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18 October 2021
Two Sentenced on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Two Jackson men were sentenced to prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Anthony Anderson, 42, and Kenyarder Bell, 40, were sentenced in U.S. District Court on Thursday, October 14, 2021. Anderson was sentenced to 78 months in prison, and Bell was sentenced to 188 months in prison.
On July 8, 2018, Anderson, aided and abetted by Bell, sold methamphetamine to an individual. The drugs were analyzed by the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory and confirmed to be 26.7 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with 95% purity.
The defendants pled guilty on June 24, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Fire and Ice,” which targeted illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi.
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 case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Jackson Police Department, the Madison Police Department, the Ridgeland Police Department, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Wansley and Keesha Middleton.
Texas Physician Found Guilty for Unlawfully Prescribing over 1.3 Million Doses of OpioidsRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Houston-area physician for unlawfully prescribing more than 1.3 million doses of opioids.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Parvez Qureshi, 56, of Houston, Texas, a medical doctor, conspired to and did unlawfully prescribe controlled substances from 2014 through February 2016 for patients at Spring Shadows Medical Clinic of Houston (Spring Shadows), a clinic owned by Rubeena Ayesha, an advanced practice nurse practitioner. Ayesha, 52, of Houston, previously pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt of the Southern District of Texas.
Trial evidence showed that Qureshi issued unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances to over 90 people on the clinic’s busiest days. So-called “runners” brought numerous people to pose as patients at Spring Shadows and paid for their visits. Spring Shadows charged approximately $250-$500 for each patient visit and required payment in cash.
The evidence also showed that Qureshi pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances and issued prescriptions for patients who were not evaluated by a physician. Throughout the scheme, Qureshi wrote prescriptions for over 1.3 million dosage units of hydrocodone, and over 40,000 dosage units of oxycodone, both Schedule II controlled substances. Ayesha wrote prescriptions for over one million dosage units of carisoprodol, commonly known as Soma, a Schedule IV controlled substance, usually for patients who had also been prescribed oxycodone or hydrocodone by Qureshi. The combination of oxycodone/hydrocodone and carisoprodol is a dangerous drug cocktail with no known medical benefit. The clinic made over $4 million from prescriptions issued in the scheme, over $1.5 million of which went to Qureshi.
Qureshi was convicted of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Lowery of the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeux of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) Houston Division made the announcement.
DEA investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Monica Cooper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Tampa Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Antoinette Thomas (32, Tampa) to three years in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered Thomas to pay $27,885.58 in restitution.
Thomas had pleaded guilty on June 21, 2021.
According to court documents, between February 1, 2016, and May 8, 2019, Thomas produced and used counterfeit access devices, such as component parts of multiple victims’ retail store credit accounts, with the specific intent to defraud the stores, credit card companies, and individuals. In doing so, Thomas knowingly used, transferred, and possessed the means of identifications of other real people without lawful authority. During this period, Thomas was captured several times on store surveillance video making fraudulent retail purchases using someone else’s store credit account.
Later, in July and October 2018, Thomas used the identity of another person to lease two apartments in Tampa. At the time, Thomas knew the person was a real person and that she did not have permission or authorization to use that person’s personally identifying information to lease the apartments.
In October 2019, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Thomas’s residence and recovered: a) multiple notebooks of handwritten personal identification information, including more than 100 sets of names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers; b) information on multiple credit accounts held in the names of others, including several credit card numbers; and c) multiple fraudulent or fictitious documents including altered copies of Social Security cards, Florida identification cards, and pay stubs. Thomas’s fingerprints were on several of the pages of the notebooks containing victims’ information.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Gestring.
Stanislaus County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Juan Carlos Cortez-Gomez, 51, of Riverbank, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 15, 2020, Cortez-Gomez agreed to sell methamphetamine to an FBI informant. When Cortez-Gomez arrived at the location for the sale, he was arrested by officers. A search of his truck revealed 10 pounds of methamphetamine. During a post-arrest statement, Cortez-Gomez admitted he knowingly possessed this methamphetamine and that he was planning to sell it.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, the California Highway Patrol, and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
Cortez-Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Cortez-Gomez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Spencerport Man Who Attempted to Have Sex with A Minor Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dale Trimmer, 46, of Spencerport, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to attempted receipt of child pornography. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that beginning in December 2020, the defendant used a chat application in an attempt to communicate with minors online, including a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Trimmer was repeatedly informed that the child was only 13 and lived with her mother. Despite this, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the child, told her that he wanted to have sex with her, and attempted to solicit sexually explicit photographs from the child. At one point, Trimmer attempted to conduct a live video chat with the child and sent the child a video of himself masturbating. Trimmer also sent the child photographs of gifts, including stockings, that he bought for the child. As the conversations continued, the defendant discussed meeting the child for sex, and discussed several plans as to how he and the child could carry on a sexual relationship. Trimmer was arrested on February 17, 2021.
During the investigation, investigators learned that in 2006, Trimmer was convicted in New York State Court of Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors and sentenced to serve six months in the Monroe County Jail followed by five years’ probation. The defendant subsequently violated the terms of probation and was re-sentenced to serve one to three years in prison. In that case, Trimmer also used an online chat application to engage in sexually explicit online conversations with a person he believed was a 14-year-old female but was actually an undercover Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigator. During those chats, Trimmer told the undercover investigator that he previously had sex with at least two minors in the past, and that he wanted to meet the minor for sex. The defendant was arrested after attempting to meet the minor in person.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Skilled Nursing Facility Operator Agrees to Settle Americans with Disabilities Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A company that previously operated skilled nursing facilities agreed to pay compensatory damages and a civil penalty to settle allegations involving violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
LTC Holdings, Inc., which previously operated 38 skilled nursing facilities under the name Medical Facilities of America, Inc. (MFA), including Culpeper Health & Rehabilitation Center (CHRC), located in Culpeper, agreed to pay $225,000 to a Deaf individual, who previously resided at CHRC for 67 days, and a $75,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that MFA failed to furnish necessary sign language services to the former resident. The ADA prohibits covered entities from failing to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including sign language services to individuals with communication disabilities. Prior to selling its nursing facilities, LTC Holdings, Inc. also voluntarily made changes to its policies and procedures and provided ADA training to thousands of its personnel.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Gordon, who is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The civil claims settled by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA including effective Communication, and a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings. For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD). Civil Rights complaints may be filed at the following website: https://civilrights.justice.gov/
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Savoy Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Michael E. Hughes, 35, of Lange Ave in Savoy, Illinois, was sentenced today to 32 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm imposed the sentence.
Hughes was arrested on March 10, 2020, following a February 2020 indictment. Hughes was released following a detention hearing on March 12, 2020, but was arrested and detained a year later after the court found that he violated the terms of his pretrial release. Hughes has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since March 12, 2021.
The indictment against Hughes charged that on March 14, 2019, Hughes possessed a cellular telephone containing child pornography. The statutory penalties for the offense are a maximum ten-year term of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson, The charge is the result of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Off Explosive Devices in A City NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James A. Pane, 50, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to threatening by mail to injure or intimidate and unlawfully damage and destroy property by means of an explosive. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that between January 20 and February 2, 2021, the defendant set off numerous explosions in the area of Falleson Road in the City of Rochester. On January 23, 2021, Pane set off an explosion near the residences at 94 Leander Road and 288 Falleson Road. Residents of 94 Leander Road heard two loud booms that shook the entire house, and the explosion caused a hole the size of a softball and burn marks in the siding of the house and damaged a window. The resident of 288 Falleson Road told police that other explosions had been set off at that location on previous days. On February 2, 2021, the defendant set off another explosion near 288 Falleson Road.
Between February 24 and March 9, 2021, Pane mailed 10 letters to 10 separate residences in the Falleson Road/Leander Road neighborhood. The letters appeared similar in nature and the envelopes were plain white with no return address. The envelopes were all processed through the main United States postal plant on Jefferson Road in Henrietta, NY. Inside each envelope was a single piece of paper with large, printed words stating: “I don't mean to bother you people in this neighborhood. But the little (expletive) crack head at 288 Falleson owes me a lot of money for drugs. He is a liar and a thief. He burned down his father’s cottage in the 1000 island for the insurance money, which he was supposed to pay me off with. He didn’t. I will keep throwing bombs off in his yard until he pays. call the cops they won't catch me.”
On March 2, 2021, investigators searched Pane’s garbage at his Harding Road residence and recovered a list of numerous Falleson Road and Leander Road addresses, including the house numbers. Nine of the 10 addresses which received the threatening letter were on the list. The 10th address (288 Falleson Road) was the address of the target of the explosions.
After his arrest on April 8, 2021, the defendant stated, among other things, that he had an ongoing dispute with an individual that he believed was spreading false rumors about him. Pane threatened the individual several times to stop spreading the rumors but when the individual did not stop, he made the explosive devices and started setting them off. Pane sent the letters in hopes that the neighbors would confront the individual.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan, the Rochester Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr., and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard. Additional assistance was provided by the Buffalo and Syracuse Resident Offices of the ATF.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 24, 2022 at 10:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Providence Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Substantial Quantities of Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who attempted to sell two kilograms of fentanyl and nearly 400 grams of heroin while under surveillance by members of the DEA Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in March 2019 today pleaded guilty in federal court to fentanyl and heroin trafficking charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
Josimar Delacruz-Reyes, 31, appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
According to information presented to the court, during a DEA investigation into Delacruz-Reyes’ drug trafficking activities, arrangements were made to purchase two kilograms of fentanyl and approximately 400 grams of heroin from Delacruz Reyes for an agreed upon price of $115,000. The buyer arranged to meet with Delacruz-Reyes near the defendant’s Providence residence to carry out the transaction. On March 18, 2019, DEA Task Force members electronically monitored Delacruz-Reyes as he delivered the fentanyl and heroin. The drugs were seized by law enforcement and Delacruz-Reyes was arrested shortly after the delivery when Delacruz-Reyes traveled to a nearby coffee shop where he was expecting to receive a cash payment for the drugs.
A court-authorized search of Delacruz-Reyes’ residence which followed his arrest resulted in the seizure of an additional 151 grams of fentanyl.
Delacruz-Reyes, who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2022.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by the Boston-based DEA Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, with substantial assistance from law enforcement agents and officers assigned to the Rhode Island Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and the Providence Police Department Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from DEA, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, AMTRAK Police, Rhode Island Department of Attorney General – Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigations, Rhode Island State Police, and the East Providence, Central Falls, Coventry, Cranston, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick and Woonsocket Police Departments.
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Pensacola Meth Dealer Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Pensacola, Florida, man was sentenced on October 15, 2021, to 10 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
According to court documents, Jeffery Mason Baisch, 48, distributed methamphetamine ice he obtained to various suppliers in Baldwin County, Alabama. Baisch was implicated by several co-conspirators in a drug distribution organization operating in central Baldwin County. During the investigation, Baisch sold methamphetamine to an undercover informant who was working with local investigators. In addition, Baisch was in possession of methamphetamine and other controlled substances when a search warrant was executed at his residence in Pensacola.
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 10-year sentence, which will be followed by five years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of his supervision, Baisch will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Baisch pay $100 in special assessments.
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Pensacola office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Pediatric surgeon pleads guilty to possession, distribution of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Guy Rosenschein, 68, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 15 to seven counts of distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Rosenschein will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on several occasions in 2016, Rosenschein, who at the time was a pediatric surgeon at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, used a Yahoo! email account to distribute child pornography. On Nov. 8, 2016, during the execution of a search warrant, investigators found Rosenschein in possession of numerous devices containing child pornography. Investigators identified over 19,000 images and 2,000 videos of child pornography in Rosenschein’s possession, of which law enforcement confirmed that 3,000 images and 197 videos depicted previously-identified minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Rosenschein faces over 17 years in prison followed by a minimum term of five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Rosenschein has agreed to pay $125,000 in restitution, which will be distributed to requesting victims depicted on the material recovered on his seized devices.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance from the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah J. Mease, Holland S. Kastrin and Stephen A. White are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dennis Hutton, 35, admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on June 28, 2019, at a hotel room at the Quality Inn in Mineral Wells, Wood County. During the search, officers found Hutton, digital scales, quantities of suspected methamphetamine and heroin and a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver. Hutton admitted to the officers he was selling the drugs to others because of the financial obligations he had. The drugs were sent to the DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory and were confirmed to be methamphetamine and carfentanil. Hutton admitted that he carried the gun to protect both his drugs and the proceeds of his drug dealing.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00143.
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Over 3,000 South Carolina Students to Participate in State’s 20th Annual National Day of Concern & Student Pledge Against Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart stated today that on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), along with their local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will support schools across the state as they participate in South Carolina’s 20th Annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. With a focus on keeping our schools and communities safe, students in middle school and high school are signing a voluntary pledge promising that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children are making a similar commitment—pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult, and they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded.
The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that recognizes the role young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. The program provides a means for beginning the conversation with young people about gun violence and encourages important conversations about gun safety and respectful ways to resolve disputes. Students from around the country will join together in pledging to do their part. For additional information concerning the pledge, visit the national Student Pledge website at www.pledge.org.
As it has done since 2002, the USAO reached out to all South Carolina law enforcement agencies and schools to make the pledges available to interested schools. The pledge effort is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national program that has been historically successful in bringing together law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The following South Carolina schools and law enforcement agencies are participating in this year’s pledge. For information on events scheduled for a particular school, please contact the respective school or local law enforcement agency.
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
Bennettsville Police Department
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office
Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office
City of Charleston Police Department
Easley Police Department
Lexington County Sheriff’s Office
Participating Schools
Brookdale Elementary School
Cheraw Intermediate School
Elloree Elementary School
Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
Julian Mitchell Elementary School
Luther Vaughan Elementary School
Marlboro County High School (9th Grade)
McKissick Academy of Science and Technology
Northwest Elementary School
Rivelon Elementary School
Sandhills Middle School
Swansea Freshman Academy
Wallace-Gregg Elementary School
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Sammie Ranson, 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 18, 2021 in federal court in Omaha by Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon to a term of seven years’ imprisonment for committing two armed robberies at commercial businesses in Omaha. After his release from prison, Ranson will begin a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Ranson previously pled guilty to each robbery on July 19, 2021.
Ranson admitted to assaulting one employee of a Boost mobile store on April 5, 2020, while he was armed with a knife during the robbery. In the other robbery, Ranson admitted to threatening to kill two employees at the Subway restaurant he robbed on March 30, 2020 if they reported the incident to the police after he left the store.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Role in Bank Robbery with a FirearmRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced the Melvin L. Wilson, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 18, 2021 for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Wilson to a total of 60 months’ imprisonment. After Wilson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Wilson to pay restitution in the amount of $36,959.
An investigation conducted by the Omaha Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that on August 16, 2019, Wilson drove a rented white Infiniti Q50 sports car to Bank of the West located at 8707 W. Center Road in Omaha. In the vehicle with Wilson was another male Wilson identified as Skyler Sanders. Prior to the men arriving at Bank of the West, Wilson covered at least one of the license plates of the white Infiniti Q50 with dealer plates to conceal its identity.
At approximately 10:37 a.m., Wilson and Sanders arrived at Bank of the West. While Wilson waited as the get-a-way driver, Sanders is alleged to have exited the vehicle wearing dark clothing, including gloves, a black face mask, and carrying a black handgun. Sanders allegedly walked into the Bank of the West, brandished a handgun, made contact with the tellers, and directed them to place the money from their drawers on the teller counter. Sanders allegedly took $36,959 from the bank. After the robbery, Sanders and Wilson fled the bank in the white Infiniti Q50. The white Infiniti Q50 was located, abandoned, a few blocks away from the bank. During the investigation Wilson’s DNA was found on a black mask that was found in the white Infiniti Q50. Sander’s DNA was also found within the white Infiniti Q50.
Sanders’s bench trial in front of Senior Judge Bataillon ended on September 1, 2021 and a judgment is forthcoming.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New York Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Trafficking Exotic African CatsRead the Press Release
A New York man was sentenced to 18 months in prison today in the Western District of New York for violating the Lacey Act and the Animal Welfare Act by trafficking African wild cats.
Christopher Casacci, 39, of Amherst, was doing business as “ExoticCubs.com,” through which he advertised, imported and sold exotic African cats. Between February and June of 2018, Casacci imported and sold dozens of caracals (Caracal caracal) and servals (Leptailurus serval), for $7,500 to $10,000 each. Casacci claimed that he was operating as a big cat rescue organization in an attempt to avoid New York prohibitions against possessing and selling wild animals. Casacci also falsified transport documents to hide the true species of the cats, instead calling the animals domestic crossbreeds, such as Bengal cats or Savannah cats. Further, Casacci was not permitted to sell the cats because he was not approved to do so under the Animal Welfare Act.
“Selling wild animals as pets not only breaks the law, but also endangers local communities and environments,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the public and our native wildlife from the irresponsible actions of wildlife traffickers.”
“The purpose of the Lacey Act and the Animal Welfare Act is to protect fish, wildlife and other animals, especially those that may be endangered, from individuals who seek to profit from trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York. “Enforcing these measures is important to ensure that animals, such as the exotic African cats in this case, are safeguarded.”
“Criminals who flout wildlife laws such as the Lacey Act put humans and animals at great risk,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. “Wildlife trafficking is decimating the world’s natural resources, so it is essential we work with our partners to put a stop to these types of illegal activities. This will help protect against risks to human health and safety and to native wildlife and their habitats and ensure future generations can enjoy and benefit from our cherished wild heritage.”
Caracals, also known as the “desert lynx,” are wild cats native to Africa that grow to approximately 45 pounds. Servals, also wild cats native to Africa, grow to approximately 40 pounds. All of the animals were sold while still kittens and despite their size and wild nature, Casacci marketed them as “house pets.” Both species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and their commercial possession and sale is restricted under New York state law. Multiple kittens imported by Casacci died while in his care or days after he sold them, and many live kittens were seized from Casacci during the investigation. The seized animals are now permanently residing within accredited animal sanctuaries.
Casacci was previously indicted for his actions in January of 2020. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ryan Noel, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan of the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango of the Western District of New York.
Monongalia County man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Antonio Buzzo, of Maidsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Buzzo, 28, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl.” Buzzo admitted to selling fentanyl in January 2020 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force in partnership with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and, the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments. The investigation was also assisted by the following law enforcement partners: the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and, the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.
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.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Find related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/25-people-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation-spanned-several-states
Money Launderer for International Fraud Scheme Convicted After Seven Day TrialRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Eunice Nkongho, a/k/a “Eunice Bisong,” age 40 of California, on October 15, 2021, after a seven day trial, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain goods using what appeared to be a military e-mail address, but was actually a registered Yahoo e-mail address.
The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Nasir Khan of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement's Washington Field Office.
According to testimony at the seven-day trial and court documents, a co-conspirator of Nkongho’s established and used what was purported to be a U.S. Navy e-mail address, authentic forms, titles, addresses and other indicia to pose as a U.S. government contracting agent and fraudulently obtain merchandise, including large-screen televisions, specialized communications equipment, iPhones and iPads. Much of the fraud scheme was conducted from outside the United States, including from Nigeria. Three victim companies—one that provided wireless voice and data services that was headquartered in Washington State, one that was a wholesale audio-video distributor and manufacturer’s representative located in Virginia, and a defense contractor that designed, manufactured, and marketed communications equipment that was headquartered in Maryland—shipped merchandise, without prior payment, to East Coast co-conspirators. Those individuals then shipped the stolen items to other co-conspirators on the West Coast, where they were sold.
Specifically, the evidence at trial proved that after twice receiving bags of cash from a co-conspirator in a gas station parking lot in Los Angeles, which was proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained Apple products, Nkongho laundered the money two separate series of complex transactions involving at least five bank accounts and, in doing so, both promoted the ongoing criminal activity and concealed the illegal source of the funds. After multiple transactions, Nkongho wired some of this money to a co-conspirator in Nigeria in a way that would avoid transaction reporting requirements.Similarly, the evidence at trial proved that Nkongho engaged in other transactions to conceal the nature and ownership of proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained televisions.
Of the nine defendants charged in this case, Nkongho has now been convicted after trial and seven others have pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme. One defendant, Eunice Nkongho’s husband, Peter Unakalu, is a fugitive.
Nkongho faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for money laundering. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for February 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement for their work in the investigation, and thanked the FBI Washington Field Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Adam K. Ake, who are prosecuting the case.
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Mississippi Meth Dealer Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Moss Point, Mississippi man was sentenced last week to ten years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on December 11, 2019 in Grand Bay, Alabama.
According to court documents, Seabron Mack Millender, 38, arranged to sell five ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a gas station in Grand Bay. Police set up a perimeter around the gas station and, when Millender arrived, moved in to arrest him. Millender reversed his car in an attempt to flee but police vehicles boxed him in. Officers arrested Millender and seized $1,061 in cash from him. Inside Millender’s car, officers found a clear plastic bag containing 134.8 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine hydrochloride. During a post-Miranda interview with police, Millender admitted that he had obtained the meth two days earlier and had driven the drugs into Alabama from Mississippi with the intent to distribute them. At the time of his offense, Millender was on federal supervised release for a 2008 drug-conspiracy conviction in the Southern District of Mississippi.
United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Millender to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Millender to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Mexican Native Sentenced for Toxic Marijuana Cultivation Operation in the Sierra National Forest in Madera CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Luis Madrigal-Reyes, 37, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to two years and five months in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Madrigal was also ordered to pay $48,000 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the extreme damage that the cultivation operation had on public land.
According to court documents, the cultivation operation consisted of 2,307 marijuana plants in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County. U.S. Forest Service agents saw Madrigal carrying fertilizers into the grow site and later apprehended him after they chased him down the side of a mountain. The cultivation operation caused significant damage to the area, which serves as habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, an endangered species and the California spotted owl, which is currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Agents found deadly banned pesticides sprayed directly on the plants.
The cultivation site was located in the Chiquito Creek watershed, which drains into the Fresno River before flowing into the San Joaquin River. Approximately 8.55 million gallons of water had been diverted from a nearby natural stream to irrigate the marijuana plants.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) of the California Department of Justice, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. The environmental damage to the forest was analyzed and documented by Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Madrigal’s co-defendant, Lester Eduardo Cardenas Flores, 24, also a native and citizen of Mexico, is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 15, 2021. He faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Marijuana plant sprayed with deadly pesticide Marijuana plant sprayed with deadly pesticideMcKeesport Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Causing an Overdose Death, Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 14 years of imprisonment on his conviction of drug trafficking and firearms offenses, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Derrick Walker, age 31, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on June 15, 2019, Walker sold several stamp bags of fentanyl to an individual. These stamp bags were labeled “Pray for Death.” The following day, the individual was found deceased, with several opened “Pray for Death” stamp bags next to him. The autopsy and toxicological testing confirmed that the victim died of a fentanyl overdose.
On June 24, 2019, the defendant was pulled over during a traffic stop and found in possession of additional stamp bags of fentanyl, and the cell phone that was used to arrange the transaction with the victim. The defendant’s house was subsequently searched, and investigators recovered additional stamp bags of fentanyl, including numerous stamp bags labeled “Pray for Death.” Investigators also recovered thousands of rounds of ammunition, as well as body armor and drug packaging paraphernalia. The defendant’s cellular phone was searched, and it contained numerous narcotics-related communications, including ones in which the defendant advertised that he had “Pray for Death” stamp bags for sale. The cellular phone also contained the text message conversations between the defendant and the victim, in which the victim and the defendant arranged the June 15, 2019 drug transaction. When the defendant was arrested on August 26, 2019, he was found in possession of a firearm and additional ammunition.
When the defendant pleaded guilty on December 21, 2020, he accepted responsibility for causing the death of the victim.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ambrose stated that the defendant’s offense conduct was extremely serious.
Assistant United States Attorney Doug Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Derrick Walker.
Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Al-Nusra FrontRead the Press Release
An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front (ANF). As part of his plea agreement, the defendant agrees to the entry of an order of removal so he will be removed from the country after completing his sentence.
According to court documents, Dilshod Khusanov, 36, of Chicago, encouraged individuals to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad, or holy war in 2014 and 2015. For example, on Sept. 28, 2014, Khusanov urged co-conspirator Akmal Zakirov to engage in jihad: “I hope that the only [reason] that is preventing you from jihad is some mistakes and flaws that are occurring among” the other fighters. Khusanov explained that it would be better to help those fighters, rather than criticize them.
Later in 2014, two Brooklyn residents, Abdurasul Juraboev and Akhror Saidakhmetov, began planning to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. A group of individuals in a domestic network based in New York and elsewhere, including Khusanov, worked together to raise and contribute money to help fund that trip to Syria. In February 2015, Abror Habibov, Zakirov, Azizjon Rakhmatov and Kasimov discussed providing money to support Saidakhmetov’s travel and expenses in Syria. Rakhmatov and Zakirov also agreed to solicit money from others to fund Saidakhmetov’s travel. Zakirov contacted Khusanov, then-based in Illinois, and asked him to contribute money for Saidakhmetov’s travel and to ask another individual to contribute money as well. Khusanov agreed and arranged for money to be deposited in Zakirov’s bank account before Saidakhmetov’s scheduled departure. Saidakhmetov was arrested in February 2015 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as he boarded a plane bound for Istanbul, Turkey, a transit point for foreign fighters bound for Syria.
Khusanov is the last charged defendant in this plot to be convicted. Juraboev, Saidakhmetov, Habibov, Zakirov and Rakhmatov previously pleaded guilty, and Kasimov was convicted at trial. Juraboev and Saidakhmetov each were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, and Rakhmatov was sentenced to 12 and a half years imprisonment. Habibov, Kasimov and Zakirov are awaiting sentencing.
“With today’s plea, Khusanov admits to providing financial support to individuals seeking to travel to Syria to join ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization that seeks to wage war on the United States and other countries,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This office will continue to work tirelessly with its local, national and international law enforcement partners to eliminate ISIS’s jihadist regime and threat of terrorist violence.”
“Money is the oxygen that feeds the flame of any organized terrorist activity,” said Commissioner Dermot Shea of the New York Police Department (NYPD). “This case makes it clear that whether you are a terrorist bomber, a planner, or simply the facilitator who raises the money to pay for their travel, you will be a target of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. They are the most experienced detectives and agents in the country in these cases.”
Khusanov pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David K. Kessler, J. Matthew Haggans, and Jonathan E. Algor for the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Steven Ward of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
The FBI and NYPD are investigating the case.
Milwaukee Men Charged with Laundering Proceeds of Business Email Compromise Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that a ten-count indictment was unsealed in federal court charging both Rolando Greer (age: 50) and Corey Lee (age: 50) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with: one (1) count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) and six (6) counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 & 1957. Greer is also charged with three (3) counts of making false statements to financial institutions, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014.
According to the indictment, beginning on or about May 2018, and continuing through at least July 2019, Greer and Lee conspired to launder, and did launder, proceeds of business email compromise (“BEC”) schemes. A BEC scheme is a form of cybercrime in which a fraudster uses false and misleading emails to fraudulently induce a victim to transfer funds to a bank account controlled by the fraudster and the fraudster’s accomplices.
The indictment alleges that Lee and Greer obtained funds stolen from at least four victims through BEC schemes. The indictment further alleges that Lee and Geer transferred those funds among various bank accounts that they controlled and used victim funds for their own personal purposes. Greer is also charged with using a false Social Security Number to open several bank accounts that were used as part of the money laundering scheme.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering or money laundering, Greer and Lee would each face a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison per count. If convicted of making a false statement to a financial institution, Greer would face a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Proctor and Peter Smyczek.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Lubec Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine—A Lubec man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Rubin Perry, 34, to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim whose images he possessed. Perry pleaded guilty on June 18, 2021. He had a 2013 Maine state conviction for possessing child pornography, which subjected him to a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence.
According to court records, in 2018, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit received information that a Twitter user was uploading and storing child pornography images and videos. Investigators determined that the Twitter account was associated with Perry’s address in Lubec. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the address and interviewed Perry while executing the warrant. He admitted that he had a problem with child pornography and he did not know how to stop. He also admitted to having child pornography on his cell phone, which was later found to contain multiple child pornography images.
In imposing sentence, Judge Woodcock stated, “When people like the defendant seek out these images, it encourages their production.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Bangor Police Department investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Longwood Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Images and Videos of Himself Sexually Abusing A ChildRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Mikel Wayne Nunnally (44, Longwood) to 60 years in federal prison for using a minor child to produce sexual abuse images and videos. The court also sentenced Nunnally to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
Nunnally had pleaded guilty on April 29, 2021.
According to court documents, between 2018 and 2020, Nunnally produced several videos that depicted a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In some of these videos, Nunnally can be seen as he sexually abused the child victim. Nunnally then distributed images and videos depicting this sexual abuse to others over the internet, including to an undercover law enforcement officer. Images from one of these videos showed Nunnally touching and digitally penetrating the child. Nunnally told the undercover officer that he had previously filmed the child victim in the bathroom and that he touched the child in a sexual manner whenever he could. Nunnally also stated that he sometimes gave the child victim pain pills mixed with sleeping pills to help facilitate his molestation of the child.
In December 2020, Nunnally was identified by law enforcement and interviewed by FBI agents. Nunnally admitted that he had used the child victim to produce the child sex abuse images and videos and had distributed these materials online. He also estimated that he had been filming his sexual abuse of the child victim for four or five years.
FBI agents conducted a forensic review of two of Nunnally’s electronic devices and located 79 videos and 12 images depicting the sexual abuse of children on these devices. These videos and images depicted children who ranged from infants to teenagers. Some of this material depicted the sadistic abuse, bondage, and torture of the child victims.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Little Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Victim on SnapchatRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dyllan Barber, 20, of Little Valley, N.Y., pleaded guilty to cyberstalking before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey T. Fiut, who is handling the case, stated that on November 30, 2019, the defendant initiated a conversation with Victim 1, a minor female, on Snapchat. Posing as a hacker by the name of “Kyle,” Barber sent a threatening message to Victim 1 telling her to take and send to him sexually explicit images of herself. If she did not, the defendant stated that he would publicly release nude images of Victim 1 that he claimed to have in his possession. At the same time he was posing as “Kyle” and communicating with Victim 1 on Snapchat, Barber also encouraged Victim 1 in a telephone conversation to take and send sexually explicit images to “Kyle” because the defendant purportedly feared that “Kyle” may also publicly disclose nude images of the defendant. as a result of these threats, Victim 1 took and sent sexually explicit images of herself to Barber through the Snapchat application.
The threatening conversation between the defendant and Victim 1 occurred over the course of approximately three hours, concluding early in the morning hours of December 1, 2019. Later that day, Barber, no longer posing as “Kyle,” communicated with Victim 1 via Snapchat. During this conversation, Victim 1 asked the defendant if he knew anything about “Kyle.” Barber falsely told Victim 1 that he did not know anything about “Kyle.”
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Timothy S. Whitcomb.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 15, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Kingston Man Charged with Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 15, 2021, Ahmyr Younger, age 19, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was charged by felony information with illegally possessing a firearm.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the information alleges that on June 30, 2021, in Luzerne County, Younger possessed a Jimenez Arms 9mm handgun, but was prohibited by law to possess firearms.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Newark, New Jersey Police Department, and the Kingston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.”
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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 maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of 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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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- James Arnold Scott, 45, of Hansford, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. Scott was also sentenced to four years of supervised release.
According to his own statements and court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration utilized confidential sources to conduct several controlled buys of methamphetamine involving Scott from 2019-2020. With respect to the charged offense which involved a controlled buy, on January 17, 2020, Scott aided and abetted one of his drug sources of supply in the distribution of four ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $1,150. The drug transaction took place in Huntington. Scott further admitted that when law enforcement later executed a search warrant at his Hansford residence, they seized cash, marijuana, methamphetamine, four firearms, one of which was stolen, and a ballistic vest.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Negar Kordestani handled the prosecution.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00078.
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Jury Convicts Chicago Man of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted an Illinois man today for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thomas Osadzinski, 22, of Chicago, designed a process using a computer script to make ISIS propaganda more conveniently disseminated online. The process would automatically copy and preserve ISIS media postings in an organized format, allowing social media users to continue to conveniently access and share the content.
In 2019, Osadzinski shared his script and instructions for how to use it with individuals whom he believed to be ISIS supporters and members of pro-ISIS media organizations. Unbeknownst to Osadzinski, the individuals were covert FBI employees and a person confidentially working with law enforcement.
Osadzinski was convicted of attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization and faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois and Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office made the announcement.
The Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and Melody Wells for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorney Alexandra Hughes of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Judge Sentences Michigan Man to 7 Years in Prison for Hacking UPMC HR Databases and Stealing Employees’ Personal InformationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Justin Sean Johnson was sentenced on Friday to the statutory maximum sentence of 60 months' incarceration for Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S., and the statutory maximum of 24 months for Aggravated Identity Theft, for a total of 84 months of incarceration, for hacking the human resources databases of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and stealing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of more than 65,000 UPMC employees, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R, Hornak imposed the sentence on Johnson, aka TheDearthStar and Dearthy Star, age 30, formerly of Detroit, Michigan.
Johnson, known on the dark web as TheDearthStar and Dearthy Star, infiltrated and hacked into the UPMC human resource server databases in 2013 and 2014 and stole sensitive PII and W-2 information belonging to tens of thousands of UPMC employees. Johnson then sold the stolen information on dark web forums for use by conspirators, who promptly filed hundreds of false 1040 tax returns in 2014 using UPMC employee PII. These false 1040 filings claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars of false tax refunds, which they converted into Amazon.com gift cards, which were then used to purchase Amazon merchandise which was shipped to Venezuela.
Additionally, Johnson, from 2014 through 2017 stole and sold nearly 90,000 additional (non-UPMC) sets of PII to buyers on dark web forums, which could be used to commit identity theft and bank fraud.
The scheme resulted in approximately $1.7 million in false tax return refunds.
“Justin Johnson stole the names, Social Security numbers, addresses and salary information of tens of thousands of UPMC employees, then sold that personal information on the dark web so that other criminals could further exploit his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman. “Today’s sentence sends a deterrent message that hacking has serious consequences.”
“The actions of criminals like Justin Johnson can have long-lasting and devastating effects on the lives of innocent people,” said Yury Kruty, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Johnson carried out his intricate scheme with no regard for his victims. Today’s sentencing will hopefully be a deterrent to other potential crooks who may be considering carrying out similar conduct.”
“The U.S. Secret Service today sends a message to Justin Sean Johnson and anyone who seeks to conceal their criminal activity in cyberspace and on the dark web that there is no hiding place we cannot find,” said U.S. Secret Service Pittsburgh Field Office Special Agent in Charge Timothy Burke. “Information compromise and identity theft victimize not only the individuals whose information is stolen, but also threaten our collective global security. I am immensely proud of the agents involved in bringing a just end to these crimes.”
“Investigating identity theft and protecting consumers victimized by these crimes is part of our mission. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all the law enforcement agencies involved to bring this individual to justice,” said Lesley Allison, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Hornak noted the severity of Mr. Johnson’s crimes, likening his behavior to a “bulldozer” through people’s personal lives when he “indiscriminately” hacked their PII.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Agents from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Justin Johnson.
Jersey City Gang Member Charged with ShootingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An alleged member of a Jersey City gang has been charged with the June 19, 2020, shooting of a Jersey City resident, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Shamar Bey, 29, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Bey is allegedly associated with a street gang known to operate around Salem Lafayette Apartments and the surrounding area from Bramhall Avenue to Forrest Street and between Ocean Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City. On June 19, 2020, Bey allegedly shot an associate of a rival gang with which Salem Lafayette was feuding.
The count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The count of discharging a firearm during an act of violence carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison. Both counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; officers with the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole Board, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sophie E. Reiter of the Cybercrime Unit and Sarah Sulkowski of the Violent Crime Unit.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Lien Against a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty today to a charge of retaliating against a federal employee by filing a false lien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Field Office.
According to court documents and his plea, Robert Earl Henderson, Jr., 49, knowingly filed an “affidavit of commercial lien” in the Circuit Clerk’s office of Hinds County on July 27, 2018. In this Lien, Mr. Henderson alleged facts of mistreatment by law enforcement officers, including an FBI Special Agent, then Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason, Officers 1-20, and his own attorney. He filed his lien against these parties claiming a debt owed to him from them of $500,000.
Henderson previously testified in a state prosecution against then Hinds County DA Robert Shuler Smith that he carried bribe money from state defendants to Smith on several occasions. That state prosecution relied in part on an FBI agent’s investigation. During the time of his testimony, Henderson had state charges of another bribery and possession of a firearm as a felon pending against him. The state’s charges are currently pending against him.
In retaliation for the state’s decision not to dismiss those charges, Henderson filed the lien against several people including the FBI agent.
Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Frederick Coleman, 32, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Huntington on February 13, 2020. Inside one of the bedrooms, officers recovered approximately 2.31 grams of heroin and approximately 20.99 grams of cocaine. Coleman admitted that he possessed the heroin and intended to distribute it.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00171.
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Home Security Footage Leads to Ammunition and Drug Charges for Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, KEENO KJUAN GULLEY, 38, of Oklahoma City, was arraigned on federal charges of drug dealing and possessing ammunition after he had sustained a prior felony conviction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing ammunition or firearms.
On August 17, 2021, public records reflect that Gulley was charged by criminal complaint. According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on July 12, 2021, home security camera footage depicts an individual alleged to be Mr. Gulley firing a handgun towards a vehicle traveling down the road. The individual ran away after firing multiple rounds toward the vehicle. Oklahoma City Police Officers located multiple spent 9mm cartridge casings at the scene of the shooting. Further investigation led officers, on July 14, 2021, to find a package of pills at a residence associated with Mr. Gulley. The pills tested positive for methamphetamine.
On September 22, 2021, an Indictment returned by a federal grand jury charged Gulley with possession of ammunition after a prior felony conviction and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Indictment alleges that on or about July 12, 2021, Gulley knowingly possessed five rounds of 9mm caliber cartridges after he had been previously convicted of crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Indictment further alleges that on or about July 14, 2021, Gulley knowingly possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gulley has been ordered detained in federal custody since September 3, 2021.
This case is the result of investigations by the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Wilson D. McGarry and Danielle Connolly are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of "SHOTS FIRED," the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. "SHOTS FIRED" prioritizes the federal prosecution of gun crimes connected to shootings.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public records for more information.
Hillsboro Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing a MinorRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Andrew B. Collins, 32, of the 200 block of Main Street, in Hillsboro, Illinois, pleaded guilty to the charge of enticement of a minor on Friday, October 15, 2021. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 14, 2022, in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield.
At the change-of-plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins, Collins admitted that he enticed a 16-year-old boy to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
During the hearing, the government stated that online chats between Collins and the minor showed that Collins persuaded the minor to engage in intercourse by offering him toy gifts, promises of weekends together, nude massages, and the option to permanently live together in the future.
For the offense of enticement of a minor, the statutory penalty is not less than ten years and up to life in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the United States Secret Service, and the Southern Illinois University Police Department, which is a member of the Central and Southern Illinois Attorney General’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris is representing the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Hell's Angels Member Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing pound quantities of high-purity methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between April and July 2019, Justin Steven Schmitz, 39, a member of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, sold multiple pounds of high-purity methamphetamine to an undercover officer for approximately $6,000 per pound. After pleading guilty on August 14, 2020, to one count of methamphetamine distribution, Schmitz absconded from a treatment center and fled to California, where he remained a fugitive for nearly three months before being apprehended and brought back to Minnesota.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, the St. Paul Police Department, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Rochester Police Department, the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha H. Bates and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.
Hanover man accused of making pipe bombs, violating protective orderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thomas Joseph Miller, 34, of Hanover, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on Oct. 15 for a detention hearing, charged with illegally possessing destructive devices and ammunition. Miller will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 28, Miller allegedly was found in possession of several “pipe bombs,” considered destructive devices, and various rounds of ammunition in multiple calibers. At the time, Miller was subject to an order of protection and could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Miller did not possess a license to manufacture explosives or destructive devices.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Miller faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Doña Ana County Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ry Ellison and Maria Armijo are prosecuting the case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Attempted Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. — A Columbus, Ga., man, Eric Duane Elmore, 48, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning, after pleading guilty to attempted online enticement.
According to Elmore’s guilty plea agreement, he admitted to corresponding with a 15-year-old victim, beginning in late 2018. When the conversations became sexual in nature, the victim told a school counselor about the messages, who then contacted law enforcement. Law enforcement then gained authorized control of the online account and continued the conversations with Elmore, which ultimately led to Elmore discussing travel to Kentucky to meet with the victim for sexual purposes.
Elmore pleaded guilty in June 2021.
Under federal law, Elmore must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Former Security Services Executives Plead Guilty to Rigging Bids for Department of Defense Security ContractsRead the Press Release
Two former employees of G4S Secure Solutions NV (G4S NV), pleaded guilty today to criminal antitrust charges stemming from their involvement in a conspiracy to rig bids, fix prices, and allocate customers for defense-related security services contracts. Both defendants are Belgian nationals residing in Belgium.
According to court documents, Bart Verbeeck, former Director of Sales, and Robby Van Mele, former Director of Operations, admitted that they, with their co-conspirators at competing firms, colluded to allocate security services contracts and to fix the prices at which the firms bid for contracts. The allocated contracts included those for guarding, mobile monitoring, and surveillance services with the United States, through the Department of Defense, and those with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Communications and Information Agency. As a result, the customers of the security services providers were deprived of a competitive bidding process and paid inflated, non-competitive prices for services.
Earlier this year, G4S NV pleaded guilty and was sentenced for its involvement in the conspiracy. The Department of Justice has also indicted several other members of the conspiracy. The department’s investigation remains ongoing.
“These individual guilty pleas, which follow the sentencing of G4S NV, demonstrate the division’s commitment to the vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners will continue to investigate and prosecute both individual and corporate wrongdoers who seek to exploit the government procurement process.”
“Safeguarding the integrity of the defense procurement process is a vital aspect of our work at the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said DCIS Deputy Director Paul K. Sternal. “Today’s pleas demonstrate our ability to work collaboratively to investigate and prosecute illegal conduct.”
“This result is an important step in enforcing the integrity of the government procurement process,” said Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “We will continue to safeguard the interests of both the U.S. Army and the taxpayer.”
A criminal violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of $1 million. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant, and program funding at the federal, state, and local levels. In Fall 2020, the Strike Force expanded its footprint with the launch of PCSF: Global, which is designed to deter, detect, investigate, and prosecute collusive schemes that target government spending outside of the United States.
To contact the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging, or other anticompetitive conduct, go to https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Former Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Council Member Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A former member of the Tribal Council for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
Roderick Bell, 42, of Philadelphia, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019, for defrauding the Choctaw Tribal government. According to court records, between April 2017 and October 2017, Bell forged hotel bills and receipts and submitted those documents to the Tribal government in claims for reimbursement for official business travel. Bell pled guilty on June 29, 2021 to wire fraud.
The sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves was 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution to the Tribe in the amount of $11,094.15. Bell will surrender on December 6, 2021, to complete his sentence in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons.
“As long as public corruption continues to be an issue in our State, I can promise you that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be here to root it out, prosecute it, and ensure that justice is done. I want to personally thank the agencies involved for working with us to catch those who violate our corruption laws,” said Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Payne.
Former Georgia Middle School Teacher Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A former Oconee County, Georgia, middle school teacher was sentenced to federal prison today after he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
Ira New, III, 56, of Watkinsville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal after previously pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. In addition, New will have to register for life as a sex offender upon release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Ira New was entrusted with the care and safety of middle school students at a time when he was actively victimizing children by possessing pornography of kids in the same age group. Every time an image of child pornography is viewed, the demented business of sexually exploiting innocent children only grows stronger. New—and predators like him—will be held accountable for their crimes against children in the Middle District of Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Protecting children is among the highest priorities for our office and our law enforcement partners.”
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims. No child should be subject to online exploitation. As we work with internet service providers and other law enforcement agency partners, we are ensuring that predators like this defendant are held accountable,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
According to court documents, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received a cyber tip from Yahoo investigators in Aug. 2019 regarding approximately 27 images of children at nudist colonies. Yahoo determined that the account belonged to New, who was an eighth-grade teacher at the time, and the cyber tip was escalated to the GBI. GBI discovered New taught at Malcolm Bridge Middle School in Watkinsville and had recently self-reported to the school administration for displaying an image of a topless female to his class. Subsequently, New resigned from his teaching position at Oconee County Schools and consented to a Professional Standards Commission sanction of reprimand regarding his teaching certificate.
The GBI conducted a knock and talk at his home on Sept. 5, 2019. New consented to allow forensic agents to view his phone, and they found it contained child pornography. A supplemental forensic review revealed New’s phone contained approximately 94 images of child pornography, including images of 12 to 14-year-old girls. When asked when he started to take an interest in children, New responded that it had been in the “past couple of years.” New also stated that he never sent the photographs to anyone, but he emailed the photographs to himself.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the GBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker is prosecuting the case.
Former Fortune Bay Casino Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling More Than $300,000Read the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Louis County woman was sentenced today to eight months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and full restitution for embezzling more than $300,000 in Tribal funds.
“Ms. Boutto took advantage of the managerial position she had been trusted with and selfishly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “This brazen theft of Tribal funds deeply impacted the Tribe’s ability to provide services to its own members. Today’s sentence signals the seriousness of Ms. Boutto’s crimes.”
“Far too often crimes are committed against tribes in Indian Country and the punishment is a slap on the wrist,” said Bois Forte Tribal Chairwoman Cathy Chavers. “We applaud Judge Tostrud for realizing the seriousness of the crime committed. Boutto serving time in federal prison reinforces the fact that crimes like these won’t be tolerated.” Chavers went on to say, “we are relieved to put an end to this matter and are now able to breathe a bit easier seeing justice done. Now our community can begin the process of healing and ensuring this never happens again.”
According to court documents, in 2008, Jennifer Lynn Boutto, 33, began working as a reservationist at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. Boutto later received a promotion to Front Desk Supervisor, a position that allowed her to issue cash refunds without direct supervision. Between January 2013 and October 2019, Boutto used her position at Fortune Bay to steal money by issuing false cash refunds against the invoices of previous Fortune Bay customers. Boutto would then access the Fortune Bay vault and retrieve the falsely refunded amount. In total, Boutto executed the scheme 2,994 times and stole $315,739.87.
On March 9, 2021, Boutto pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of Tribal funds.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with significant assistance from the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing.
Former Executive Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for Embezzling more than $48 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former executive at a New Jersey publication company was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for embezzling tens of millions of dollars for his own benefit, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Nestor Charriez, 60, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of devising and carrying out a scheme to commit wire fraud. Judge Kevin McNulty imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.
According to the charging document and statements made in court:
Charriez was a longtime senior employee of Victim-Company 1, a publication company based in New Jersey. Charriez’s financial responsibilities at Victim-Company 1 included overseeing and managing employee payroll. Charriez would submit Victim-Company 1’s payroll information to an outside payroll company, which would process Victim-Company 1’s payroll requests.
Beginning as early as 2002 through June 2019, Charriez defrauded Victim-Company 1 by embezzling millions of dollars through unauthorized “bonus” payments to himself. He submitted false payroll instructions to Victim-Company 1’s outside payroll provider, indicating that Charriez was entitled to massive bonuses – hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time – which Victim-Company-1 had not approved.
Charriez carried out this scheme on numerous occasions over nearly two decades. In total, Charriez stole more than $48 million from Victim-Company 1. Charriez spent the money he stole on personal expenses.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty also sentenced Charriez to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $43.4 million. The court previously entered a forfeiture order of $48 million.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Suchorsky, Carolyn Silane, and Jonathan Fayer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
Former Department of Defense Employee Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury Brought to the United States to Face ChargeRead the Press Release
A former civilian employee of the Department of Defense arrived in the United States Friday from Germany to face a charge for assaulting a U.S. military member in the Republic of Korea last year.
According to court documents, Gerald Leon Ray III, 25, of Lathrop, California, intentionally struck an individual in the side of the head, causing the victim serious bodily injury. The alleged assault occurred on July 26, 2020, in the Republic of Korea, where Ray was employed by the Defense Commissary Agency, a component of the Department of Defense. The victim was an active-duty member in the U.S. Army.
On June 17, a grand jury in the Eastern District of California indicted Ray on one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The charge was brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, civilian employees of the Armed Forces.
On Oct. 13, U.S. military authorities arrested Ray on a U.S. military installation in Germany. That same day, Ray had his initial appearance remotely before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy Peterson. On Oct. 14, Judge Peterson ordered that Ray be removed from Germany to the United States pursuant to MEJA.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert of the Eastern District of California, Special Agent Andrew D. Franz of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations – Osan Air Base Korea and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI are investigating this case, with valuable assistance by the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Marshals Service in connection with the arrest, initial detention and transport of Ray.
Trial Attorney John-Alex Romano of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Bristol Resident Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARCOS MENDEZ, 31, of Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service developed evidence regarding a drug trafficking organization that was sending USPS parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts. Between July and December 2018, law enforcement intercepted and seized five suspect parcels that were being mailed to addresses in Bristol, Meriden and Burlington, Connecticut, and in Worcester, Massachusetts. All five of the suspect parcels contained multiple kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine. On several occasions, investigators conducted surveillance of the delivery of suspect parcels and the scheduled delivery of seized parcels. During surveillance, investigators observed Mendez, who formerly resided in Bristol, and other individuals picking up or attempting to pick up parcels that had been seized.
On January 9, 2019, investigators arrested Mendez and other members of this drug trafficking organization. A search of Mendez’s Bristol residence at the time of his arrest revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine, numerous bags of marijuana packaged for distribution, and $146,712 in cash.
On January 23, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Mendez and five others with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.
On May 18. 2021, Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Mendez, who is released on a $500,000 bond, is required to report to prion on January 3, 2022.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. The DEA Puerto Rico Caribbean Corridor Strike Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, San Juan (P.R.) Office, have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fairhope Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Fairhope, Alabama, man was sentenced on October 15, 2021, to 10 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
According to court documents, Christopher Quentin Green, 43, distributed methamphetamine ice he obtained to others in Baldwin County, Alabama. Green was implicated by several co-conspirators in a drug distribution organization operating in central Baldwin County. During the investigation, Green was in possession of methamphetamine when a search warrant was executed at his residence in Fairhope. Green arrived in a vehicle after deputies arrived and attempted to discard a bag of methamphetamine as deputies approached the vehicle. Green admitted after being advised of his rights that he had received methamphetamine ice in the past from a co-conspirator, Grady Sikes, and that the methamphetamine ice in the vehicle came from a supplier in Pensacola.
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 10-year sentence, which will be followed by five years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of his supervision, Green will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Green pay $100 in special assessments.The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Extraditan a Estados Unidos desde Cabo Verde a empresario colombiano acusado de lavado de dineroRead the Press Release
Alex Nain Saab Moran (Saab), de 47 años y nacionalidad colombiana, hará su primera comparecencia hoy ante un tribunal federal en Miami, Florida, tras ser extraditado de la República de Cabo Verde. Saab ha sido acusado formalmente de haber blanqueado el lucro obtenido como resultado de violaciones de la Ley sobre Prácticas Corruptas en el Extranjero (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FCPA) en relación con un mecanismo de pago de sobornos que tenía como propósito sacar provecho del sistema cambiario controlado por el gobierno venezolano. Se espera que su primera comparecencia sea hoy a la 1:00 p.m. ante el juez John J. O’Sullivan del Tribunal de Distrito Federal para el Distrito Sur de Florida.
Concretamente, el 25 de julio de 2019, se acusó a Saab junto con Álvaro Pulido Vargas, alias Germán Enrique Rubio Salas, de 55 años, también de nacionalidad colombiana, mediante una imputación por ocho cargos, uno de ellos por conspiración para llevar a cabo lavado de dinero y otros siete cargos por lavado de dinero. La acusación sostiene que desde noviembre de 2011 o aproximadamente desde esa fecha y hasta al menos septiembre de 2015, Saab y Pulido conspiraron con otras personas para blanquear el lucro obtenido mediante un mecanismo ilegal de sobornos pagados desde cuentas bancarias en Venezuela hacia cuentas en Estados Unidos y a través de estas. Según la acusación, Saab y Pulido obtuvieron un contrato con el gobierno venezolano en noviembre de 2011 para la construcción de viviendas en sectores de bajos recursos. Los acusados y los demás partícipes en la conspiración luego aprovecharon el tipo de cambio que controla el gobierno de Venezuela, que permitía obtener dólares estadounidenses a una tasa conveniente, presentando documentos de importación falsos y fraudulentos para artículos y materiales que nunca se importaron a Venezuela y sobornando a funcionarios públicos venezolanos con el fin de que aprobaran esos documentos. La acusación sostiene que la actividad ilegal consistió en un mecanismo de soborno que vulneró lo establecido en la FCPA e involucró delitos de soborno contra Venezuela. También afirma que se llevaron a cabo en Miami reuniones para coordinar los pagos de sobornos y que Saab y Pulido transfirieron dinero relacionado con este mecanismo a cuentas bancarias en el Distrito Sur de Florida. Como resultado de este mecanismo, Saab y Pulido transfirieron aproximadamente USD 350 millones desde Venezuela, a través de Estados Unidos, a cuentas en el extranjero sobre las que tenían la titularidad o el control.
A pedido de Estados Unidos, el 12 de junio de 2020, Saab fue detenido en la República de Cabo Verde, una nación conformada por varias islas al oeste de África continental. A continuación, Estados Unidos presentó un pedido de extradición formal, que Saab objetó. El 16 de marzo, la Corte Suprema de Cabo Verde aprobó la extradición de Saab. Tras un litigio relativo a la detención y extradición de Saab que involucró a sus abogados y a la Fiscalía General de Cabo Verde, el 30 de agosto la Corte Constitucional de Cabo Verde desestimó la apelación, y el 31 de octubre denegó el último pedido de reconsideración que presentó Saab y certificó la finalización del proceso relativo a la extradición de Saab a Estados Unidos. La Ministra de Justicia de Cabo Verde ordenó que fuera entregado en cumplimiento de lo establecido en las órdenes judiciales, lo cual permitió que Saab llegara a Estados Unidos el 16 de octubre.
El anuncio fue realizado por el fiscal general adjunto Kenneth A. Polite Jr. de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, el fiscal federal interino Juan Antonio González para el Distrito Sur de Florida y la agente especial interina a cargo La Verne J. Hibbert de la Oficina Local en Miami de la Agencia Antinarcóticos de EE. UU. (DEA).
El fiscal general adjunto Polite y el fiscal federal interino González reconocieron y agradecieron al Gobierno de la República de Cabo Verde por su colaboración para la extradición de Saab a Estados Unidos. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia brindó asistencia sustancial para que se concretaran la detención y la extradición de Saab, al igual que INTERPOL Washington.
El caso fue investigado por DEA Miami con la colaboración de la Oficina Local en Miami del FBI y la Oficina en Miami de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional. La División de Operaciones Internacionales del FBI transportó a Saab desde Cabo Verde hasta Estados Unidos.
La acción penal la impulsan el fiscal de primera instancia Alexander Kramer de la Sección de Fraude de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar federal Kurt K. Lunkenheimer del Distrito Sur de Florida.
Una acusación formal es solo una acusación y todos los acusados se presumen inocentes hasta tanto se demuestre su culpabilidad sin lugar a duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
Para ver el texto original, ir a: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colombian-businessman-charged-money-laundering-extradited-united-states-cabo-verde
Elizabeth, PA Woman Sentenced to Prison for Laundering the Proceeds Generated by her Heroin-Dealing ParamourRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of incarceration on her conviction of conspiracy to commit laundering of monetary instruments, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Donnetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Holly Parrish, age 32, of Elizabeth Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Parrish conspired to launder the proceeds generated by her paramour’s drug trafficking organization. Specifically, the Court was informed that Darryl Arnold, Parrish’s paramour, was responsible for distributing massive quantities of heroin throughout Washington County. Parrish assisted in laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash proceeds from Arnold’s heroin distribution and utilized the training she received as a bank employee to structure cash deposits in such a way as to evade regulatory detection. Additionally, Parrish and Arnold used the drug trafficking proceeds to live a lifestyle otherwise beyond their means, spending nearly $100,000 on shoe retailers, Gucci retailers, luxury hotels, and other items.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ambrose stated that she found the nature and circumstances of the offense to be very serious.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Lenhardt and Doug Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Canonsburg and Monessen Police Departments for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Parrish.
Dubuque Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl that Caused OverdoseRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed fentanyl to a man who overdosed pled guilty on October 14, 2021, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Emily Ann Nelson, age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of distribution of fentanyl.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Nelson distributed a substance that was supposedly heroin to another person in July 2020. That person used the substance, which turned out to be fentanyl, and overdosed, nearly dying. First responders were able to revive the other individual using the opioid antidote, Narcan. At the plea hearing, Nelson admitted she distributed the fentanyl to the person who overdosed. The day after the overdose incident, a confidential informant working with the Dubuque Drug Task Force contacted Nelson to purchase heroin. Nelson stole the money she was supposed to use to get the drugs. About two weeks later, the confidential informant again contacted Nelson to obtain heroin. This time, Nelson obtained the drugs as agreed, but used a portion of the drugs before she could be arrested by officers.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Nelson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Nelson faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21‑CR‑01009‑CJW‑MAR.
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District Man Sentenced to 40-Year Prison Term for Killing Man in the Parking Lot of Recreation CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Herman Cook, 50, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 40 years in prison on first-degree murder while armed and other charges for an early evening shooting in Northwest Washington in August 2016, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Cook was found guilty by a jury in February 2020 of murder and related firearms offenses. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Juliet J. McKenna.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 8, 2016, shortly after 7 p.m., Cook was standing in the parking lot behind the Emery Recreation Center in the 5700 block of Georgia Avenue NW. The homicide victim, Donald Johnson, Jr., drove into the parking lot to meet a friend. Cook and Mr. Johnson had been close friends decades earlier but became estranged at some point in the early 1990s. As captured on video surveillance, after Mr. Johnson got out of his car to talk to the friend, Cook walked up to him slowly and, without any provocation, shot him multiple times at point blank range. Mr. Johnson was struck four times, including twice in the back and once in the neck. Cook then calmly walked away in the direction of Cook’s home on 13th Street NW. Mr. Johnson, 45, was pronounced dead later that evening.
Cook fled the area on foot. Evidence indicated that he fled to Baltimore that night. He was arrested on Feb. 21, 2017, in Baltimore and has been in custody ever since.
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 Baltimore Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels; Special Agent Nelson Rhone of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Melissa Jackson, who prosecuted the case.