The videos included boys between 6 and 12-years-old. On February 2, 2021, officers obtained Gonzalez’s cell phone and located nineteen images of child pornography. Gonzalez admitted to obtaining child pornography through Kik messenger and DropBox. Officers later located more child pornography on Gonzalez’s DropBox account.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Gulfport Man Sentenced for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi – A Gulfport man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents and proceedings, on July 27, 2021, law enforcement officers observed what they believed to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction between an individual and occupants of a car parked in the street. Officers detained the occupants of the vehicle and the individual who approached the vehicle. Michael Hamilton, 27, was the driver of the vehicle.
Hamilton admitted to officers that he was in possession of pain pills and relinquished 14 dosage units of Oxycodone to the officers. Hamilton did not have a prescription for the medication. Hamilton was also in possession of a 9mm firearm, which was loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition. Hamilton was taken into custody. Post-Miranda, he admitted to being a habitual user of prescription pain medication and marijuana.
Hamilton pled guilty on October 20, 2021 to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
The DEA and Gulfport Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 12 Months for Identity Theft Involving Employment and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Matias Garcia-Paiz, 49, of Guatemala, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for Use of an Immigration Document Not Lawfully Issued and for Bank Fraud. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Garcia-Paiz to 12 months’ imprisonment and ordered restitution in the amount of $2,133.64. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Garcia-Paiz will be deported by U.S. immigration authorities after completing his sentence of imprisonment.
On April 14, 2021, investigators received information concerning a complaint of identity theft filed by an out of state victim. The victim reported that his Social Security number was used for employment at Smithfield Foods in Omaha and that his name, date of birth, and Social Security number had also been used at Cobalt Federal Credit Union to obtain a vehicle purchase loan in the amount of $16,522. Investigators obtained the Nebraska Driver’s License number used with the victim’s Social Security for employment at Smithfield Foods.
The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (NEDMV) fraud unit assisted with the investigation by providing photographs of the person to whom the Driver’s License was issued and confirmed that he had used the victim’s name and date of birth. A comparison of the victim’s biographical information with photographs from the NEDMV revealed the individual in the NEDMV photographs was an imposter.
On June 5, 2020, an individual matching Garcia-Paiz’s description provided the same Nebraska Driver’s License as proof of identification to secure a used vehicle purchase loan in the amount of $16,522. Cobalt Federal Credit Union, a federally insured financial institution, approved the loan for the purchase of a 2013 Nissan Murano.
On September 2, 2020, Garcia-Paiz completed a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification at Express Employment Professionals using the victim’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. The form showed that Garcia-Paiz provided the Driver’s License and a Social Security card bearing the victim’s SSN as proof of identity.
On April 30, 2021, investigators arrested Garcia-Paiz upon locating the 2013 Nissan Murano registered under the victim’s name. Following Garcia-Paiz’s arrest investigators captured his fingerprints and photograph for digital comparison and verification of his identity. That comparison matched Garcia-Paiz’s fingerprints to an existing FBI number and state identification card numbers issued in Georgia and Nebraska.
A review of records associated with the identification numbers found that U.S. immigration authorities arrested Garcia-Paiz using his true name on March 9, 1989 at or near Tucson, Arizona. The records further showed that Garcia-Paiz had been deported in 1989.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Omaha Police Department, and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.
Greenbrier County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Andrew Allen Arnold, 34, of White Sulphur Springs, pleaded guilty today a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, Arnold was involved in an altercation at a gas station in White Sulphur Springs on May 7, 2019. Law enforcement officers responded to the disturbance at the gas station and found Arnold shouting at and threatening a female who had barricaded herself in the gas station bathroom. Upon searching Arnold, law enforcement officers found a loaded Charter Arms “Pink Lady” .38 Special revolver in his front pants pocket. Arnold admitted that the serial number markings on the firearm had been obliterated and that he was prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of a 2016 felony conviction in the Circuit Court of Allegheny, Virginia.
Arnold pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 13, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the excellent work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the White Sulphur Springs Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Jeffrey is handling the prosecution.
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-00197.
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Grandview Man Sentenced for CarjackingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for carjacking.
Robert J. Rule, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Rule to pay $500 in restitution to his victim.
On July 9, 2021, Rule pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking. Rule admitted that he used a handgun to forcibly take a 2013 Kia Soul from a woman as she was getting ready to back her vehicle out of her driveway. Rule opened the driver’s door and pointed a handgun at the woman. Rule demanded that she get out of the vehicle, then he got in the driver’s seat and drove away.
Kansas City, Mo., police officers tracked the Kia Soul to the area of 11812 NW Plaza Circle in Kansas City. Officers followed Rule as he got into the car and began driving. After a high-speed chase Rule abandoned the vehicle, fled on foot, and was arrested.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Former Tennessee Clinic Owner Sentenced for Opioid DistributionRead the Press Release
A former nurse practitioner and clinic owner was sentenced in the Eastern District of Tennessee today to 14 years in prison for illegally distributing prescription opioid pills to his patients.
Mark Daniel Allen, 64, of Venice, Florida, was found guilty of six counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose outside the scope of professional practice and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises after a three-day trial on Sept. 1, 2021.
According to evidence presented at trial, Allen unlawfully prescribed roughly 15,000 opioid pills to three women with whom he had sexual relationships, and to a male patient who later passed away.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico of the FBI’s Knoxville Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, TBI, Manchester Police Department and Coffee County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks of the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
Former Tennessee Clinic Owner Sentenced to 168 Months for Opioid DistributionRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. On January 21, 2022, Mark Daniel Allen, 64, of Venice, Florida, was sentenced to 168 months in prison and $700 in special assessments, followed by three years of supervised released, by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
According to court documents, Allen was found guilty of six counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises after a three-day trial, which began on September 1, 2021. Evidence presented at trial showed that Allen unlawfully prescribed approximately 15,000 opioid pills to three women with whom he had sexual relationships, and to a male patient who later passed away.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Knoxville Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, TBI, Manchester Police Department, and Coffee County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and prosecuted the case.
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Former Omaha ATF Agent Sentenced for Structuring Money Transactions to Evade Reporting RequirementsRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Paul A. White, age 52, a former federal agent with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in the District Court of Nebraska to one year of probation and a $5,000 fine by United States District Court Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. White previously pleaded to a United States Attorney’s Information charging a violation of Title 31, United States Code, Sections 5324(a)(3) and 5324(d), Structuring Financial Transactions to Evade Reporting Requirement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, based on the recusal of the District of Nebraska United States Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, from October 29, 2018, to February 26, 2019, White deposited a total of $99,900 in two banks. White structured the deposits to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions in excess of $10,000.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Former Corrections Officer Sentenced in Public Corruption CaseRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Monroeville, Alabama woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery.
According to court documents, Lakerdra Shanta Snowden, 31, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, providing contraband to a federal prisoner, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The charges stem from Snowden’s abuse of her position as a corrections officer at the Escambia County Detention Center (“ECDC”) in Brewton, Alabama. In that role, Snowden smuggled prohibited items into the jail and did other corrupt things on behalf of a federal detainee housed there. In exchange, Snowden accepted cash payments from the detainee totaling more than $5,000.
On July 20, 2021, Snowden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. In connection with her guilty plea, Snowden admitted that she knowingly conspired with the detainee and others to commit federal funds bribery, and that the purpose of the bribery conspiracy was for her to enrich herself by abusing her official position to bring prohibited objects into the jail, which she would then provide to the detainee in exchange for money. The contraband items that Snowden smuggled into ECDC for the detainee included U.S. currency, phones, and K2 spice paper—items that she admitted threatened the order, discipline, and security of the jail, as well as the life, health, and safety of the individuals housed there.
United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Snowden to serve a two-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison and to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Flathead County meth trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Hungry Horse woman who admitted to distributing methamphetamine throughout Flathead County was sentenced today to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Kalynn Marie Moskaloff, 25, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement investigations learned that Moskaloff was involved in distributing meth in Flathead County. During two separate traffic stops of Moskaloff in January 2020 and February 2021, officers found meth and firearms in the vehicles.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case, which was investigated by FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Kalispell Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to over Four Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence was sentenced today for drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and oxycodone.
Jose Amador Guerrero, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 56 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Oct. 20, 2021, Guerrero pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl and oxycodone; three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
In June 2020, Guerrero contacted a phone number he had received through contacts in the drug trade, in an attempt to gain a new customer – not realizing that the number was that of an undercover agent. Between June and August 2020, Guerrero met with the undercover agent on five separate occasions in Lawrence to sell fentanyl pills and powder and oxycodone powder. Guerrero was arrested on Aug. 26, 2020, after completing the fifth sale. A subsequent search of Guerrero’s apartment resulted in the seizure of an additional 837 grams of fentanyl, packaged for sale, along with drug packaging and distribution paraphernalia. In total, Guerrero sold or possessed with intent to sell 1.378 kilograms of fentanyl.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hassink of Rollins’ Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Feds Step-Up Focused Effort to Deter Violent Crime in PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
As Part of All Hands on Deck Initiative, U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Indictments Against Delaware Man Accused in FDR Park Carjacking and Against Philadelphia Felon for Attempted Armed Robbery and Shooting of Convenience Store Owner, and Obtains Lengthy Prison Sentence for Drug and Firearms Trafficker.
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced a series of updates on violent crime cases being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as the Office continues to emphasize its All Hands On Deck initiative which brings together federal law enforcement and agency partners to tackle the serious violent crime problem in the City of Philadelphia.
“When I announced the All Hands On Deck initiative in April 2021, I vowed that we would do all we could to stop the violence ravaging our city and support the Philadelphia Police Department in its work,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “I also put violent criminals on notice that we were doubling down on our efforts to identify, arrest, and charge them for their crimes. The Indictments and sentencing result announced today show that we have kept our word to focus on getting the most violent offenders off the street and behind bars for a long time, so they cannot hurt anyone else in the community. And with more than 30 homicides so far in just the first 20 days of the year, our diligence and commitment to this work comes at a critically important time.”
On January 18, 2022, Eric Long, 52, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested and charged by Indictment with one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The Indictment alleges that in December 2020, the defendant entered the Express One convenience store on the 2000 block of East Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia, demanded money from the store manager while brandishing a firearm, and then shot the store owner with that firearm multiple times. Long is also charged with illegally possessing the firearm as a previously convicted felon. If convicted, defendant Long faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, five years of supervised release, a $750,000 fine, $300 in special assessments, restitution, and forfeiture.
On January 19, 2022, Dwayne Gary, 36, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, more than 200 grams of heroin in 2017. While engaging in this drug distribution activity, Gary also organized the sale of a firearm while in custody on an unrelated criminal charge. The defendant pleaded guilty to this four-count Indictment in September 2021.
Finally, on January 20, 2022, Josiah Brown, 19, of Wilmington, DE, was charged by Indictment with one count of carjacking, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with a December 2021 armed carjacking which occurred at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia. According to the Criminal Complaint filed on December 23, 2021, while the victim and an associate were speaking near the victim’s vehicle, an SUV pulled up alongside them and blocked them in. One suspect got out of the SUV, pointed a gun at the victim and demanded the keys to the vehicle, and then fled from the area in the stolen vehicle. Investigators tracked and located the vehicle later that day in Wilmington, and then in New Castle, DE. When multiple individuals approached the parked vehicle in the parking lot of the Christiana Fashion Center in New Castle, law enforcement detained five people, including the defendant who was in possession of the keys to the victim’s vehicle.
“The FBI is fully committed to protecting the safety of our citizens as we combat the violent crime problem here in Philadelphia together with our law enforcement partners,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “And while our work is far from done, the results being announced today are significant steps in getting armed criminals off of Philly’s streets and making our streets safer for all of the innocent citizens who deserve to live without fear.”
“ATF continues to work with our local, state, and federal partners to reduce violence in our communities,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Facilitating illicit transactions of firearms and narcotics jeopardizes the safety of our citizens. These offenses will always be taken seriously and today the community is safer thanks to the outstanding work by our partners at the U.S Attorney’s Office.”
The United States v. Eric Long case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Deal.
The United States v. Dwayne Gary case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis A. Weber.
The United States v. Josiah Brown case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, and the New Castle County Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Oshana.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man in Connection with Armed Robberies of Suburban Chicago Cell Phone StoresRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly robbing cell phone stores in the Chicago suburbs.
OCIE BANKS, JR., brandished a firearm in three robberies and one attempted robbery in late 2020 and early 2021, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The heists and attempted heist occurred at Metro by T-Mobile stores in Cicero, Ill., and Berwyn, Ill.
The indictment charges Banks, 33, of Berwyn, Ill., with three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and four counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Banks pleaded not guilty Thursday during his arraignment in federal court.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each robbery and attempted robbery is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each firearm count carries a mandatory seven-year sentence. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Louisville Man Who Shot at ATF Agents with Assaulting Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment this week charging a Louisville man with assaulting, resisting or impeding agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Response Team (SRT) during the execution of a Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) search warrant.
According to court documents, Donald A. Simonton, 68, of Louisville, fired multiple rounds at federal agents from the ATF SRT as they made entry into his residence during the execution of a search warrant. No one was injured during the exchange of gun fire. Federal agents were assisting LMPD with the execution of a search warrant.
Simonton is charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Federal Officers and with Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance on February 25, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Regina S. Edwards of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Simonton faces a minimum of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
ATF and LMPD are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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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Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- JanuaryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January 2022 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Alex Devon Brumfield. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Brumfield, 23, of Tulsa, allegedly used electronic means to knowingly entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. He also took pictures of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions and possessed child pornography. Finally, Brumfield is charged with engaging in a sexual act with the child. The crimes took place on Dec. 30-31, 2021. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department conducted are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-14
Ronnell Dontae Butler. Felon in Possession of Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Child Abuse in Indian Country (superseding). Butler, 25, of Oklahoma City, is charged with being a felon in possession of Luger 9 mm caliber ammunition. He is further alleged to have pointed a firearm at a woman and threatened to shoot her as a child sat near her, thereby also threatening the child’s safety. The crime occurred on Nov. 1, 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-559
Steve Cruz Jr. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Cruz Jr., 23, of Miami, is charged with breaking into an occupied home on Jan. 2, 2022. The FBI and Quapaw Tribal Marshal’s Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Tonkin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-21
Jeffery Carl Cunningham. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (Counts 1-3) (superseding). Cunningham, 44, of Eucha, is charged with sexually abusing three different children who were under the age of 12. The crimes date back as far as 1997. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Baily is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-384
Koalton Byrnn Ellis. First Degree Murder in Indian Country. On July 24, 2021, Ellis, 29, assaulted victim Buffie Raulston by stabbing her with a knife at a motel in Bartlesville. The victim later succumbed to her injuries. The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Gilmore is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-22
Joshua Earl English. Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate/Dating Partner in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country (Count 2); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 3, 4); Child Abuse in Indian Country (Count 5). On Jan. 1, 2022, English, 31, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted a dating partner by repeatedly striking her in the face, resulting in substantial bodily injury. The same day, English also placed his hands over the victim’s mouth and nose then forced her onto the ground, held her by the neck, and sat on her chest and hands. All these actions restricted the victim’s ability to breathe. On Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, 2021, English also repeatedly struck his dating partner with a belt. Finally, from July 1, to July 31, 2021, English allegedly committed child abuse when he struck an individual who was holding a child, causing the child to fall to the ground. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-15
Greggory William Henson. Misprision of Felony. On Nov. 6, 2021, Henson, 37, of Tulsa, is alleged to have moved a vehicle so it would not be available for evidence. Henson knew the car was used during the commission of a felony, where a man was killed with a firearm. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-16
Daniel Lee Jumper. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. On Dec. 6, 2021, Jumper, 26, of Eucha, allegedly strangled his spouse. The FBI and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-17
Richard Martinez; Markie Eilene Cruze. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Martinez, 34, and Cruz, 31, both of Fresno, California, are charged with aiding and abetting one another when they knowingly possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on Jan. 17, 2022. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Tonkin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-23
Eleazar Perez-Delgado. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez-Delgado, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with unlawfully being in the United States after having been deported on April 13, 2019, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-18
Emmitt Graywolf Sam. First Degree Felony Murder in Indian Country. Sam, 23, of Tulsa, aiding and abetting Nathan Simmons, unlawfully killed victim Johnathan Stephens during the commission of a series of robberies on June 25, 2016. Acting together, the two men committed the robberies, and while doing so, fatally shot the victim. The FBI and Tulsa and Broken Arrow Police Departments are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Brasher is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-13
Joshua Lee White. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. On Jan. 5, 2022, White, 46, of Claremore, beat another man with his fists and an unknown object. The FBI, Owasso Police Department, and investigators from the Rogers County District Attorney’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-19
Adrien Jesse Zorrilla. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. On Jan. 1, 2022, Zorrilla, 21, of Broken Arrow, knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a child between 12 and 16 years of age. The FBI and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-24
Federal Government and State of Colorado Settlement with Mining Companies Paves Way for Additional Cleanup at Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund SiteRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Interior (DOI), the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Colorado announced a settlement with Sunnyside Gold Corporation and its Canadian parent company Kinross Gold Corporation resolving federal and state liability related to the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site, which includes the Gold King Mine and many other abandoned mines near Silverton, Colorado. If entered by the court, this agreement provides for the continued cleanup of mining-related contamination within the Upper Animas Watershed and will protect public health and the environment by improving water quality, stabilizing mine source areas, and minimizing unplanned releases.
Under the agreement, Sunnyside Gold Corporation and Kinross Gold Corporation will together pay $45 million to the United States and State of Colorado, and the United States will dismiss its claims against Sunnyside Gold Corporation and Kinross Gold Corporation. The United States will also contribute $45 million to the continuing cleanup at the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site and Sunnyside Gold Corporation and Kinross Gold Corporation will dismiss its claims against the United States.
“Today’s settlement holds these companies accountable for their past mining operations at the site,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s and cleanup agencies’ continuing efforts, together with our state partners, to ensure that Superfund sites are investigated and remediated.”
“This settlement addresses the cleanup responsibility of the private mining companies and the federal government and ensures that site cleanup work will continue,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working with our state and federal government partners, the cleanup will protect the environment and the health of the people who live, work, and enjoy recreational activities in the area.”
“This settlement will allow EPA to continue our important cleanup work at the site to protect human health and the environment,” said Director Betsy Smidinger of EPA Region 8’s Superfund and Emergency Management Division. “We look forward to working with our state and local partners to use these funds which will be utilized to improve the environment for the people who work, live, and recreate in the area.”
“The Gold King spill is a vivid reminder of the dangers associated with the thousands of abandoned and unclaimed hard rock mines across the United States, particularly in the West,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau. “Mining companies should be held accountable for these sites that put communities and tribal lands at risk of disastrous pollution. I’m proud that the Department of the Interior was able to play a part in this important settlement.”
“We are committed to protecting where Coloradan’s live, work and play,” said Director Tracie White of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Hazardous Material and Waste Management Division. “This settlement will allow continued cleanup of this Superfund site, in coordination with our federal and local partners, to ensure the protection of human health and the environment for generations to come,”
EPA leads cleanup activities at the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site, and DOI and USDA retain authority on publicly managed land. Recent interim cleanup work at the site, including efforts to stabilize mine waste and reduce contaminant releases to surface waters from source areas, have improved environmental conditions and will inform the development of future cleanup remedies for the entire site under an adaptive management framework. EPA has already spent over $75 million on cleanup work at the site and expects to continue significant work at the site in the coming years.
More information about the site and this settlement can be found at www.epa.gov/superfund/bonita-peak.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing here.
Father and Son Sentenced on Sex Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Two Detroit men have been sentenced after having pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking using force and coercion, as well as firearm and controlled substance offenses, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Josh P. Hauxhurst, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Eligah Goodmon, 68, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Laurie Michelson to 111 months in federal prison. Erskin Bernard Perryman, 49, was sentenced in March 2021 to 180 months in federal prison. The sentencings were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Goodmon and Perryman have been in custody since their arrest in February 2020.
According to court records, Eligah Goodmon and his son, Erskin Perryman, ran a drug and prostitution house on Hazelwood in Detroit, Michigan. Goodmon lived in the house on Hazelwood, while Perryman came to the house every day to provide crack cocaine and heroin to the drug-addicted women who lived there. The women in the home purchased drugs from Perryman by performing commercial sex dates. If the women in the home did not comply with Perryman’s demands, he was violent with them. Goodmon collected money from commercial sex dates, provided the women with drugs, and monitored their drug usage.
“These defendants treated their victims like a commodity,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “They targeted vulnerable women and exploited them for their own profit and fueled their drug addictions by providing them with drugs. We hope that today’s sentence offers these victims a sense of justice and closure and sends the message that we will not tolerate sex trafficking in our communities. “
“These defendants exploited their victims in the worst way. By plying their victims with drugs, forcing them to engage in commercial sex, and subjecting them to violence if they refused, the defendants took away the freedom and dignity to which these women are entitled,” said Josh P. Hauxhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working on behalf of victims across the state to hold traffickers responsible for their crimes."
The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara D. Woodward and Lisandra Fernandez-Silber.
Edmonds, Washington woman sentenced to home confinement for setting fire to her business in insurance fraud schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – An Edmonds, Washington, business owner was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years of probation, with one year of house arrest, for wire fraud related to the April 30, 2018, fire at her business, CJN Miniatures & More, a dollhouse, miniatures, collectibles, and antiques shop, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Connie L. Bigelow, 54, set the fire to try to collect insurance money to solve her financial troubles. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said he was opting for home confinement because of the COVID pandemic.
According to records filed in the case, Bigelow set fire to her business to collect insurance money as the store was struggling to make enough money to pay the rent. Bigelow moved her business, CJN Miniatures LLC, into the building at 23030 Highway 99, in Edmonds in September 2017. The store maintained an inventory of miniatures and collectables for sale, consigned items on behalf of other individuals, and rented out space to other vendors. Between October 2017 and April 2018, the business fell behind in rental payments and payments to consigners.
Bigelow carried an insurance policy with State Farm Fire and Casualty Company that covered up to $100,000 in loss of business personal property, as well as loss of income. The policy did not cover loss arising from arson.
Bigelow set the fire underneath three Thomas Kinkade paintings worth thousands of dollars. In May 2018, Bigelow initiated a claim to State Farm for the losses arising from the fire. On May 3, 2018, Bigelow communicated with the insurance agent via email as part of the wire fraud scheme. Bigelow made false statements to law enforcement, as well as representatives of State Farm as part of the scheme to defraud.
Prosecutors had asked for a year in prison, citing the inherent danger of the fire and the losses to the community. In pleading guilty, Bigelow agreed to make full restitution. Currently the restitution is over $200,000 to the building owners and some 50 victims who lost consigned items in the fire.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), along with the Snohomish County Fire Marshals’ Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Jaquette.
Dodge County Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating a Federal Officer and Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Dodge County man has pleaded guilty to impersonating a federal officer and illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
According to court documents, on August 17, 2021, the FBI received a tip that Reyel Devon Simmons, 53, was pretending to be federal agent with the United States Department of Homeland Security. As part of his impersonation scheme, Simmons established a TikTok profile, using the false name “Rey Reeves,” and regularly held himself out as a federal agent on social media. Simmons, who had nearly 10,000 followers on TikTok, used a profile photo that showed him wearing law enforcement gear and made several posts displaying law enforcement equipment, badges, and firearms, and referring explicitly and implicitly to himself as a federal agent. At no time has Simmons ever been employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Similarly, Simmons has never been a sworn law enforcement officer with any federal, state, or local agency, nor has he ever had the authority to act on behalf of any federal agency or department.
According to court documents, Simmons regularly carried a backpack, which he described as his “go bag.” The bag bore the departmental emblem of the Department of Homeland Security and contained a Glock handgun, fake Department of Homeland Security badge, and other items related to Simmons’s supposed service in law enforcement and the military. Law enforcement seized from Simmons’s residence eight firearms, including assault rifles and sniper rifles, which were discovered in a “safe room” or bunker that could be accessed only through a hidden doorway located in a storage area of the basement. In addition, Simmons admitted to possessing unregistered silencers/suppressors, detonating cord containing the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a blasting cap, thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor with law enforcement emblems affixed to it, and other law enforcement style badges, clothing, bags, and identification documents.
Because Simmons has a prior felony conviction in Colorado, he is prohibited under federal law, from possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives at any time.
Simmons pleaded guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud to one count of impersonating an officer of the United States and one count of possessing firearms as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, ATF, Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Owatonna Police Department, Kasson Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department Bomb Squad, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
Cross Lanes Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Operating Fencing SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nedeltcho Vladimirov, 53, a native of Bulgaria, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in federal prison for conspiring to commit money laundering and money laundering. A federal jury convicted Vladimirov after a three-day trial in July 2021 of one count of conspiring to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering.
Evidence at trial revealed that Vladimirov operated a fraudulent fencing operation - a scheme in which stolen goods were acquired in order to resell them for profit to an unsuspecting buyer. Vladimirov bought the items he resold at a small fraction of the retail cost from individuals addicted to heroin, known in the fencing scheme as “boosters.” Vladimirov met the “boosters” at a gas station in Cross Lanes where he bought new items such as high end vacuum cleaners, tools and other items that he later resold on his eBay account. The investigation revealed that Vladimirov sold over 7,000 items on his eBay account and had over $594,000 in sales over a three-year period. The “boosters” used the cash provided by Vladimirov for the stolen items to support their drug habits. A federal search warrant executed at Vladimirov’s residence by the United States Secret Service on February 10, 2020, revealed that he had set up cleaning stations used to remove security devices and labels from boxes so that the stolen items could not be traced.
“Shutting down this fencing operation and bringing Vladimirov to justice was a significant team effort,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I cannot overstate the value of the collaboration between our law enforcement partners and the Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigators from the stores victimized in this fencing scheme. I applaud the entire team for their efforts to hold Vladimirov accountable and to protect both retailers and consumers from further harm.”
“The Secret Service is dedicated to protecting our nation’s financial institutions and corporations that operate within the Southern District of West Virginia,” said United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Robert Pyle. “I appreciate our law enforcement partners at the South Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations, whose work helped secure this successful outcome. Our partnership with the Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigators from Kroger, Target and CVS Pharmacy was instrumental in this case as well.”
“We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia, federal, state and local law enforcement, other retailers, and our loss prevention specialist who helped bring Mr. Vladimirov to justice,” said Corporate Affairs Manager James McNees, Mid-Atlantic Division, The Kroger Company. “Partnerships like these are integral to the vitality of our operations and safety of our customers.”
The United States Secret Service, the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and the South Charleston Police Department, as well as the Organized Retail Crimes (ORC) investigators from Kroger, CVS Pharmacy and Target Corporation.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman and Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00054.
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Convicted Felon Charged with Firearms and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haverhill man with multiple prior felony convictions was charged yesterday for possessing a loaded firearm and drugs intended for distribution.
Ramon Silvelo-Miles, 32, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy, Silvelo-Miles was detained pending a probable cause hearing scheduled for Jan. 25, 2022.
According to the charging documents, in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2021, Silvelo-Miles was stopped by law enforcement for driving erratically on Route 24 in West Bridgewater. Field sobriety tests administered on-site indicated that Silvelo-Miles was too impaired to drive. It is alleged that a subsequent search of the defendant’s car uncovered over 300 grams of cocaine packaged in small, clear plastic bags, as well as a small backpack inside the glove compartment that contained a clear plastic bag of fentanyl. A Raven Arms MP-25 .25 caliber pistol hidden within a black sock is also alleged to have been found in the glove compartment. The gun was loaded with one bullet in the chamber and five bullets in the magazine. Silvelo-Miles is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions including a 2014 conviction for manslaughter.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years 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 James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak, III of Rollins’ Organized Crime and Gangs Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Columbia Gang Member Sentenced to More than 12 Years for Selling FirearmsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — United States Attorney Corey F. Ellis announced today that Dashawn Terrell Swygert, 27, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in early 2020, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted an investigation into firearms within the Columbia area. During this investigation, undercover ATF agents were introduced to Swygert, a validated gang member. During four transactions in February 2020, he sold six handguns, many of which were loaded and one of which had an extended magazine, to undercover ATF agents. During the investigation, Swygert bragged to others that he was selling guns to individuals who were running them up north. Upon his arrest in March 2020, agents recovered another loaded firearm.
Of the seven handguns recovered from Swygert by ATF, four had previously been reported as stolen. Three were previously stolen from vehicles in Richland and Newberry Counties. One of the handguns, sold by Swygert to undercover agents in February 2020, was also preliminarily linked through ballistics analysis as having been involved in three shooting incidents: a shooting incident on December 12, 2019, in West Columbia and shooting incidents in Columbia on December 14, 2019, and January 16, 2020. It should be noted that there was no evidence linking Swygert himself to the actual shootings.
Swygert has prior state convictions for strong arm robbery from a 2011 incident and criminal conspiracy, strong arm robbery (4 counts), assault and battery 2nd degree (4 counts), from a 2013 incident.
United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Swygert to 151 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. In imposing the sentence, Judge Lewis noted, “This is the kind of activity that makes a community dangerous . . . gangs and guns.”
This investigation by the ATF, Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Midlands Gang Task Force was made possible by leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.
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Collinsville Man Found Guilty at Trial for Assaulting a Pregnant WomanRead the Press Release
A federal jury found a man guilty Thursday for severely beating and strangling his pregnant niece in July 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Kenneth Dale Walker, 54, of Collinsville, was convicted of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
“Kenneth Walker viciously attacked his pregnant niece in her own home, endangering the victim and her unborn child,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This office will continue to prosecute domestic crimes of violence to seek justice on behalf of the victims. I am proud of the dedicated work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Paisner and Stacey Todd, the FBI, and Collinsville Police Department that led to Mr. Walker’s conviction.”
On July 14, 2021, Walker started an argument with his pregnant niece when she refused to provide him a set of keys to her home due to his recent erratic behavior at her home. During the argument about the keys, Walker headbutted his niece. Walker then shoved the victim down into a recliner, causing the recliner to flip backward and the victim’s head to collide with a small table. He stood over the victim and repeatedly kicked the pregnant victim in the stomach. The victim turned her body defensively to protect the unborn child, causing him to instead kick her upper thighs. Walker also lunged at her and attempted to gouge her eyes with his thumbs. He then strangled the victim to the point she saw spots, could not breathe, and thought she and her unborn child would die.
The only thing that stopped Walker’s attack was the victim’s boyfriend who entered the room after overhearing the commotion and saw Walker strangling the victim. When the boyfriend pried Walker off the victim, Walker tried to drag the victim by her hair with him. After the victim was freed, Walker left the home.
The victim and her boyfriend called 911, and the Collinsville Police Department responded to the scene. The victim was taken to the emergency room where she was treated.
Based on interviews with the victim, her medical records, photographs of her initial injuries, and the police reports, a medical expert for the prosecution determined that during the assault, the victim had sustained multiple contusions and abrasions to her neck, face, and back; she experienced the prolonged obstruction of blood flow to her brain, impairing her brain function; her ability to breath was compromised due to the strangulation; and she had sustained a concussion. The expert concluded and testified that the victim’s injuries were serious and the result of a near-fatal strangulation.
In addition to Thursday’s federal conviction, Walker has been convicted of assault and battery three times, domestic assault and battery three times, violation of a protective order, and further convicted of various drug and gun offenses in the state of Oklahoma.
The FBI and Collinsville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah D. Paisner and Stacey P. Todd are prosecuting the case.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Filming His Sexual Assault of A 12-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Sergio Lohan (25, Clearwater) to 22 years in federal prison for filming his sexual assault of a minor child using a cellphone. Lohan was also ordered to serve a 20-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Lohan had pleaded guilty on August 17, 2021.
According to the court documents, Lohan and the child victim, who was 12 years old, met online on a social media application. Over time, Lohan engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the child, solicited and received sexually explicit images from her, and sent her a video showing himself masturbating. Within a few months of meeting, Lohan drove to the child victim’s home, picked her up in his car, sexually assaulted her, and video-recorded the assault using his cellphone. Later, Lohan sent this video to the child using the internet.
The FBI, while investigating this offense, executed a search warrant at Lohan’s residence and seized his computer. On the computer, they recovered evidence of Lohan’s sexual abuse and exploitation of this child victim, as well as sexually explicit communications with other individuals who had identified themselves as minor children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Port Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case 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.
Billings man charged in drug trafficking investigation admits to cocaine possessionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused in a drug trafficking investigation admitted to a cocaine crime today, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Dejon Anthony Duncan, 23, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession of cocaine, a misdemeanor. Duncan faces a maximum of one year in prison, a mandatory minimum $1,000 fine to a maximum $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and set sentencing for April 19. Duncan was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2019, Duncan was residing in Billings and possessed cocaine.
Four other co-defendants, William Maurice Newkirk, Anthony Marcos Chadwell, Djavon Lamont King and Mario Juan Drake, all have pleaded guilty to charges in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus, Bryan T. Dake and Benjamin D. Hargrove are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the Billings Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
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Big Stone Gap Woman Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Big Stone Gap, Virginia woman, who conspired to traffic more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison.
Jessica Ann Robey, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2020, Robey and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Southwest Virginia. During the course of the conspiracy, Robey purchased significant quantities of methamphetamine from Atlanta through co-conspirators Daniel Eugene Rowland and Jonathan Adam Rollins, and then sold the drugs throughout Lee and Wise Counties.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Berkeley County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Branden Watson, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Watson, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base.” Watson admitted to selling cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in August 2020 in Berkeley County.
Watson faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Timothy D. Helman are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/34-indicted-expansive-drug-trafficking-operation
Armed Robbers of Small-Town Pharmacies IndictedRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment this week charging two with robbing pharmacies of narcotics and cash at gun point.
According to court documents, Andre Dupree Jack, 39, of San Antonio and Atseko Factor, 38, of Houston allegedly robbed pharmacies in Luling, Pleasanton and Seguin and attempted to rob another pharmacy in Sealy. During the robberies, the defendants brandished firearms and used zip ties to bind pharmacy employees and customers. The defendants took controlled substances and U.S. currency from the pharmacies as well as personal belongings from employees and customers.
Jack and Factor are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit pharmacy robbery; three counts of pharmacy robbery; and three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Jack is also charged with an additional count of pharmacy robbery; an additional count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendants will be scheduled next week for an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge; a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the pharmacy robbery charges; a mandatory minimum of seven years on each of the brandishing of a firearm charges; and Jack faces a maximum 10 years in prison on 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; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski made the announcement.
The DEA and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski 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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37-Year-Old Arnold’s Park Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An unlawful drug user who illegally possessed explosive devices and guns was sentenced January 19, 2022, to 5 years in federal prison.
Darrell H. Sorey, age 37, from Arnold’s Park, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 15, 2021, guilty plea to one count of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device.
Evidence in this case revealed on January 12, 2020, Sorey’s father died in a rollover vehicle accident in Marion County, Iowa. At the scene of the accident an AR-15 rifle, a SKS style rifle, drum-magazines, ammunition, a pipe bomb and two CO2 “cricket” bombs – all three with fuses attached – were found. These discoveries, inside the car and in the debris field, led to January 15, 2020 searches of three residences in Dickinson County, Iowa. During one of the searches, investigators located Sorey, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, more CO2 cartridge bombs, including a CO2 cartridge bomb attached to an arrow, gunpowder, and a cellular telephone. During another of the two searches two .22 caliber rifles, one shotgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition for those firearms were discovered. Sorey’s criminal history includes convictions for interference with official acts, simple assault, disorderly conduct, multiple OWIs and controlled substance offenses.
Sorey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sorey was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. Sorey must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sorey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Marion County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the State Fire Marshal’s Division, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (all of the Iowa Department of Public Safety), the Dickinson County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Milford, Iowa Police Department, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and the United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-4048.
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20 January 2022
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in connection with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Terrence Kenol, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman who scheduled sentencing for May 13, 2022. Kenol was indicted in October 2021.
On Sept. 3, 2021, Kenol was found in possession of a firearm and a loaded magazine in his vehicle after he drove around Worcester police cruisers that were blocking an active accident reconstruction scene on Granite Street in Worcester. At the time of the offense, Kenol had been previously convicted of offenses that carried a possible maximum punishment of greater than one year in prison. In addition, at the time of the offense, Kenol was on probation for a prior state conviction of kidnapping and assault and battery.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years 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; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Wilmington man pleads guilty to making online threats relating to his participation in U.S. Capitol riotRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Wilmington man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to making interstate threats, a felony offense. The crime arises from his communications online related to his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol.
Justin Stoll, 41, was arrested on Jan. 15, 2021, by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
According to court documents, Stoll used the username “Th3RealHuckleberry” on the app Clapper and on YouTube to post videos related to his participation in the Capitol riots.
Videos Stoll filmed at the Capitol show that he proceeded past police barricades that other rioters had torn down and yelled profanities at U.S. Capitol Police.
The government’s investigation has not yielded evidence suggesting that Stoll entered the Capitol building, engaged in acts of violence, or destroyed property.
When Stoll returned to the Southern District of Ohio, he uploaded the videos to social media.
Stoll received comments from other individuals in response to his YouTube videos, including from one user who said (s)he had saved Stoll’s video and suggested that Stoll might go to prison. Stoll responded via another video, in which he said, in part:
Well, that shows your f------ ignorance because, clearly, the capitol building is owned by the people, so again, nothing will happen. Secondly, I never admitted I went into it, did I? Go watch the video again. Daddy’s not stupid. [Wink.] Third, if you ever in your f------ existence did something to jeopardize taking me away from my family, you will absolutely meet your maker. You can play that for the D.A. in court, I don’t care. If you ever jeopardize me, from being with my family, you will absolutely meet your mother f------ maker, and I will be the one to arrange the meeting.
Stoll admitted as part of his guilty plea today that he posted the video for the purpose of making a threat.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.
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Webster Woman Charged with Illegally Accessing Employee Computer to Conduct SIM SwapsRead 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 Corrine Little, 38, of Webster, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with unauthorized access of a protected computer. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in May 2021, Little, a temporary manager for a wireless telephone provider, received text messages from an unknown individual offering to pay her to conduct SIM (subscriber identity module) Swaps. “SIM Swapping” is the unauthorized takeover of a victim’s wireless account, carried out by linking a victim’s mobile phone number to a SIM installed in a device controlled by the perpetrator of the swap. Little is accused of conducting five SIM Swaps, receiving $600 for each swap.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo and Newark, NY, Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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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Violent felon sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for crime spree that included a carjacking, attempted robbery, and firearm offensesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A violent felon has been sentenced to more than 50 years in federal prison for attempted robbery, carjacking, and firearms offenses in Chatham and Ware counties. At sentencing, the Court found he also sexually abused a juvenile at gunpoint during his crime spree.
Alfred Wisher, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 640 months in prison after a federal jury in July 2021 found him guilty on 11 felony counts related to a July 2019 series of violent crimes and firearm offenses in the Savannah and Waycross areas, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Wisher to pay $6,217.40 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. Judge Baker recommended that the Bureau of Prisons place Wisher at a facility as far away as possible from Savannah. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Alfred Wisher’s cowardly acts of robbery, violence, and abuse were matched by the courage of his victims. The decades of prison that await will afford him ample opportunity to rue the pain he caused,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “I applaud the work of law enforcement in bringing Wisher to justice and those who had the strength in this case to come forward and tell their story. Our community is safer.”
Wisher previously served time in prison for series of violent armed robberies in New York, and he currently faces a state charge of attempted murder in Vermont, for which he is presumed innocent.
His crime spree in Georgia started in 2019 when he came to Savannah. As shown in court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, Wisher was in a relationship with a juvenile female. During an argument, Wisher brandished a pistol and fired a bullet into a bed near the young female; he later raped her at gunpoint.
Days later, Wisher struck his roommate in the head and stole a firearm. Wisher gave that stolen pistol to Samuel Renardo Chisholm, 29, of Savannah, also a convicted felon. On July 25, 2019, Wisher and Chisholm carjacked at gunpoint a mother visiting Savannah, stealing her Ford Escape.
Wisher and Chisholm drove the stolen Escape to Ware County the next day, where Wisher attempted to rob a retired preschool teacher as she walked into the TJ Maxx store in Waycross, Ga., to shop. Chisholm drove Wisher away from the attempted robbery.
U.S. Marshals arrested Wisher in Savannah on July 29, 2019, after finding him standing near the stolen Ford Escape.
Chisholm pled guilty and was sentenced in September 2021 by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 110 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.
“Without the help of our partners in law enforcement, and our citizens, our job of protecting Americans and upholding the Constitution would be more difficult,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These violent felons were captured, convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison sentences because of the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies.”
“This duo’s crime spree not only affected the citizens of Savannah, but citizens in other jurisdictions as well,” said Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter. “We worked closely with Marshals and other law enforcement partners, effectively resulting in these subjects being brought to justice to face their crimes. This was a collaborative effort to protect the safety of all those in danger of being in Wisher and Chisholm’s path.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Savannah Police Department, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waycross Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.