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14 January 2022
Lafayette Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile AccidentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RYAN WHEATEN (“WHEATEN”), age 54, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced on January 12, 2022 for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2017, WHEATEN, along with participants Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), Henry Randle (“Randle”), and Dakota Diggs (“D. Diggs”), staged an automobile collision with a tractor-trailer in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 90 East and Calliope Street in New Orleans. Labeaud purposely drove the vehicle into a tractor-trailer and then fled the scene with Solomon. Randle falsely reported to the New Orleans Police Department that he had been driving and that the tractor-trailer was at fault. Shortly thereafter, Labeaud and Solomon went on to stage a second accident in the vicinity of Louisa Street and Chickasaw Street with Bernell Gale (“Gale”), Troy Smith (“Smith”), Marvel Francois (“Francois”), and another passenger. In addition to WHEATEN, Labeaud, Solomon, Gale, Smith, and Francois were also charged and pled guilty.
After the staged collision, WHEATEN, Randle, and D. Diggs made claims for personal injuries. The victim insurance companies paid out approximately $10,000.00 for these fraudulent claims.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced WHEATEN to serve 10 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. WHEATEN was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,000. Judge Africk also imposed a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long.
Kyle Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Possession of Child Pornography.
Shayne Justin Begay, age 44, was indicted on December 21, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 29, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 15 up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Begay filming minor females while they showered at the Juvenile Detention Center in Kyle, South Dakota, where he was employed as a corrections officer. The charges are merely an accusation and Begay is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Begay was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has been set for March 8, 2022.
Knightdale Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Possessing Firearms Not Registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer RecordRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A man from Knightdale was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On October 1, 2021, Derek Alan Gower pled guilty to one count of receiving and possessing a firearm having a barrel of less than 16 inches in length which was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Gower, 41, had been purchasing chemicals and other items that could potentially be used in the manufacturing of explosives. Additionally, Gower researched and purchased items to make homemade suppressors and grenades.
On June 24, 2021, federal agents conducted a search of Gower’s residence in Knightdale which resulted in the seizure of 11 firearms, two of which were unregistered short- barreled assault rifles, grenade and grenade launcher part kits, kits to convert various weapons to be fully automatic, and precursor materials to make explosives.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Joint Terrorism Task Force in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:21CR-294-D.
Jury Convicts Columbia Man of Illegal Firearm Following Police ChaseRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal jury of illegally possessing the stolen firearm that he threw out of his car during a police chase.
Cecil Jason Robinson, 42, was found guilty on Thursday, Jan. 13, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Robinson was in possession of a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine on Jan. 26, 2021.
ATF task force officers attempted a traffic stop of Robinson, who was driving a Chevrolet Silverado with a defective brake light on I-70 west between the St. Charles Road exit and the Highway 63 connector on Jan. 26, 2021. When the officers activated their emergency lights, Robinson’s vehicle exited I-70 onto the Highway 63 connector, where it immediately conducted an illegal U-turn, forcing oncoming traffic to stop. The vehicle entered the I-70 west entrance ramp, accelerating its speed, and a vehicle pursuit ensued.
Officers saw Robinson open the driver’s side door slightly and throw out the Sig Sauer handgun into the rocky area between the entrance ramp and I-70. Officers recovered the firearm, which had been reported stolen in Kansas City, Ks. Officers also saw Robinson throw out a baggie of marijuana near the 127.8 mile marker of I-70 west. The pursuit ended in the Columbia Mall parking lot and Robinson was taken into custody.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Robinson has two prior felony convictions for robbery, two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, and a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., returned the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Wednesday, Jan. 12.
Under federal statutes, Robinson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia, 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.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss.- A Jackson man was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court records, in January, 2020, Antonio Demond Doss, 27, purchased and distributed various quantities of cocaine, crack and marijuana from his do-defendant, Marcus Guice. Doss pled guilty on September 8, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Operation Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Jackson, Mississippi area.
Operation Hailstorm is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Jackson Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Inmate Sentenced for Possessing Weapon at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. - An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Beckley was sentenced today for possessing a weapon at the correctional facility. Deontae Holmes, 25, was sentenced to one year in prison to run consecutively to the sentence he currently is serving.
According to court documents, FCI Beckley staff members found Holmes in possession of a shank on February 22, 2021. The shank was a piece of metal approximately six inches long that was sharpened to a point on one end and had a rubberized tape handle on the other end. The shank was found in Holmes’ pants pocket during a random pat search. Holmes admitted that the shank was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:21-cr-00151.
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Indiana Resident Sentenced to 13 Years of Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on January 13, 2022, Dylan D. Cole (age: 22), of Anderson, Indiana, was sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)(B), and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, in September of 2021 the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LWAM) began investigating Cole for suspected distribution of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Cole was transporting methamphetamine from Indiana to the Fox Valley area. Investigators arranged for undercover purchases totaling over nine pounds of methamphetamine from Cole. During these transactions, Cole was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
In pronouncing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Cole’s offense and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Cole and anyone else who might attempt to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Cole’s incarceration in federal prison for a term of 13 years to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $16,763 in illegal proceeds.
The case was investigated by LWAM. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Duros.
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Georgia woman sentenced to federal prison for COVID-19 fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Jefferson County, Ga., woman who admitted using false information to file for COVID-19 relief funding has been sentenced to federal prison.
Whitney Adwan Mack, 34, of Louisville, Ga., was sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Mack to pay a fine of $5,000, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The substantial appropriations for businesses suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic assisted tremendous numbers of people in need of extra help for their small business,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Unfortunately, the lure of money also attracted con artists who attempted to enrich themselves by defrauding taxpayers during a national emergency, and they are being held accountable.”
In pleading guilty, Mack admitted she obtained COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in July 2020 by making false statements about the number of individuals her company employed and the company’s gross revenue, and applied for the relief funding using a Social Security number that was not hers. After receiving a $150,000 EIDL, Mack withdrew much of the funds in cash and used part of the proceeds for a vacation in Miami.
“We are committed to bringing justice to criminals intent on stealing government funds,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service. “This sentencing shows the commitment of my agency and our partners to pursue people who steal pandemic relief funds intended for those who need it most.”
“Mack stole critical funding earmarked for small businesses facing real economic hardships due to the pandemic and damaged the integrity of the Social Security number,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for bringing this individual to justice.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Schwedler and Jonathan A. Porter.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 102 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Richard Gordon, 40 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitting to violating the terms of his supervised release on a prior felon in possession of a firearm conviction, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Gordon was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release on the current conviction, and was given a consecutive 24 month term of imprisonment on the revocation of his supervised release from his prior conviction.
According to documents in the case, on May 5, 2021, Gordon was found in possession of a 9mm firearm after being involved in a traffic incident in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Gordon ran from Fort Wayne Police Department officers but was eventually apprehended and arrested. Gordon had two previous convictions from the Eastern District of Missouri for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gordon admitted to removing his location monitoring equipment and leaving his residence without authorization while on supervised release.
This current case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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.
Fort Stewart Solider Faces Minimum 15 Years Imprisonment for Child Pornography ProductionRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A solider stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in a Project Safe Childhoods investigation involving a 13-year-old victim.
Aaron D. Sutherland, 28, of Fort Stewart, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Jan. 13. Sutherland faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to a maximum 30 years in prison to be followed by at least five years up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Sutherland will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 28.
“Parents must remain vigilant and monitor whom their children are communicating with on their cell phones and on social media because online predators are lurking,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office—working alongside federal, state and local authorities—will pursue significant penalties for any adults who sexually entice, abuse or harm a minor.”
“Stopping predators that produce and distribute the disturbing images of children being exploited is of critical importance,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Unfortunately, we cannot protect all children by ourselves and need your help to monitor who your children interact with and report anything that doesn’t seem right.”
“This case is another example of the fruitful results that occur when we combine the resources of local, state and federal law enforcement partners to get predators off the street,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
According to court documents, Sutherland admitted he began communicating with a 13-year-old female while he was on active duty for the U.S. Army at Fort Stewart, Georgia in Feb. 2021. Sutherland enticed the victim to send multiple nude images and videos of a sexual nature and asked to meet the child to engage in sexual activity. The minor victim’s mother discovered her child messaging an adult male in April 2021 after she observed her child acting strangely and confiscated her phone. In the messages, Sutherland stated the victim’s age. The mother reported the crime to authorities, and Sutherland was arrested on May 3, 2021. Sutherland provided law enforcement with his secret image vault where he saved all of the pictures and videos of the child.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Criminal Chief Michael Solis are prosecuting the case.
Former White House Advisor Pleads Guilty to Devising A Scheme to Steal $218,000 from Charter Schools He FoundedRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SETH ANDREW pled guilty today to wire fraud, before United States District Judge John P. Cronan, in Manhattan federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Seth Andrew, a former White House advisor, admitted today to devising a scheme to steal from the very same schools he helped create. Andrew now faces time in federal prison for abusing his position and robbing those he promised to help.”
According to previous filings in this case:
In 2005, SETH ANDREW helped create “School Network-1,” a series of public charter schools then based in New York City. In the Spring of 2013, ANDREW left School Network-1 and accepted a job in the United States Department of Education and, thereafter, as a senior advisor in the Office of Educational Technology at the White House. In November 2016, ANDREW left his role in the White House and, shortly thereafter, in January 2017, ANDREW officially severed his relationship with School Network-1.
School Network-1’s New York based charter schools must maintain an “escrow account” that may be accessed only if the school dissolves. Three such escrow accounts, for three New York City based-School Network-1 schools, were opened by ANDREW and other School Network-1 employees, at “Bank-1” in 2009, 2011 and 2013. As to each of those three accounts ‑- Escrow Account-1, Escrow Account-2 and Escrow Account-3 -- ANDREW was a signatory and had access to the funds in them. However, pursuant to the charter agreement, the funds in the Escrow Accounts were reserved in case the school dissolved, and the funds could not be moved by ANDREW, or anyone, without proper authorization.
After he severed his relationship with School Network-1, on March 28, 2019, ANDREW entered a Bank-1 branch in New York City and closed both Escrow Account-1 and Escrow Account-2. Bank-1 provided ANDREW a bank check in the amount of $71,881.23 made payable to “[School Network-1] Charter School” (“Check-1”) and a second bank check in the amount of $70,642.98 to “[School Network-1] Harlem Charter” (“Check-2”).
The same day that ANDREW closed Escrow Account-1 and Escrow Account-2, ANDREW entered a Manhattan branch of a different FDIC insured bank (“Bank-2”) and opened a business bank account in the name of “[School Network-1] Charter School” (“Fraud Account‑1”). To open that account, ANDREW misrepresented to a Bank-2 employee that he was a “Key Executive with Control of” School Network-1 Charter School and supported that misrepresentation with emails sent to the Bank-2 employee. ANDREW then deposited Check-1 into the account. Five days later, on April 2, 2019, ANDREW used an ATM machine in Baltimore, Maryland to deposit Check-2 into Fraud Account‑1.
On October 17, 2019, ANDREW closed out Escrow Account-3 and received a check (“Check-3”) made payable to “[School Network-1] Endurance” in the amount of $75,481.10. On October 21, 2019, ANDREW deposited Check-3 into an account that he opened at a third bank (“Fraud Account-2”).
Approximately one month later, ANDREW obtained a check from Bank-2 for $144,473.29, which constituted the funds stolen from Escrow Account-1 and Escrow Account-2, and ANDREW ultimately deposited those funds into Fraud Account-2. Five days later, ANDREW rolled the funds in Fraud Account-2 into a certificate of deposit. That certificate of deposit matured on May 20, 2020, which earned ANDREW $2,083.52 in interest. ANDREW then transferred the funds from the certificate of deposit -- including the funds stolen from the Escrow Accounts -- into a bank account held in the name of a particular civic organization that ANDREW then-controlled thereby concealing the money’s association with School Network-1, and depositing the stolen money into an account under Andrew’s complete control.
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ANDREW, 42, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. ANDREW has agreed to pay restitution to the Charter School Network from which he stole. ANDREW is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Cronan on April 14, 2022.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan B. Finkel is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Treasurer of Perry County Agricultural Society Pleads Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – This morning, in federal court in Benton, Illinois, Billy E. Harris, the former treasurer of the Perry County Agricultural Society (“PCAS”), pled guilty to defrauding the PCAS out of more than $100,000.
The PCAS operates all of the festivals at the Perry County Fairgrounds in Pinckneyville, including the Perry County Fair. Harris, 48, currently of St. Louis, MO, served as the treasurer of the PCAS from 2011 through October 2018. When he appeared in court this morning, Harris admitted that from June 5, 2012 through October 3, 2018, he defrauded the PCAS out of more than $100,000. Specifically, Harris acknowledged that he paid his personal expenses, and purchased items for his personal use, with electronic debits from the PCAS bank account. Many of those items were purchased through Amazon. Some of the items that Harris admitted purchasing with PCAS funds include a WiFi router, Apple AirPods, a Himalyan Salt Lamp Air Purifier, Star Wars Darth Vader and Yoda personalized pet tags, a pair of Star Wars men’s sleep pants, a floating pool fountain, a CPAP tube cleaning brush, and men’s grooming products, including beard lube. Harris also admitted writing checks on the PCAS account payable to himself and his spouse, and forging a Board member’s signature on those checks.
Harris will be sentenced on May 5, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. The mail fraud charge on which Harris has been convicted carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years. In addition, Harris can be ordered to pay full restitution to the PCAS.
The St. Louis Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Pinckneyville Police Department investigated the case. The Perry County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman is prosecuted the case.Former Owner of Latitude 360 Indicted for Payroll Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brent Brown with 17 counts of failing to remit to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from employees of four businesses that he operated under the umbrella of Latitude 360. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each count.
According to the indictment, Brown incorporated Latitude 360 in Jacksonville around January 2014. He also operated four subsidiaries – Latitude 360 Jacksonville LLC, Latitude 360 Indianapolis LLC, Latitude 360 Pittsburgh LLC, and Latitude 360 Albany LLC, over which he exercised exclusive authority to determine the use of business funds. Those subsidiaries each withheld taxes from employee wages, including federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes, which the subsidiaries were required to remit to the Internal Revenue Service periodically. Brown filed quarterly tax returns for each of the subsidiaries accurately reflecting the payroll taxes due for each of the subsidiaries but he caused those subsidiaries to fail to remit to the IRS the full amounts due. The taxes owed are alleged to total more than $1 million.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
Former DoD OIG Official Sentenced for Accepting Bribes and Defrauding the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former official of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) was sentenced today to 7.5 years in prison for accepting bribes and defrauding the government, among other crimes, in relation to a contract he oversaw at the DoD OIG.
According to court documents, Matthew K. LumHo, 47, of Fairfax Station, was employed at the DoD OIG’s Information Services Directorate. In that position, LumHo oversaw and administered a prime federal contract designed to allow federal agencies in the National Capital Region to order routine telecommunications services and equipment from one of two national telecommunications companies.
Beginning no later than 2012, LumHo solicited and accepted bribes from co-conspirator William S. Wilson, in exchange for steering what nominally was intended to be telecommunications or information technology services through the prime government contract, through an intermediary telecommunications company, to Wilson’s company. Wilson’s company received all of this business without any competition, despite its lack of any relevant experience or expertise, and despite having no employees based in or near northern Virginia, where all the work was to be performed. Wilson and LumHo disguised the bribes by falsely masking them as payroll payments to a relative of LumHo for a job that did not in fact exist, with the bribes being deposited into an account that LumHo in fact controlled.
As the scheme progressed, LumHo, who was supposed to be safeguarding the contract, knowingly authorized numerous false and fraudulent service orders through the prime contract. The false service orders typically described the items supposedly being provided to the government as specialized IT-related support services, when in fact the co-conspirators were simply buying standard, commercially available items, dramatically marking up the price, and billing the government as though it had been provided with the specialized IT-related services. LumHo and Wilson also used fraudulent service orders to conceal bribes in the form of high-end camera equipment and stereo equipment sent from Wilson to LumHo, thereby defrauding the government into to paying for the very bribes themselves.
The evidence adduced at trial further demonstrated that the co-conspirators repeatedly sought to interfere with the criminal investigation by creating false documentation, making false statements to law enforcement officials, lying on a financial disclosure form, committing perjury during sworn civil deposition testimony, and tampering or attempting to tamper with a witness. In addition, at sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge Judge O’Grady found that LumHo had obstructed justice by committing perjury when he testified at trial.
Co-conspirator Ronald A. Capallia, Jr., pleaded guilty on January 25, 2018, to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison on September 14, 2021. Today, LumHo was sentenced to 90 months in prison. Co-conspirator William S. Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2022.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Kelly P. Mayo, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke and Russell L. Carlberg prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-222.
Former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud the U.S. GovernmentRead the Press Release
A former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the U.S. government.
According to court documents, Charles K. Edwards, 61, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, executed a scheme to steal confidential and proprietary software from the government. Edwards worked for DHS-OIG from February 2008 until December 2013, including as Acting Inspector General. Prior to DHS-OIG, he worked at the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). At both agencies, Edwards had access to software systems, including one used for case management and other systems holding sensitive personal identifying information of employees.
After leaving DHS-OIG, Edwards founded Delta Business Solutions Inc., located in Maryland. From at least 2015 until 2017, he stole software from DHS-OIG, along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information of DHS and USPS employees, so that his company could develop a commercially-owned version of a case management system to be offered for sale to government agencies.
Edwards pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and theft of government property. A second defendant in the case, Murali Y. Venkata, 56, of Aldie, Virginia, has pleaded not guilty to charges and his case remains pending. Edwards will be sentenced at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS-OIG and Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb of USPS-OIG made the announcement.
Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and Venkata is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud the U.S. GovernmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the U.S. government.
According to court documents, Charles K. Edwards, 61, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, executed a scheme to steal confidential proprietary software from the government. Edwards worked for DHS-OIG from February 2008 until December 2013, including as Acting Inspector General. Prior to DHS-OIG, he worked at the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). At both agencies, Edwards had access to software systems, including one used for case management, and other systems holding sensitive personal identifying information of employees.
After leaving DHS, Edwards founded Delta Business Solutions, Inc., located in Maryland. From at least 2015 until 2017, he stole software from DHS-OIG, along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information of DHS and USPS employees, so that his company could develop a commercially owned version of a case management system to be offered for sale to government agencies.
Edwards pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and theft of government property. A second defendant in the case, Murali Y. Venkata, 56, of Aldie, Virginia, has pleaded not guilty to charges and his case remains pending. Edwards will be sentenced at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS-OIG, and Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb of USPS-OPIG made the announcement.
Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and Venkata is presumed innocent until proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — United States Attorney Corey F. Ellis announced today that five individuals were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty for their role in a drug conspiracy out of the Chesterfield County and Darlington County areas.
- Antwaun Tyree Stevenson, 30, of Hartsville, was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of crack cocaine.
- Jevetta Porschia Young was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Leon Davis, Jr., 50, of Hartsville, was sentenced to nearly 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of cocaine base.
- Clint Justin Self, 23, of Hartsville, was sentenced to over 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- McKenzie Michael Stevens, 23, of Hartsville, was sentenced to over 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that as to Stevenson, twelve individuals gave statements that they bought or observed Stevenson in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine during January 2010 to November 2020.
As to Young, 15 individuals gave statements that they bought from or observed Young in possession of methamphetamine during January 2010 to November 2020.
As to Davis, 18 individuals gave statements that they bought methamphetamine from Davis during January 2010 to November 2020, and at least one individual stated they bought cocaine and crack cocaine from Davis during that same time period. In addition, the Darlington County Drug Enforcement Unit used a confidential informant to make two controlled buys of methamphetamine from Davis in August of 2020.
Additional evidence presented to the court showed that on July 10, 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers with the Hartsville Police Department used a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine from Self. Following the buy, officers conducted a traffic stop on the car Self was driving. During the stop, the female passenger, who was the registered owner of the car, gave consent to search the car. During the search, officers located a firearm. Self later admitted that he possessed the firearm during the drug buy that occurred earlier that day. Self is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his prior conviction for distribution of methamphetamine.
As to Stevens, on September 18, 2019, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a storage unit company in Hartsville regarding finding a backpack with suspected narcotics in a storage unit. Stevens had contacted the company to pick up the bag, and was advised to pick up the bag from the main office. When Stevens arrived, he was arrested and admitted the bag and methamphetamine inside was his.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced all five individuals. Stevenson was sentenced to 142 months in federal prison, Young was sentenced to 142 months in federal prison, Davis was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison, Self was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, and Stevens was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. United States District Judge Lydon sentenced all five individuals to a five-year term of court-ordered supervision following their release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, the Darlington County Drug Enforcement Unit, the Hartsville Police Department, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florence Police Department.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
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Erie Man to Sentenced 8 Years in Prison for Receiving Child Sex Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 8 years in prison and ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Cody A. Neely, 34.
According to information presented to the court, from May 2019 to October 2019, Neely received computer images and movies depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic examination of Neely’s digital devices revealed thousands of items of child sexual abuse material.
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 (CEOS), 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Neely.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – An East St. Louis, Illinois, man was sentenced to ten years in federal prison today for dealing crack cocaine and illegally possessing firearms. Charles Curren, 51, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. Curren faces an additional 60 months imprisonment for possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Curren will also serve a five-year term of supervised release following his release from federal prison as part of his sentence.
The crimes occurred between November 2019 and February 2020. The Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois (MEGSI) arrested Curren and conducted a search warrant at his East St. Louis residence on February 25, 2021. Police found over 300 packages of crack cocaine and five (5) firearms during the search of his home. Curren had been dealing crack cocaine from his home for at least one and a half years prior to his arrest. A federal grand jury indicted Curren in November of 2020, and Curren pled guilty on September 22, 2021.
The investigation was conducted by MEGSI, the Illinois State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Trippi.Drug Dealer Sentenced to Eighty-Seven (87) Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On January 11, 2022, United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced COREY DUNN, age 49, to eighty-seven (87) months in the Bureau of Prisons for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base, a schedule II drug-controlled substance, during the commission of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
DUNN was charged on August 29, 2019 and pled guilty on June 15, 2021. He pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base, a schedule II drug-controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B). DUNN’s sentence will be followed by four (4) years of supervised release. He was also sentenced to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.
U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Gretna Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany Reed, André Jones, and Melissa Bücher.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiracy and distribution charges involving large quantities of fentanyl.
Ysrael Nunez, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and aiding and abetting. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2022. Nunez was charged along with co-defendant Leisy Baez-Zapata in July 2019 and were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019.
In October 2018, agents began investigating a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl in the Lawrence area. Between October 2018 and July 2019, a cooperating witness made controlled purchases of fentanyl from the DTO and on July 24, 2019, Nunez sold the cooperating witness approximately 23 grams of fentanyl. During that meeting, they discussed the DTO supplying the cooperating witness with a kilogram of fentanyl. The following day, the cooperating witness made arrangements with Nunez to purchase a kilogram of fentanyl which Leisy Baez-Zapata subsequently delivered to the cooperating witness and an undercover agent.
On Sept. 29, 2021, Baez-Zapata was sentenced by Judge Sorokin to time served (approximately 26 months in prison) and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
DOJ and Federal Way, Washington doctor settle False Claims Act allegations over drug testingRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice and a Federal Way, Washington general-practice doctor have settled allegations that the doctor billed government health programs for urine drug tests that were never performed or performed too late to be useful, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Dr. Vuthy Leng is the sole owner and operator of Family Medicine Clinic of Federal Way LLC. Dr. Leng will pay state and federal health programs $228,000 to resolve allegations that Dr. Leng billed government health programs for useless urine drug tests.
According to the settlement agreement, the Federal Way clinic had a certified lab, capable of performing urine drug tests so that patients could be screened for appropriate prescribing of medications including substance use disorder treatment. Between January 1, 2019 and July 30, 2019, Dr. Leng submitted bills to Medicare and Medicaid for urine drug tests. In fact, for long periods during this timeframe, the medical equipment for testing urine was broken, the samples were simply frozen for testing at a later date. Some were never tested at all.
While not admitting the allegations in the settlement, Leng will pay $76,000 in restitution to the government medical programs. Under the False Claims Act, the government can seek treble damages resulting in an additional $152,000 to be paid by Dr. Leng over the next 12 months. The amount will be split between the state and federal programs based on the share each paid of the false bills.
Under the terms of the settlement each party will pay their own legal fees.
The matter was investigated by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Washington State Health Care Authority and Washington Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Nickolas Bohl negotiated the settlement for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Convicted Knoxville Gang Leader Sentenced to Life Plus Ten Years for Drugs, Firearm, and Money Laundering CrimesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On January 12, 2022, Alim J. Turner, 23, of Knoxville, was sentenced to life plus ten years in prison, by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
The sentencing follows Turner’s federal trial last July in which a jury convicted him and six other gang members of conspiring to distribute various controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, oxycodone, alprazolam, and buprenorphine. Witnesses testified at trial that Turner was the Knoxville leader of a violent street gang known as the Unknown Ghost Vice Lords. The jury also convicted Turner and other defendants of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Turner and other defendants were convicted of counts charging the possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, the illegal distribution of drugs, and unlawful possession of firearms in East Tennessee. According to court documents, seven other charged members of the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty.
In determining the sentence, Judge Varlan took into account several aggravating factors, including Turner’s role as a leader and organizer of the crimes, his use of minors to commit his crimes, as well as credible threats of violence Turner made against other people in connection with his crimes. The remaining seven defendants who were convicted in July will be sentenced in the coming months.
"Gang violence, coupled with armed trafficking of lethal drugs, has resulted in devastation and death within our community. This sentence sends a powerful message that armed gang leaders who recruit and use minors to flood the community with drugs and who employ credible threats of violence in their crimes will face justice," said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. "This case is an example of the Department of Justice’s comprehensive strategy to target and prosecute the most serious offenders who pose the greatest threats to safety and peace within the community."
"Illegal drug trafficking continues to have a devastating and horrific impact on communities throughout our nation. This life sentence sends a very strong message to those who engage in these unlawful activities. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated
to identifying, investigating, and apprehending those who terrorize our communities with their reckless and illegal behavior," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico.
"Without question, the conviction and sentencing of this defendant will have a profound effect on public safety and quality of life, most significantly in the inner-city where Turner committed numerous acts of violence as an influential gang member. I am extremely proud of the work that KPD Investigators Brandon Stryker and Brandon Glover did over an extensive period of time to dismantle a violent inner-city gang, of which Turner was a member. In their capacity as KPD investigators assigned as task force officers to the FBI, they worked collaboratively with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and their colleagues in KPD’s Organized Crime Unit to end this defendant’s contributions to creating fear in the lives of citizens who seek only to raise their families in a safe community," said Captain Tony Willis, KPD Organized Crimes Unit. "We are likewise grateful for the support and collaboration of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting this violent inner-city gang."
This conviction and sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the Knoxville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Cleveland Police Department, Chattanooga Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also assisted in this investigation by conducting drug and firearms analysis on seized evidence in the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Lewen, Jr. and Brent N. Jones represented the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement against criminal networks.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents, Brian Vineyard, 49, sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $450 on September 9, 2020. In imposing the sentence, the Court also found that Vineyard sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on September 14, 2020 and September 16, 2020. Officers then executed a search warrant on Vineyard’s home on September 21, 2020, and found fentanyl in a safe in the home meant for distribution. In all, the Court found Vineyard responsible for 66.73 grams of fentanyl.
“West Virginia is in an overdose crisis. Overdose deaths are increasing in our state and most of them involve fentanyl,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “We are working vigorously alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable for the harm they inflict upon West Virginia families. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Coleman, the FBI, MDENT and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office for their excellent work in this case and for taking another fentanyl dealer off of our streets.”
This was Vineyard’s third federal felony drug trafficking conviction. As such, he was sentenced as a career offender.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman 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. 2:21-cr-00106.
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Carjacker Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – Today a Houston man was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison for carjacking and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
According to court documents, on January 30, 2020, Darrell Morgan Watts Jr., 24, responded to an ad for a Ford Mustang for sale on Craigslist, expressing his interest in buying the car. The owner of the Mustang met Watts at a convenience store in southwest Austin so Watts could view it. While the owner was driving the car during a test drive, Watts pulled out a loaded pistol, pointed it at the owner and threatened to kill him. Watts was a convicted felon who possessed the gun illegally. Watts forced the owner to hand over his cell phone and wallet and instructed him to pull over in an unlit residential area. Watts told the owner of the Mustang that he was going to take the car.
Watts stepped out of the vehicle, still armed with the pistol. The owner of the Mustang held a state-issued license to carry a handgun and retrieved his own pistol from the center console and then stepped out. Although Watts fired multiple shots at him, Watts only grazed him with one round. The owner of the Mustang fired multiple shots at Watts, striking him six times. The owner then fled the area on foot and asked nearby residents to call police. Watts managed to return to the vehicle and drove a short distance before abandoning it. He was apprehended on February 5, 2020 and has remained in custody since his arrest.
On October 22, 2021, Watts pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
“My office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime in our communities are held accountable for their actions,” said United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Individuals who would consider victimizing members of the public in the Western District of Texas should take note of today’s sentence and recognize that we will ensure they meet justice.”
“Convicted felons who use firearms to commit violent crimes remains at the core of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) mission,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “These felons pose one of the greatest threats to public safety, and we are relentless in our pursuit to hold them accountable.”
The ATF and the Austin Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie 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.
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Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale man was sentenced yesterday to 168 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
In February 2020, detectives with the Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force (DTF) received information that Remberto Alexander Rivera (age 31), was distributing methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas and that he was on parole with a warrantless search waiver on file. Rivera was released from the Arkansas Department of Correction in October 2019.
On March 3, 2020, detectives were conducting surveillance at a hotel located in Springdale, Arkansas. While on surveillance, detectives observed Rivera arrive in a vehicle, exit it, and then retrieve a backpack from it.
Detectives approached Rivera and requested his identification, which he claimed he did not possess and further refused to identify himself. Rivera was placed under arrest and searched. During the search, detectives located multiple bags of methamphetamine, a digital scale and $3,440.00. Rivera was released on bond on March 11, 2020.
In May of 2020, officers with the Fayetteville Police Department, responding to complaints from citizens that drug activity was occurring in a certain neighborhood in Fayetteville, made contact with Rivera. During the encounter with police, Rivera fought with police and attempted to take one of the officer’s taser and another officer’s firearm. After Rivera was taken into custody his vehicle was searched. The search resulted in officers locating two firearms (one loaded) and drug paraphernalia commonly used in drug trafficking.
Due to the nature of Rivera’s prior felony convictions, he was sentenced as a Career Offender.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as 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.
Caldwell Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – A Caldwell man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Dagoberto Leroy Turnbull, 32, of Caldwell, sold another person methamphetamine on two different occasions. On December 22, 2020, Turnbull sold one quarter pound of methamphetamine and on January 12, 2021, he sold an additional quarter pound of methamphetamine. Turnbull was arrested on February 22, 2021 and found with a half-ounce of methamphetamine and over $3,300.
Turnbull has a long and violent criminal history with convictions ranging from grand theft to battery.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Turnbull to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, and Meridian Police Department, which led to charges against Turnbull.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. It provides assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. Idaho is part of the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA. The Idaho HIDTA is a collaboration of local, multi-jurisdictional law enforcement drug task forces, and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Kootenai, and Malheur Counties.
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Burlington Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On January 12, 2022, a Burlington man was sentenced to prison for his involvement in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2001. Alphonso Edmond, Jr., age 43, was sentenced to 180 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system. United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa Richard D. Westphal made the announcement.
Edmond was among eight individuals from Burlington who were charged federally in November 2019, after the execution of numerous federal search warrants in Burlington, and elsewhere. Edmond was found to have been involved in a conspiracy to distribute ice methamphetamine and cocaine base (a.k.a. crack cocaine). Edmond was also found to have carried a firearm related to his drug trafficking activities.
Others charged as a part of this case include Kendrick Ramon Page, who was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 340 months of imprisonment; Breon Raquon Armstrong, who was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment; Tristan Kareem Davis, who was found guilty by jury and is awaiting sentencing; Lavelle Harris, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 262 months of imprisonment; Lamar Harris, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment; Frederrick Dewayne Reed, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 160 months imprisonment; and Michael Rees, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment. Other individuals associated with this drug trafficking organization have also been federally charged in the Southern District of Iowa, the Central District of Illinois, and the Northern District of Texas.
These charges stem from an investigation conducted by numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including: the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce; Burlington Police Department; Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; West Central llinois Taskforce; Quincy, Illinois Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; Mt. Pleasant Police Department; West Burlington Police Department; Keokuk Police Department; Ft. Madison Police Department; Lee County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa City Police Department; Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; North Liberty Police Department; Coralville Police Department; Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office; Louisa County Sheriff’s Office; Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Bettendorf Police Department; Illinois State Police; Monmouth, Illinois, Police Department; Macomb, Illinois Police Department; Galesburg, Illinois Police Department; Adams County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office; and Fulton County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Buffalo Woman Who Conspired with Local Doctor to Illegally Distribute Controlled Substances SentencedRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Trini E. Ross announced today that Takeya Rainey, 45, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine, was sentenced to time served and five years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,304.89 to Medicare Part D; Medicaid; Fidelis Care, and Independent Health.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between September 2017 and February 2018, Rainey conspired with co-defendant Dr. James T. Keefe, a New York State licensed physician and a DEA Registrant, and others, to sell oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine. During this time, Rainey began to sell Adderall, prescribed by her physician, to Keefe, until her physician stopped prescribing her the drug. In the summer of 2017, Keefe began to write prescriptions in Rainey’s name, which Rainey filled and then split with Keefe. Keefe told Rainey, “Give me half, and you keep half.” Rainey then gave Keefe the names of her relatives and associates so that Keefe could use the information to write more prescriptions for controlled substances for the two to share. Rainey was issued 19 prescriptions in her own name 44 prescriptions in the names of relatives and associates by Keefe. Some of these relatives and associates had knowledge of the scheme, and willingly participated.
Keefe was convicted and sentenced to serve 60 months in prison.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Keith Kruskall, New York Field Division.
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Buffalo Man Previously Convicted on Federal Drug Charge Arrested for Possessing GunsRead 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 Nikita Burt, 38, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of firearms. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Buffalo Police Department executed a search warrant at a Mortimer Street residence, an address known to be utilized by Burt. During the search, three handguns with defaced serial numbers were recovered. In 2013, Burt was convicted on a federal charge of distributing crack cocaine and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and is being held pending a detention hearing on January 19, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Schroeder.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Foley, New York Field Division, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
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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Bronx Man Charged with Possession of over 20 Kilos of FentanylRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Tim Foley, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that SUCRE ALMANZAR-ALBA was charged in a criminal complaint today with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. ALMANZAR-ALBA was arrested yesterday and presented today before the Hon. Barbara Moses, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant trafficked huge quantities of fentanyl, the major driver of the opioid epidemic plaguing this country. Thanks to our law enforcement partners, nearly 20 kilograms of this deadly drug – which amounts to millions of lethal doses – have been taken off the street.”
DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Tim Foley said: “This seizure and arrest have already saved lives in New York. Allegedly, hidden in Almanzar-Alba’s apartment was the equivalent of nearly 10 million doses of the most dangerous illegal drug to ever hit the streets – FENTANYL. I applaud the New York Strike Force, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York, and our law enforcement partners for their collaborative and swift efforts in this investigation.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said: “Illicit fentanyl distribution destroys lives and devastates communities. Today’s federal complaint reflects the unrelenting focus by the NYPD and its law enforcement partners, working together, to rid our city of these and other deadly drugs and to build strong cases against those who would deal in them. I want to thank all the investigators and prosecutors who worked on this important investigation.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
On or about January 13, 2022, ALMANZAR-ALBA met with a confidential source to give that confidential source approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Law enforcement later searched ALMANZAR-ALBA’s house and recovered approximately 19 additional kilograms of fentanyl.
ALMANZAR-ALBA, 43, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force. The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Mead is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bradenton Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Anthony Wayne Smith (58, Bradenton) has pleaded guilty to manufacturing counterfeit currency. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 6, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Smith manufactured U.S. Federal Reserve notes at his home in Bradenton. During the execution of a search warrant on Smith’s residence, law enforcement officers recovered, among other things, a large quantity of counterfeit notes hidden throughout the residence, texturized printing paper, and printers. Additionally, Smith’s laptop computer contained digital images of U.S. Federal Reserve notes that had been used in the production and manufacture of counterfeit currency.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley woman pleaded guilty today to a federal drug and gun crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Candice Nicole Long, also known as “Candace Long,” at her Beckley residence on February 25, 2020. Long possessed a .380 handgun in her waistband at the time she sold approximately 1.5 grams of methamphetamine. On February 28, 2020, officers executed a search warrant on her residence and recovered the firearm.
Long pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and to carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Long faces up to 20 years on the drug charge and a consecutive, mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the firearm charge when she is sentenced on April 29, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner 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-00228.
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Barbour County woman admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Kayla Lynn Jenkins, of Philippi, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Jenkins, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Jenkins admitted to selling methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” in August 2020 in Barbour County.
Jenkins faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Barbour County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas Joseph Buono, of Philippi, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Buono, 34, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Buono admitted to selling methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” in August 2020 in Barbour County.
Buono faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Banker sentenced for obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent loansRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former commercial loan officer at a Chatham County bank was sentenced to prison after admitting he obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent commercial loans using another person’s identity without their consent.
Jason McMillan, 46, of Savannah, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $112,430 in restitution after pleading guilty to Bank Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered McMillan to serve three years of supervised release and perform 40 hours of community service after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Jason McMillan used his insider access at the bank that employed him to get money that fueled his chosen lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “In addition to being held accountable, as part of his plea agreement McMillan agrees to never again work in the industry whose trust and customers he betrayed.”
McMillan admitted that from July 2009 through April 2019, he knowingly used the identity of another person without their consent in obtaining commercial loans in the amounts of $187,000, $160,000, $157,000 and $250,000 from a Chatham County bank where he worked as its commercial loan officer. McMillan also admitted he obtained these loans under the false pretense that loans would be used for obtaining industrial farm equipment. McMillan admitted he knowingly used approximately $200,271 of these funds for his own personal use. The bank discovered the fraud during an internal investigation.
“McMillan’s sentencing reinforces the importance of protecting people’s personal identifiers,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service. “We will continue to pursue these criminals and hold them accountable.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Lee and Asset Forfeiture Unit Section Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison for Trafficking NarcoticsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Chavez, 36, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, when Chavez was arrested in Bakersfield on Sept. 12, 2020, he was found to possess approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 23.5 pounds of marijuana, approximately 2 pounds of cocaine, and approximately 66 grams of heroin. On three separate occasions between February and April 2020, Chavez sold to a purchaser a total of five firearms — including four rifles with high-capacity magazines — and approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine. On June 4, 2020, Chavez offered to sell to the same purchaser 1 pound of methamphetamine for $3,400, and 1 ounce of heroin for $750. In his plea agreement, Chavez agreed to forfeit to the United States more than $25,000.
At the time of his arrest, Chavez was serving a term of federal supervised release after serving more than seven in years in prison for his 2016 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County Probation Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Prison for Burglarizing 8 Post OfficesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Steven Martin, 39, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison for burglarizing U.S. Post Offices, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in December 2018, Martin burglarized eight different post offices in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties. He stole cash registers, packages containing clothes, and other mail, and caused damage to the post offices. The total loss was $8,800.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Alleged robber arrested after high-speed chase that led to fatal crashRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 27-year-old Houston resident is now in custody following charges he robbed a CVS and an Exxon Mobil, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The criminal complaint, filed today, charges DaVonte Williams with interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is currently in federal custody and set for initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.
According to the charges, Williams robbed a CVS on Tidwell shortly after doing same at an Exxon Mobil on Eastex Freeway late Jan. 12. Williams allegedly entered the CVS wearing a red ski mask, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded cash. He then exited the store and entered a Lincoln Town car, according to the charges.
The complaint alleges law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused and began a high-speed chase. Eventually, another vehicle was struck which resulted in injuries and deaths, according to the charges. However, the Lincoln Town Car allegedly continued to flee and escaped.
The investigation led to Williams and the suspect Lincoln Town Car, according to the charges.
Authorities later located him and took him into custody.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery. Upon any conviction relating to the gun charges, he must also serve a minimum of seven years that must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety - all members of the Crime Gun Strike Force - conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Stotts is prosecuting the case.
This is an example of coordination between law enforcement who are part of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which combines personnel and resources from numerous federal, state and local agencies. The goal is to proactively fight and reduce violent crime across the Greater Houston area by targeting the region’s most violent offenders, augmenting investigative and prosecutorial efforts and enhancing training, public awareness and education. It stems from the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. 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.
In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Alexandria Couple Convicted of Harboring Undocumented WorkersRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Alexandria, Ky., couple was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Covington of harboring undocumented workers.
After four hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Yun Zheng, a.k.a. Wendy, 50, and Yan Qui Wu, a.k.a. Jason, 48, of four counts of concealing, harboring, or shielding a person, whom the defendants knew to be present in the United States illegally, for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
According to testimony at trial, from 2014 to 2017, Zheng and Wu owned and operated the Tokyo Dragon Buffet restaurant, located in Alexandria, as husband and wife. In that capacity, the defendants employed at least four undocumented workers, who were present in the United States illegally. The evidence established that the defendants knew, or recklessly disregarded facts indicating, that these workers were illegally present in the United States. The evidence also established that they housed these workers in their own home and provided virtually all the workers’ transportation, to avoid detection.
One of those workers was badly burned by hot oil, while working at the Tokyo Dragon, but the owners initially refused to take him to the hospital because, in one of the defendant’s own words, he was present illegally and would be deported if the owners transported him to the hospital. When the worker eventually received treatment, several days later, the nurses who treated him were so disturbed, by what the worker described and the defendants’ conduct, that one of them called a law enforcement hotline. This began the investigation and resulted in the indictment.
Zheng and Wu were indicted in September 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations; and Lucas T. Cooper, Chief of the Alexandria Police Department; jointly announced the guilty verdicts.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Alexandria Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Winslow and Zach Dembo.
Zheng and Wu are scheduled for sentencing on May 4, 2022. For each of the four counts, they face up to ten years in prison, up to $250,000 fine, and restitution. However, any sentence following the conviction will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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21-Year-Old Sioux City Man Sent to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
A three-time convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a gun was sentenced January 12, 2022, to 6 years in federal prison.
Austin Rockwood, age 21, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 8, 2021, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Rockwood was previously convicted of three separate felony convictions.
Evidence in this case revealed Rockwood’s unlawful possession on or about February 11, 2021 was discovered when he was spotted following an unmarked law enforcement unit. Marked law enforcement units attempted a traffic stop, and Rockwood fled in the car with the firearm. Rockwood eluded officers, at first, by recklessly disregarding the rules of the road and the safety of the motoring public. Later he abandoned the vehicle, fled on foot with the loaded firearm in hand, and hid the weapon in the freshly fallen snow.
Rockwood’s violent criminal history includes a 2017 conviction for willful injury causing serious injury, a 2019 conviction for domestic abuse assault, and a 2019 conviction for burglary. During the burglary, Rockwood and another forced their way into an occupied structure, and while defendant physically attacked the victim, the other man – defendant’s confederate -- threatened the victim with a gun.
Rockwood was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rockwood was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment. Rockwood 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.
Rockwood 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 Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and 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 21-CR-4049.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
20-Year-Old Sergeant Bluff Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Sergeant Bluff man who possessed guns while being an unlawful user of controlled substances was sentenced January 13, 2022 to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Rafael Wellesley Gomez, age 20, also known as “Danger” from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa received the prison term after a September 23, 2021, guilty plea to possession of firearms by a drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed Gomez’s illegally possessed six guns while being an unlawful user of marijuana. The guns were found during a search warrant of Gomez’s residence in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa during a murder investigation. When law enforcement entered the residence, Gomez failed to comply with officers’ orders to put his hands in the air and law enforcement observed him placing his hands in the pockets of his jeans and near his waistband. Gomez continued to disregard law enforcement’s verbal orders and concealed a Walther .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol under the cushion of a nearby couch. Law enforcement later determined that the Walther .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol was loaded with a magazine that contained five rounds of ammunition and had been reported stolen from the area of Sioux City, Iowa, in 2020. Another of the weapons, a rifle, was used in a 2021 New Year’s Eve homicide in Sioux City, Iowa.
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.
Gomez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gomez was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Gomez 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 Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, and the Sergeant Bluff, Iowa Police Department. 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 21-4036.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
13 January 2022
Woodstock Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine and CrackRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ANDRE SMITH, also known as “Dre,” 42, of Woodstock, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine and crack.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI, Norwich Police Department and other law enforcement agencies began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and six controlled purchases of crack from Harold Butler, revealed that Butler and others were distributing narcotics to drug users and other street-level dealers, including Smith, in southeastern Connecticut. Butler also used his Norwich business, Hat Boyz, to store and distribute narcotics.
Smith was arrested on February 20, 2019. On March 5, 2019, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Smith, Butler and 11 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses. On October 12, 2021, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”).
Smith, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on March 23.
Butler pleaded guilty and, on October 9, 2019, was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and Norwich, Town of Groton and Waterford Police Departments, with the assistance of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, Baltimore Police Department and Delaware State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Winner Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Winner, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Arvin Brave Bird, age 52, was indicted on January 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 13, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Brave Bird was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in April 2017. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between December 2, 2021, and December 16, 2021, Brave Bird, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Brave Bird is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Brave Bird was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Waltham Man Arrested on Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Waltham man was arrested and charged on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 in federal court on charges of receipt of child pornography.
Robert Daigle, 45, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, Daigle was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 14, 2022.
According to the charging document, a search of Daigle’s residence on Jan. 11, 202 resulted in the recovery of electronic devices belonging to the defendant. An on-site forensic examination revealed images and videos depicting child pornography on at least one device.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office; and Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
United States Sues Renovation Firms and Their Principals for Violating Lead-Based Paint Safety RegulationsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa Garcia, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against CISNE NY Construction, Inc., CISNE JE Construction, Inc., CISNE Contracting, Inc., and their principals Jose Pancha and Edison Ruilova (together, the “CISNE Defendants”), alleging that the CISNE Defendants repeatedly violated the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) and EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (“RRP Rule”). TSCA and the RRP Rule impose safety requirements to minimize the risk that young children, tenants, and renovation workers are exposed to toxic lead paint dust during renovations of residential buildings.
Exposure to lead paint dust is the most common cause of lead poisoning. Lead poisoning—particularly in children—can lead to severe, irreversible health problems. Lead exposure can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the CISNE Defendants repeatedly violated rules designed to protect children and others from lead poisoning during renovations of residential buildings. Their actions threatened the most vulnerable with severe lifelong injury. This Office will vigorously enforce the laws designed to protect the health of children against violators who disregard the public health and put children at risk.”
EPA Regional Administrator Garcia stated: “EPA recognizes that all people deserve protection from the hazards of lead-based paint, especially our most vulnerable communities. This case involves allegations of multiple violations in hundreds of NYC apartments. Reducing childhood lead exposure and addressing associated health impacts are one of EPA’s top priorities and we are committed to the robust enforcement of standards that are intended to protect individuals and families.”
The Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court alleges that the CISNE Defendants repeatedly failed to use legally required safety precautions when renovating apartments that are presumed by law to contain lead paint because they were built prior to 1978. EPA and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspectors observed that the CISNE Defendants failed to contain debris and dust during their work, creating exposure hazards. Construction dust was found not just in the units being worked on, but also in the public hallways accessible to other building residents. Testing demonstrated that dust exceeded both local and federal safety standards. The CISNE Defendants also failed to post warning signs at these jobs or take other steps required by law to protect tenants and workers. In all of this, the CISNE Defendants risked exposing tenants and workers to lead paint dust and violated TSCA and the RRP Rule.
The Complaint also alleges that for years, in violation of TSCA and the RRP Rule, the CISNE Defendants performed renovations in New York City apartment buildings without the training and certifications required to perform such work, and that they failed to provide EPA with legally mandated records that would allow EPA to audit their work.
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The Complaint filed by the United States seeks an injunction barring the CISNE Defendants from performing further work governed by the TSCA and the RRP Rule without complying with mandated safety requirements. The Complaint also seeks an order requiring the CISNE Defendants to mitigate the harms caused by their prior illegal renovation work.
This case is being handled by the Environmental Protection Unit of the Office’s Civil Division. Assistant United States Attorney Zack Bannon is in charge of the case.
2022.01.13_cisne_complaint_filed.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $9.3 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that the District of South Dakota collected $9,315,964.19 in criminal and civil actions in FY 2021. Of this amount, $4,224,092.52 was collected in criminal actions and $5,091,871.67 was collected in civil actions.
The District of South Dakota periodically works with the Civil Division in Washington D.C. In FY 2021, South Dakota shared in the collection of $10,499,321.88 in Health Care Fraud matters, resulting in a shared total amount of $15,591,193.55.
Of the total collections in criminal actions, $3,933,092.26 was recovered for the victims of crime. The remaining amount, $291,000.26, was sent to the Crime Victims Fund. This fund distributes money collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the District of South Dakota, working with partner law enforcement agencies and divisions, collected $44,629 in asset forfeiture in FY 2021. These funds are used, in part, to restore funds to crime victims.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
U.S. Attorney Highlights 2021 Human Trafficking Cases to Bring Awareness During Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley, in recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, highlights some of the significant Human Trafficking cases his office prosecuted in 2021. Links to press releases with more details on these cases are also provided.
USA v. Jonathan Jenkins and Antoine Wallace (No. 5:18-CR-451-D)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/garner-man-sentenced-156-months-human-trafficking
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/smithfield-man-sentenced-three-life-sentences-human-trafficking
The investigating agencies in this case were Homeland Security Investigations, Raleigh Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Antoine Lamar Wallace of Garner was sentenced to 156 months in prison, on September 8, 2021, for sex trafficking a minor and aiding and abetting and his co-defendant, Jonathan Lynn Jenkins, of Smithfield, received three consecutive life sentences, on August 4, 2021, after being found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and of a minor; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; using the internet to promote a prostitution business enterprise (ITAR); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Jenkins was also ordered to pay over $1,000,000 in restitution to multiple victims.
USA v. Jesse Marks (No. 7:19-CR-127-D)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/jacksonville-man-sentenced-30-years-human-trafficking
The investigating agencies in this case were the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Police Department. Jesse Gabriel Marks of Jacksonville was sentenced to 360 months in prison, on May 7, 2021, for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and ordered to pay $249,700 in restitution to multiple victims. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Marks, prostituted hundreds of women, including at least one minor, over nearly two decades. He used drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine, to keep them dependent on and prostituting for him. After meeting Marks, many victims either developed addictions or deepened their addictions, ruining their health and, in many cases, their lives. Marks physically and emotionally abused many of the victims. He also gave women drug cocktails without their full knowledge and, once they were unconscious or nearly unconscious, sexually assaulted them. He recorded many of those sexual assaults on video.
USA v. Kevin Rudolph and Marcus Gambrell (No. 5:19-CR-336-FL)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/raleigh-man-sentenced-17-years-child-pornography-charge-after-sex-trafficking-14-year
The investigating agencies in this case were the Raleigh Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Marcus Antwan Gambrell, 30, of Raleigh, was sentenced to 210 months in prison, on December 21, 2021, for manufacturing child pornography. Gambrell and co-defendant Kevin Rudolph were charged in a four-count superseding indictment on April 7, 2020. The indictment charged both men with sex trafficking of a minor and using the internet to promote prostitution, Gambrell with manufacturing child pornography, and Rudolph with possession of a firearm by a felon. Gambrell pled guilty to the manufacturing charge on January 19, 2021. Rudolph pled not guilty, and he is awaiting trial on May 16, 2022. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
USA v. Marvarlus Snead and Ashanti McLean (No. 7:19-CR-151-D)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/four-oaks-man-sentenced-35-years-sex-trafficking-minor
The investigating agencies in this case were the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Marvarlus Cortel Snead, of Four Oaks, was sentenced to 420 months in prison and a life term of supervised release, on June 21, 2021, for sex trafficking of a minor and using the internet to promote a prostitution business enterprise (ITAR). On December 17, 2020, Snead was convicted of the charges after a four-day jury trial. Snead was also ordered to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to the minor victim. McLean pleaded guilty to using the internet to promote a prostitution business enterprise (ITAR) and received a concurrent sentence (serving 8 years on her state charges.)
The above cases are a sampling of the investigations this office prosecuted in 2021 and an example of the serious problem Human Trafficking possess in North Carolina.
For anyone who needs the assistance of the National Human Trafficking Hotline they can be reached at 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” 233733 or by live chat at humantraffickinghotline.org.
A copy of this press release is located on our website.
U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan Visits Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian TribesRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereign Indian Nations present in the southwestern part of Colorado this week. United States Attorney Cole Finegan met with leaders and law enforcement of both the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute during a three-day visit to the region.
“Visiting our tribal partners in-person was particularly important to me,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “Our relationships with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribes are part of an important trust between our governments. I fully intend to honor our responsibilities and apply the rule of law to all equally. I send my thanks to Southern Ute Chairman Melvin Baker and Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Heart, and their colleagues and staff, for the opportunity to discuss the issues important to your respective tribes.”
U.S. Attorney Finegan and senior staff met with the Tribal Council members for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio, as well as Tribal Council members for the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe in Towaoc. The three-day visit started on January 11, 2022, and concluded January 13, 2022. Topics of conversation included prosecuting domestic violence cases, combating narcotics on the reservations, and efforts to reduce recidivism.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado prosecutes certain offenses that occur on the reservations, primarily through its office in Durango, Colorado. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Graves, Josh Player, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Franceware are primarily responsible for litigating these matters.
Each fall, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado participates in the Four Corners Conference, which focuses on addressing issues facing the Indian Nations that have lands within the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The conference brings together hundreds of individuals interested and committed to serving the cause of justice in the region.
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Three Long Island Women Indicted for Assaulting a Delta Airlines Security Officer at JFK AirportRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jordan Nixon, Janessa Torres and Johara Zavala with assaulting an airline security officer in a jetway at John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK Airport”) on September 22, 2021. The defendants were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Melinda Katz, Queens County District Attorney, announced the arrests and indictment.
“As alleged, the defendants viciously assaulted an airline security officer by beating him to the floor with his radio and then kicking and punching him in the face and body while he was down,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The extreme and aggressive behavior in connection with our air travel is out of control. This Office has zero tolerance for violent conduct that threatens the safety of airline passengers and employees and will prosecute defendants who allegedly engage in such conduct to the fullest extent of the law.” Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
“The FBI is the lead federal agency in charge of arresting those who assault, intimidate, or threaten flight crew, or endanger the safety of other passengers,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “Anyone who thinks they can get away with this type of unruly behavior should be reminded that their actions are criminal and can result in time behind bars as a result of federal criminal charges. We are aggressively addressing this emerging threat and take all cases seriously.”
“The defendants allegedly attacked two airline employees, who were simply doing their jobs,” stated Queens District Attorney Katz. “The friendly skies must not turn into chaos and turmoil because some passengers refuse to abide by the rules. Our airport personnel must be safe in order to keep the flying public safe.”
As alleged in court filings, the defendants refused to leave a jetway at JFK Airport after they were informed that they would be denied boarding for a Delta Airlines scheduled flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The defendants were belligerent, with one appearing to be visibly disoriented and possibly intoxicated, and another who was refusing to properly wear her mask. The flight’s Gate Agent (“Employee 1”) notified the flight crew of the defendants’ belligerent conduct, and the captain of the flight and a member of the flight crew determined that the defendants should not be allowed to board the flight. The defendants refused the request of an airline security officer (“Employee 2”) to leave the jetway and approached him while yelling and cursing. One defendant struck Employee 2 repeatedly with his own radio, and he fell to the floor. When Employee 1 tried to assist Employee 2, one defendant punched Employee 1 in the face. All three defendants then punched and kicked Employee 2 in the face and body while Employee 2 was on the floor. Employees 1 and 2 were later treated at a hospital for their injuries.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Nina Gupta is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
JORDAN NIXON
Age: 21
Bay Shore, New YorkJANESSA TORRES
Age: 21
Central Islip, New YorkJOHARA ZAVALA
Age: 44
Central Islip, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-633 (RJD)