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Thursday 18 November 2021
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program. The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
In the Western District of Missouri, three cities were awarded funding totaling $481,262 to hire five additional police officers and cover associated law enforcement expenses.
“This federal funding will enable four cities in our district to put more cops on the beat and in the community, working to proactively address the root causes of crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “Community policing relies on the relationship between police officers and citizens to reduce crime and violence. As a result of the grants announced today, police departments in these four cities will more efficiently focus on building trust and strengthening relationships in the communities they serve.”
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
The following cities in the Western District of Missouri received awards:
Crocker – $97,063
Lake Lafayette – $70,532
Webb City – $313,667
The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Middle District of North Carolina, three municipalities were awarded funding totaling $1,615,698.00.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Our law enforcement partners in the Middle District have worked increasingly hard to tackle the rise in gun violence and violent crime in recent years. We are excited that they will be receiving additional federal resources through this grant to continue keeping their communities safe and to hire additional personnel who will focus on community policing,” said Acting US Attorney Sandra Hairston.
The following cities or towns in the Middle District of North Carolina received awards:
- Biscoe, Town of $115,698
- Burlington, City of $750,000
- Graham, City of (Inc.) $750,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of New Hampshire, three towns were awarded funding totaling $500,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“To keep New Hampshire safe, it is important to have qualified and committed police officers working in our local communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. “These grant funds will provide valuable funds so three towns can hire additional police officers. These additional officers will enhance community policing efforts and help us in our ongoing work to reduce crime and protect public safety in the Granite State.”
The following towns in New Hampshire received awards:
- Town of Epping - $125,000
- Town of Groveton - $125,000
- Town of Salem - $250,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of New Jersey, five municipalities and one county police department were awarded funding totaling $11,784,672.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“The funding announced today will help make our neighborhoods safer and build trust between local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. “Community-oriented policing has led to great strides in many of our New Jersey communities, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen those programs moving forward.”
The following police agencies in the District of New Jersey received awards:
Municipality Number of Officers Amount
Bayonne, City of
12
$1,500,000
Camden County Police Department
20
$2,500,000
New Brunswick, City of
6
$2,262,576
Paterson, City of
20
$3,772,096
Plainfield, City of
10
$1,250,000
Prospect Park, Borough of
4
$500,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the country, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
In the Northern District of New York, the City of Schenectady was awarded $125,000, and St. Lawrence County was awarded $125,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“We are proud that two of our law enforcement partners, in the City of Schenectady and in St. Lawrence County, received substantial awards that will allow them to devote more resources to proactive, community policing,” said United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “The COPS Hiring Program exemplifies our commitment to invest in prevention and intervention programs in our communities, as we simultaneously work to investigate and prosecute the most significant bad actors in our cities and counties.”
The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based response to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In fiscal year 2021, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For fiscal year 2022, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON— The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In Oregon, three cities were awarded a total of $625,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“I am pleased to join Attorney General Garland today in making this important announcement. At a time when many police departments in Oregon and across the country are experiencing reduced or stagnant budgets, I am pleased to see three local agencies receive the funding they need to hire additional officers. Effective community oriented policing programs require, first and foremost, adequate staffing,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.
The following cities in Oregon received awards:
- City of Hermiston – $125,000
- City of John Day – $375,000
- City of Reedsport – $125,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based response to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov/chp. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. Five municipalities in the District of Puerto Rico were awarded funding totaling $5,320,807.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“These funds will help law enforcement develop and implement strategies to increase public safety,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U. S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “In addition to the CHP funds going to five municipalities, the Puerto Rico Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA) received an award of $1,171,200 through the Bureau of Justice Assistance Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program for the Puerto Rico Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. In October, Casa Protegida Julia De Burgos was granted $475,000 for Transitional Housing, a program from the Office on Violence Against Women. These grants allow recipients to respond to the diverse needs within our District by streamlining access to federal resources for those communities in need.”
The following municipalities in Puerto Rico received awards under the CHP: Naranjito, Sabana Grande, San Lorenzo, Toa Alta, and Yabucoa. The awards were divided as follows:
- Naranjito – $84,446
- Sabana Grande - $626,724
- San Lorenzo - $1,154,074
- Toa Alta - $1,207,023
- Yabucoa - $2,248,540
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Western District of Tennessee, the City of Ripley was awarded funding totaling $316,620.
"We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs."
"The COPS grant programs" said Joe Murphy, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, "provides support to local law enforcement agencies that allows them to hire additional officers. The grant award to the Ripley, Tennessee Police Department funds three additional police officers. This will help reduce crime in Ripley and make that community safer."
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate anddomestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applicationsrequesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WACO – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Western District of Texas, Waco was awarded funding totaling $1.5 million.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“This grant will provide 12 more police officers in the Waco community,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This is a wonderful opportunity that helps law enforcement continue protecting and building trust with the citizens of Waco.”
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of Utah, three municipalities were awarded funding totaling $813,436.00.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Community oriented policing is vital to community safety and building trust between law enforcement and the community,” said Acting United States Attorney Andrea T. Martinez.”
The following municipalities in Utah received awards:
- North Park Police Department - $125,000.00
- City of Orem - $500,000.00
- San Juan County - $188,436.00
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of Vermont, two awards were granted totaling $248,257.00.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
The following recipients received awards in Vermont:
• Town of Bristol - $125,000.00
• Essex County Courthouse - $123,257.00CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/. The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II is proud to announce that, in the Northern District of West Virginia, Berkeley County Council was awarded $500,000.
“This funding will allow Berkeley County to hire more deputies to continue its great work. Our law enforcement partners are vital in maintaining safety in our communities and deserve our support,” said Ihlenfeld.
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community Policing $750,000 Awarded to Law Enforcement Agencies in the District of MaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of Maine, three towns and one county were awarded funding totaling $750,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Given the many challenges Maine communities are facing during pandemic times, community policing is more important than ever,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “I am so pleased to see four Maine agencies will receive these resources, and I commend them for pursuing this wise law enforcement strategy.”
The following towns and county in Maine received awards:
- Aroostook County – $375,000
- Town of Ashland – $125,000
- Town of North Berwick – $125,000
- Town of Sanford – $125,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based response to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537.0 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of Maine, three towns and one county were awarded funding totaling $750,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Given the many challenges Maine communities are facing during pandemic times, community policing is more important than ever,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “I am so pleased to see four Maine agencies will receive these resources, and I commend them for pursuing this wise law enforcement strategy.”
The following towns and county in Maine received awards:
- Aroostook County – $375,000
- Town of Ashland – $125,000
- Town of North Berwick – $125,000
- Town of Sanford – $125,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based response to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537.0 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
The District of Columbia government and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were awarded $3,125,00.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Public safety is our highest priority at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Our law enforcement partners show enormous dedication each and every day and we are pleased to support their mission through this grants program. By working with them and our community, we hope to make our neighborhoods more secure.”
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Middle District of Florida three agencies were awarded funding totaling $3,250,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
The following agencies in the Middle District of Florida received awards:
- City of Fort Myers - $1,750,000
- City of Tampa - $1,250,000
- Putnam County - $250,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the District of Nevada, three law enforcement agencies were awarded funding totaling $750,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“The District of Nevada appreciates this grant from the COPS Office to help safeguard our communities and schools,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “These funds are an important step towards reducing violence and increasing community policing capacity in Nevada and across the country.”
The following law enforcement agencies in Nevada received awards:
• Nevada System of Higher Education —– $125,000
• Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe —– $125,000
• City of Sparks —– $500,000
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Eastern District of Tennessee, Lenoir City was awarded funding totaling $375,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Our office is proud to announce the 2021 Cops Hiring Program Grant award to Lenoir City in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Applications for this award were received from 590 law enforcement agencies in nearly every state. The funding that Lenoir City will receive will support the hiring of career law enforcement officers to address community policing needs,” said Acting United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-awards. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
$1.25 Million Awarded to Law Enforcement Agencies in the Western District of Michigan
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Western District of Michigan two cities were awarded funding totaling $1,250,0000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
The following cities in the Western District of Michigan received awards:
- City of Battle Creek – $500,000
- City of Wyoming – $750,000
“These awards are welcome news for our law enforcement partners in Battle Creek and Wyoming,” said Andrew Birge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. “The resources come at an important time. The direct funding will help them secure the safety and well-being of their communities in a way that fosters trust in law enforcement.”
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Jury Convicts Two-Time Bank RobberRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal jury convicted a Lizella, Georgia, resident for bank robbery a week after being released from federal prison for previously robbing a bank.
Wesley Sorrow, 50, of Lizella, Georgia, was convicted of bank robbery following a three-day trial that began on Monday, Nov. 15. Sorrow is facing a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Feb. 1. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Bank robbery is a federal crime that carries serious consequences, of which Wesley Sorrow is well aware,” said Peter D. Leary, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Repeat offenders and individuals who choose to commit crimes that terrify and destabilize our community will be held accountable.”
“Being in federal prison was apparently not enough of a punishment for Sorrow to learn his lesson because within a week of being released he went right back to his criminal tendencies,” said Chris Macrae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, he will receive more time in federal prison where he will be off the streets and unable to terrorize our community.”
“Wesley Sorrow is yet another criminal who will soon learn the certain and lengthy penalties for violating federal level crimes. We can hope the penalty for this conviction will effectively end his 30-year crime career,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sorrow was seven days into his residency at a halfway house after being released from federal prison for a June 2009 bank robbery conviction in the Middle District of Georgia. On May 21, 2019, Sorrow walked into the American Pride Bank on Forsyth Road in Macon and presented a note to the bank teller demanding money. Sorrow took the cash and left the bank, returning to the halfway house. Sorrow was captured later that day and cash stolen from the bank was recovered from his locker. Sorrow has a lengthy criminal history, including bank robbery, robbery and forgery.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joy Odom and Robert McCullers are prosecuting the case.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 22 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice A Child to Produce Photos Depicting Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Sean Corey McKenzie (31, Jacksonville) to more than 22 years and 6 months in federal prison for attempted production of child sex abuse images. McKenzie was also ordered to serve a 20-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
McKenzie had pleaded guilty on May 3, 2021.
According to court documents, based on an ongoing investigation, FBI agents had reason to believe McKenzie had used an online account to upload child pornography to a private chat room in a particular social media application (app). On March 15, 2021, the agents conducted an interview of McKenzie at his residence in Jacksonville, Florida. During the interview, McKenzie admitted to using this social media app and, specifically, to using his account to request minor females take “nude” photos of themselves. McKenzie also admitted that the photos were sexually explicit. McKenzie stated, when he was on the app, he sought out chat rooms with names that suggested minor children would be present. During a search of McKenzie’s cellular phone, FBI agents discovered online conversations McKenzie had with minor children on the same app.
On March 24, 201, FBI agents conducted a second interview with McKenzie, showing him a recording of one of those online conversations with a minor child. In that conversation, which took place from January 4, 2021 to February 22, 2021, McKenzie solicited the child to produce and send him photos of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. McKenzie admitted to engaging in the conversation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.
Human Smugglers Plead Guilty to Transporting and Harboring over 100 Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Amalia Gonzalez-Lara, 43, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty in federal court today in connection with her role as the coordinator of a human smuggling operation in Avondale, Arizona.
During a proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Rateau, Gonzalez-Lara admitted that she conspired to transport and harbor over 100 illegal aliens for profit. On January 12, 2021, law enforcement agents located 20 illegal aliens, all nationals of Mexico or Guatemala, inside a residence located at 1905 North 119th Drive in Avondale, Arizona. Over the course of the conspiracy, the house was used to conceal large numbers of illegal aliens who had been smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border and transported to the Phoenix area. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations and United States Border Patrol made the arrests.
Co-conspirator Sergio Vazquez-Flores, 46, of Goodyear, Arizona, pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport and harbor over 100 illegal aliens for profit on November 5, 2021. Vazquez-Flores operated the stash house at the Avondale address on behalf of Gonzalez-Lara.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of ten years, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.
Sentencing is set before Senior U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins for Vazquez-Flores on January 25, 2022, and for Gonzalez-Lara on February 1, 2022.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Nogales Office, with assistance from United States Border Patrol. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also part of the Task Force.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-0613-TUC-RCC-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-086_Gonzalez-Lara# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Haskell Resident Found Guilty of Multiple Armed Home Invasion Robberies and Fire Station BurglariesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Aaron Isaiah Johnson, age 33, of Haskell, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of two counts of Robbery in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 2111, 1151, 1153 and 2; two counts of Use, Carry and Brandish of Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii) and 2; two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1151, 1153 and Title 21, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 1435(A); Kidnapping in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1201(a)(2), 1151, 1153, and 2; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 113(a)(3), 1151, 1153 and 2; and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
The jury trial began with opening statements on Monday, November 8, 2021, and concluded on Friday, November 12, 2021, with the jury returning guilty verdicts on all nine criminal counts. Based on the jury’s verdicts, the defendant is facing up to life imprisonment.
During the trial the United States presented evidence the defendant committed a series of criminal offenses including: (1) on January 11, 2018, the defendant and two co-conspirators forcibly entered an occupied residence in Porter, Oklahoma, where they tied up, blindfolded, and robbed a 13-year old boy at gun point; (2) on December 18, 2018, the defendant and a co-conspirator forcibly entered an occupied residence in Haskell, Oklahoma, where they assaulted an 82-year old man with a rifle, and robbed him at gun point; (3) on February 27, 2019, the defendant burglarized the Red Bird Fire Station in Red Bird, Oklahoma, and stole two fire department emergency vehicles; and (4) on March 14, 2019, the defendant burglarized the Liberty Fire Station in Mounds, Oklahoma, and stole a fire department emergency vehicle.
The trial evidence established that Johnson was arrested and charged in the District Court of Muskogee County with the January 11, 2018 home invasion. The defendant was released on pretrial bond and required to wear a GPS equipped ankle bracelet. The United States utilized the data recorded from the Johnson’s ankle bracelet to prove the defendant was present at, and committed, the subsequent home invasion robbery and burglaries.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee Nation Reservations, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Johnson was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles Bucca and Special Assistant United States Attorney L.C. Wright represented the United States.
Greene County Man Admits Defrauding Investors in a Waste-to-Energy Conversion PlantRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Greene County pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Robert Irey, 59, of Clarksville, PA 15322 pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Irey and his charged coconspirators owned and ran a company called Alternative Energy Holdings, LLC (“AEH”). The defendants informed victims that AEH was going to build a plant that would convert biodegradable waste into energy. The defendants furthered offered victims an opportunity to invest in AEH. Specifically, they solicited short-term loans that offered high interest rates and, in some cases, an ownership interest in AEH. The victims were told their funds would be used for business expenses. However, after victims provided funds to AEH, the defendants often split the money three ways and used it for personal use. Despite the promise of a short-term repayment, the victims were not repaid. From approximately June 2016 until April 2018, approximately 22 victims loaned AEH $2,017,228.44.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for March 24, 2021. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Irey.
Grand Jury - November 2021Read the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 7 unsealed Indictments charging 7 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Timothy S. Daly, age 49, of Ponca, Nebraska, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor on or about August 26, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $5,000 additional special assessment.
* Christian Genchi, age 28, of Omaha, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Genchi with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about August 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Bryan William Gloe, age 44, of Plainview, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Gloe with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about June 3, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a 10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts II through IV charge the defendant with distribution of methamphetamine on or about May 7, 2021 and continuing through on or about May 27, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Omar Vaillant, Jr., age 39, of Omaha, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Vaillant with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about April 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about April 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Patrick Walker, age 55, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Walker with assault on an officer with physical contact and bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with assault resulting in serious bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Leonard Woodrum, Jr., age 56, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 9, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about July 9, 2021.
* Domingo Zacarias-Ciprian, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Zacarias-Ciprian with unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature on or about September 21, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with possession with intent to transfer five or more documents or authentication features on or about November 3, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with sale of a card purporting a social security card on or about September 21, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about November 3, 2021.
Georgia Supervisory Correctional Officer Indicted on Obstruction Offenses Related to Assault on InmateRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Macon, Georgia, returned a two-count indictment against former supervisory correctional officer Lieutenant Geary Staten of the Valdosta State Prison (VSP) for his role in attempting to cover up an assault on an inmate incarcerated at the facility.
The indictment charges Staten, 31, with obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony. Specifically, the indictment charges that Staten knew that, on or about Dec. 29, 2018, a number of VSP correctional officers unlawfully used force on inmate F.G. in violation of the inmate’s constitutional rights. Instead of reporting or otherwise notifying authorities of these felony violations, Staten took steps to conceal the offense by directing two of the involved officers (Officer Brian Ford and Officer Jamal Scott, both of whom have pleaded guilty to federal offenses in connection with the incident) not to write any report regarding their unlawful use of force against inmate F.G., and by providing false and misleading statements to the FBI. Sergeant Patrick Sharpe also previously pleaded guilty to a federal offense in connection with the incident.
The maximum penalty for the misprision of a felony offense is three years of imprisonment, and the maximum penalty for the obstruction of justice offense is 20 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke made the announcement.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Nicole Raspa of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Georgia Resident Convicted for Distributing Drugs Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A federal jury convicted a Nashville, Georgia, resident today for attempting to distribute methamphetamine through the U.S. Mail.
Darren J. McCormick, 33, was found guilty of one count possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute following a three-day trial that began on Monday, Nov. 15, before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands. McCormick faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled.
“Darren McCormick’s attempt to receive a significant quantity of methamphetamine through the mail and distribute it into a South Georgia community has been prevented thanks to the efforts of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office,” said Peter D. Leary, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Repeat drug traffickers who push the deadliest narcotics will be held accountable in the Middle District of Georgia.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a confidential informant (CI) notified law enforcement in early 2020 that McCormick was selling illegal drugs in Berrien County and that he regularly received controlled substances via U.S. Mail with the assistance of other individuals. Under surveillance, the CI picked up a package with suspected controlled substances at a post office and then picked up McCormick on May 7, 2020. McCormick was arrested in possession of 217 grams of methamphetamine discovered in the mailed package. McCormick has a prior federal drug conviction in the Middle District of Georgia.
The case was investigated by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Charged with Money Laundering Connected to Internet ScamsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the unsealing of the indictment of EMMANUEL UGBAJA (“UGBAJA”), age 53, of Duluth, Georgia. UGBAJA was charged in a three-count federal indictment with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956 and two (2) counts of Money Laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957.
The indictment alleges that in 2018, two persons were victimized by two separate internet scams – one from Kansas sent money to an unknown co-conspirator posing as a love interest in what is known as a “romance scam” and the other from California sent money to a person posing to be an attorney in what is known as an “inheritance scam.” At the direction of the co-conspirators, the victims were told to send the funds to a bank account controlled by UGBAJA. UGBAJA retained a portion of the funds for himself and then sent the victim funds in the amount of $60,000 total to a local maritime broker, Bourg Marine, as part of a down payment for the unrelated purchase of a vessel.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00 per count or twice the gross gain to the defendant of twice the gross loss to the victim, and a $100 mandatory special fee for each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This indictment is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes often based overseas that target U.S. citizens. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://www.ic3.gov/.
The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit.
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Fresno Felon Charged with Two Counts of Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jesus Lepe, 44, of Fresno, charging him with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2020, Lepe nearly caused a vehicle collision after running a red light. After a traffic stop, Lepe was found in possession of a stolen firearm. On Aug. 18, 2021, Lepe was stopped for speeding and once again found in possession of a stolen firearm. Lepe is prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple felony convictions from 1996 that include robbery, possession of heroin, and other firearms violations.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Lepe faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. 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.
Four Montana tribal communities to receive more than $3 million to help crime victims and improve public safetyRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—Four Montana tribal communities will receive more than $3 million in Department of Justice grants to improve public safety and to serve crime victims, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson announced today.
The four grants are among 137 grants to 85 American Indian and Alaska Native communities, totaling $73 million, announced this week during the virtual White House Tribal Nations Summit. These funds are designed to help enhance tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement, improve the handling of child abuse cases, combat domestic violence and support tribal youth programs.
“I am pleased that these Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation funds will be going to four of Montana’s tribal nations. This money will provide critical support to help tribes strengthen public safety and address the challenges of violent crime too often experienced in their communities,” U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
The grants total $3,081,878 and are being awarded to:
• Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation: Tribal Youth Program, 508,245.
• The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation: Tribal Justice Systems, $899,813.
• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation: Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities, $450,000.
• Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribes: Public Safety and Community Policing, $899,960; and Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities, $323,860.
More than four in five of American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This equates to nearly three million people who have experienced stalking, sexual violence, psychological aggression or physical violence by intimate partners.
More than $73 million will be awarded under CTAS, a streamlined application which helps tribes apply for tribal-specific grant programs that enhance law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. CTAS grants are administered by the Office of Justice Programs ($48 million) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) ($25 million).
In addition to CTAS funding, OJP has awarded more than $100 million through the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside to improve services for crime victims in Tribal communities. OJP’s Office for Victims Crime is supporting tribal grantees with capacity building, training and technical assistance (more than $6.8 million) and an update of the Tribal Resource Tool ($199,999), which maps the availability of victim services in tribal communities. An additional $2.9 million will be awarded under the Children’s Justice Act Partnership to tribes to enhance the handling of cases centered around criminal child abuse and neglect.
Information about FY 2021 grant awards from the Office of Justice Programs can be found online on the OJP Grant Awards Page. The page will be updated as awards are made.
Information about FY 2021 grant awards from the COPS Office can be found online at the COPS Grant Page. Information about FY 2021 grant awards from the COPS Office can be found online at the COPS Grant Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The COPS Office is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
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Four Executives Plead Guilty to Fraud Scheme that Caused over $4.5 Million in Losses to the Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
Three former executives of Valley Bank, a defunct financial institution based in Moline, Illinois, and the President of Vital Financial Services (Vital Financial), a lending service provider, have pleaded guilty to scheming to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with its programs to guarantee loans made to small businesses.
According to court document, the defendants — Michael Slater, 65, of Clive, Iowa, former President and Founder of Vital Financial; Larry Henson, 70, of Davenport, Iowa, former President and Chairman of Valley Bank; Andrew Erpelding, 43, also of Davenport, Iowa, former Vice President and Regional Manager of Valley Bank; and Susan McLaughlin, 68, of Bettendorf, Iowa, former Vice President for Credit Administration of Valley Bank — conspired to and did fraudulently obtain loan guarantees from the SBA on behalf of Valley Bank borrowers, knowing that the loans did not meet SBA’s guidelines and requirements for the guarantees. They did so by, among other things, altering loan payment histories, renaming businesses, and hiding the fact that borrowers had previously defaulted on loans. When the fraudulently guaranteed loans defaulted, the defendants caused the submission of reimbursement requests to the SBA to purchase the defaulted loans from investors and lending institutions, thereby shifting the majority of losses on the ineligible loans to the SBA. In all, the defendants attempted to obtain guarantees on over $14 million in loans, were successful in obtaining guarantees on over $9 million in loans, and caused the SBA losses of over $4.5 million.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. McLaughlin pleaded guilty on Sept. 20; Erpelding on Sept. 21; Henson on Nov. 9; and Slater on Nov. 18. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. 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 Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa; Inspector General Jay N. Lerner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Inspector General Mark Bialek of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB/CFPB-OIG); Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Acting Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement.
The FDIC-OIG, FRB/CFPB-OIG, SBA-OIG, FBI, and FHFA-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Kerndt of the Southern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 300 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Mark A. Holbrook, II, 43 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm by felon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Holbrook was sentenced to 300 months (25 years) in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on July 26, 2018, Holbrook was stopped by the Warsaw Police Department for a traffic infraction. At that time, Holbrook was in possession of over 17 grams of methamphetamine in individual bags, along with scales. Thereafter, on March 23, 2019, Holbrook was stopped by the Winona Lake Police Department and at that time was in possession of over 6 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Holbrook admitted to officers that he was selling drugs to make a living.
Holbrook had previously been convicted of several felony offenses, including Burglary, Theft, Criminal Recklessness, Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Commit Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Criminal Gang Activity, making his possession of a firearm illegal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with multiple local law enforcement agencies, including the Warsaw Police Department, the Winona Lake Police Department, and the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was 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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Former Syracuse-Based Social Security Administration Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Sean Okrzesik, age 34, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to charges of theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
The charges relate to Okrzesik’s use of the names and Social Security numbers of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries or their representative payees in order to steal SSI benefit payments. Okrzesik’s conduct occurred while he was employed in the Syracuse District Office of the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSI is a federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenue. The program is designed to help the elderly and people with disabilities, with little or no income, cover the costs of basic needs.
As part of his guilty plea, Okrzesik admitted that from February 2020 through February 2021, he opened bank accounts using the names and Social Security numbers of various SSI beneficiaries or their representative payees. Okrzesik also admitted that once these accounts had been created, he would divert SSI benefit payments intended for these beneficiaries into the accounts, which he then used to pay personal expenses including the purchase of video gaming equipment, a custom suit, jewelry, airline tickets to the Caribbean, and online gambling. The total amount of SSI benefits stolen by Okrzesik was $103,798.77.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2022, in Utica, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd. On the two counts of theft of government property, Okrzesik faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to 3 years. On the aggravated identity theft count, Okrzesik faces a mandatory term of two years in federal prison which must run consecutively to the sentence imposed on the other counts of conviction.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle.
Former Police Officer at the Department of Defense Sentenced for Stealing from the GovernmentRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms today sentenced Anthony Lesane, age 56, of Fort Washington, Maryland, a former police officer at the Department of Defense, to one year of probation, and a $6,000 fine, for theft of government property, related to his overbilling the government for hours he had not worked. Judge Simms also ordered Lesane to perform 100 hours of community service in the first nine months of his probation and pay restitution in the amount of $25,832.47, which Lesane paid today at his sentencing.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
According to Lesane’s plea agreement, from at least August 2016 through October 2019, Lesane, a police officer working for the Department of Defense at a facility in Prince George’s County, Maryland, falsely recorded work hours in his department’s time and attendance system that he had not worked. On most occasions, Lesane claimed to have worked overtime hours and on at least one occasion, Lesane claimed work hours while he was out of the country on vacation.
As a result of his fraudulent time and attendance entries, Lesane stole at least $25,832.47 by overbilling his employing agency.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service for its work in the investigation and thanked the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Police Officer Found Guilty of Violating an Arrestee’s Civil Rights by Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
Former police officer Everett Maynard was found guilty by a federal jury of violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him.
Maynard, 44, was convicted by a jury in Charleston for using excessive force against an arrestee while Maynard was a police officer with the Logan, West Virginia, Police Department.
The jury heard evidence over the course of two days that showed that Maynard assaulted the victim in the bathroom of the Logan Police Department before dragging him into an adjoining room, hauling him across the room, and ramming his head against a doorframe. The assault initially rendered the victim unconscious and left him with a broken shoulder, a broken nose and a cut to his head that required staples to close.
“The Constitution and its Bill of Rights afford all people in our nation the right to be free from unlawful abuse by police officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate criminal misconduct by law enforcement officials and will hold accountable those who commit civil rights violations.”
“Everett Maynard abused his authority as a police officer and betrayed the public’s trust when he violated an arrestee’s civil rights,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson for the Southern District of West Virginia. “While the overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers perform their duties with honor and professionalism, those who violate the rights of others will be held accountable. The prosecution of cases like this is important to my office, the citizens of West Virginia and the policing profession. I commend P.D. Clemens, the former Chief of the Logan Police Department who now serves as the Sheriff of Logan County, for quickly referring the matter to the West Virginia State Police and the FBI for independent investigation.”
“Everett Maynard used his badge as a license to abuse his power,” said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of FBI Pittsburgh. “An officer’s use of excessive force violates the oath they are sworn to uphold and the trust placed in them by the community. The FBI is responsible for upholding the Constitution and protecting the American people, and no one is above the law, including law enforcement officers who abuse their authority.”
Maynard’s sentencing has been set for March 17, 2022. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Pittsburgh Division of the FBI with the support of the West Virginia State Police and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nowles Heinrich of the Southern District of West Virginia.
Former Peoria County Resident Sentenced to 7 ½ Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. –Benjamin J. Wilson, 42, previously of Peoria, Ill, was sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 90 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography.
At Wilson’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid noted the significant and long-lasting impact to the child victims depicted in the videos Wilson possessed.
In September 2021, Wilson pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, with the offense alleged to have occurred in November 2019. Wilson was detained following arraignment on the indictment and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals where he has remained since.
The statutory penalty for possession of child pornography is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Following Wilson’s release from the Bureau of Prisons, he will be on federal supervised release for ten years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service Central Illinois Cyber Crime Unit with assistance from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Paul Morris and Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former New Bedford Man Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on federal wire fraud charges arising from claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
Arthur Pacheco, 47, previously of New Bedford, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. On July 22, 2021, Pacheco pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. He was indicted in January 2021 along with his wife, Tiffany Pacheco, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2022.
In April 2020, Tiffany Pacheco was hired by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) shortly after her release from federal prison following a conviction for aggravated identity theft. While employed by DUA, Tiffany Pacheco misused her position to submit fraudulent PUA claim information on behalf of herself and Arthur Pacheco, who was incarcerated in Texas until Sept. 4, 2020, and thus ineligible for PUA funds.
Specifically, in June 2020, PUA claims submitted for Tiffany Pacheco and her husband reflected 2019 income of $0 and no dependents. In July 2020, via her employment with DUA, Tiffany Pacheco obtained access to the PUA computer system, and later changed claim information for herself and Arthur Pacheco in order to increase the amount of PUA funds they would receive. For example, Tiffany Pacheco increased the amount of 2019 income for her and Arthur Pacheco to more than $240,000 and increased the number of their dependents to seven. Tiffany Pacheco further used her access to the PUA system to verify the increased 2019 income on both claims without the required income verification documents.
In November 2020, Arthur Pacheco called DUA and falsely denied that he had been incarcerated during the timeframe leading up to September 2020, and that he was only incarcerated for approximately one month. Tiffany Pacheco also spoke with DUA and misrepresented the period of time in which Arthur Pacheco had been incarcerated.
A search of the New Bedford apartment where Tiffany and Arthur Pacheco resided uncovered various tools of identity fraud, including an ID laminator, 100 blank ID cards, 68 hologram overlays, 150 card lamination sheets and 649 sheets of blank checks. Law enforcement also seized approximately $17,000 cash and a notebook that appeared to contain the personal identifying information of various individuals. In addition, a driver’s license recovered during the search matched the name of a victim Tiffany Pacheco used to submit another fraudulent PUA claim. On Sept. 23, 2020, DUA terminated Tiffany Pacheco’s employment.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation made the announcement. The New Bedford Police Department, Massachusetts Parole Board and Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Abely, Chief of Mendell’s Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of Mendell’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Margate Police Officer Sentenced to More Than 18 Years for Attempting to Entice A 14-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual Activity and for Soliciting Production of Child Sex Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Andrew Christian Hammock (48, Boca Raton) to 18 years and 8 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and for attempting to produce visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hammock was also ordered to serve a 6-year term of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to forfeit the cellphone that he used to commit these offenses. When he committed these offenses, Hammock was serving as a police officer with the City of Margate (Florida) Police Department.
Hammock was found guilty by federal jury on June 25, 2021.
According to court documents, during February and March 2020, Hammock used a social media application to send more than 4,700 private online messages to an individual whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl but was actually an undercover FBI agent. After learning her purported age, Hammock told the “child,” “bet you look amazing in a bikini,” and asked the “child” about her sexual experience. Hammock acknowledged the risk he was taking by talking to the “child,” telling her that he could get in trouble for talking to her because she is under 18 and he is not.
Hammock assured the “child” he was trustworthy and a protector and sent the “child” photos of himself wearing his police uniform. He repeatedly told the “child” he was aroused talking to her and that he wanted to help the “child” have her first orgasm. Hammock also repeatedly requested the “child” to take and send him graphic photos of her genitals.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the City of Margate Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Karase and Ashley Washington.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former London and Miami Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Art Buyers and Financers of More Than $86 MillionRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that INIGO PHILBRICK, an art dealer specializing in post-war and contemporary fine art with galleries in London, United Kingdom, and Miami, Florida, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein to one count of wire fraud for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud various individuals and entities in order to finance his art business. In total, PHILBRICK fraudulently obtained more than $86 million as a result of the scheme.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Inigo Philbrick was a serial swindler who took advantage of the lack of transparency in the art market to defraud art collectors, investors, and lenders of more than $86 million to finance his art business and his lifestyle. Philbrick has now admitted his guilt and awaits sentencing for perpetrating this extensive fraud.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint, Indictment, and statements made in court:
From approximately 2016 through 2019, to finance his art business, PHILBRICK engaged in a scheme to defraud multiple individuals and entities in the art market located in the New York metropolitan area and abroad. PHILBRICK made material misrepresentations and omissions to art collectors, investors, and lenders to access valuable art and obtain sales proceeds, funding, and loans (the “Fraud Scheme”). PHILBRICK knowingly misrepresented the ownership of certain artworks, for example, by selling a total of more than 100 percent ownership in an artwork to multiple individuals and entities without their knowledge; and by selling artworks and/or using artworks as collateral on loans without the knowledge of co-owners, and without disclosing the ownership interests of third parties to buyers and lenders. PHILBRICK furnished fraudulent contracts and records to investors to artificially inflate the artworks’ value and conceal his scheme, including a contract that listed a stolen identity as the seller.
Over the years, PHILBRICK obtained over $86 million in loans and sale proceeds in connection with the Fraud Scheme. Artworks about which PHILBRICK made these fraudulent misrepresentations in furtherance of the Fraud Scheme include, among others, a 1982 painting by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat titled “Humidity,” a 2010 untitled painting by the artist Christopher Wool, and an untitled 2012 painting by the artist Rudolf Stingel depicting the artist Pablo Picasso.
By in or about the fall of 2019, PHILBRICK’s Fraud Scheme began to come to light as various investors and lenders learned about the fraudulent records PHILBRICK had provided and the material misrepresentations and omissions he had made. By in or about mid-October, a lender officially notified PHILBRICK that he was in default of approximately a $14 million loan, and by November 2019, various investors had filed civil lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions regarding PHILBRICK’s Fraud Scheme in connection with various artworks. At around the same time, PHILBRICK’s art galleries in Miami and London closed, and PHILBRICK stopped responding to legal process. PHILBRICK fled the United States shortly before public reporting began about the lawsuits. A fugitive, PHILBRICK resided in Vanuatu from approximately October 2019 until he was arrested there on June 11, 2020, in connection with this case.
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PHILBRICK, 34, a U.S. citizen previously residing in London, United Kingdom, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. PHILBRICK is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Stein on March 18, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Art Crime Team.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica K. Feinstein and Cecilia E. Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Air Force Member Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Adam Richard Henderson, 35, of Bossier City, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on child pornography charges.
In September and October 2020, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations received cypertip reports from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that a Yahoo user was in possession of numerous images of child pornography. Law enforcement agents began an investigation and discovered that the email accounts belonged to Henderson. He was charged and pleaded guilty on July 16, 2021 to transportation of child pornography.
At the guilty plea hearing, Henderson admitted that on March 14, 2020, while living in Bossier City, Louisiana, he emailed images of child pornography from two Yahoo email accounts belonging to him. The images were of prepubescent minors whose genital and pubic areas were lasciviously exhibited. Henderson admitted to sending the images at his guilty plea hearing on July 16, 2021.
The U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession After Domestic DisturbanceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Donya Davis, 27, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a weapon during a domestic disturbance. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, on October 11, 2020, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to an armed party domestic disturbance call in the 2300 block of Ketchum Road. The 911 caller advised that her daughter was locked in a bedroom with the defendant, who was threatening her with a weapon. As the officers arrived on the scene, they could hear the disturbance coming from inside the apartment. They entered the apartment and spoke with the alleged victim, B.C., who is the mother of Davis' children. B.C. allowed the officers to search the apartment, where they found a Mossberg rifle in a Nike backpack, loaded with 1 round in the chamber and 20 rounds in the magazine.
Further investigation revealed, Davis had outstanding warrants for domestic assault and violation of probation, as well as previous convictions for domestic assault involving bodily injury and felony aggravated assault. Davis waived Miranda rights, and admitted to possessing the weapon. As a result of his prior convictions, Davis is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Davis faces up to ten years imprisonment, to be followed by three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Federal jury convicts Columbia County man in “horrific” child sex trafficking caseRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man faces up to life in federal prison after a jury convicted him on nine felony counts related to child sex trafficking.
In a verdict returned just after 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, a U.S. District Court jury found Michael Peyton Gunn, 36, of Evans, Ga., guilty of all nine charges following a four-day trial, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Gunn faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and three of the charges in the case carry a statutory penalty of up to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The child exploitation offenses Gunn committed are absolutely horrific, going far beyond the initial, reprehensible child pornography offenses that alerted the FBI to his activities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The jurors are holding Michael Gunn accountable for his monstrous crimes, and providing a path to healing for his victim.”
After the trial before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, the jury found Gunn guilty of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Minor; Sex Trafficking of a Child; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; four counts of Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; and Obstruction of a Sex-Trafficking Investigation. Gunn will be sentenced after a background investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
“Michael Gunn committed unspeakable crimes against a vulnerable child and no sentence for him will wipe away the trauma he has caused the victim,” said Chris Macrae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “However, thanks to the dedicated work from our agents who aggressively pursue these heinous criminals, Gunn will be removed from our streets where he will no longer be able to harm innocent children.”
The minor victim in the case testified in court that Gunn, through rewards, fear, threats of harm, and intimidation, manipulated the victim to participate in illegal sexual abuse as young as age 7, through sexual exploitation at age 13, as it steadily progressed from production of child pornography to participation in commercial sex trafficking.
As spelled out in evidence and testimony presented during the trial, the investigation led to Gunn in February 2020 when FBI agents were called to assist in a child pornography case in Hopkins County, Texas. Agents discovered more than 700 images – many of them explicit child pornography – depicting a specific minor victim, with digital location information identifying the area of Gunn’s residence in Evans. Agents from the Augusta FBI office later questioned Gunn and searched his home, leading to his indictment in March 2020 on multiple charges of production and possession of child pornography.
The continuing investigation led to a superseding indictment in March 2021 naming Gunn’s then wife, Amanda Gunn, a/k/a “Amanda Howard,” 34, of Augusta, on charges of Sex Trafficking Conspiracy and Obstruction of a Child Sex Trafficking Investigation, and adding multiple child sex trafficking-related charges to Michael Gunn. Amanda Gunn later pled guilty to Sex Trafficking Conspiracy and awaits sentencing. The minor victim testified during Michael Gunn’s trial that he coordinated several years of abuse of the victim in the case, deriving profit from images of the victim and from making the victim available for sexual exploitation by other men.
Also testifying in court was Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., who awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in August to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity. Grantham admitted responding to an online advertisement trafficking the minor victim, then traveling from South Carolina to Evans to transport the victim to a motel for a sexual act in return for payment. Grantham is a former high school teacher.
The investigation into related crimes in the case continues.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons prosecuted the case for the United States with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Tracy Long and Contract Legal Assistant Ana Pridemore.
Federal Jury Convicts Mountain Home Man for Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
BOISE – A federal jury sitting in Boise convicted a Mountain Home man on November 16, 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Brandon J. Yates, 38, of Mountain Home, was previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. On March 9, 2021, U.S. Probation officers searched Yates’ house pursuant to a supervision agreement. There, they discovered a firearm hidden in the attic of Yates’ garage. After discovering the firearm, the probation officers determined that Yates possessed the firearm and that he had hidden it in the attic to conceal it from law enforcement. Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted in the investigation.
Yates’ sentencing has yet to be scheduled. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, which led to charges.
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Federal Judge Sentences Five Methamphetamine TraffickersRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell handed down sentences of up to 15 years in prison to five defendants for their involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking ring, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Judge Bell sentenced the defendants as follows:
- William Jay Allen, Jr., 29, of Vilas, N.C. was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Allen pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and distribution methamphetamine.
- Justin Kevin Anderson, 31, of Boone, N.C. was sentenced to 135 months in prison, followed by six years of supervised release. Anderson pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and distribution methamphetamine.
- Thomas Burns Shelley, III, 37, of Blowing Rock, N.C., was sentenced to 132 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Shelley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jeffrey David Miller, of Sugar Grove, N.C., was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
- Danielle Denise Dieters Ward, 42, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced to 36 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Ward pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
A sixth co-defendant, Timothy Wilson Critcher, 47, of Boone, N.C., is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7, 2021.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, from 2018 to 2020, Allen and his co-conspirators trafficked more than 12 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Ashe and Watauga Counties, and elsewhere. Court documents show that Allen was the source of supply for the methamphetamine, and his co-defendants operated as couriers and sellers in the conspiracy.
All of the defendants are in currently custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be transferred to the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
This case is supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) as part of an ongoing investigation focusing on drug organizations trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in Western North Carolina. To date, more than 200 individuals have been prosecuted, and law enforcement have seized more than 20 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, $500,000 in U.S. currency and other assets, and dozens of firearms.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer recognized the following federal, state and local agencies which partnered in this investigation, and thanked them for their continued cooperation and support: the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI); the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office; the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office; the Boone Police Department; and the Johnson County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee.
The prosecutions are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Federal Grand Jury Issues New Indictment Against Leaders of Philippines-Based Church that Alleges Sex Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A superseding indictment unsealed today charges the founder of a Philippines-based church and two top administrators of orchestrating a sex trafficking operation that coerced girls and young women to have sex with the church’s leader under threats of “eternal damnation.”
The superseding indictment expands on allegations made early last year against three Los Angeles-based administrators of the church, which is known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KOJC). The nine defendants named in the 42-count superseding indictment are charged with participating in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity – the Glendale-based Children’s Joy Foundation (CJF) – donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the KOJC allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round.
The superseding indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on November 10, expands the scope of the 2020 indictment by adding six new defendants, including the KOJC’s leader, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, who was referred to as “The Appointed Son of God.”
Three of the new defendants were arrested today by federal authorities. The remaining three, including Quiboloy, are believed to be in the Philippines.
The defendants charged in the superseding indictment are:
- Quiboloy, believed to be 71, whose primary residence is a KOJC compound in Davao City, Philippines, but who also maintained large residences in Calabasas, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Kapolei, Hawaii;
- Teresita Tolibas Dandan, also known as “Tessie” and “Sis Ting,” 59, of Davao City, the “international administrator” who was one of the top overseers of KOJC and CJF operations in the United States;
- Helen Panilag, 56, of Davao City, the one-time top KOJC administrator in the U.S., who oversaw the collection of financial data from KOJC operations around the globe;
- Felina Salinas, also known as “Sis Eng Eng,” 50, of Kapolei, Hawaii, who allegedly was responsible for collecting and securing passports and other documents from KOJC workers in Hawaii, as well as directing funds solicited to church members to church officials in the Philippines (arrested today);
- Guia Cabactulan, 61, the lead KOJC administrator in the United States who operated the KOJC compound in Van Nuys (charged in original indictment);
- Marissa Duenas, 43, a Van Nuys-based administrator who handled fraudulent immigration documents for workers (charged in original indictment);
- Amanda Estopare, 50, another Van Nuys-based administrator who was in charge of tracking and reporting the money raised in the U.S. to KOJC officials in the Philippines (charged in original indictment);
- Bettina Padilla Roces, also known as “Kuki,” 48, a fourth administrator who allegedly handled financial matters (arrested today in Reseda); and
- Maria De Leon, 72, a resident of the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, the owner of Liberty Legal Document Services, who allegedly processed fraudulent marriages and immigration-related documents for KOJC workers (arrested today at her residence).
The three arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles and Honolulu.
The superseding indictment charges Quiboloy, Dandan and Salinas with participating in a conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, as well as the sex trafficking of children. These three defendants allegedly recruited females ranging from approximately 12 to 25 years of age to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” for Quiboloy. The indictment states that the victims prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called “night duty.” The indictment specifically mentions five female victims, three of whom were minors when the alleged sex trafficking began.
“Defendant Quiboloy and other KOJC administrators coerced pastorals into performing ‘night duty’ – that is, sex – with defendant Quiboloy under the threat of physical and verbal abuse and eternal damnation by defendant Quiboloy and other KOJC administrators,” the indictment alleges. “Defendant Quiboloy and other KOJC administrators told pastorals that performing ‘night duty’ was ‘God’s will’ and a privilege, as well as a necessary demonstration of the pastoral’s commitment to give her body to defendant Quiboloy as ‘The Appointed Son of God.’”
The indictment alleges the sex trafficking scheme started no later than 2002 and continued to at least 2018, during which time Quiboloy and his top administrators caused the victims to engage in commercial sex acts by ordering female victims, including the minor victims, to have sex with defendant Quiboloy on a schedule determined by the church leader and others, including Dandan. The victims who were obedient were rewarded with “good food, luxurious hotel rooms, trips to tourist spots, and yearly cash payments that were based on performance” – which were paid for with money solicited by KOJC workers in the United States, according to the indictment.
As part of the alleged scheme, the three defendants told female victims who expressed hesitation at night duty “that they had the devil in them and risked eternal damnation.” Furthermore, Quiboloy would threaten and physically abuse victims who attempted to leave KOJC or were not available to perform night duty, according to the indictment, which also alleges Quiboloy would physically abuse victims for communicating with other men or engaging in other behavior that upset him because he considered such conduct adultery and a sin.
Victims who managed to escape KOJC suffered retaliation in the form of threats, harassment and allegations of criminal misconduct, according to the indictment. “Defendant Quiboloy would give sermons, broadcasted to KOJC members around the world, in which he would allege that victims who escaped had engaged in criminal conduct and sexually promiscuous activity, and therefore faced eternal damnation, in order to discourage other victims from leaving, retaliate against and discredit the victims, and conceal the sexual activity between defendant Quiboloy and the victims,” the indictment states.
Quiboloy, Dandan and Salinas are charged in count one of the superseding indictment, which alleges the sex trafficking conspiracy. Each defendant is charged in at least three of five substantive counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.
The superseding indictment also outlines KOJC’s nationwide soliciting operations, which allegedly gave rise to additional criminal conduct, including forced labor, labor trafficking, document servitude, marriage fraud and money laundering.
Under Quiboloy’s direction, KOJC administrators allegedly brought workers from the Philippines to the United States and confiscated all forms of identification before forcing the workers to spend long hours illegally soliciting money for KOJC outside of businesses across the United States. While KOJC workers told potential donors their money would be used by CJF to help impoverished children, the money was actually used to directly finance KOJC operations and the lavish lifestyle of KOJC leaders, including Quiboloy, according to the indictment.
“KOJC administrators maintained the legal immigration status of workers who proved capable of meeting daily cash solicitation quotas by fraudulently obtaining student visas for such workers or by forcing them to enter into sham marriages with other KOJC workers who had already obtained United States citizenship,” the indictment states.
Some of the workers were moved around the United States to solicit donations as CJF “volunteers,” who were also called Full Time Miracle Workers, according to the indictment, which alleges these “workers fundraised for KOJC nearly every day, year-round, working very long hours, and often sleeping in cars overnight.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The sex trafficking conspiracy charge alleged in the indictment carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The five substantive sex trafficking charges each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a potential sentence of life. The additional fraud, cash smuggling and money laundering offenses in the indictment carry statutory maximum penalties ranging from five to 20 years in federal prison.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the FBI is encouraging potential victims or anyone with information about KOJC activities to contact investigators. Those with information are asked to call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565. Individuals may also contact the FBI through its website at https://www.fbi.gov/tips.
The ongoing investigation into KOJC is being led by the FBI, which is receiving substantial assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Fraud Detection and National Security Unit, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel H. Ahn, Jake D. Nare and Benjamin D. Lichtman of the Santa Ana Branch Office, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Angela C. Makabali of the General Crimes Section, are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney Katharine Schonbachler of the Asset Forfeiture Section is also working on the matter.
Erwin Man Sentenced for 160 Months for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On November 18, 2021, Justin Claude Richardson, 29, currently of Erwin, TN was sentenced by the Honorable R. Leon Jordan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville, to serve 160 months in federal prison. Upon release, Richardson will be supervised by U.S. Probation for 20 years and will be required to register with the state sex offender registry and comply with special sex offender conditions during supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Richardson agreed to plead guilty to receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2252A(a)(2)(A) and (b)(1). Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution to victims making claims, who were identified through the Child Victim Identification Program database operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
According to court documents, on May 13, 2019, officers stopped Richardson in Unicoi County, Tennessee, upon suspicion of his involvement in a kidnapping. Richardson was placed under arrest and his cellular telephone was seized. Richardson’s cellular telephone contained approximately 2,364 images of child pornography, including images of bestiality, sadomasochistic acts, and infants. The web browser on the cellular phone reflected hundreds of searches for child pornography, with searches occurring shortly before Richardson’s arrest.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was led by FBI Special Agent Bianca Pearson.
Assistant United States Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Eagle Butte Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Elliot Robert Blue Coat, age 45, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 16, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is ten years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Blue Coat, a person required to register as a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration between July 16, 2021, and September 16, 2021, while living in Mobridge, South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Blue Coat is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Marshals Service, Mobridge Police Department, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, Corson County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Blue Coat was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Brighton Veit, age 22, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A Moreno on November 16, 2021 and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life on supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Veit was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in November 2020. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between September 14, 2021, and September 27, 2021, Veit, 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 Veit is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.
Veit was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Joseph Elsey, age 26, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge on November 12, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The indictment alleges that on October 26, 2020, near Eagle Butte, Elsey assaulted a federal officer using shod feet as a dangerous weapon, while the officer was engaged in the performance of her official duties.
The charge is merely an accusation and Elsey is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.
Elsey was released on bond pending trial. A trial date of January 18, 2022, has been set.
Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution and Admits That Heroin He Distributed Resulted in a Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Edwin Kerry Smith, age 43, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and admitted that heroin he distributed to one victim resulted in the victim’s fatal overdose.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, Smith was arrested on March 11, 2021 in Maryland for attempting to distribute four ounces of heroin. Smith committed this offense while on pretrial supervision on narcotics charges in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.
As part of his guilty plea, Smith also admitted that on August 22, 2019 he distributed heroin to Victim A, who subsequently ingested the heroin provided by Smith, overdosed and died. At the scene of Victim A’s death, law enforcement discovered a ziplock bag containing 1.33 grams of heroin and a small plastic bag containing .34 grams of cocaine. According to an autopsy report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland, Victim A died of morphine and quetiapine intoxication. The last outgoing communication on Victim A’s phone was a text to order narcotics from Smith and according to historical cell site data, Smith and Victim A met on August 22, 2019 in the same location where Victim A’s body was found. Approximately one month earlier, Smith was arrested near that same location with two bags of heroin, totaling 21.02 grams.
Smith and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Smith will be sentenced to eight years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for February 28, 2022 at 2 p.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Washington Metro Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin R. Cottingham, who is prosecuting the case.
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