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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
3 January 2022
Justice Department Ensures Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe Are Permanently Prohibited from Exhibiting Animals and Terminates Their Interests in Seized AnimalsRead the Press Release
On Dec. 23, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma entered a consent decree between the United States and Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe permanently prohibiting them from exhibiting animals, terminating their interests in 97 endangered or threatened animals seized from their facility, and affirming that they have legally abandoned their rights to an additional 41 animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
On the same day, the court granted the United States’ motion for a default judgment against defendants Tiger King LLC and Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park LLC, prohibiting them from exhibiting animals in the future, terminating their interests in the animals seized from the Lowes’ facility, and permanently placing the AWA-covered animals in licensed facilities selected by the United States. Together, this consent decree and default judgment resolve the claims in a civil enforcement action brought by the Department of Justice to address the Lowes’ recurring inhumane treatment and improper handling of animals protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and AWA.
In November 2020, the Department of Justice filed a complaint against the Lowes and two business entities alleging that the defendants had violated and would continue to violate the ESA by illegally taking, possessing and transporting protected animals and the AWA by exhibiting without a license and placing the health of animals in serious danger. Starting in June 2020, inspectors from the Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) identified numerous animals in poor health and living in substandard conditions under the Lowes’ care, first at Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and then at Tiger King Park, in Thackerville, Oklahoma. USDA suspended Jeffrey Lowe’s AWA exhibitor’s license, and Lowe then unilaterally terminated his license. Yet the Lowes continued to exhibit animals, both in person and for compensation via online platforms. In addition to exhibiting without a license, the Lowes did not provide timely and adequate veterinary care or nutrition, failed to maintain safe and sanitary conditions and housed animals in enclosures which were too small and exposed to the elements.
On Jan. 15, the United States obtained a preliminary injunction requiring the Lowes to relinquish possession of all Big Cat cubs under the age of one year and their respective mothers to the United States. In May 2021, after the Lowes violated other terms of the preliminary injunction order by breeding animals and failing to maintain and provide records regarding the health of the animals in their care, the United States executed two civil seizure warrants and took possession of 68 Big Cats and one jaguar that had been harmed and harassed in violation of the ESA. In August 2021, the United States secured the Lowes’ agreement to abandon their interests in all animals remaining at Tiger King Park, and the United States took possession of 11 endangered lemurs and 41 other animals.
Under the terms of the consent decree, the Lowes agree to permanently refrain from exhibiting animals or applying for any USDA license or registration. They also terminated their rights and interests in the 97 ESA-listed animals seized from Tiger King Park and agreed not to file any claim in the separate civil forfeiture action initiated by the United States with regard to those animals. Additionally, the Lowes affirmed the validity of the August 2021 abandonment form and agreed not to pursue legal action against the United States, or any facility involved in the removal, transport or care of the abandoned animals.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting endangered and threatened species and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals held in zoos and private facilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This consent decree ensures that the animals mistreated and endangered by the Lowes will be moved to a safe home in AWA-licensed facilities and prohibits the Lowes from exhibiting live animals again.”
“This consent decree demonstrates the commitment of USDA and the Department of Justice to work together to bring final resolution to this case,” said Deputy Administrator Dr. Betty Goldentyer of USDA APHIS’s Animal Care Program. “USDA is very proud of the hard work of our inspectors. It was their skill and expertise that allowed us to safely relocate all of the animals and end the mistreatment that was occurring at this facility.”
The case is being handled by Senior Trial Attorney Mary Hollingsworth and Trial Attorneys Briena Strippoli and Devon Flanagan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section. Senior Policy Advisor Darrin McCullough of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section assisted with this case and the parallel civil forfeiture action. The Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma provided valuable assistance. The case was investigated by APHIS and the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service.
Justice Department Announces New Rule to Help Enhance Safe and Secure Storage of Firearms; Publishes Best Practices Guide for Federal Firearms LicenseesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced a new rule to help enable the safe and secure storage of firearms and published a Best Practices Guide for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). This new rule implements the existing Gun Control Act requirement that federal firearms licensees that sell firearms to the general public (non-licensees) must certify that they have available secure gun storage or safety devices. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Best Practices Guide for FFLs is an important resource and reference guide about federal laws and regulations.
“Today’s announcements build on the department’s efforts to reduce the risk of firearms falling into the wrong hands,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Gun safety is a Department of Justice priority, and we will continue to take all appropriate steps to help reduce the number of people killed and injured by the misuse of firearms.”
The Department of Justice has submitted to the Federal Register for publication a final rule, which will take effect Feb. 3, requiring FFLs to certify that they have secure gun storage devices available to their customers for purchase. Secure gun storage or safety device, as defined by statute and regulation, includes a safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box or other device that is designed to be or can be used to store a firearm and that is designed to be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination or other similar means. Not all devices are compatible with varying types of firearms. Therefore, integral to the new rule is the requirement that FFLs have available secure gun storage options that are compatible with the firearms they are selling.
The final rule, published in the electronic reading room today, can be viewed here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-28398/secure-gun-storage-and-definition-of-antique-firearm.
In addition, today, the ATF published a Best Practices Guide for FFLs. The ATF’s Best Practices Guide is designed to assist FFLs in complying with all required firearm laws and regulations that are designed to ensure public safety and the traceability of firearms.
The Best Practices Guide also encourages FFLs to provide customers with ATF publications to help firearms owners better understand their legal obligations, as well as practical steps they can take to help keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons and facilitate the safe storage of firearms. Links to ATF publications addressing the following topics are included in the Best Practices Guide: procedures for FFLs to assist unlicensed firearms owners in conducting background checks for private party transfers; compliance with the Youth Handgun Safety Act; records firearms owners should maintain that can assist law enforcement if the owner’s firearms are ever lost or stolen; and the legal consequences and public safety dangers of straw purchasing – which involves purchasing a gun for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one or for someone who does not want his or her name associated with the transaction.
To view ATF’s Best Practices Guide, see: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/federal-firearms-licensee-quick-reference-and-best-practices-guide.
John Farley Appointed as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire by Attorney General Merrick GarlandRead the Press Release
CONCORD – John J. Farley was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire effective January 1, 2022.
As the U.S. Attorney, Farley serves at the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Hampshire. He supervises all the attorneys and staff who prosecute federal criminal offenses and represent the United States in civil litigation.
Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire administered the oath of office to U.S. Attorney Farley.
“I am honored to serve as the United States Attorney in New Hampshire and am humbled by the Attorney General’s decision to entrust me with this significant responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “The men and women at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to obtain just outcomes in all the civil and criminal matters handled by this office. As U.S. Attorney, I will continue to work closely with our outstanding staff and our superb law enforcement partners to protect public safety and pursue justice on behalf of the citizens of the Granite State.”
U.S. Attorney Farley began serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney on March 7, 2021, following the resignation of U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. As a result of the Attorney General’s appointment, he will serve as the U.S. Attorney for a period of 120 days or until a U.S. Attorney is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. If a U.S. Attorney is not nominated and confirmed within that period, a U.S. Attorney will be appointed by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
A career public servant, U.S. Attorney Farley has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for over 26 years. After clerking for U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan in the District of Columbia, he joined the Justice Department through the Honors Program in 1995. He first worked for the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section in the Department’s Criminal Division where he prosecuted drug cases in multiple locations, including Texas, California, and Puerto Rico. He then worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Massachusetts from 1998 to 2004, where he prosecuted drug and public corruption cases.
In 2004, he joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire. From 2004 to 2012, he worked in the Civil Division where he primarily handled civil health care fraud and civil rights matters. He then moved to the Criminal Division, where he served as the Lead Task Force Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases. In 2016, he became the First Assistant U.S. Attorney. He previously served as Acting U.S. Attorney from March of 2017 to March of 2018.
Originally from Philadelphia, U.S. Attorney Farley has resided in New Hampshire for over 20 years. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Georgetown University Law Center. He and his wife are the proud parents of two teenage boys.
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Iowa Sex Offender Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Enticement CrimesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A West Liberty, Iowa, man, Charles Walter Christopher, 43, was sentenced on December 15, 2021, to a total of 264 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor and committing a sex offense while a registered sex offender.
Christopher had pleaded guilty in August of 2021. According to court documents, Christopher began communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old child. After arranging to meet with the intended victim, Christopher traveled from West Liberty, Iowa, to Rock Island, Illinois. Upon his arrival, Christopher was arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Christopher was on federal supervised release out of the Southern District of Iowa for attempted enticement of a minor.
Christopher has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in November 2020.
“We will continue to prosecute those who intend to sexually harm children by working with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Hopefully, this case and others like it will serve to remind anyone with the inclination to prey upon children to think twice and to stop. Children and parents need to remain constantly vigilant and exercise caution when accessing the internet, communication apps, and similar platforms.”
"The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to track, locate, and arrest those who seek to victimize our children," said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Office.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow’s 264-month sentence was comprised of 144 months’ imprisonment for attempted enticement of a minor and 120 months’ imprisonment for committing a sex offense while a registered sex offender, to run consecutively.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, with assistance from Rock Island Police and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the federal 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.
Huntington Park Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery Spree Targeting Southland Trader Joe’s Grocery StoresRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Huntington Park man was sentenced this morning to 252 months in federal prison for committing 21 armed robberies and attempted armed robberies of Trader Joe’s grocery stores throughout Southern California during a three-month crime spree.
Gregory Johnson, 44, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips for the robberies in which Johnson used a semi-automatic handgun to terrorize store employees and customers.
Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Johnson admitted he committed armed robberies of Trader Joe’s grocery stories between August 28 and December 4, 2020 in Eagle Rock, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Glendale, Pasadena, Monrovia, San Dimas, Culver City, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Cerritos, Brea, Santa Ana, Agoura Hills, Tustin and Irvine. He also attempted to rob Trader Joe’s stores in Simi Valley and Corona. After Johnson robbed the stores in Rancho Palos Verdes and Brea, he returned weeks later to rob them again.
On December 4, 2020, Johnson and his son, Gregory Eric Johnson, 20, of South Los Angeles, were arrested after a witness gave law enforcement a description of the Johnsons’ getaway car and its license plate, according to court documents. After stopping the vehicle, law enforcement recovered Johnson’s gun and other items from the vehicle.
“The violent, terroristic nature of [Johnson’s] criminal conduct cannot be overstated,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “[Johnson] repeatedly brandished and used a firearm to control and instill fear in innocent civilians. These crimes terrorized the businesses’ employees and customers. These crimes have a lasting impact of emotional trauma on the victims.”
Prosecutors further noted defendant’s “serious and violent criminal history,” including a prior armed robbery conviction in 2000 for robbing a Trader Joe’s store that resulted in a 12-year sentence. Johnson was on probation in several other cases when he committed Trader Joe’s armed robbery spree.
Gregory Eric Johnson was sentenced in December 2021 to two years in federal prison for his role in his father’s crime spree. He pleaded guilty in March 2021 to a two-count information charging him with interference with commerce by robbery for robbing Trader Joe’s stores in Chatsworth and Chino Hills in December 2020.
The FBI; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Great Falls meth user sentenced to five years in prison for illegal possession of numerous firearmsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to using methamphetamine and possessing firearms after law enforcement seized numerous guns along with ammunition from his residence was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Jeremiah Lewis Camphouse, 41, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered the forfeiture of 48 firearms and 10,826 rounds of ammunition.
The government alleged in court documents that while investigating Camphouse in April 2020 for other crimes, law enforcement learned Camphouse was a heavy meth user and had numerous firearms and ammunition at his house. Officers obtained arrest and search warrants for Camphouse. Camphouse admitted to being a daily meth user and that he had “a little bit of dope” at his home. Camphouse also admitted to possessing and trading numerous firearms. During a search of Camphouse’s home, law enforcement seized dozens of firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and various firearms components.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Great Falls Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Stealing Trade Secrets from GlaxoSmithKline to Benefit Chinese Pharma CompanyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Lucy Xi, 44, formerly a resident of Malvern, PA, pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to benefit a Chinese pharmaceutical company named Renopharma.
Lucy Xi’s co-defendants, Yu Xue, Tao Li and Yan Mei, established Renopharma supposedly to research and develop anti-cancer drugs. In reality, though, the company was used as a repository of information stolen from GSK. Renopharma received financial support and subsidies from the government of China. At the time, Lucy Xi (who was married to Yan Mei) and Yu Xue were employed as a scientists at a GSK facility in Upper Merion, PA, which worked on developing biopharmaceutical products. These products typically cost in excess of $1 billion to research and develop.
In January 2015, Lucy Xi sent Yan Mei a GSK document which contained confidential and trade secret data and information. The document provided a summary of GSK research into monoclonal antibodies at that time. In the body of the e-mail, Lucy Xi wrote, “You need to understand it very well. It will help you in your future business [RENOPHARMA].”
Yu Xue, her sister, Tian Xue, and Tao Li have all pleaded guilty for their roles in this conspiracy. Yan Mei is a fugitive who currently resides in China.
“This defendant illegally stole trade secrets to benefit her husband’s company, which was financed by the Chinese government,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The lifeblood of companies like GSK is its intellectual property, and when that property is stolen and transferred to a foreign country, it threatens thousands of American jobs and jeopardizes the strategic benefits brought about through research and development. Such criminal behavior must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Pharmaceutical firms like GSK invest staggering amounts of time and money to develop new medications and bring them to market,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “When individuals steal valuable trade secrets concerning one of these drugs, it’s a threat both to that firm and beyond. After all, innovation like this propels the U.S. economy. The FBI is committed to enforcing laws that protect the nation’s businesses from such theft. We will not permit American research and development to be scavenged for the benefit of other companies or countries.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Livermore and J. Jeanette Kang.
Former Keene Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Andre McBreairty, 45, previously of Keene, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements to obtain CARES Act funds, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed several measures designed to help small businesses, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act created, among other things, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Under that program, businesses could obtain low-interest loans to meet payroll during the first few months of the pandemic. If the money was spent on payroll and other approved purposes such as utilities and rent, the Small Business Administration (SBA) would forgive the loans in full. Congress later passed the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act, which authorized a second tranche of PPP loans.
The SBA also opened up its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to businesses. Under the program, businesses could obtain loans for working capital and normal operating expenses. EIDL applicants were also eligible for advances of up to $15,000, provided certain conditions were met. These advances generally do not need to be repaid.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant lied about his payroll and income to obtain three CARES Act loans. For example, when applying for a loan under the EIDL program, McBreairty falsely claimed that his annual income was $100,000. When applying for a PPP loan, he generated a false IRS form inflating his 2020 earnings. Overall, McBreairty obtained and misused $55,316 in CARES Act proceeds that he was not entitled to receive.
McBreairty, who now resides in Pennsylvania, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2022.
“Although Congress passed the CARES Act to provide financial assistance during the pandemic, some greedy individuals have used fraud to obtain funds they are not entitled to receive,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “By submitting false documents and false information to obtain CARES Act funds, this defendant stole from the American taxpayers. Thanks to the hard work of federal law enforcement agents, he is now being held responsible for his unlawful conduct. As this case demonstrates, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who defraud federal assistance programs.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to defraud programs afforded to the American people under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” said J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department Justice and our law enforcement partners in this effort.”
This matter was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Social Security Administration’s Office for the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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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.
EDVA Collects over $48 M in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber announced today that the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) collected $48,454,99.23 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $24,547,719.25 was collected in criminal actions and $23,907,277.98 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, EDVA worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $15,868,371.49 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $29,835.95 was collected in criminal actions and $15,838,535.54 was collected in civil actions.
“EDVA prioritizes monetary collections, whether it’s to pay restitution to victims or return money to the public fisc for taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “I am grateful for the efforts of our attorneys and support staff in the Asset Recovery Unit and Civil Division to maximize these recoveries.”
In June, EDVA obtained $12,772,843 as part of the settlement with Level 3 Communications, LLC (Level 3), a multinational telecommunications and Internet service provider company. Level 3 agreed to settle allegations involving kickbacks paid to former Level 3 officials in return for favorable treatment to subcontractors in connection with government contracts; improperly obtaining competitive bid information; and misstating compliance with woman-owned small business subcontracting requirements.
In September, after securing jury verdicts against Daryl Bank for masterminding a $25 million investment fraud, EDVA obtained a restitution order for $25,608,156.83. This will require Bank and his codefendants to pay back the more than 350 victims of his crime. In the interim, EDVA is forfeiting Bank’s property, including real estate in Florida and North Carolina; luxury jewelry, to include a 5+ carat diamond ring; high-end clothing and handbags, to include an Hermes belt; over $625,000 seized from bank accounts; and over $75,000 in seized cash in order to request that the Money Laundering Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice permit those liquidated funds to be returned to victims.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in EDVA, working with Department of Justice partner agencies and divisions, collected $29,013,457 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Of that sum, $9,583,825 collected through asset forfeiture was returned to victims of crime through restoration and remission. This amount does not include forfeitures in partnership with Department of Treasury law enforcement agencies. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Clare E. Connors Sworn in as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Clare E. Connors today took the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii. USA Connors was nominated by President Joseph Biden on September 28, 2021 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 7. She took the oath of office from Chief United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright.
“I am grateful to return to this office with the opportunity to lead its efforts in serving the Hawaii community,” said USA Connors. “We will continue to protect the interests of the United States and all the people and organizations we represent.”
As U.S. Attorney, USA Connors is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the District of Hawaii, which consists largely of the State of Hawaii but also includes some areas in the Pacific outside Hawaii. She oversees a staff of approximately 60 employees, including 28 attorneys and, presently, 29 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to national security, drug trafficking, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and violent crime. The office also initiates affirmative civil actions, defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
USA Connors was raised in Honolulu and graduated from Punahou School. Until this appointment, she had been serving as the Attorney General of the State of Hawaii since January 3, 2019. She previously was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Hawaii from 2004 to 2011, and a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division of the Department of Justice from 2003 to 2004. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she was an attorney at the Honolulu law firm of Davis Levin Livingston from 2011 to 2019.
USA Connors received her J.D. in 2002 from Harvard Law School and her B.A. in 1996 from Yale College. She is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association.
30 December 2021
United States Attorney's Office Announces over $650,000 Total Recovery for Victims in Two CasesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today approval by the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section to direct $454,945 recovered from forfeited assets to the victims of Keenam “Kason” Park. Park was convicted in August 2020 of one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud private high schools and international students of millions of dollars in tuition and other fees.
The United States Attorney’s Office also announced approval to direct $229,882 recovered from forfeited assets to the victims of Raymond K. Montoya. Montoya was a hedge fund manager convicted in October 2018 of three counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud and two counts of conducting an unlawful monetary transaction in connection with running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme.
Keenam Park
In December 2020, Park was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to five years in prison and three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $7,332,407. The court also ordered forfeiture in the amount of $7,332,407.
Park – through his company, EduBoston – collected tuition and other payments from students’ families for the 2019-2020 academic year but failed to pay the full tuition owed to partnering schools. Instead, Park used the funds on unrelated expenses, including personal expenses. Park also caused EduBoston to collect advance tuition and other payments for the 2020-2021 academic year, which Park failed to return to the students’ families after EduBoston went out of business in or around September 2019.
The government pursued forfeiture of a number of Park’s assets, including seizing bank accounts, a Lexus and other personal property, which resulted in this recovery. The funds will be distributed to victims pursuant to the Amended Judgment entered in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue assets to compensate Park’s numerous victims.
Raymond Montoya
In March 2019, Montoya was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 175 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Montoya was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,386,802 and forfeiture.
Between 2009 and June 2017, Montoya ran a pooled investment hedge fund in Boston called RMA Strategic Opportunity Fund, LLC. Montoya falsely told his investors—including his family, friends and acquaintances who resided in Massachusetts, Ohio and California—that the fund was earning substantial returns, when in fact, by 2014, the RMA Fund was sustaining substantial losses. The investors transferred millions of dollars of their personal savings and 401(k) retirement plans to Montoya and the RMA Fund. Montoya told the investors that he would invest their money in stocks and bonds, but he actually invested only a portion of their money, while diverting the rest—totaling millions of dollars—to business and personal bank accounts. Montoya used the diverted money for personal expenses such as luxury vehicles.
The government pursued forfeiture of a number of Montoya’s assets, including seized currency and bank accounts, jewelry, a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and other vehicles. Of the funds obtained from the forfeited assets, $229,882 was approved by the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section to be applied to restitution. These funds will be distributed to victims pursuant to the Amended Judgment entered in this case. Previously, the government recovered over $9 million which has already been turned over for victim restitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue assets to compensate Montoya’s numerous victims.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of Mendell’s Asset Recovery Unit, handled the forfeiture aspects of these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Wright of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the Park case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the Montoya case.
Rapid City Man Indicted for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder.
Perry Joseph Fogg, age 23, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 28, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on July 19, 2021, in Mellette County, South Dakota, Fogg killed a man by striking him with a vehicle.
The charge is merely an accusation and Fogg is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Fogg was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Pierre Man Indicted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Travis Rolf, age 43, was indicted on December 14, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 28, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison 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 June 4, 2020, in Dewey County, South Dakota, Rolf, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, did knowingly possess a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Rolf is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Rolf was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for March 1, 2022.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 28 was:
Thomas James Newman, 60, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newman faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Newman was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-110.
Matthew Michael Metzger, 41, of Laurel, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Metzger faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Metzger was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-116.
Daniel James Garza, 31, a transient, on charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and receipt of a firearm by person under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garza faces a maximum 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge and a mandatory minimum two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft count. Garza was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-88.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Federal corrections officer and inmates charged with bribery, smuggling, and drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Patrick Shackelford, a federal corrections officer at U.S. Penitentiary Atlanta (“USP Atlanta”), and Patrick Kirkman and Mitchell Arms, both federal inmates, have been arraigned on federal bribery, smuggling, and drug charges arising from an alleged scheme to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into USP Atlanta between approximately June 2018 and February 2019.
“Shackelford allegedly endangered his fellow officers and other inmates through his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “When correction officers violate their oaths, they put other prison staff members and inmates at risk of harm.”
“The alleged actions of Shackelford not only fosters criminal activity inside and outside of the prison, but it also insults the integrity of every law enforcement officer who takes an oath to serve and protect the people in their communities,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will relentlessly pursue any allegations of corruption in these facilities to ensure the safety of both staff and inmates.”
“Shackelford and two inmates allegedly smuggled and distributed drugs and other dangerous contraband in USP Atlanta. As a correctional officer, Shackelford’s duty was to maintain safety and security in the prison. His actions, as alleged in the indictment, were antithetical to the oath he swore to uphold,” said James F. Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Miami Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges, and other information presented in court: From approximately June 2018 through February 2019, Patrick Shackelford, Patrick Kirkman, Mitchell Arms, and others, allegedly conspired to smuggle narcotics, including methamphetamine and marijuana, along with other prohibited items into USP Atlanta, a medium-security federal prison.
During this time, Shackelford was a federal corrections officer and plumbing supervisor at USP Atlanta. With Shackelford’s knowledge and assistance, inmates working under his direction on the “plumbing crew” (identified as Individual-1 and Individual-2 in the Indictment) were allegedly able to smuggle contraband into USP Atlanta from a visitor’s bathroom through a section of USP Atlanta known as “W-ward.”
Shackelford and inmates working for him allegedly created several holes in W-ward and in the visitor’s bathroom through which contraband could be passed into USP Atlanta. Shackelford allegedly helped facilitate the distribution of narcotics and other contraband in USP Atlanta by escorting inmates to W-ward to pick up the contraband on nearly a weekly basis.
Shackelford further helped the inmates by allowing them to store contraband within the maintenance office, including hiding it in the ceiling above his office. In exchange for permitting inmates on the plumbing crew to smuggle in contraband and distribute it to other inmates, Shackelford allegedly received $5,000 in cash and pain pills, and inmates completed his assigned plumbing duties and other work.
Kirkman and Arms were among the inmates at USP Atlanta allegedly receiving the contraband, including narcotics, through this scheme. While the operation was ongoing, Kirkman paid Individual-1 thousands of dollars via a mobile payment app (Cash App) to smuggle in the contraband. Arms also communicated via text message with Individual-1 about the “packages” that were being smuggled through the visitor’s bathroom into USP Atlanta.
Patrick Shackelford, 47, of Senoia, Georgia, Patrick Kirkman, 35, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama,, and Mitchell Arms, 41, of Columbia, Tennessee, were arraigned before U.S Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand, on December 16, 2021, on a nine-count indictment charging them with bribery; possessing and smuggling of prohibited objects into a federal prison, including cellular phones, marijuana and methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit bribery; conspiracy to possess and smuggle prohibited objects into a federal prison; and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2021.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Department of Justice Awards Additional $11.8 Million in Grants to Support Public Safety Efforts in NevadaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded an additional $11,884,392 in grant funding to support public safety efforts across the Silver State. In total, the Department has awarded $33,881,859 to various Nevada entities since September.
“Our office and our state and local partners are grateful to the Department of Justice for continuing to provide resources to better serve our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “We appreciate the commitment demonstrated by the Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to protecting public safety in Nevada.”
From October through December, Nevada entities were awarded the following grants from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and its components:
- Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention:
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was awarded $385,854, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.
- Bureau of Justice Assistance:
- The City of Winnemucca was awarded $75,749, as part of the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies.
- The Division of Child & Family Services was awarded $172,939, as part of the Implementing the PREA Standards, Protecting Inmates, and Safeguarding Communities.
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was awarded $933,421, as part of the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program; and $249,580, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.
- Washoe County was awarded $200,000, as part of the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program.
- The City of Henderson was awarded $250,000, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.
- The Nevada Department of Public Safety was awarded $296,966, as part of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program; and $201,426, as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
- Nevada Department of Corrections was awarded $500,000, as part of the Continuation of BJA Previously Funded Awards.
- The City of North Las Vegas was awarded $549,003, as part of the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program.
- The National Judicial College was awarded $1,000,000, as part of the Continuation of BJA Previously Funded Awards.
- The Nevada Office of the Attorney General was awarded $5,751,772, as part of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Program.
- National Institute of Justice:
- The Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education was awarded $567,682, as part of research and development in forensic science for criminal justice purposes.
Further, Nevada entities have been awarded the following grants from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office):
- The Nevada System of Higher Education was awarded $125,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
- The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe was awarded $125,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
- The City of Sparks was awarded $500,000, as part of the COPS Hiring Program.
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OJP 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 here.
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. More information about the COPS Office can be found here.
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- Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention:
Crownpoint man sentenced to eight years in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Emerson Pinto, 58, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Dec. 29 in federal court to eight years and one month in prison based on convictions for two counts of abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country.
Pinto pleaded guilty on Aug. 11. In his plea agreement, he admitted that between Sept. 1, 2009, and Oct. 31, 2009, he knowingly engaged in unlawful sexual contact with two young victims, both of whom were under the age of 12 at the time of the offenses. Pinto admitted to touching the girls for sexual gratification during a visit to the victims’ home on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Pinto will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.
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Cleveland Postal Service Manager Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Packages Containing DrugsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Anthony Sharp, 31, of Euclid, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, by Judge Donald C. Nugent to 10 years in prison after Sharp admitted to stealing packages from the U.S. Mail that he suspected contained drugs.
Sharp pleaded guilty in August of 2021 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, money laundering and theft of mail.
According to court documents, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) began an investigation into Sharp, a Cleveland Postal Service Manager, based on suspicion that Sharp was profiling U.S. Mail suspected to contain cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine and stealing the packages.
In July of 2021, USPS OIG special agents and postal inspectors observed Sharp arrive at a Cleveland Postal Service processing facility to help sort Express Mail. Sharp was then observed removing three packages from the mail stream and placing them in a hamper to be transported to his facility. Once the Express Mail was sorted, Sharp was observed loading all the Express Mail for his facility, including the three packages suspected of containing drugs, into his vehicle.
Sharp was then observed leaving the facility, opening several parcels and arriving at the postal facility that he managed. Later, Sharp left the facility and was detained during a traffic stop. A search of his vehicle produced the three packages which were opened and contained methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. Law enforcement officers also observed additional Express and Priority Mail parcels opened in the trunk of the vehicle.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Sweeney and Kathryn Andrachik.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to over 23 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred to 285 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking and drug offenses.
Davon Smith, 29, was found guilty by a federal jury in August this year on three counts of sex trafficking and one count of drug distribution. The trial lasted six days and the jury reached its verdicts after one day of deliberation.
According to court documents, Smith, was charged with one count of sex trafficking a minor, one count of benefitting from a sex trafficking enterprise, one count of sex trafficking an adult by force, fraud or coercion and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to evidence presented at trial, he trafficked an adult and a runaway juvenile victim in early 2019. Smith had a previous felony drug conviction and was on federal supervised release at the time he committed the offenses. His total sentence represented 22 years for substantive offenses plus 21 months for committing those offenses while on supervised release.
“It is impossible to overstate the trauma done by trafficking minors and other vulnerable persons,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. “And trafficking deadly opioids unleashes other terrible harms. By working so hard to see that justice was done in this case, the FBI, Anchorage Police Department, and the prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office have made Alaska safer.”
“Through manipulation and abuse, the defendant coerced adults and minors to perform commercial sex acts for his own financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With a victim-centered approach, the FBI and our partners on the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, will continue investigating and holding accountable those who commit such reprehensible crimes.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, 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.justice.gov/psc.
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$2.2+ Million in DOJ Grants Awarded in the Middle District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has awarded grants totaling $2,265,281 to support local programs addressing a range of community safety and criminal justice issues across the Middle District of Georgia.
“These grants are substantial investments toward both necessary and innovative solutions for a wide-ranging set of criminal justice issues effecting communities across the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “As the new year dawns, our office reaffirms our total commitment to our region’s shared goal of reducing violence and ensuring fair and equal justice in each community we serve.”
The following jurisdictions and agencies applied for and received grants through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for FY 2021, awarded in Dec. 2021:
1. The Beekeeper Reentry Program – An Innovative Approach to Reducing Recidivism
$900,000 BJA FY 2021 Second Chance Act Grant awarded to the Family Wellness Outreach Center of Georgia, Inc. in Albany, Georgia, with a goal to reduce recidivism rates by at least 25% for 102 reentering adults at highest risk for reoffending in 14 Southwest Georgia counties. Georgia's recidivism rate among individuals released from prison is around 30%.
2. Implementing Standards, Protecting Inmates – Stronger, Better Locks
$250,000 BJA FY 2021 Implementing the PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Standards, Protecting Inmates, and Safeguarding Communities Grant awarded to the Muscogee County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office to replace cell locks in the jail to both keep the facility in compliance and greatly enhance the safety and security of both inmates, staff and visitors.
3. Fort Valley Police Community Policing Initiative – Combat Rising Violent Crime Issues
$150,000 BJA FY 2021 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies Grant awarded to the City of Fort Valley, Georgia, Police Department to create a stronger relationship between community and police, offer individual officer training and increase focused patrols in high crime areas while partnering with community members and apartment management in those areas.
4. South Georgia Circuit Rural Crime Reduction Initiative Project
$141,687 BJA FY 2021 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies Grant awarded to the Decatur County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners for purposes focused on reducing violent crime in rural areas served by the South Georgia Judicial Circuit.
The following non-profit organization applied for and received a grant through OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for FY 2021, awarded in Oct. 2021:
5. Mentoring for Youth Affected by the Opioid Crisis and Drug Addiction
$622,903 Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) FY 2021 Grant awarded to Beginning New Outreach, Inc. in Columbus, Georgia to provide ongoing mentoring for youth who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs, youth at risk for abusing and youth with family members who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs.
The following jurisdictions applied for and received OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for FY 2021, awarded in Oct. 2021:
6. Funding Assistance for Local Law Enforcement, Columbus Consolidated Government
$104,731 BJA FY 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to include law enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.
7. Less than Lethal Program, City of Americus, Georgia
$12,155 BJA FY 21 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to include law enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.
8. Law Enforcement Operational Enhancement Project, City of Albany
$83,805 BJA FY 21 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to include law enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.
Once the awards are made, information about the grantees selected under each solicitation can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.
OJP 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.
29 December 2021
Zuni man pleads guilty to murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brodie Coonsis, 28, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pleaded guilty on Dec. 27 in federal court to second-degree murder in Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Coonsis shot and killed John Doe on Feb. 26 at John Doe’s residence in Zuni. Coonsis, who had been using drugs and was upset with John Doe, travelled to the victim’s house on the Pueblo of Zuni. After John Doe opened the door, Coonsis fired his shotgun four times as he followed the victim up the stairs, eventually killing him.
Coonsis is currently in custody pending his sentencing, which has not been scheduled. He faces up to life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $36 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley announced today that the Eastern District of North Carolina collected $36,556,528.37 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $26,265,414.19 was collected in criminal actions and $10,291,114.18 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Eastern District worked with other U.S. Attorneys Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,240,138.15 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $38,938.15 was collected in criminal actions and $1,201,200.00 was collected in civil actions.
In the past fiscal year, the Eastern District of North Carolina has recovered millions of dollars for crime victims. For example, in United States v. Treyton Lee Thomas, over $7.2 million was recovered for victims of the defendant’s criminal conduct. In United States v. Adam Frankel, a case involving the manufacturing of child pornography, over $200,000 was recovered from the defendant.
“We use every legal remedy available to collect victim restitution and criminal fines, and to recover taxpayer dollars lost to waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Mr. Easley. “Today’s announcement is a testament of the dedication and professionalism of our attorneys and staff in furtherance of that important mission, especially those in our Asset Recovery Unit.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $24,506,586.00 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. “The forfeiture of assets that facilitate crimes, or which are the fruits of crime, serves an important law enforcement interest, including depriving criminals of the means and reasons for their criminal activity,” Mr. Easley stated. “The proper use of asset forfeiture can aid in financially disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations and restoring funds to victims of crime. Our office will continue to do that important work.”
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $14 Million in Criminal and Civil Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio collected $14,351,785.37 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2021. Of this amount, $10,314,484.90 was collected in criminal actions and $4,037,300.47 was collected in civil actions.
“Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the Financial Litigation Program in the Northern District was able to pursue and recover considerable funds from numerous civil and criminal judgments,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “When this Office represents the United States of America and secures a collection judgment, we will seek to recover every dollar possible.”
Furthermore, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, working with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice agencies across the country, collected an additional $27,194,349.03 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.
In total, the Northern District of Ohio and partner agencies collected a combined total of $41,546,134.40 in criminal and civil actions and forfeitures in fiscal year 2021.
Notable collections and forfeitures in fiscal year 2021 include:
CRIMINAL
USA v. Stellato: Defendant Chad M. Stellato pleaded guilty in December of 2020 to defrauding Lowe’s Home Improvement stores via a fraudulent purchase and return scheme. Stellato was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $594,799.12, and final payment was collected within six months of sentencing.
USA v. Chime, et al.: Defendants John D. Chime, II, Jerry L. Stackhouse and Rogelio Alonso, Jr. were convicted of orchestrating a real estate investment scheme in 2012 and were ordered to pay $677,493.68 in restitution. Final restitution was collected in December of 2021.
USA v. Sturgill: Defendant James Sturgill pleaded guilty in December of 2000 to bank fraud and was ordered to pay $224,116.04 in restitution. Final restitution was collected in March of 2021.
CIVIL
U.S. ex rel. Ethical Solutions, LLC, et al. V. Akron General Health System, et al.: In July of 2021, Akron General Health System agreed to pay over $21 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that it had improper relationships with certain referring physicians, resulting in the submission of false claims to the Medicare program.
USA v. Shaffer Pharmacy, et al.: In June of 2021, Shaffer Pharmacy, located in Toledo, Ohio, agreed to pay $375,000 to resolve a civil suit filed under the Controlled Substances Act alleging that the pharmacy and two individuals filled prescriptions that did not have a legitimate medical purpose.
Tronair, Inc.: In September of 2021, Tronair, Inc., located in Swanton, Ohio, agreed to pay $92,400 to resolve a False Claims Act investigation that it sold several federal agencies aircraft tow tractors with remanufactured transaxles, in violation of its contracts with the affected agencies.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the department’s litigating divisions are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.
While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces More Than $1.1 Million to Support Substance Abuse Programs in Western OhioRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced today that the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (O.J.P.) awarded $1,199,650 in grant funding to support programs that provide services to address opioid, stimulant and substance abuse issues in Western Ohio.
The Hancock County A.D.A.M.H.S. Board was awarded $600,000 to support the Recovery Community Organization Outreach Project. This initiative provides recovery support services, peer recovery support services and access to transitional or recovery housing for individuals 18 years and older who have a history of opioid, stimulant or other substance use disorders and are either at risk or involved in the criminal justice system in Hancock County.
The City of Maumee was awarded $599,650 to implement a law-enforcement-led response to address the city's substance abuse issues. The City of Maumee plans to use the funding to embed social services into law enforcement operations for children impacted by family drug use, begin an evidence-based school drug prevention initiative - the L.E.A.D. program and expand the City's drug take-back capabilities.
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 O.J.P. and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Two Defendants Plead Guilty to Illegally Straw Purchasing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two defendants have pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with the illegal purchase of multiple firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats.
According to their guilty pleas, between May 2020 and May 2021, Sarah Jean Elwood, 34, and Jeffrey Paul Jackson, 31, conspired together and with others to buy dozens of firearms from various Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) in the State of Minnesota. As part of the straw-purchasing scheme, Elwood and others would go to various FFLs, and she would purchase the firearms on behalf of others who requested the firearms in advance of the purchases. In making the purchases, Elwood knowingly misrepresented to the dealers that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when in fact she and her co-defendants knew she was not. Jackson helped arrange the deals with his co-defendants and others, which included a $100 premium for each straw-purchased gun, and obtained cash or other items of value upfront for the firearms. In total, the defendants straw purchased approximately 97 firearms, including approximately 62 firearms in May 2021 alone. To date, approximately 17 firearms have been recovered by local law enforcement at various crime scenes and/or in the possession of persons legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
During recent court hearings, Elwood and Jackson each admitted to their roles in the conspiracy and pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery to one count each of aiding and abetting false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms. Co-conspirator Geryiell Lamont Walker, 22, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and making false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who can lawfully purchase firearms from an FFL but who then provides them to another person who is legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, therefore allowing the prohibited person to illegally obtain firearms and avoid the national background check system.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Outside a Tulsa NightclubRead the Press Release
A 21-year-old Tulsa man who committed a shooting outside of a Tulsa nightclub in August pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Jaden Perez pleaded guilty to carrying, using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Perez admitted to firing a handgun at a security guard and injuring him on Aug. 21, 2021, at a nightclub in southeast Tulsa. He faces ten years in federal prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 27, 2022.
“Jaden Perez has been held accountable for his blatant criminal disregard for the safety of nightclub patrons and employees when he shot a security guard outside the nightclub. I am thankful that no one was killed in the incident,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at the Tulsa Police Department and ATF will continue to hold accountable those responsible for gun violence in our community.”
In his plea agreement, Perez admitted that he got into a fight with a security guard as the nightclub was closing. After the fight ended, he returned to his friend’s car to retrieve two firearms, a Kimber .45 caliber pistol and a Taurus 9mm caliber pistol. Perez then ran across the parking lot firing multiple times at security guards and other bystanders, ultimately hitting one security guard who returned fire and struck Perez multiple times.
During the shooting, the security guard felt a pain in his chest when he was struck. Upon examination, he suffered bruising and redness to the left side of his chest.
Perez fled the scene immediately afterwards. Tulsa police officers responding to the shooting conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Perez’s friend shortly after the incident and found Perez in the back seat suffering from gunshot wounds. Perez was transported by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital for treatment.
Perez is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, and the crime occurred on the Muscogee Nation Reservation.
The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case.
Syracuse Man Admits Possessing Firearms and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kamar L. Boatman, age 36, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Kenton Buckner, Syracuse Police Department.
As part of his guilty plea today, Boatman admitted that he possessed at his residence in Syracuse the following firearms and ammunition recovered by the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SPD-SID) during the execution of a search warrant on May 31, 2018:
Firearms
One (1) Ruger pistol, model P89DC, caliber 9mm
One (1) Hi Point rifle, model 4595, .45 ACP caliber rifle,
One (1) Smith and Wesson rifle, model M&P15 .556 caliber rifle,
One (1) Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services model A15, Multi Caliber rifle
Ammunition
Twenty-six (26) rounds of .223 caliber ammunition
Six (6) rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition
Eight (8) rounds of .45 caliber ammunition
Boatman also admitted that he was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine (a felony) in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, and was sentenced on May 7, 2010 to serve 48 months in federal prison.
Sentencing in the current case is scheduled for February 28, 2022, at which time the defendant faces a sentence of 60 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SPD-SID) and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the Verdict in U.S. V. Ghislaine MaxwellRead the Press Release
“A unanimous jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and participating in the sexual abuse of children. Crimes that she committed with her long-time partner and co-conspirator, Jeffrey Epstein. The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done. I want to commend the bravery of the girls – now grown women – who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to face their abuser made this case, and today’s result, possible. I also want to thank the career prosecutors of the Southern District of New York, who embraced the victims’ quest for justice and have worked tirelessly, day in and day out, to ensure that Maxwell was held accountable for her crimes. This Office will always stand with victims, will always follow the facts wherever they lead, and will always fight to ensure that no one, no matter how powerful and well connected, is above the law.”
St. Paul Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Arson and Riot During August 2020 Riots in Downtown MinneapolisRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for burning, looting, and damaging stores and businesses in downtown Minneapolis on August 26, 2020. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced the defendant.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on the evening of August 26, 2020, Victor Devon Edwards, 32, drove to downtown Minneapolis following a city-wide curfew to join a large crowd that had gathered following false rumors regarding police involvement in the death of a man on Nicollet Mall earlier that evening. Over the course of approximately three hours, Edwards engaged in acts of riot, arson, and other property damage and destruction in downtown Minneapolis. Edwards was captured on video surveillance participating in the rioting and looting at Saks Off Fifth and entering other closed stores and businesses that evening, including Caribou Coffee, Target Headquarters, and Brit’s Pub on Nicollet Mall. Edwards was captured on video surveillance helping to break into the Target Headquarters building and adding fuel to a fire set inside the building, which ultimately caused almost a million dollars in damages to Target. Edwards was then captured on video surveillance entering the nearby Brit’s Pub, which, shortly after he went in, became engulfed in flames.
During and after his criminal activity downtown that evening, Edwards bragged about his participation in the rioting and looting. Edwards also took orders from friends for items to loot. The next morning, Edwards took a video of himself flashing a large amount of cash and saying, “On the looting side. . .” He also admitted that he got “MK purses and money” in text messages with his friends.
On August 12, 2021, Edwards was convicted by a federal jury of one count of riot and one count of arson.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Chelsea A. Walcker.
South Florida Man Charged with Covid-19 Relief Fraud, Buying Lamborghini, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton with Loan MoneyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida — A Florida man charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made his first appearance today in federal magistrate court in Ft. Lauderdale.
According to the allegations in the indictment, Valesky Barosy, 27, of Ft. Lauderdale, submitted fraudulent loan applications on behalf of himself and his accomplices, seeking more than $4.2 million in PPP loans. In each loan application, Barosy falsified the applicant’s prior-year expenses, net profit, and payroll, and submitted fraudulent IRS tax forms, says the indictment.
According to the charges, Barosy and his accomplices received approximately $2.1 million in PPP loans from the fraudulent scheme. Barosy used the fraudulently-obtained proceeds to purchase a Lamborghini Huracán EVO, Rolex and Hublot watches, and designer clothing from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel, it is alleged.
The indictment charges Barosy with five counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Barosy faces up to 132 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
USSS Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
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.
An indictment is a mere allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 21-cr-60345.
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Justice Department Awards over $5.1 Million in Grants to State of LouisianaRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $5,186,242 collectively to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, the Judiciary Courts of the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Justice, and the Louisiana Department Public Safety and Corrections.
Grantees will use funds to:
- provide digital evidence training supplemented with equipment to substantially upgrade the skills of Louisiana prosecutors, whose limited resources compound challenges with digital evidence;
- support adult reentry education, employment, treatment and recovery programs;
- improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, eliminating or reducing the backlog of analysis of forensic science evidence, and training;
- provide training and technical assistance to affiliate agencies and supporting Louisiana Department of Justice investigator positions to conduct proactive and reactive investigations of technology-facilitated crimes against children; and
- invest in a local technical and training assistance pilot to promote sustainable evidence-based practices and a broad strategy to align probation and parole specialized caseloads with treatment courts, beginning with mental health and veteran treatment courts.
Hampton Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Victims and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding victims in the Hampton Roads area out of more than $630,000 and evading the assessment of more than $50,000 in income taxes.
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2019, Clarence M. Rice Jr., 54, falsely represented to victims that he was going to receive a sizeable inheritance from his father’s death, under the condition that Rice paid off all his existing debts. He tricked victims into giving him large sums of money using the false representations that he needed the funds to obtain his inheritance.
As a result of his fraud scheme, Rice stole more than $350,000 from a 75-year-old retired bricklayer and more than $140,000 from an elderly blind man. In total, Rice obtained at least $632,017.44 in fraudulent proceeds from the scheme. As part of the plea, Rice agreed that all his victims were of limited financial means and suffered substantial hardship from his fraud.
Despite earning income from his fraud scheme, Rice has not filed taxes since 2011. Between 2015 and 2019, he defrauded the IRS by living a cash lifestyle, negotiating checks from victims for U.S. currency instead of depositing them in bank accounts, hiding assets on prepaid cards, and lying to law enforcement about his income and assets. The approximate tax due and owing resulting from Rice’s failure to pay his personal income tax is $52,064.18.
Rice pleaded guilty to wire fraud and evasion of income tax assessment and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, 2022. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the fraud offense and a maximum of five years in prison for the tax evasion. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Mack Coleman and Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels are prosecuting the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-60.
Federal Court Permanently Shuts Down Two Miami-Area Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
A federal court in the Southern District of Florida has permanently enjoined two Miami-area tax return preparers from preparing federal income tax returns for others.
The injunctions against Gerald Vito, James Eleby and Gerald Vito LLC dba Income Tax Services, were entered by default. The complaint filed against the defendants alleged that they prepared tax returns that significantly understated their customers’ tax liabilities by claiming deductions for fabricated or inflated charitable deductions, medical expenses and employee business expenses. The complaint further alleged that the defendants significantly understated their customers’ tax liabilities by reporting false or inflated business losses. In addition, the complaint alleged, the defendants often deducted hundreds of dollars in fees from their customers’ refunds, in many cases without disclosing the fee that they charged. According to the complaint, based on IRS estimates from audits of some of the defendants’ customers, the defendants’ fraudulent activities likely cost the United States millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. (More information can also be found here.) The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a list of important reminders for taxpayers who are about to file their 2020 tax returns, including how to prepare for a smooth filing process.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $72,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronical federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
DOJ awards more than $8.5 million to Western Washington Tribes for justice and tribal youth development programsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $8.5 million to Western Washington Indian Tribes for improvements to their criminal justice systems and youth development programs, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The awards, to eight different tribes, are targeted for specific needs identified by each tribal community.
“It is an impressive list of projects and goals that each of these tribes outlined in their grant applications,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “From developing programs to connect tribal youth with their culture and heritage, to upgrading facilities for tribal courts and treatment facilities, these projects strengthen our communities.”
Four tribes are receiving grants to enhance services to teens:
Quinault Indian Nation - $600,000 for a juvenile healing and wellness court program.
Squaxin Island Tribe - $508,242 for a teen development and mentoring program.
Puyallup Tribe - $508,254 for tribal youth development and justice programs.
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation - $508,245 for tribal youth programs.
Three tribes are receiving grants to improve the physical spaces involved in tribal justice and wellness programs:
Tulalip Tribes – grants totaling $1,339,961 to expand and improve the Healing Lodge for drug treatment and expand and assess services under the Path to Wellness program.
Skokomish Tribe – $1,200,000 to assist with construction of a public safety building that provides police and court services.
Nooksack Tribe -$1,186,249 to assist with renovations to the Tribal Justice Center.
Finally, three tribes received grants to enhance their court systems and criminal justice related programs:
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe - $900,000 to enhance reentry services for previously incarcerated tribal members.
Nooksack Tribe -$891,544 to hire a tribal prosecutor, bailiff, and staff to provide court services.
Quinault Indian Nation -$900,000 to expand the adult wellness court and develop a family wellness court.
In its grant application for the wellness courts the Quinault Indian Nation noted that it “has been working to build a stronger restorative justice model. Part of this model serves to help nonviolent offenders and their families work through substance abuse issues through a variety of social services such as Chemical Dependency, behavioral health, and family services…. Establishing these courts will promote the restorative justice model and be better suited to reduced recidivism, lesson the burden on community policing, reduce jail capacity, and build stronger communities.”
Copies of the grant awards are available on request to [email protected]
Additional information about these and other FY 2021 grant awards made by OJP can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.
Convicted Felon Who Shot at a Group of Teenagers and Hit a Parked Car Sentenced to a Decade in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a gun he fired at a group of teenagers and who had another individual buy two guns for him less than a week later was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Dmontrey Rayshawn Redmond, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 7, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that, on November 29, 2020, Redmond exited a house into an alley in Cedar Rapids. A group of five teenagers was walking in the alley. They began to run as Redmond exited the house. Redmond pointed a handgun towards the group and fired in their direction. None of the teenagers were hit, but a nearby parked car was struck. Redmond went back into the house while tucking the gun into his pants.
Law enforcement responded to the scene of the shooting. During the investigation of the shooting, officers searched Redmond’s home and found a loaded Glock handgun. Officers also found nine spent shell casings in the alley that matched the rounds found in the Glock handgun. The spent shell casings were compared to the Glock handgun using the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). The NIBIN comparison showed that the nine rounds were shot from the Glock handgun.
On December 4, 2020, Redmond went to a gun store in Waterloo, Iowa, with another individual named Jamie Marie Graham. Redmond instructed Graham to choose two Glock handguns and a box of .40 caliber ammunition. She did so and began working with a store employee to fill out the paperwork necessary to purchase the guns. Graham lied on the forms, indicating she was the purchaser of the guns. Redmond paid for the guns using a cash card that was in his name. After leaving the store, Redmond took the guns and ammunition.
On December 23, 2020, one of the two Glock handguns that Redmond had obtained on December 4 was located in a house in Cedar Rapids. A friend of Redmond’s was living in the house with another adult and a four-year old child. The Glock handgun was left unsecured in the house. The child got the gun and accidently discharged it. The fired round struck the child in the chin and head causing significant injuries. The child survived the injuries.
Redmond has prior convictions for assault, disorderly conduct – fighting or violent behavior, possession of drugs, theft, providing false identification, robbery, reckless use of a firearm resulting in bodily injury, and trafficking in stolen weapons. During the robbery, Redmond shot the victim of the robbery three times, once in the arm and twice in the legs.
Redmond was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Redmond was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay approximately $1,000 in restitution to the owner of the car he shot.
On December 17, 2021, Graham was sentenced to five years of federal probation after previously pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of the two Glock handguns on December 4, 2020.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Redmond is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-115.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Convicted Felon Who Ran from Police and Tried to Hide a Loaded Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a gun he attempted to hide while running from police was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Ryan Matthew Willis, age 24, Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 13, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that, on January 30, 2021, Willis was the passenger in a car driving in Dubuque. Law enforcement attempted to stop the car. The car then led law enforcement on a high-speed chase. The car eventually stopped and three people, including Willis, got out and attempted to flee on foot. While running from the police, Willis stashed a loaded handgun under a tarp. Law enforcement officers found the gun a short time later.
Willis has a lengthy criminal history. He has convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possessing drugs, providing false identification, disorderly conduct, theft, criminal mischief, and interference with official acts causing bodily injury. The interference with official acts conviction resulted after Willis ran from law enforcement officers. The officers had to tackle Willis to stop him from running. Two officers received injuries as a result.
Willis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Willis was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Willis is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-1021.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Clinton Johnson Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of OklahomaRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Clinton J. Johnson as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma effective December 26, 2021. Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III administered the oath of office.
“I am privileged to serve the people of northeastern Oklahoma and to lead an exceptional team of attorneys and support staff dedicated to ensuring the public’s safety,” said U.S Attorney Clint Johnson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working closely with our local, state, federal and tribal partners in the pursuit of justice in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
Johnson previously began a term appointment as the Acting U.S. Attorney on March 1, 2021, under the Vacancies Reform Act. That term appointment expired on December 25, 2021. Under the Attorney General’s December 26, 2021, appointment, Johnson now serves as the United States Attorney for a term of 120 days or until a presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney is in place.
Johnson is the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States in the Northern District of Oklahoma, an area covering eleven counties and including thirteen federally recognized Indian tribes. He leads a staff of more than 100 attorneys and support personnel to accomplish this mission.
He has also held the position of First Assistant U.S. Attorney where he supervised the criminal, civil, and administrative divisions for the Northern District of Oklahoma. He further managed the agency’s budget and resources and took an active role in the hiring of personnel and expansion of office space as the U.S. Attorney’s Office was required to grow dramatically to fulfill its public safety mission.
Johnson is a career federal prosecutor with 26 years of experience. He has investigated and prosecuted violent felonies, white-collar offenses, public corruption, drug and gun-related crimes, and human trafficking in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Previously, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Branch Chief in the District of New Mexico.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok. The U.S. Attorney’s full bio can be found here.
Billings man admits stealing firearms from business after using construction excavator to break inRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man accused of stealing firearms from a business after breaking in by using a construction excavator to tear down a section of wall and door admitted to a firearms crime today, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Erik Stephen Deaner, 46, pleaded guilty to theft from a federal firearm licensee. Deaner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Deaner was detained pending further proceedings. A sentencing date is pending before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Oct. 21, Deaner stole firearms from Castle Arms, a federal firearms licensee located in Yellowstone County, by using a construction excavator to tear down a section of wall and door. The excavator had been taken from a nearby construction site. Construction site employees told law enforcement that the excavator had been locked and no keys were missing but that the key was universal so anyone with the manufacturer’s key could potentially access the excavator. An investigation determined that five pistols and one antique rifle had been stolen and that Deaner had been in the business previously and had behaved oddly. Investigators went to Deaner’s home and arrested him on an outstanding warrant when he came outside. Deaner admitted to using the excavator to break into the business and to stealing the firearms. Deaner said he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms but that he liked firearms. All of the stolen firearms were recovered from his garage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – An Arkansas man pleaded guilty to the federal felony offense of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
Victor Cody Rosillo, 26, was found guilty and convicted of the offense by U.S. District Court Judge Taylor B. McNeel. Rosillo is scheduled to be sentenced on April 6, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2020, Rosillo, who had been traveling in Mississippi, committed a drive-by shooting from a nearby street onto Keesler Air Force Base near the Military Hospital Emergency Room. While no firearm was recovered, two shell casings and a fired bullet were recovered from the scene by Biloxi Police and Keesler Security Forces. The recovered projectile was analyzed by a forensic examiner and was determined to be a 9mm bullet consistent with the 9mm shell casings recovered. The forensic examiner also noted that the 9mm projectile would have been fired from a 9mm HiPoint firearm, which investigators learned was the same type of firearm possessed by Rosillo during the Keesler shooting incident.
Rosillo was serving a term of state felony probation in Arkansas at the time of the shooting in Mississippi.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI in Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the ATF in New Orleans, made the announcement. U.S. Attorney LaMarca praised the investigation and coordination of the FBI, the ATF, Keesler Security Forces and the Biloxi Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is prosecuting the case as part of the federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s crime reduction efforts, PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
28 December 2021
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $4,302,430 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers announced today that the Southern District of Indiana collected $4,302,430.23 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $2,799,296.37 was collected in criminal actions and $1,503,133.86 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Southern District of Indiana worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,941,923.77 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $114.58 was collected in criminal actions and $1,941,809.19 was collected in civil actions.
“The diligent efforts of our federal prosecutors and support staff in the Southern District of Indiana’s Criminal Division, Civil Division and Asset Recovery Unit are committed to protecting its citizens and their resources,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “We have some of the best in the country, and I want to thank them for making this year's collections possible.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Indiana, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,414,230 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
U.S. Attorney's Office Collects over $38.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou announced today that the District of Nevada collected $38,515,689.66 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $36,943,966.20 was collected in criminal actions and $1,571,723.46 was collected in civil actions.
“Without the dedication, commitment, and hard work of our Civil Division, particularly the Financial Litigation Program and Asset Forfeiture Unit, these significant collections would not have been possible,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “Our office is honored to work alongside our law enforcement and other collection partners, and contribute these funds for (among other things) victim compensation and assistance.”
Highlights of the District of Nevada’s FY 2021 collection efforts include:
- In March 2021, Indian drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited (FKOL) pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to provide certain records to FDA investigators. As part of a criminal resolution, FKOL paid a criminal fine of $30 million in April. The Asset Forfeiture Unit also obtained an order compelling FKOL to forfeit an additional $20 million.
- In September 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office obtained an order granting a motion for final order of garnishment in United States v. Patel. The garnishment, which was directed to a complicated investment vehicle owned by the defendant, enabled the government to obtain $453,025.57 to apply towards the defendant’s outstanding $500,000 fine.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $22,292,063 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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San Diego Resident Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in 15-Year-Old’s DeathRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Vivian Sapthavee (619) 546-7696 and Adam Gordon (619) 546-6720
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY—December 28, 2021
SAN DIEGO - Kaylar Junior Tawan Beltranlap of San Diego appeared in federal court today in connection with a grand jury indictment charging him with selling the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old Coronado High School sophomore on May 12, 2021.
Agents and Task Force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration are leading the investigation into the death. The next court date is set for February 4, 2022 for a Motion Hearing/Trial Setting.
“Every loss of life to opioids is tragic, but the death of a 15-year-old is heart-shattering,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Our community must recognize the threat to middle and high school students from the plague of fentanyl. This case must be a call to action to educate our children about the extreme danger of experimenting with drugs.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their dedication to this case and to the cause of preventing opioid-related deaths and seeking justice for victims.
“The Coronado Police Department is thankful for the collective work to hold the suspect accountable. We are also reminded that we have a family that lost a child because of a dangerous drug,” - Coronado Police Chief Chuck Kaye.
“Parents: More than ever before, it’s so important to educate your teenager about the dangers of drugs because just One Pill Can Kill,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. “If you don’t have the conversation with your teen, their friends or a drug dealer will give them inaccurate information and it could cost your child’s life. The DEA has resources available to parents at www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov.”
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, the California Department of Health Care Services and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The DEA created Narcotics Task Force (NTF) Team 10 as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. Investigators from Team 10, as well as the Coronado Police Department and NTF Team 3, contributed to the investigation into C.J.S.’s death.
DEFENDANT Case Number 21-CR-3442 CAB
Kaylar Junior Tawan Beltranlap Age: 21 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribute of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison; Twenty-year mandatory minimum
AGENCY
Drug Enforcement Administration
Homeland Security Investigations
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Coronado Police Department
San Diego Police Department
California Department of Health Care Services
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Robert J. Troester Appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Robert J. Troester as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma effective December 26, 2021. He took the oath of office from Chief United States District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti last week.
"It is an honor to serve the great citizens of the Western District of Oklahoma and work every day to keep our communities safe," said U.S. Attorney Troester. "I am privileged to work with an incredibly talented team of professionals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and exceptional state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, who are all dedicated to the mission of justice."
U.S. Attorney Troester had served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and began a term appointment as the Acting U.S. Attorney under the Vacancies Reform Act on March 1, 2021, following the resignation of then-U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing. That term appointment expired on December 25, 2021. Under the Attorney General’s December 26, 2021 appointment, U.S. Attorney Troester now serves as the United States Attorney for a term of 120 days or until a Presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney is in place.
As United States Attorney, Troester serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States, federal agencies, and federal employees in the Western District of Oklahoma. The Western District is the largest of three judicial districts in Oklahoma and includes 40 of the 77 counties and including 21 federally recognized Indian tribes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office consists of nearly 100 staff members to accomplish this mission.
U.S. Attorney Troester has served in the Department of Justice since 1995. He has held multiple managerial positions throughout his career, including Acting U.S. Attorney on four occasions, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Chief of the Civil Division. He has also served in other capacities in Washington D.C., including Associate Deputy Attorney General, Sr. Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, and Deputy Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Troester worked in private practice in Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma state government, and in local law enforcement at the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office in Kearney, Nebraska.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Isaiah Khalil Wise, age 21, formerly of the City’s East Hills neighborhood, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about December 4, 2021, Wise possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. It is prohibited under federal law for a convicted felon to be in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition.
The law provides for a term of imprisonment not more than ten (10) years, a fine not to exceed $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brian W. Castello is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Office of the Attorney General – Criminal Law Division and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Child Sex Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Earl Jonell Jackson, age 40, of Omaha, NE was sentenced on December 20, 2021 by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 120 months in prison for Transportation and Sex Trafficking of a Child. His prison term will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Jackson pleaded guilty to the charge on August 5, 2021.
On September 8, 2020, the mother of the minor victim reported her daughter missing to the Council Bluffs Police Department. Law enforcement began their investigation and based on phone number information, they were able to locate numerous ads for prostitution posted by Jackson on skipthegames.com, an online website where ads are posted for prostitution purposes. Prostitution ads of the minor victim were posted in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area, specifically in the Council Bluffs area in August and September of 2020.
Law enforcement further found on September 5, 2020, Jackson and the minor victim drove from Omaha to Chicago. Jackson supplied the minor victim with drugs and posted prostitution ads on skipthegames.com in the Chicago and Highland Park, IL area numerous times in September of 2020. The minor victim was located in Chicago, Illinois.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
John T. Earnest Sentenced to Life Plus 30 years in Prison for Federal Hate Crimes Related to 2019 Poway Synagogue Shooting and Attempted Mosque ArsonRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Peter Ko (619) 546-7359 and Shane Harrigan (619) 546-6981
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 28, 2021
SAN DIEGO – John T. Earnest, a Rancho Penasquitos man who entered the Chabad of Poway on April 27, 2019, opened fire and killed one woman, injured three others, and attempted to kill 50 others, was sentenced in federal court today to life plus 30 years in prison for his crimes.
Earnest previously pleaded guilty to a 113-count indictment that included 54 counts of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, 55 counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, and four firearms offenses.
Earnest also admitted that on March 24, 2019, he attempted to burn down the Dar-ul-Arqam mosque in Escondido, California, because of his hatred of Muslims and the religious character of the building. Seven missionaries were asleep in the mosque, but no one was injured.
“All people in this country should be able to freely exercise their religion without fear of being attacked,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant’s horrific crime was an assault on fundamental principles of our nation. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to confronting unlawful acts of hate and to holding perpetrators of hate-fueled violence accountable.”
“Today we stand with the family of Lori Gilbert Kaye, the injured, and all who suffered as a result of the defendant’s heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners reject all forms of hatred and prejudice, and we will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims of bias-motivated violence.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the ATF, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and the San Diego Police Department for their excellent work on this case.
“Hate has no place in our society and bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “By committing these heinous and senseless acts of violence against Jewish and Muslim community members, this defendant violated our most basic American ideal: all persons are created equal. The Department of Justice is committed to aggressively prosecuting bias-motivated violence and will continue partnering with state and local law enforcement to ensure that those who seek to engage in violence based on bias are held accountable for their crimes.”
“While today's sentence brings an end to this case, it also reaffirms the FBI's commitment to pursue those who operate in the world of prejudice and religious hate,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “Hate crimes tear at the social fabric of our community. The FBI stands with our state and federal partners to ensure houses of worship are free from bias-motivated violence, and we will use all investigative tools to seek justice for the victims.”
“ATF will continue to use all investigative tools and resources at our disposal to combat hate-fueled gun violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Monique Villegas. “Hatred of any kind has no place in our society and we will work tirelessly with our federal and local law enforcement partners to ensure any individual or groups that perpetuate criminal acts are held accountable for their actions.
According to court documents, after several weeks of planning, on the morning of April 27, 2019, Earnest drove to the Chabad of Poway synagogue, where members of the congregation were gathered for religious worship. Earnest entered the building armed with a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 assault rifle that was fully loaded with a 10-round magazine. He wore a chest rig which contained five additional magazines, each loaded with ten rounds of ammunition. Earnest opened fire, killing Lori Gilbert-Kaye and injuring three other members of the congregation, including a then eight-year-old child. After Earnest emptied his initial magazine, several congregants rushed at Earnest. Earnest fled in his car and, shortly after, called 911 and confessed that he had “just shot up a synagogue.” Earnest was apprehended by local law enforcement who found the rifle and additional ammunition in his car.
Investigators found a manifesto written by Earnest and posted on the Internet shortly before the attack. In the manifesto, Earnest made many anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim statements, including “I can only kill so many Jews” and “I only wish I killed more.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Harrigan and Peter Ko, along with Deputy Chief Rose Gibson of the Civil Rights Division. The FBI, ATF, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.
John J. Flatley Company Enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Claims That It Violated the Fair Housing Act by Refusing to Permit Tenant to Have Emotional Support DogRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley announced today that United States District Judge Joseph Laplante has approved a consent decree resolving claims that John J. Flatley, d/b/a John J. Flatley Company (Flatley), and a property manager employed by Flatley, violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
In a complaint filed in April of 2021, the United States alleged that Flatley discriminated against a tenant in its apartment complex in Nashua by refusing to allow a reasonable accommodation of the tenant’s disability when the tenant sought to have an emotional support animal, a dog named Molly. The tenant, who experienced anxiety and depression, used Molly as an emotional support animal. After the tenant requested permission to have an emotional support animal at the apartment, Flatley and the property manager agreed to permit the tenant to have an emotional support animal, but not a dog. The complaint alleged Flatley would not permit tenants to have dogs as emotional support animals.
The United States and Flatley agreed to the entry of a consent decree, which Judge Laplante approved on December 27, 2021. The Consent Decree resolved the claims in the government’s complaint. Without admitting liability, Flatley agreed to pay the tenant $35,000, enact reasonable accommodation policies for its New Hampshire residential properties that comply with the FHA, and complete FHA training.
“Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “We are pleased that the company has agreed to resolve this matter and is now instituting policies and conducting training so that individuals with disabilities are given equal housing opportunities. As this case demonstrates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and will vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws in the Granite State.”
“Protecting the rights of individuals and families when their fair housing rights are violated is central to HUD’s mission,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD commends the Department of Justice for reaching this settlement and for pursuing allegations of fair housing violations.”
This lawsuit arose from an administrative complaint filed by the tenant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Upon investigation, HUD determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that the FHA had been violated. The tenant elected, pursuant to the FHA, to have HUD’s determination resolved in federal court.
The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at [email protected] or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz.
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Illinois Felon Sentenced in Iowa After Possessing a Gun and Drugs Inside a Cedar Rapids Wal-MartRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed drugs he intended to distribute and a gun inside a Wal-Mart was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Sylvester Cunningham, age 41, from Blue Island, Illinois, received the prison term after a July 13, 2021 guilty verdict following a two-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Cunningham was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing crack and powder cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The evidence at trial showed that at about 11:00 A.M. on August 7, 2020, Cunningham, who was in a wheelchair, entered the vestibule of a Wal-Mart store in Cedar Rapids. Cunningham moved from his wheelchair into a Wal-Mart electric shopping cart. A short time later, while helping Cunningham look for a lost cellphone, a Wal-Mart employee lifted the cushion of Cunningham’s wheelchair and saw a .357 caliber revolver.
The employee alerted an off-duty Cedar Rapids Police Department officer who was providing security for the store. The officer retrieved the gun. After finding out that Cunningham was on federal supervised release for a prior gun charge, police officers arrested him. While searching him as part of the arrest, officers located thirteen individual baggies of crack and powder cocaine concealed in Cunningham’s clothing.
Prior to August 7, 2020, Cunningham had received two felony convictions. First, in 2004, Cunningham was convicted of felony operating while intoxicated in Illinois. Second, in 2012, Cunningham was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the federal district court for the Northern District of Iowa. In the 2012 case, Cunningham was found in possession of a rifle after he crashed a car he was driving in Cedar County, Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-104.
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Hartford Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHNNY ORTEGA, also known as “Clatcho,” 39, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Reyes. Court-authorized wiretaps confirmed that Reyes was distributing narcotics to numerous customers, and identified individuals who supplied drugs to Reyes, as well as associates of Reyes who sold drugs on his behalf. Intercepted communications also revealed Reyes was acquiring and trafficking firearms.
Ortega, who is Reyes’ brother-in-law, supplied Reyes with fentanyl, and used his Rowe Avenue residence to store, process and package fentanyl for distribution. On June 17, 2019, a court-authorized search of the residence revealed approximately 3,450 dose-bags of fentanyl, narcotics paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition.
On June 27, 2019, a grand jury Hartford returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes, Ortega and 13 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. Ortega was arrested on July 2, 2019. On April 20, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Ortega, who is released on a $200,000 bond, is required to report to prison on February 28, 2022.
Reyes pleaded guilty and, on February 11, 2021, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Guam Meth Dealer Sentenced to 49 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced that defendant Lovelia C. Mendoza, age 39, from Guam was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 49 months imprisonment to run concurrently with prior federal offense for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty (50) Grams or More of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, a Schedule II Substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii). The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On May 10, 2018, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of a package that contained a substance that field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The package was picked up by Joseph R. Roman II at the U.S. Post Office in Barrigada. Upon exiting the postal facility with the package, Roman entered a vehicle driven by Daniel Topasna Pangelinan. Law enforcement conducted surveillance and monitored the movements of the package utilizing a GPS device that was placed in the box. While under surveillance, Roman was seen disposing the package behind a shelter in Dededo where both Roman and Pangelinan were subsequently detained. Pangelinan waived his rights and admitted to assisting Roman in picking up the package at Lovelia Mendoza's request.
Few days prior, Pangelinan was at Mendoza's residence and was given a postal slip and told Pangelinan and Roman that the package was ready for pickup. On May 9, 2018, Pangelinan drove Roman to the U.S. Post Office in Barrigada to pick up the package but was unsuccessful and got it the next day. When the package was retrieved, Mendoza gave instructions to Roman and Pangelinan to deliver the package to Mark Mayo. The plan was for Roman to discard the package on the roadway for Mayo to pick-up. Soon after the package was discarded, investigators immediately took possession. Pangelinan received a phone call from Mayo and said, the "feds" got the package. Laboratory analysis of the substance recovered from the package revealed that it was 418.7 net grams of d-methamphetamine hydrochloride with a purity level of 98%. This quantity was indicative of an intent to distribute.
Pangelinan, Roman, and Mayo were also charged in connection with this package. Daniel Pangelinan pled guilty to Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison on June 22, 2021. Joseph R. Roman II pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Hydrochloride and was sentenced to time served on August 26, 2021. Mark Mayo was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Hydrochloride and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute following a jury trial. Mayo was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on June 22, 2021.
“Our office is dedicated to supporting our law enforcement partners in targeting drug traffickers in our districts,” stated U.S. Attorney Anderson. “The interdiction of mail parcels continues to reveal large quantities of methamphetamine arriving on island. Anyone with information about this type of crime should contact federal authorities at the earliest opportunity.”
"The FBI works alongside with our law enforcement partners to stop the importation and sale of illegal drugs," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. "Today's sentencing shows our commitment and our tireless efforts to combat and deter the distribution of illegal, and potentially deadly, narcotics. The FBI will continue to do everything we can to put those who bring illegal drugs into our communities out of business."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura C. Sambataro, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam.