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Tuesday 19 October 2021
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Two Defendants Relating to Armed Robbery in Ossining That Resulted in the Death of A Co-ConspiratorRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Kevin Sylvester, Chief of the Village of Ossining Police Department (“Ossining PD”), announced the unsealing yesterday of a four‑count indictment charging MATTHEW DUSABLON, a/k/a “Mateo,” a/k/a “Murk,” and JAHAIRA MEJIA with robbery and obstruction of justice. The defendants were arrested yesterday and presented before United States Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants participated in a gunpoint robbery that resulted in the death of a co-conspirator and then worked to cover their tracks. Thanks to the extraordinary and tenacious work of our partners at the FBI and the Ossining Police Department, the defendants are now facing federal charges for their alleged crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As if the robbery at the center of this case wasn’t bad enough, the suspects allegedly decided to take it a step further and obstruct law enforcement’s ability to investigate it. They failed at both. Now, thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our many partners, the suspects we arrested will serve as cautionary examples to others – trying to cover up your crimes only leads to more criminal charges.”
Ossining Police Chief Kevin Sylvester said: “Our community has waited patiently for resolution of this case and I’m relieved that we can now share the results of law enforcement professionals at the federal, state, and local levels all working seamlessly to restore our neighbors’ sense of peace and security.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed yesterday[1], and other publicly available documents:
On December 6, 2020, DUSABLON, MEJIA, and at least three other co-conspirators committed a gunpoint robbery in Ossining, New York, during which one of the co-conspirators brandished a firearm. That same co-conspirator died from injuries sustained during the robbery victim’s flight from the scene of the robbery.
DUSABLON and MEJIA later concealed a jacket that another co-conspirator was wearing during the robbery and deleted information from their cell phones and social media accounts in order to obstruct the federal investigation of the December 6, 2020, robbery. DUSABLON also directed a co-conspirator to erase information from the co-conspirator’s cellphone and social media accounts in order to obstruct the federal investigation of the December 6, 2020, robbery.
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DUSABLON, 27, and MEJIA, 35, both of the Bronx, are each charged with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2 (Counts One and Two); a related firearms offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2 (Count Three); and obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) (Count Four). Counts One, Two, and Four each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Count Three carries a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison that must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the OPD and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the New York City Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and the Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Greenburgh, Clarkstown, and Ramapo Police Departments.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Gianforti is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Springfield Men Convicted in Large-Scale Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Springfield men were convicted yesterday by a federal jury in Worcester for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplied by sources in Mexico and spanning at least four states.
Isaac Cardona, 34, and Rafael Cardona Sr., 61, were convicted following a nine-day trial of conspiracy to distribute to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin. Isaac Cardona was also convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2022.
The Cardonas were indicted in November 2017 as part of a 14-month wiretap investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplied by sources in Mexico and spanning at least four states.
The Cardonas conspired with co-defendant David Cruz to traffic cocaine and heroin from Mexico, through California, to the Springfield area and into New England. Isaac Cardona owed Cruz money for one kilogram of the cocaine Cruz had distributed to him, and, in order to pay down that debt, the Cardonas and other co-conspirators conspired to import at least one kilogram of heroin (which turned out to be pure fentanyl) from sources in Mexico. In late August 2016, Isaac Cardona traveled by car to San Diego, Calif., with cash to pay for the heroin. Cruz later traveled to San Diego, retrieved the car and the cash, and, on Sept. 8, 2016, used the cash to purchase what he believed to be one kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement in California seized the vehicle and recovered approximately one kilogram of pure fentanyl.
Cruz previously pleaded guilty to drug and firearms offenses and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9, 2021.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Carlsbad (Calif.) Resident Office and the Westfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine G. Curley, Steven H. Breslow and Neil L. Desroches of Mendell’s Springfield Office are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 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. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Two Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for 2017 Killing of Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Two Maryland men were sentenced today to decades in prison for first-degree felony murder while armed and other charges in the 2017 killing of a man in Southeast Washington, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Nyekemia Everett, 36, of Greenbelt, was sentenced to 33 years in prison and Malik Hewitt, 41, of Capitol Heights, was sentenced to 30 years of incarceration. Both were found guilty in July 2021 by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of the murder charge, as well as conspiracy, attempted robbery while armed, and related offenses. They were sentenced by the Honorable Neal E. Kravitz.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning on April 26, 2017, Everett, Hewitt, and a third individual plotted to rob the victim, Christopher Heard. Over the phone, they lured him to the 2300 block of Ainger Place SE, on the pretense of a drug deal. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 27, 2017, Everett, Hewitt and the third individual drove together to the area and parked. In the meeting that followed, roughly 15 minutes later, Everett pointed a gun at Mr. Heard and announced a robbery. Mr. Heard lunged toward Everett, who shot him twice. Mr. Heard, 37, died at the scene. Everett and Hewitt fled the area and were arrested in May 2017.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the FBI, Bode Technology, and the crime scene search unit from the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Services. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyse Constantinide and Richard Barker; Paralegal Specialists Lornce Applewhite, Debra Forte, Nicole McGhee, and Lashone Samuels; Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Allen; Robert Cephas, La June Thames, Katina Adams-Washington, M. LaVerne Perry, Lesley Slade, and Maenylie Watson, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Homicide Section Intern Jack Holt.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Shehzad Akhtar, who prosecuted the case.
Two Correctional Officers Plead Guilty to a Racketeering Conspiracy, Admit to Smuggling Contraband into Maryland’s Federal Pretrial Detention Facility in Exchange for BribesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Two Correctional Officers, Darren Parker, age 45, of Baltimore, and Talaia Youngblood, age 35, of Randallstown, Maryland, have pleaded guilty to their roles in a racketeering conspiracy at the Chesapeake Detention Facility (CDF), in Baltimore, admitting that they accepted bribes to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, tobacco, and cell phones, into the jail. Parker entered his guilty plea yesterday and Youngblood pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).
“These corrupt correctional officers endangered the lives of their co-workers and of the detainees entrusted to their care and supervision,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out prison corruption and prosecute correctional officers who abuse their positions of trust to facilitate and engage in criminal behavior.”
“Even one unethical person or contraband transaction endangers everyone,” said DPSCS Secretary Robert Green. “Our honest employees, and the detainees and inmates we care for, cannot be put in danger.”
According to court documents, CDF is run by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) pursuant to a contract with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and used solely for the housing of federal pretrial detainees. CDF is a maximum-security prison that houses approximately 500 male and female detainees. There are six housing areas, or “pods” in CDF.
As detailed in their plea agreements, Parker and Youngblood, along with other employees, detainees and associates of CDF, knowingly participated in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband into CDF, including narcotics, cell phones, and tobacco. Parker and Youngblood admitted that they abused their positions of trust as sworn officers of DPSCS by engaging in illegal activities to enrich themselves.
Specifically, Youngblood admitted that beginning in at least November 2017, she smuggled contraband into CDF for multiple detainees, including BB with whom she had a romantic relationship. At the direction of BB and other detainees, Youngblood met with outside facilitators to collect contraband and receive bribe payments, including a cellular telephone that she used to communicate with BB, who was in turn using a contraband cell phone inside CDF. On April 3, 2020, federal investigators executed a search warrant at Youngblood’s residence and recovered 35 grams of marijuana, packaged for distribution, a digital scale, a grinder, and $3,581 in cash. Investigators also recovered a handwritten note from BB, two cell phones, photographs of CDF detainees, including BB, and three handwritten birthday cards from detainees at CDF.
According to Parker’s plea agreement, he admitted that beginning no later than 2018 he smuggled contraband into CDF on behalf of detainee JH. Parker admitted that on February 18, 2019, he smuggled liquor into CDF, which he hid inside a water bottle and delivered to JH as a birthday present. On four separate occasions in early 2019, Parker received bribe payments totaling $1,980 from JH’s outside facilitator via Cash App. On March 10, 2019, Parker met with the outside facilitator near the intersection of North Front and Low Streets in Baltimore and received a black plastic bag containing a cell phone, charger, Suboxone, and tobacco, to be smuggled into CDF and provided to JH. The next day, Parker brought the black bag containing the contraband to work and was interdicted by officers in the CDF parking lot. Parker subsequently admitted to the officers that he intended to deliver the contraband to JH.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled Youngblood’s sentencing for December 21, 2021 and scheduled Parker’s sentencing for January 14, 2022, both at 9:30 a.m.
The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the CDF investigation and have been full partners in this investigation.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and DPSCS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Harry M. Gruber, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty for Participating in a Robbery that Ended in Two DeathsRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man pleaded guilty Friday to taking part in an attempted robbery and home invasion that ended in the deaths of his accomplice and the resident, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Justin Tvmvmapky Harjo, 24, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to carry, brandish, and use a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“Justin Harjo choose to take part in an armed robbery that resulted in two deaths, one of whom was simply fighting to protect his home and those inside,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Now Harjo will face federal prison time.”
According to his plea, Harjo admitted that he conspired with Chauncey Thomas to carry, brandish, and use a firearm during a robbery committed on May 23, 2019. He admitted that he and Thomas planned to conduct an armed robbery of victim Dion Carr’s residence. Harjo drove Thomas to Carr’s residence and attempted follow Thomas through a window into the victim’s home. Carr confronted Thomas who was armed with a gun as he entered the residence. Witnesses in the home reported a struggle over the firearm that resulted in both Thomas and Carr getting shot. Carr died at the scene while Harjo helped his accomplice escape. Harjo drove Thomas to a Tulsa hospital, pulled him from the vehicle, and left him at the entrance. Harjo later burned the vehicle used in the robbery in a rural field to destroy evidence and conceal the conspiracy. Thomas died three days after he was left at the hospital.
Harjo, a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the crime, which occurred within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation reservation.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16, 2022.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Sandra M. Urban are prosecuting the case.
Todd County Man Indicted for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, KY returned an indictment on October 13, 2021, charging a Guthrie man with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on or about August 25, 2021, Johnny Tucker, 51, of Guthrie, KY, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and HSI Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, assigned to the Bowling Green Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Philadelphia Men Sentenced to 9+ Years Each for Armed Robbery of a Ridge Avenue PharmacyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Scott Brooks, 40; Jeffrey McDonald, 22; and Jesse Brintley, 28; all of Philadelphia, PA, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones II for their involvement in the armed robbery of a locally-owned Philadelphia pharmacy. Brooks was sentenced to fourteen years in prison, McDonald was sentenced to ten years in prison, and Brintley was sentenced to more than nine years in prison. The men have also been ordered to pay more than $18,000 total in restitution.
In January 2018, Brooks, McDonald, and Brintley were each charged by Indictment with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. These charges stemmed from a September 2017 armed robbery of a pharmacy in the Roxborough neighborhood. During the robbery, the trio entered the pharmacy armed with a firearm in order to steal prescription opioids for illegal resale.
“These defendants brazenly robbed a neighborhood pharmacy for the purpose of selling controlled substances on the street, and for that they will now spend almost a decade or more in prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Hopefully others will learn from the example set by these three -- if you rob a business in Philadelphia with a firearm, you are going to face serious federal prison time as a result. Our Office is committed to being ‘All Hands On Deck’ working with our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice.”
“The sentences in this case will remove violent criminals from our communities,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “We will remain dedicated, along with our local, state and federal partners to identify, investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals like these defendants. “I want to thank the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of PA for their continued partnership and outstanding work in this successful prosecution.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Reinitz and Jeanine Linehan, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Stram.
Tennessee Physician Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Hydrocodone Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
A Tennessee physician was sentenced today in the Western District of Tennessee to 20 years in prison for his unlawful prescribing of opioids that caused the death of one of his patients.
According to court documents, Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, a medical doctor, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, where he prescribed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Among other things, Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.
Ballard’s unlawful prescribing to one patient led to her death. Ballard’s treatment records indicated that he believed the patient had psychiatric issues, overutilized medication, had engaged in manipulation, and fabricated personal trauma. The records also reflected that the patient had been incarcerated, received prescriptions elsewhere for Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder, and that she had abnormal drug testing results, including because of what Ballard believed was tampering. Nevertheless, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015. She fatally overdosed on the prescription drug the following day. On June 23, 2021, Ballard pleaded guilty to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death.
“Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of physicians causing death by illegally prescribing opioids,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Loss of life is a tragic outcome of physicians like Ballard acting as drug dealers instead of doctors. Those responsible for fatal overdoses – especially those who are in positions of trust like Ballard – must be held accountable for their roles in the opioid epidemic. This serious criminal conduct requires serious consequences.”
“With blatant disregard for the Hippocratic Oath, Ballard endangered his patients’ lives through illegitimate and reckless prescribing,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “DEA tirelessly pursues the people responsible for flooding our nation with illegal drugs, to include doctors who misuse their positions for personal gain. Those who supply opioids illegally have one thing in common: they demonstrate total disregard for the lives and safety of those who live in our communities. DEA will continue to battle the U.S. opioid epidemic one case at a time, and today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to justice.”
“Physicians are entrusted to care for patients and prescribe medically necessary medications. The death of a vulnerable woman exemplifies the devastating impact of Ballard’s disregard for his patients and profession,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to hold accountable medical professionals whose illicit activities endanger the lives of patients in their care.”
“It’s extremely disappointing to see a member of the medical community totally disregard his Hippocratic Oath,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Reed of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Medicaid Fraud Division. “Ballard put his patients at risk in order to satisfy his greed and will now spend time in federal prison for recklessly prescribing highly addictive and powerful opioids. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and its law enforcement partners will continue to expose the greed and deceit taking precedence over patient care.”
The DEA, HHS-OIG, and TBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 federal districts, has charged more than 85 defendants who collectively are responsible for distributing more than 65 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Tennessee Physician Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Hydrocodone Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Tennessee physician was sentenced today in the Western District of Tennessee to 20 years in prison for his unlawful prescribing of opioids that caused the death of one of his patients.
According to court documents, Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, a medical doctor, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, where he prescribed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Among other things, Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.
Ballard’s unlawful prescribing to one patient led to her death. Ballard’s treatment records indicated that he believed the patient had psychiatric issues, overutilized medication, had engaged in manipulation, and fabricated personal trauma. The records also reflected that the patient had been incarcerated, received prescriptions elsewhere for Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder, and that she had abnormal drug testing results, including because of what Ballard believed was tampering. Nevertheless, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015. She fatally overdosed on the prescription drug the following day. On June 23, 2021, Ballard pleaded guilty to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death.
"Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of physicians causing death by illegally prescribing opioids," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "Loss of life is a tragic outcome of physicians like Ballard acting as drug dealers instead of doctors. Those responsible for fatal overdoses – especially those who are in positions of trust like Ballard – must be held accountable for their roles in the opioid epidemic. This serious criminal conduct requires serious consequences."
"With blatant disregard for the Hippocratic Oath, Ballard endangered his patients’ lives through illegitimate and reckless prescribing," said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "DEA tirelessly pursues the people responsible for flooding our nation with illegal drugs, to include doctors who misuse their positions for personal gain. Those who supply opioids illegally have one thing in common: they demonstrate total disregard for the lives and safety of those who live in our communities. DEA will continue to battle the U.S. opioid epidemic one case at a time, and today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to justice."
"Physicians are entrusted to care for patients and prescribe medically necessary medications. The death of a vulnerable woman exemplifies the devastating impact of Ballard’s disregard for his patients and profession," said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to hold accountable medical professionals whose illicit activities endanger the lives of patients in their care."
"It’s extremely disappointing to see a member of the medical community totally disregard his Hippocratic Oath," said Special Agent in Charge Terry Reed of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Medicaid Fraud Division. "Ballard put his patients at risk in order to satisfy his greed and will now spend time in federal prison for recklessly prescribing highly addictive and powerful opioids. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and its law enforcement partners will continue to expose the greed and deceit taking precedence over patient care."
The DEA, HHS-OIG, and TBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 federal districts, has charged more than 85 defendants who collectively are responsible for distributing more than 65 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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Taunton Man Charged with Pandemic Unemployment and Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was arrested today in connection with making alleged fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims and for making false statements in support of a residential mortgage application.
Clark Grant, 38, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements on a loan and credit application. Grant will make an initial appearance in Boston this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.
In March 2020, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which in Massachusetts is administered by the Department of Unemployment Assistance. This program is designed to provide unemployment benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits.
According to charging documents, from approximately May 2020 to September 2021, Grant fraudulently applied for and obtained approximately $67,950 in PUA benefits while at the same time working and collecting a salary from his full-time job. In addition, from May 2021 to July 2021, Grant allegedly made false statements to a mortgage lender in order to fraudulently obtain a residential mortgage in the amount of approximately $410,000.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statements on a loan and credit application provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Massachusetts Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha made the announcement today. The Taunton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Adam Deitch of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tarentum, PA Felon Indicted on Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - One resident of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearm laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Gregory Brown, age 36, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on September 27, 2021, Brown was found to be in possession of an Astra .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Due to a prior felony conviction, Brown is not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than ten (10) years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses 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 conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case along with the Wilkinsburg Police Department.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Substitute Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sextortion ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Carver County man pleaded guilty to child pornography and extortion charges related to a years-long sextortion scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, Mitchell James Ottinger, 25, a former substitute teacher and paraprofessional, engaged in a scheme to obtain sexually explicit images and videos of minors and adults by using false online personas. Ottinger threatened to disseminate the images and videos of his victims in order to extort more images and videos. Over the course of several years Ottinger victimized more than 10 minors, some of whom he knew from the school district where he worked.
Law enforcement was alerted to the sextortion when one of the victims contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center and reported the threats. Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.
Ottinger pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright to two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography and one count of interstate communication with intent to extort. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the FBI and the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi is prosecuting the case.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Fleeing from Park Rangers After Shots Were Fired on Buck IslandRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that a St. Croix man, Aneudis Acevedo, age 32, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr. in District Court and pleaded guilty on October 18, 2021 to Resisting or Impeding an Officer of the United States.
According to court documents, in the late afternoon of January 10, 2021, shots were fired on the Buck Island Reef National Monument after a fight occurred on the beach. Immediately after the shots were fired, Acevedo fled the scene in his boat at a high rate of speed while carrying several passengers. He fled from a National Park Service boat and officer, disobeying multiple orders directing him to stop. At one point during the pursuit, the boats physically came into contact, but Acevedo continued to flee. Acevedo forced the National Park Service boat to abandon the pursuit after he went into shallow channels by a reef. The United States Coast Guard assisted and approximately two hours later took the defendant into custody on the south side of the island of St. Croix. However, at that point the boat passengers were no longer on the boat.
Acevedo is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2022 and faces up to one year in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
South Georgia pastor, tax preparer indicted for CARES Act fraudRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A South Georgia man holding himself out as a pastor, mortician, restaurateur, and tax preparer has been indicted on COVID-19 recovery assistance fraud by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia.
Mack Devon Knight, 45, of Kingsland, Ga., is charged in a five-count indictment that accuses Knight of lying to the Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), according to David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act was provided to help small businesses survive pandemic-related losses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will hold accountable those unscrupulous actors who attempt to swindle these funds for their own enrichment.”
As described in the indictment, in February and March 2021, Knight applied for EIDLs on behalf of two Camden County, Ga., businesses: Knight’s Tax Services, and Daddy Earl’s Kitchen. Those EIDL applications falsely affirmed that the businesses each had hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment alleges that Knight then made and transmitted to the SBA a falsified bank document to deceive the SBA into approving one of Knight’s EIDL applications.
The indictment further alleges that, after receiving $149,900 from the SBA as a result of false and fraudulent representations in Knight’s loan application on behalf of Knight’s Tax Services, Knight used part of the funds to buy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Knight is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.
Sioux City Woman Pleads to Conspiracy to Distribute over 42 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine pled guilty on October 18, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Heather Sorgdrager, age 41, from Sioux City was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At a plea hearing, Sorgdrager admitted to conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Sioux City. Sorgdrager admitted to possessing methamphetamine in New Mexico that she said she intended to bring to Sioux City. In April 2021, law enforcement in New Mexico found Sorgdrager and another individual with over 42 pounds of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Sorgdrager remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sorgdrager faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4031.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty October 18, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Daniel Dickey, 34, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Dickey admitted that between December 2020 and continuing to April 2021, he and others conspired to distribute over 26 pounds of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Dickey was recruited by a Texas-based meth organization to assist in the receipt of multiple shipments of liquid methamphetamine (for lab-based meth conversion), plus traditional vehicle transport of methamphetamine from Mexico to Texas to Iowa to South Dakota. Evidence further showed that in March and April of 2021, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled drug/money transactions with Dickey in Sioux City, Iowa. These transactions resulted in the seizure of more than one pound of methamphetamine, a sizable amount of liquid ready for chemical conversion into methamphetamine by a coconspirator, and about $40,000 in drug proceeds from Dickey.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dickey remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Dickey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4042. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Second Defendant Sentenced to 5 Years for Attempted Arson During 2020 Civil Unrest in MadisonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Anessa Renee Fierro, 28, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in prison for attempted arson. Fierro and her codefendant Willie Johnson were indicted by a federal grand jury for this offense in October 2020.
During the early morning hours of August 25, 2020, Fierro and Johnson attempted to set fire to two commercial buildings in downtown Madison. Business A was an office building, and Business B was a mixed-use rental property with apartments on the upper levels and retail space on the street level. Several apartments were occupied by sleeping residents at the time.
At Business A, Johnson helped a group of people break out the building’s front windows, and Fierro poured gasoline along the walls. Johnson then lit material that another individual tossed onto the gasoline, causing the vapors to ignite.
At Business B, Johnson and Fierro, along with several other people, broke out the retail store’s windows. With the interior of building exposed, Fierro poured gasoline along the front walls. Both Johnson and Fierro attempted to ignite the gasoline vapors with cigarette lighters, but they fled when officers from the Madison Police Department arrived.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that pouring and igniting gasoline creates an extraordinary risk to the community. Judge Peterson also told Fierro that her conduct was “appalling and dangerous” and warranted significant punishment. Johnson was sentenced by Judge Peterson to 5 years in federal prison on September 28, 2021.
The charge against Fierro was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 120 Months on Drug and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rhamel G. Pate, age 40, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for distributing cocaine base in Schenectady, as well as for possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug crimes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Pate admitted to working with others to distribute cocaine base out of a Schenectady apartment where he lived at the time. Pate also admitted to possessing, on the date of his arrest, a quantity of cocaine base, and four firearms and ammunition.
Pate was sentenced in Syracuse, New York, by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue, who also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. Powers.
Schenectady Felon Admits to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl, and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ralph St. Croix, a.k.a. “Stretch,” age 38, most recently of Schenectady, New York, formerly of Long Island, pled guilty today to distribution of heroin and fentanyl, and to the possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his plea, St. Croix admitted to selling heroin and fentanyl to another person on three occasions in December 2020 at his apartment in Schenectady. St. Croix further admitted to possessing, in his apartment, a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, in order to guard against the potential theft of his drugs and drug proceeds. St. Croix also had a prior felony conviction at the time he possessed the firearms.
St. Croix faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life when he is sentenced, on March 14, 2022, by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. 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 was investigated by the ATF and NYSP, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
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.
Rome-area drug traffickers sentenced for distributing deadly opioids that killed victimsRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Shane Terhune has been sentenced for selling heroin to a young couple in July 2018, having admitted that his act of distribution resulted in the overdose death of the woman. This sentence follows the August 2021 sentencing of Cornelius Brown, who received a five-year term of imprisonment for distributing $150 worth of heroin. As part of his guilty plea, Cornelius Brown admitted that he also sold fentanyl in June 2018 that resulted in the death of a man who used the lethal drug.
“Terhune and Brown both profited by trafficking in deadly opioids that tragically ended two lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “These dangerous narcotics are killing and catastrophically injuring users at unprecedented rates. This case and other recent cases demonstrate that opioid overdoses will be investigated and prosecuted as a federal priority and those who sell this poison will be held accountable for the death and suffering that it causes.”
“The life of a young lady abruptly ended when Shane Terhune sold her a deadly dose of heroin,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to bringing to justice defendants like Terhune who pollute our streets with dangerous and deadly substances that cause immeasurable damage to our communities.”
“Our country has suffered the loss of literally thousands of citizens from the use and abuse of fentanyl and unfortunately Rome is not exempt. Law enforcement and the US Attorney’s office in North Georgia are committed to bringing justice to those preying on our communities,” said Dan R. Salter, Executive Director, Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court regarding the sentencing of Shane Terhune: On July 6, 2018, officers with the Floyd County Police Department responded to a 911 call seeking medical attention for 25-year-old G.L., who died of a heroin overdose that night. The investigation revealed that earlier that afternoon, Terhune met G.L. and her fiancé on Oleary Lane near U.S. Route 411 in Rome and gave them a plastic bag containing heroin in exchange for cash. G.L. subsequently injected the heroin Terhune sold, causing her death. Terhune, who has a history of drug trafficking offenses, admitted to trafficking in heroin and acknowledged that the heroin he sold caused the victim’s death.
The charges and other information presented in court regarding the sentencing of Cornelius Brown: On May 31, 2017, Brown sold a clear plastic bag containing a substance that he knew to be heroin in exchange for $150 in Rome, Georgia. The following year, on the morning of June 25, 2018, Brown met an individual at a Circle K gas station in Rome, where Brown sold him a bag of powder that he knew contained a narcotic in exchange for cash. Upon purchasing the powder, the customer entered the Circle K bathroom, where he injected the drugs he purchased from Brown, resulting in his death. The substance Brown sold to the decedent was fentanyl, a dangerous opioid that caused the fatal overdose.
Shane Terhune, 41, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to fifteen years, eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge of distributing heroin on July 2, 2021.
Cornelius Brown, 38, also of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to the charge of distributing heroin on January 7, 2021.
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA Rome, Georgia Post of Duty, Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, with valuable assistance by the Rome/Floyd Metro Task Force, the Rome Police Department, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, the Floyd County Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Irina Dutcher prosecuted the case against Shane Terhune. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Irina Dutcher and David O’Neal prosecuted the case against Cornelius Brown.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
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.
Rocky Mount Gang Member Arrested on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was arrested yesterday on drug trafficking and firearm charges. An indictment was handed down and an arrest warrant issued on April 7, 2021.
According to court documents, Rocky Mount Police Department found Charven Keivon Gorham, 28, in possession of marijuana and cocaine, $13,503.00, and two firearms at Gorham’s house on May 29, 2020. At the time, Gorham was a convicted felon.
Gorham is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to sell marijuana and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Gorham faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:21-CR-161-D.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Repeat Offender Sentenced for Crack Cocaine and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Zumari Wilson, 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Wilson to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment. He further ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to a state term of imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Wilson will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
Wilson served a prior federal 84-month sentence for distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. That sentence began in 2008.
During February 2020, Omaha Police officers observed an unusual amount of foot and vehicle traffic making short visits to Wilson’s residence. A search warrant was served on the residence on February 21, 2020. Officers recovered 27 grams of crack cocaine in the residence and a loaded Glock handgun in the console of Wilson’s truck. More than $3,700 in United States currency was seized and forfeited as drug proceeds.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Ponemah man pleaded guilty today to second degree murder after violently assaulting a woman on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in 2019, William Jones, IV, 24, and the victim were involved in a romantic relationship and lived together at the victim’s house in Ponemah. During the evening of November 6, 2019, Jones repeatedly assaulted the victim in their residence, hitting her on the shoulders, arms, and torso, and throwing her against a wall. After the assault the victim fell to the floor and struck her head. Jones did not contact emergency personnel or attempt to render aid. The victim remained in the house unconscious for almost two days, where Jones chose not to contact emergency personnel or otherwise render any aid to the victim.
According to court documents, on November 8, 2019, Jones’s mother contacted emergency personnel after arriving at the house and observing the victim’s condition. The victim was transported to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, where medical personnel determined that the victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, which caused the victim to remain in a persistent vegetative state with no hope for recovery. As a result of her injuries, the victim died on November 22, 2019.
“This defendant not only perpetrated an extremely violent assault on his victim, he showed complete disregard for human life when he failed to seek medical aid,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who commit horrific acts of domestic violence such as this, which disproportionately plague Native American women.”
Jones pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan B. Gilead and Deidre Y. Aanstad are prosecuting the case.
Pulaski County Constable Sentenced to 140 Months for Conspiring to Violate the Civil Rights of OthersRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A former Pulaski County Constable, Michael Wallace, 47, of Somerset, Ky., was sentenced to 140 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, after previously being convicted of violating the civil rights of persons within Pulaski County and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the evidence at trial, Wallace and fellow Constable Gary Baldock, 56, worked together to violate the civil rights of individuals, by fabricating evidence that was used as a basis to arrest, to search, and to seize the property of others. Both Wallace and Baldock were also found guilty of illegally possessing methamphetamine, which they used to plant evidence on potential suspects.
Wallace and Baldock were convicted of the charges by a federal jury in June 2021.
“Wallace betrayed the trust placed in him, abused his authority to violate the rights of others, and did a grave disservice to the law enforcement community,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Instead of enforcing the law and protecting the public, he turned to corruption and self-interest. His prison sentence is well-deserved and should serve this message: such conduct has severe consequences and should not reflect on the hard work and dedication of so many in law enforcement – including the FBI agents who investigated this case and made this prosecution possible.”
“Wallace took an oath to faithfully protect and serve the citizens of Pulaski County. By blatantly violating that oath, he betrayed his community and those officers who work hard every day to gain the trust of the people they serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “With his sentencing, Wallace is being held accountable for his deplorable actions, and the FBI will continue to do everything in its power to bring corrupt police officers to justice.”
Under federal law, Wallace must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Acting United States Attorney Shier and Special Agent in Charge Cohen, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman.
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Pittsburgh Man Pleads to Heroin, Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
David Joyner, 26, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin from June of 2019 through December of 2019, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV. In addition, Joyner accepted responsibility for possessing firearms in conjunction with his heroin trafficking. Joyner is one of seven defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a heroin trafficking organization that operated throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. Beginning in July of 2019 and continuing through August of 2019, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Joyner was intercepted communicating with his codefendant and coconspirator about purchasing and distributing heroin as well as the purity of the heroin they intended to distribute. Through extensive physical and electronic surveillance, Joyner was observed meeting with his codefendant and coconspirator to facilitate their heroin distribution. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized heroin, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization, including Joyner.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for February 22, 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Joyner remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police
Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Joyner.This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout
the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.Pittsburgh Man Charged with Carjacking and Interstate Transportation of a Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating various federal carjacking and interstate commerce laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Jonathan Trowery, age 34, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about January 30, 2021, Trowery is alleged to have engaged in carjacking and the interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Agency, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, New Beaver Police Department, Cobb County Police Department (Georgia), and the Fulton County Police Department (Georgia) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pike County Man Guilty of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 18, 2021, Jerald Ungerer, age 34, formerly of Milford, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to production of child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney, Bruce D. Brandler, Ungerer admitted to producing multiple videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Northeast Computer Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Nationwide Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Pennsylvania man was arrested on charges of fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from a national chain of home improvement stores. The charges are based on an indictment returned by a grand jury for the District of Delaware for wire fraud and access device fraud.
According to the indictment, Mamadou Bah, 37, conducted over a thousand fraudulent transactions at home improvement stores throughout the country between May 2018 and June 2020, using the fake name “Richard Traynham.” Bah would pay for gift cards and merchandise at various home improvement stores utilizing a barcode on his phone that was linked to a fraudulently obtained credit card. Bah would use that barcode to pay for the merchandise. The victim stores would later receive a “chargeback” from the credit card company indicating that the purchase was fraudulent. All told, Bah caused losses in excess of $650,000.
If convicted, Bah faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 10 years imprisonment on the access device fraud charge. 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.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “The Indictment alleges a nationwide financial fraud scheme from which the defendant obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars. Such systematic fraud warrants intervention, investigation and prosecution by federal authorities who are able to address the entirety of the defendant’s conduct.”
FBI-Baltimore, Wilmington Resident Agency is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 21-CR-65
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Norwich Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Engage in Sex with MinorRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that, WILLIAM MEIER, 39, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, Meier accessed a chatroom dedicated to teens on the Kik social messaging application and began chatting with an FBI online covert employee (“OCE”) who was posing as a 14-year-old girl living in Connecticut. Meier raised the prospect of meeting the “girl” in order to engage in sexual intercourse with her and impregnate her. On August 5, 2020, Meier sent the OCE a sexually explicit photo of himself. Meier was arrested the following day after he traveled from his home to a location in New London where he expected to meet the “girl” and engage in sexual activity with her.
Meier has been detained since his arrest on August 6, 2020. On July 27, 2021, he pleaded guilty to using an interstate facility to attempt to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New London Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Doherty.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
North Carolina man indicted for bank robberiesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Charles Lee Pingley, of Dunn, North Carolina, was indicted today on bank robbery charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Pingley, 52, was indicted today on two counts of “Bank Robbery.” Pingley is accused robbing the Citizens Bank in Randolph County on February 8, 2020, taking a bag filled with $30,216.05 in cash. He is also accused of robbing the same bank on August 6, 2020, taking a bag filled with $25,668 in cash.
Pingley faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New Jersey Supplier for Washington County Drug Ring Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of New Jersey has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release on his conviction for conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and quantities of heroin and fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on James Vance, 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
According to the information presented to the court, in November of 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police began investigation a drug trafficking organization that operated in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Beginning in April of 2020 and continuing into November of 2020, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Through the wiretap and extensive physical and electronic surveillance in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, agents discovered that Vance met with alleged codefendants and coconspirators in New Jersey where he supplied them with kilogram quantities of cocaine and quantities of heroin-fentanyl mixtures. Vance’s alleged codefendants and coconspirators transported the drugs back to Washington County, Pennsylvania where they redistributed the drugs throughout the community. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin-fentanyl mixtures, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark V. Gurzo and Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Vance.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
New Castle Man Admits Role in Multi-State Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of New Castle pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Darnell Latham, 52, of New Castle, Pennsylvania pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine from March of 2019 through September of 2020, before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Latham is one of thirteen defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the United States, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. Beginning in December of 2019 and continuing through August of 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Latham was intercepted communicating with his codefendant and coconspirator about purchasing, distributing, and cutting cocaine. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for February 15, 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Latham remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Pittsburgh, PA; the DEA, Columbus, OH; DEA, Harrisburg, PA; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Pittsburgh, PA; HSI, Orlando, FL; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Service, Columbus, Ohio;
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Lawrence County Drug Task Force – Special Investigations Unit; and New Castle Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Latham.This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout
the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.Milton Woman Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Marijuana EnterpriseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Milton woman was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for her role in a multimillion-dollar marijuana delivery service.
Deana Martin, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. Martin was also ordered to pay restitution of $528,146. On May 4, 2021, Martin pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and three counts of money laundering.
Martin and co-defendant Tatiana Fridkes were indicted in May 2019 in connection with their management of Northern Herb, a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018. On Sept. 10, 2021, Fridkes was sentenced by Judge Hillman to time served and two years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Fridkes was also ordered to pay restitution of $82,000.
Martin owned and managed Northern Herb, which operated a website offering marijuana products for sale including raw marijuana, pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes and marijuana edibles. While Northern Herb purported to provide medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card. Furthermore, Northern Herb delivered marijuana to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties could have accessed it. Northern Herb used locations in Canton, Milton, Foxborough and Hyde Park to store and distribute marijuana, and employed at least 25 workers.
From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb’s revenue exceeded $14 million. Northern Herb did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in marijuana sales and did not pay taxes on its profits. Much of the cash collected by Northern Herb from customers was used to pay its suppliers and its workers. In paying cash wages, Northern Herb did not withhold, remit, or pay any payroll or income taxes. Northern Herb did not report worker wages to the IRS via Form 941, nor did it issue W-2s or 1099s to its workers.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The United States Postal Inspection Service also provided valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Abely, Chief of Mendell’s Criminal Division, John Mulcahy of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and Assistant Chief Kathleen Barry of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Military Supplier to Pay $850,000 to Settle Breach of Contract and False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A supplier of vehicle parts to the military has agreed to pay $850,000 to resolve allegations that it breached contracts with the United States and violated the False Claims Act by selling items that were manufactured in prohibited countries, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
The settlement resolves allegations that from 2012 to 2019 Brighton Cromwell LLC knowingly sold items to the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency that it failed to ascertain and verify were manufactured by or for its suppliers in non-compliant countries under either the Buy American Act or the Trade Agreements Act, in violation of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The United States also alleged that Brighton Cromwell was unjustly enriched and breached its contracts with the United States because it sold items to the Defense Logistics Agency that were manufactured or assembled in prohibited countries.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty; and special agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Wiest, with the investigation leading to the agreement.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark C. Orlowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Government Fraud Unit in Newark, along with Senior Trial Counsel Art Coulter and Trial Attorney Eric Schmelzer of the Civil Frauds Section of the Civil Division in Washington, D.C.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Massachusetts Woman Sentenced to Prison on Tax and Drug Charges Arising from Multimillion-Dollar Black Market Marijuana EnterpriseRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts woman was sentenced today to four years in prison for tax evasion, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Deana Martin, of Milton, controlled Northern Herb, a black-market marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018. While Northern Herb purported to sell medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card. Furthermore, Northern Herb would deliver marijuana to unattended locations, such as a front door or car, where unknown third parties might have access to the package. Northern Herb used locations in Canton, Milton, Foxborough, and Hyde Park to store and distribute marijuana, and employed at least 25 workers.
From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb had total revenue exceeding $14 million. Northern Herb did not withhold or pay employment taxes. Martin evaded employment taxes that Northern Herb owed by operating in cash and using nominee entities to manage Northern Herb’s finances. Further, Northern Herb did not file with the IRS required reports documenting the payments made to Northern Herb’s employees and independent contractors. Martin caused a tax loss of more than $500,000.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman ordered Martin to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $528,146.66 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Kathleen M. Barry of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Abely and John Mulcahy of the USAO prosecuted the case.
Maryland Nuclear Engineer and his wife indicted on national security chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Jonathan and Diana Toebbe, both of Annapolis, Maryland, were indicted today by a Grand Jury in Elkins, West Virginia, on national security charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Jonathan, 42, and Diana 45, are each charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Communicate Restricted Data” and two counts of “Communication of Restricted Data.” The charges come after a complaint was filed and the Toebbes were arrested on October 9, 2021.
For almost a year, Jonathan Toebbe, aided by his wife, Diana, sold information known as Restricted Data concerning the design of nuclear-powered warships to a person they believed was a representative of a foreign power. In actuality, that person was an undercover FBI agent. The Toebbes had previously been charged in a criminal complaint alleging violations of the Atomic Energy Act.
Jonathan Toebbe is an employee of the Department of the Navy who served as a nuclear engineer and was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. He held an active national security clearance through the U.S. Department of Defense, giving him access to Restricted Data.
Toebbe worked with and had access to information concerning naval nuclear propulsion including information related to military sensitive design elements, operating parameters, and performance characteristics of the reactors for nuclear powered warships.
The indictment alleges that on April 1, 2020, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package to a foreign government, listing a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, containing a sample of Restricted Data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to purchase additional Restricted Data. The indictment also alleges that, thereafter, Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. The individual was really an undercover FBI agent. Jonathan Toebbe continued this correspondence for several months, which led to an agreement to sell Restricted Data in exchange for thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency.
On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan Toebbe as “good faith” payment. Shortly afterwards, on June 26, 2021, Jonathan and Diana Toebbe traveled to a location in West Virginia. There, with Diana Toebbe acting as a lookout, Jonathan Toebbe placed an SD card concealed within half a peanut butter sandwich at a pre-arranged “dead drop” location. After retrieving the SD card, the undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment. In return, Jonathan Toebbe emailed the undercover agent a decryption key for the SD Card. A review of the SD card revealed that it contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. On August 28, 2021, Jonathan Toebbe made another “dead drop” of an SD card in eastern Virginia, this time concealing the card in a chewing gum package. After making a payment to Toebbe of $70,000 in cryptocurrency, the FBI received a decryption key for the card. It, too, contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) arrested Jonathan and Diana Toebbe on October 9, after he placed yet another SD card at a pre-arranged “dead drop” at a second location in West Virginia.
Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Lara Omps-Botteicher, Northern District of West Virginia, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar, Western District of Pennsylvania, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the NCIS investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Marshall County man admits to fraud chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Francis Tucker, of Moundsville, West Virginia, has admitted to a fraud charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Tucker, 67, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Structuring Financial Transactions to Evade Reporting Requirements.” Tucker admitted to conducting withdrawals of proceeds from the sale of a property in Florida in a manner and, with the intent to avoid bank reporting requirements regarding certain cash transactions. This crime occurred in 2016.
Tucker faces up five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danae DeMasi-Lemon and Jarod J. Douglas are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Liberian National Pleads Guilty to $23 Million COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A Liberian national who orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to secure more than $23 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans pleaded guilty today to a federal financial crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Steven Jalloul, a 43-year-old tax consultant from the Dallas area, was first charged via criminal complaint in September 2020 and indicted later that month. He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a superseding information charging him with one count of engaging in monetary transactions using property derived from unlawful activity.
“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help hardworking businesspeople keep their companies afloat during the pandemic – not to line the pockets of unscrupulous accountants,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The Justice Department will prosecute anyone who attempts to exploit pandemic-era financial programs. There are countless businesses ravaged by COVID-19 that deserved this money; Mr. Jalloul did not.”
According to plea papers, Mr. Jalloul admitted he defrauded lenders participating in the Paycheck Protection Program — a measure authorized by Congress in the early days of the pandemic to award forgivable loans to small business impacted by COVID-19 — while awaiting sentencing in a separate tax fraud case.
In court documents, he admitted that he submitted roughly 170 falsified PPP loan applications to lenders (including through a fintech company) seeking more than $23 million on behalf of over 160 clients of his tax preparation business, Royalty Tax & Financial Services LLC.
Mr. Jalloul admitted he inflated clients’ employee rosters and monthly payroll expenses in order to increase the amount of PPP funds for which their businesses would be eligible. He generally charged clients a 2 to 20 percent commission on the PPP loans they received and even listed his ex-wife as Royalty Tax’s authorized representative, without her consent, when seeking an inflated PPP loan for his own business.
In total, 97 false PPP loan applications were ultimately approved, and Mr. Jalloul’s clients were awarded more than $12 million in PPP money. Those clients paid him at least $972,114 in fees.
Mr. Jalloul now faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the PPP fraud. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
He is already behind bars at FCI-Seagoville, having pleaded guilty to tax fraud in the separate case in January 2020; in that case, he was sentenced to six years in federal prison.
The Dallas Field Offices of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fabio Leonardi and Marty Basu are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is handling the asset-forfeiture component of the case.
The Paycheck Protection Program was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP initially provided for up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for payroll costs and certain other expenses, including rent; in April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. In addition, the PPP allows both the interest and principal on the loans to be forgiven if the business spends the money on qualifying expenses within a designated period of time.
Justice, Labor Departments Reach Settlements with Facebook Resolving Claims of Discrimination Against U.S. Workers and Potential Regulatory Recruitment ViolationsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Labor today announced separate settlement agreements with Facebook regarding its use of the permanent labor certification program (PERM). The Justice Department’s settlement resolves its claims that Facebook routinely refused to recruit, consider or hire U.S. workers, a group that includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, asylees, refugees and lawful permanent residents, for positions it had reserved for temporary visa holders in connection with the PERM process. Additionally, the Labor Department’s settlement resolves issues it separately identified through audit examinations of Facebook’s recruitment activities related to its PERM applications filed with the Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC).
In December 2020, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Facebook, alleging that from at least Jan. 1, 2018, until at least Sept. 18, 2019, Facebook routinely reserved jobs for temporary visa holders through the PERM process. Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that, in contrast to its standard recruitment practices, Facebook used recruiting methods designed to deter U.S. workers from applying to certain positions, such as requiring applications to be submitted by mail only; refused to consider U.S. workers who applied to the positions; and hired only temporary visa holders. According to the lawsuit, Facebook’s hiring process for these positions intentionally discriminated against U.S. workers because of their citizenship or immigration status, in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA generally prohibits employers from discriminating against workers because of their citizenship or immigration status.
In early 2021, the Labor Department initiated audit examinations of Facebook’s pending PERM applications to determine compliance with regulatory requirements. As a result of these audits, OFLC identified potential regulatory recruitment violations and sought additional information from Facebook in an effort to confirm that Facebook followed all applicable regulatory requirements regarding the posting and advertisement requirements for these positions.
Under the DOJ settlement, Facebook will pay a civil penalty of $4.75 million to the United States, pay up to $9.5 million to eligible victims of Facebook’s alleged discrimination, and train its employees on the anti-discrimination requirements of the INA. In addition, Facebook will be required to conduct more expansive advertising and recruitment for its job opportunities for all PERM positions, accept electronic resumes or applications from all U.S. workers who apply, and take other steps to ensure that its recruitment for PERM positions closely matches its standard recruitment practices. Today’s civil penalty and backpay fund represent the largest fine and monetary award that the Division ever has recovered in the 35-year history of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision.
“Facebook is not above the law, and must comply with our nation’s federal civil rights laws, which prohibit discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Companies cannot set aside certain positions for temporary visa holders because of their citizenship or immigration status. This settlement reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to holding employers accountable and eradicating discriminatory employment practices.”
Under the DOL OFLC settlement, Facebook will conduct additional notice and recruitment for U.S. workers and will be subject to ongoing audits to ensure its compliance with applicable regulations.
“This settlement is an important step forward and means that U.S. workers will have a fair chance to learn about and apply for Facebook’s job opportunities,” said Seema Nanda, Solicitor at the Department of Labor. “No matter an employer’s size or reach, the Department of Labor is committed to vigorously enforcing the law.”
The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits citizenship or immigration status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, can file a charge. The public also can contact IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688; call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites.
The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) provides national leadership and policy guidance to carry out the responsibilities of the Secretary of Labor under the INA, as amended, concerning the admission of foreign workers to the United States for employment.
A permanent labor certification allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States. In most instances, before the U.S. employer can submit an immigration petition to the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the employer must obtain a certified labor certification application from OFLC. The Secretary of Labor must certify to the USCIS that there are not sufficient U.S. workers able, willing, qualified and available to accept the job opportunity in the area of intended employment and that employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
Suspected violations relating to the PERM labor certification process can be promptly referred to OFLC at [email protected].
Jury convicts Lodge Grass man of sexually abusing children on Northern Cheyenne, Crow Indian reservationsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A jury today convicted a Lodge Grass man of sexually abusing two children in the 1990s on the Northern Cheyenne and the Crow Indian reservations, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
A jury found Donald Ray Gardner, 58, guilty on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of abusive sexual contact. The two-day trial began on Monday, Oct. 18.
Gardner faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on each count.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters set sentencing for March 2, 2022 and ordered Gardner detained pending further proceedings.
“A jury held Gardner accountable for sexually abusing children over a period of years. Children must be protected from sexual predators, and we will prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek and the FBI for investigating and prosecuting the case,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
In court documents and in evidence presented at trial, the government alleged that Gardner engaged in a sexual act and in sexual contact with a victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, in 1994 in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The government further alleged Gardner engaged in a sexual act and in sexual contact with another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, in the Crow Agency area on the Crow Reservation in 1996 and in 1998. Both victims were under the age of 12 at the time.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Jury Convicts Tulsa Man for the Assault and Attempted Kidnapping of an Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
A federal jury today convicted a Tulsa man who assaulted and attempted to kidnap his wife then called her from jail trying to convince her to lie to authorities about the incident, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Derek Lee Lovell, 37, was found guilty of attempted kidnapping in Indian Country; assault with intent to commit a felony; and attempting to influence, delay, and prevent testimony through corrupt persuasion.
“There is no excuse for domestic violence, and this office will hold perpetrators accountable for their abuse. Mr. Lovell is no exception,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Three witnesses observed Lovell assault his spouse and took action. They are to be commended for intervening and preventing a kidnapping.”
On Jan. 28, 2021, the Tulsa Police Department responded to a Burger King near 1100 S. Harvard Ave. and 3242 E. 11th Street. Callers provided information that a man was assaulting a woman near the establishment. Callers further reported the man had a knife and fled in a silver Chrysler sedan.
Responding officers made contact with the female victim who stated that she had fled from her spouse as he chased her down the sidewalk. He eventually pinned her against a nearby concrete wall then attempted to drag her back to a vehicle. Officers observed the victim was visibly shaken. She was also concerned about cooperating with officers due to fear of reprisal.
During the assault, a driver pulled over and attempted to help the victim. Lovell then pulled out a pocketknife, approached the vehicle, stabbed the front right tire and shouted an expletive. Two other witnesses, along with camera footage, corroborated the driver’s statement to officers. The witnesses were also able to describe Lovell’s vehicle and license plate.
On Jan. 29, 2021, Tulsa Police officers executed a traffic stop on Lovell’s vehicle while on South Lewis Avenue and took the defendant into custody.
Lovell is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, and the crime was committed within the Muscogee Nation reservation.
Following closing statements, the jury deliberated four hours then returned guilty verdicts on all counts. Lovell’s trial lasted two days.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Missouri Man for using Online Dating App to Lure a Teen Girl to have Sex and Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A Jefferson County, Missouri, man is facing at least 15 years in prison after a
federal jury found him guilty Monday of arranging to have sexual activity with a minor, traveling
to pick her up in Belleville, Illinois, and producing sexually explicit images of her.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Earl G. Rice, Jr., 63, chatted online
via a dating application with a teenage girl. Rice quickly indicated his interest in
traveling to Belleville, Illinois, from Dittmer, Missouri, to meet the victim and engage in sexual
acts with her. On Valentine’s Day of 2018, Rice arrived with alcohol, condoms, and a candle to take
the victim to a nearby motel. Rice engaged in sexual acts with the victim and produced sexually
explicit images of the teen girl on his cell phone. Belleville Police Department apprehended Rice
at the scene of the crime on February 15, 2018, after he was described driving a “red hooptie”.Graphic images taken by Rice of the minor victim were shown to the jury during the five-day trial
held at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. Jurors also saw surveillance footage from the
motel and heard testimony about DNA evidence connecting Rice to the crimes.Sentencing has been scheduled for January 27, 2022, in front of United States District Judge Staci
M. Yandle. Enticement of a Minor is punishable by at least 10 years in prison and up to life;
Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct is punishable up to 30 years in prison; and
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Production of Child Pornography) is punishable by at least 15 years
in prison and up to 30 years.Belleville Police Department conducted the investigation, along with support from the
Illinois State Police, and FBI-Springfield and Saint Louis Divisions.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Karelia Rajagopal.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006
by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and
abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitationand Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local
resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to
identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education,
please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”Judge sentences leader of St. Louis County drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Ronald Gales, 54, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison today. Gales previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, beginning in 2018, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis County Police Department began an investigation into Gales, who was the principal supplier of a drug trafficking organization supplying cocaine to other distributors operating in the St. Louis area.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at various residences of individuals supplied by Gales, where they recovered distributable amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. Investigators also conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Gales and conducted surveillance of Gales’ operations before ultimately executing a federal search warrant at Gales’ residence in October 2019. Investigators found two .40 caliber handguns, $46,000 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia, as well as distribution quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to Nearly Two Decades in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas - A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Michael James Shaw, 40, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
“Methamphetamine remains one of the greatest threats to the health and safety of East Texans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The sentence in this case is directly proportional to the amount of methamphetamine Mr. Shaw intended to traffic, and thus proportional to the harm he was willing to inflict upon the Jefferson County community.”
According to information presented in court, Shaw was arrested on Oct. 6, 2020 after Jefferson County Narcotics Task Force officers executed a search warrant at Shaw’s residence and found 454 grams of pure methamphetamine. The drugs were hidden inside an upholstered chair in Shaw’s living room. The officers also found four firearms locked in a safe inside the master bedroom.
Shaw was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 7, 2021 and charged with the drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court records, in December 2019, Johnathan Ledbetter, 34, and a co-defendant, negotiated multiple sales of cocaine in Jackson. The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Hailstorm”, targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Jackson area.
This Operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as an Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Jackson man was sentenced today to serve 17 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on September 3, 2017, Darius D. Wright, 28, was found by a Jackson police officer sitting in a car behind a Dollar General with a ski mask, ammunition, a bandana, and a shotgun. Wright has two previous felony convictions for house burglary in Hinds County Circuit Court, and one felony conviction for armed robbery in Marion County Circuit Court.
Wright pled guilty on October 21, 2019, to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Indianapolis Man Sentenced for Role in Jennings County Robbery and MurderRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY – An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the murder and robbery of Scott D. Maxie, a gun store owner near North Vernon, Indiana.
In September 2014, DeJuan Andre Worthen, 30, along with Darryl Worthen and Darion Harris traveled from Indianapolis to North Vernon to see what inventory was inside the Muscatatuck Outdoors Gun Shop. They drove back to Indianapolis and made plans to rob the owner, Scott Maxie, the following day.
The next day the group returned to the gun store. Once inside, one of the defendants disconnected the security camera and confronted Mr. Maxie. During the robbery, Darryl Worthen shot and killed Maxie with a semiautomatic handgun. While Maxie lay dying, the defendants stole 45 firearms from the gun shop and returned to Indianapolis. Once home with the guns, the defendants sold and distributed many of the firearms and kept several for themselves.
“This type of senseless violence is something no family or community should have to face,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “This sentence should send a loud and clear message that gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated in the Southern District of Indiana. Those committing such violent acts will be held accountable for their actions.”
“Violent crime will not be tolerated in this community,” said Jennings County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Belding. “The individuals responsible should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The decision to have these individuals charged federally was made after thoughtful consultation with the family members. My goal was that the individuals responsible for this heinous act serve the maximum sentence under the law. This was accomplished under the federal sentencing guidelines. Hopefully, now that all the defendants involved have been sentenced for their role in Mr. Maxie’s murder, the family can have some closure. All law enforcement agencies involved did an excellent job coordinating the investigation to bring those responsible to justice. My heart goes out to Mr. Maxie’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
DeJuan Worthen’s co-defendants, Darryl Worthen, 32, Indianapolis, was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker to 60 years imprisonment in November of 2015, while Darion Harris, 28, Indianapolis, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on July 23, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Indiana State Police, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jennings County Prosecutors Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry D. Glickman and William L. McCoskey prosecuted the case and said that Worthen must also serve three years of supervised release after his sentence.
Helena woman admits trafficking methamphetamine from Las Vegas into MontanaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Helena woman accused of helping to bring pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas, Nevada, into Montana admitted to a drug trafficking crime today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Rhonda Jeanette Lapier, also known as Rhonda Trench, 49, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Lapier faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Feb. 16, 2022. Lapier was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in May, Russell Country Drug Task Force officers executed a search warrant on a Great Falls residence, recovered meth and learned that the source of supply was traveling to Great Falls with meth. The investigation led to Lapier’s residence, where she and the source of supply were suspected of trafficking meth together. Officers ultimately stopped a vehicle being driven by the source of supply and found about 3.6 pounds of meth in the trunk. Officers also obtained a warrant to search Lapier’s residence. When told that officers were looking for illegal contraband in the residence, Lapier volunteered, “We’ll just make this easy, there is something in that house. But it belongs to me and I’ll show you where it’s at.” Officers located three, one-pound bags of meth and $6,132 in a bedroom where Lapier had been staying with another person. Individuals told law enforcement that several people, including Lapier, had gone to Las Vegas to pick up meth, had returned with six pounds and had dropped some of it off at Lapier’s residence. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of 21,744 doses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, FBI, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
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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Hardy and Grant County residents indicted on drug chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott Allen Greenwalt, of Moorefield, West Virginia, and Tonda Marie Hixenbaugh, of Petersburg, West Virginia, were indicted today on drug charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Greenwalt, 48, and Hixenbaugh, 30, were each indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Greenwalt was also indicted on three counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Greenwalt and Hixenbaugh are accused of working together to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” in the spring of 2021 in Hardy County and elsewhere. Greenwalt, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions, is accused of having a 9mm pistol in April 2021 in Hardy County.
Greenwalt and Hixenbaugh each face at least five years and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000 for each of the conspiracy and possession with intent charges. Greenwalt also is facing up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each of the distribution charges and faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fresno Woman Indicted for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft in Year-Long SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — An indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of Bobbi Jo Heiss, 34, of Fresno, charging her with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment on October 14.
According to court documents, between August 2020 and September 2021, Heiss engaged in a scheme to steal debit cards, checks, identity documents, and banking information in order to make fraudulent purchases, cash checks, and open unauthorized lines of credit. It is alleged that caused at least $250,000 in actual and attempted loss during that year-long period.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office - Elder Abuse Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of bank fraud, Heiss faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted of the aggravated identity theft, Heiss faces a mandatory, consecutive sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.