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18 October 2021
District Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Woman in Burst of Gunfire in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Nequan Carthens, 21, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to opening fire last year with a handgun on a Southeast Washington street and killing a woman who was walking in the area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Carthens pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a 10-year prison term. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2022.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 20, 2020, at approximately 9:55 p.m., Carthens exited from the rear passenger door of a blue-colored, four door sedan as it turned into an alley alongside the 1900 block of 16th Street SE. He was holding a handgun and shot into the 1900 block of 16th Street approximately nine times in the direction of a group of individuals who were congregating across the street. He then ran back into the waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
An innocent bystander, Lagoria Brinkley, 36, was walking southbound on 16th Street towards U Street SE and was struck in the head by one of the fired bullets. Medical personnel arrived at the scene and were unable to revive her. Carthens was arrested on March 26, 2020 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels; Victim/Witness Program Specialist Jennifer Allen, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Al-Nusra FrontRead the Press Release
Dilshod Khusanov pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front (ANF). The proceeding was held before United States District Court Judge William F. Kuntz, II. When sentenced, Khusanov faces 11 years’ imprisonment pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement with the government. 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.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Mark J. Lesko, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.
“With today’s plea, Khusanov admits to providing financial support to individuals seeking to travel to Syria to join a violent foreign terrorist organization that seeks to wage war on the United States and other countries,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue to work tirelessly with its local, national and international law enforcement partners to eliminate the threat of terrorist violence posed by ISIS and ANF.”
"Khusanov’s guilty plea is the final step toward wrapping up this years-long case in which the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked tirelessly—as they always do—to keep the citizens of our city and our country safe from potential terrorist acts,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “Khusanov now awaits his fate for his willingness to provide support to ISIS and the Al-Nusra Front. This is not the end, however, of the FBI’s continued efforts—along with those of our partners—to diminish the threats posed by terrorists and would-be terrorists worldwide.”
“Money is the oxygen that feeds the flame of any organized terrorist activity. 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,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
As set forth in court filings, Khusanov encouraged individuals to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad, or holy war in 2014 and 2015. For example, on September 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 Dilkhayot 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 ½ year’s imprisonment. Habibov, Kasimov and Zakirov are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys David K. Kessler, J. Matthew Haggans, and Jonathan E. Algor are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Steven Ward of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The Defendant:
DILSHOD KHUSANOV
Age: 36
Chicago, IllinoisE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-475 (WFK)
Davenport Man Sentenced to 71 Months’ Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Davenport, Iowa, man, Demaine Marquelle Glenn, 30, of the 300 block of South Elmwood Avenue, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At Glenn’s sentencing hearing, the government stated that in September 2018, Rock Island police responded to a shots fired call in the area of 21st Street and 3rd Avenue after someone in Glenn’s car fired several shots at another occupied vehicle. The responding officers spotted Glenn’s car, which matched witness descriptions, and attempted to stop it. Glenn, who was later determined to be the driver, fled and led police on a high-speed chase from Rock Island into Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, before continuing back into Moline, Illinois, where the vehicle crashed and Glenn was arrested. A firearm possessed by Glenn was recovered from the scene, and several fired shell casings of the same caliber were recovered both from Glenn’s car and from the scene of the shooting. At the time of the offense, Glenn was also on parole for a prior Iowa burglary offense.
In imposing sentence, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid commented that Glenn’s prior Iowa burglary was a violent home invasion-type burglary and that his high-speed flight from police put innocent members of the public at risk.
Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko represented the government in the prosecution. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rock Island, Moline, Davenport, and Bettendorf Police Departments investigated the case.
Danville Sex Offender Sentenced to Two Years for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. –David W. Morlan, 66, most recently of Danville, Illinois, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to register as a sex offender.
In imposing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm noted as an aggravating factor Morlan’s two prior failure-to-register convictions.
Morlan was arrested on January 8, 2021, and charged by criminal complaint. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Danville Police responded to an emergency call at the 900 block of Kimber St, in Danville and arrested Morlan on outstanding state warrants. According to court documents, Morlan had been living in the Danville area since October 2019 and had not registered as a sex offender during that time. Morlan’s 2006 conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under thirteen years from Vermilion County, Illinois, requires that he register as a sex offender for his lifetime.
Following his arrest, U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long held a detention hearing on January 13, 2021, and ordered that Morlan be detained. Morlan has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for Morlan’s failure-to-register offense are a sentence of up to 10 years in prison 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 an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Danville Police Department.
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.
DOJ and CEO of defunct medical testing laboratory settle False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute civil caseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A False Claims Act/Anti-Kickback Statute civil matter was resolved today with an agreed $1.1 million payment by the former Chief Executive Officer of a now defunct medical testing lab, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Brown. Jae Lee, 50, of Bellevue, Washington, served as the CEO of Northwest Physicians Laboratory (NWPL) from January 1, 2013, until July 30, 2015. Lee has agreed to pay $500,000 within 30 days of the settlement agreement, with additional payments annually until full payment is made.
“Resolving this civil case, as well as Mr. Lee’s guilty plea in the criminal case last year, are major milestones in this health care fraud investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “The Anti-Kickback statute is aimed at protecting the public by keeping fraud from inflating our health care costs. When, as in this case, a whistleblower brings fraud to our attention the U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously pursue an investigation.”
The settlement with Jae Lee is the third such settlement involving the kick-back scheme and NWPL. In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a $12 million settlement with Sterling Healthcare Opco, LLC d/b/a/Cordant Health Solutions (Cordant) of Tacoma and Denver. In December 2018,Vancouver, Washington, testing lab MTL agreed to pay $1,777,738 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying illegal kickbacks to obtain referrals for government healthcare insurance programs.
According to those settlements, and the one signed today with Jae Lee, between January 2013 and July 2015, both MTL and Sterling/Cordant made payments to NWPL in exchange for referrals of Medicare and TRICARE program business, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Paying remuneration to medical providers or provider-owned laboratories in exchange for referrals encourages providers to order medically unnecessary services. The False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute function, in part, to discourage such behavior. NWPL was physician-owned, and for that reason could not test urine samples for patients covered by government health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. In order to conceal the payment of the kickbacks, MTL, Sterling/Cordant and NWPL described the fees as being for marketing services; however, no marketing services were performed.
“The payment or acceptance of kickbacks run counter to the goals of Federal health care programs,” stated Steven Ryan, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Providers are trusted to select patient services based on medical necessity and their sound judgement, not their greed. Stamping out kickbacks in these programs remains a top priority for our agency and partners.”
“The announced settlement concludes a multi-year civil investigation that clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to hold accountable those whose actions tainted the integrity of federal healthcare programs, including the Department of Defense's TRICARE program,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “As exemplified in this case, DCIS will continually work with its law enforcement partners to defend against questionable business practices in order to protect taxpayer dollars and the health care interests of our military members and their families, as well as the American public.”
The whistleblower in this case will receive 15% of the funds as is common under the qui tam statute.
The criminal case concerning the kickback scheme remains ongoing. Richard Reid, 52, of Astoria, Oregon, Kevin Puls, 56, of Bellevue, are scheduled for trial in January 2022. Former NWPL CEO Jae Lee and MTL Vice-President Steve Verschoor have pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing in March 2022. NWPL as a corporate entity was sentenced in May 2021, and ordered to pay $8,114,417 in restitution joint and several with the other defendants.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The civil case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Stahman.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for October 23, 2021Read the Press Release
BILLINGS – Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson will join the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the 21st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 23. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
“The DEA’s Take Back Day is a great opportunity to clear out unneeded and expired prescriptions. Prescription drugs can end up in the wrong hands, fueling an epidemic of opioid deaths and overdoses. I encourage Montanans to help protect their families, friends and community by participating in the DEA Take Back event to safely dispose of unused prescription medications,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
“We now face a national epidemic reaching every corner of America. Prescription medications often end up in the wrong hands, fueling an epidemic that kills more Americans than car accidents,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain. “The power to make a difference starts at home, beginning with returning the unused, unwanted or expired medications that each American keeps in their homes.”
More than 40 sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
During the last Take Back Day held on April 24, 2021, 4,425 law enforcement participants at 5,060 collection sites brought in a total weight of 839,543 pounds, or 420 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 14.52 million pounds, or more than 7,262 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the April 24, 2021 event, Montanans turned in 1,380 pounds of prescription drugs at 20 collection sites.
In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 23, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 23 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
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DEA and Partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 23rdRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that on October 23rd, DEA will hold its 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will be held at thousands of collection sites around the country. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous.
With robust public participation, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.
Last October, DEA’s Take Back Day brought in a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 19-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
"With more Americans dying from drug overdoses than ever before, DEA’s Drug Take-Back Day is one way that folks can help make their communities safer, simply by disposing of their unneeded or expired medications," said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, who heads the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. "We’re providing a safe and convenient way to help keep potentially harmful medications out of the wrong hands."
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Most prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.
Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one-way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com or by calling 800-882-9539.
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DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge and Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney Announce a National Prescription Drug Take-Back EventRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS, USVI – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting/Special Agent in Charge, John F. Kanig and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event, scheduled for October 23rd, 2021 in St. Croix and St. Thomas. This initiative addresses a serious public safety and public health issue which impacts communities throughout the United States. Now in its eleventh year, the National Take Back Day events continue to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they could be stolen and abused by family members and visitors, including children and teens. The DEA’s Take Back events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths while providing an effective way to dispose of prescription drugs without harm to the environment.
“Too often, unused prescription drugs end up in the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Shappert. “We are facing a national epidemic of drug abuse, some of which is fueled by outdated and unused prescription medications. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back is an excellent opportunity for us to eliminate prescription drugs that have outlived their usefulness.”
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
Helping people to dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce the addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country due to opioid medications.
Persons wishing to dispose of unused prescription drugs on St. Croix can take those prescriptions to the Gallows Bay and Kingshill Post Offices between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021.
For disposal of unused prescriptions on St. Thomas, persons may take them to the Sugar Estate Post Office, also on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
For more information on National Take-Back Day, please contact 1-800-882-9539, 571-362-4700 or visit https://takebackday.dea.gov. You can also click on the Partnership Toolbox option where you can find and download materials to promote the event. In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 23, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a handgun was sentenced today to six years in federal prison.
Mitchell Berry, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 22, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at sentencing showed that Berry was in a car stopped by Waterloo police officers on December 31, 2019. Officers found a handgun in the car. Berry’s DNA was found on the trigger and the magazine of the gun.
Berry has six prior adult criminal convictions. Two of the convictions involved firearms. In 2012, he was convicted of carrying weapons, specifically a .22 caliber handgun. In 2015, he was convicted of conspiracy to intimidate with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm as a felon.
Berry was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Berry was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Berry is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2032.
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Community and Law Enforcement Leaders to Convene for 6th Annual Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Community EventRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Community members and law enforcement officials from throughout the tri-county area will convene this week for the sixth-annual Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Community event on October 21, 2021 at 6:30pm PDT.
This two-hour virtual event is open to the public and hosted by the Muslim Educational Trust (MET) in Tigard, Oregon. To register, please visit https://conta.cc/3jwOKem.
This year’s theme is “What is Public Safety? Joining together to build bridges, share perspectives, and create solutions.” Criminal justice and community leaders will share perspectives in two moderated panel discussions: “What is public safety and what does it mean to you?” and “A year after George Floyd’s murder: Where are we now?” Each panel discussion will include a question-and-answer period.
Participating organizations include: MET, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, City of Portland’s Office of Violence Prevention, Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, Portland Police Bureau, Department of Safety Standards and Training, Oregon Department of Justice, Lake Oswego Police Department, and Beaverton Police Department.
For six consecutive years, leaders from public safety and civil society organizations have come together to build and strengthen trust in one another and to cultivate trust with the communities they serve. The annual event has been held at MET since its inception in the fall of 2016.
To view a video of last year’s event, please visit https://youtu.be/ae3Zj6TNDIY.
The Building Bridges event series is sponsored by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Administration, Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, City of Lake Oswego, Lake Oswego Respond to Racism, Concerned Citizens of West Linn, Latino Network, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, IRCO, Muslim Community Center of Portland, Tigard Police Department, Portland Office of Civic Life, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Police Bureau, New Portland Foundation, Portland’s New Portland Policy Commission, Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center of Corvallis, Multnomah County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
For media inquiries or to book interviews with steering committee members, please contact Stephen Mayer of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office by emailing [email protected] or calling (971) 708-8219.
Media outlets are also welcome to contact the following steering committee members directly:
- Wajdi Said; Muslim Educational Trust; [email protected]
- J.W. Matt Hennessee; Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church; [email protected]
- Jack Hanna; New Portlanders Foundation; [email protected]
- Linda Castillo; Commissioner for Hispanic Affairs and DEI Manager at IRCO; [email protected]
- Erin Hubert; Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office; [email protected]
- Kevin Barton; Washington County DA; [email protected]
Colombian Businessman Charged with Money Laundering Extradited to the United States from Cabo VerdeRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Alex Nain Saab Moran (Saab), 49, a Colombian citizen, will make his initial appearance in federal court in Miami, Florida, today after being extradited from the Republic of Cabo Verde. Saab is charged in an indictment with laundering the proceeds of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a scheme to pay bribes to take advantage of Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate. He is expected to make his initial court appearance today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Specifically, on July 25, 2019, Saab was charged along with Alvaro Pulido Vargas, aka German Enrique Rubio Salas, 55, also a Colombian citizen, in an eight-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that beginning in or around November 2011 and continuing until at least September 2015, Saab and Pulido conspired with others to launder the proceeds of an illegal bribery scheme from bank accounts located in Venezuela to and through bank accounts located in the United States. According to the indictment, Saab and Pulido obtained a contract with the Venezuelan government in November 2011 to build low-income housing units. The defendants and their co-conspirators then took advantage of Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate, under which U.S. dollars could be obtained at a favorable rate, by submitting false and fraudulent import documents for goods and materials that were never imported into Venezuela and bribing Venezuelan government officials to approve those documents. The indictment alleges that the unlawful activity was a bribery scheme that violated the FCPA and involved bribery offenses against Venezuela. It also alleges that meetings in furtherance of the bribe payments occurred in Miami and that Saab and Pulido wired money related to the scheme to bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida. As a result of the scheme, Saab and Pulido transferred approximately $350 million out of Venezuela, through the United States, to overseas accounts they owned or controlled.
On June 12, 2020, Saab was detained in the Republic of Cabo Verde, an archipelago nation west of continental Africa, at the request of the United States. The United States thereafter submitted a formal extradition request, which Saab opposed. On March 16, the Cabo Verdean Supreme Court approved the extradition of Saab. After further litigation concerning Saab’s detention and extradition between Saab’s lawyers and the Cabo Verdean Attorney General’s Office, on Aug. 30, the Constitutional Court of Cabo Verde dismissed his appeal; and on Oct. 13, it denied the last reconsideration request by Saab and certified the completion of the proceedings concerning the extradition of Saab to the United States. The Minister of Justice of Cabo Verde then ordered his surrender, consistent with the court orders, resulting in Saab’s arrival in the United States on Oct. 16.
Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge La Verne J. Hibbert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of FBI Miami made the announcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez and Assistant Attorney General Polite commended and thanked the Government of the Republic of Cabo Verde for their assistance in the extradition of Saab to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Saab’s arrest and extradition, as did INTERPOL Washington.
This case was investigated by DEA Miami with assistance from the FBI’s Miami Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami Field Office. FBI’s International Operations Division transported Saab from Cabo Verde to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt K. Lunkenheimer of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section 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.
This prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Colombian Businessman Charged with Money Laundering Extradited to the United States from Cabo VerdeRead the Press Release
Alex Nain Saab Moran (Saab), 49, a Colombian citizen, will make his initial appearance in federal court in Miami, Florida, today after being extradited from the Republic of Cabo Verde. Saab is charged in an indictment with laundering the proceeds of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a scheme to pay bribes to take advantage of Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate. He is expected to make his initial court appearance today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Specifically, on July 25, 2019, Saab was charged along with Alvaro Pulido Vargas, aka German Enrique Rubio Salas, 55, also a Colombian citizen, in an eight-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that beginning in or around November 2011 and continuing until at least September 2015, Saab and Pulido conspired with others to launder the proceeds of an illegal bribery scheme from bank accounts located in Venezuela to and through bank accounts located in the United States. According to the indictment, Saab and Pulido obtained a contract with the Venezuelan government in November 2011 to build low-income housing units. The defendants and their co-conspirators then took advantage of Venezuela’s government-controlled exchange rate, under which U.S. dollars could be obtained at a favorable rate, by submitting false and fraudulent import documents for goods and materials that were never imported into Venezuela and bribing Venezuelan government officials to approve those documents. The indictment alleges that the unlawful activity was a bribery scheme that violated the FCPA and involved bribery offenses against Venezuela. It also alleges that meetings in furtherance of the bribe payments occurred in Miami and that Saab and Pulido wired money related to the scheme to bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida. As a result of the scheme, Saab and Pulido transferred approximately $350 million out of Venezuela, through the United States, to overseas accounts they owned or controlled.
On June 12, 2020, Saab was detained in the Republic of Cabo Verde, an archipelago nation west of continental Africa, at the request of the United States. The United States thereafter submitted a formal extradition request, which Saab opposed. On March 16, the Cabo Verdean Supreme Court approved the extradition of Saab. After further litigation concerning Saab’s detention and extradition between Saab’s lawyers and the Cabo Verdean Attorney General’s Office, on Aug. 30, the Constitutional Court of Cabo Verde dismissed his appeal; and on Oct. 13, it denied the last reconsideration request by Saab and certified the completion of the proceedings concerning the extradition of Saab to the United States. The Minister of Justice of Cabo Verde then ordered his surrender, consistent with the court orders, resulting in Saab’s arrival in the United States on Oct. 16.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida, and Acting Special Agent in Charge La Verne J. Hibbert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant Attorney General Polite and Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez commended and thanked the Government of the Republic of Cabo Verde for their assistance in the extradition of Saab to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Saab’s arrest and extradition, as did INTERPOL Washington.
This case was investigated by DEA Miami with assistance from the FBI’s Miami Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation’s Miami Field Office. FBI’s International Operations Division transported Saab from Cabo Verde to the United States.
Trial Attorney Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt K. Lunkenheimer of the Southern District of Florida 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.
En Español
Chicago Man Convicted of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury today convicted a Chicago man of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
The jury convicted THOMAS OSADZINSKI, 22, after a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charge of attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman did not immediately set a sentencing date.
The conviction was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Mark Lesko, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
The case was investigated by the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and Melody Wells of the Northern District of Illinois, and Alexandra Hughes, Trial Attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that ISIS and its supporters disseminated the terror group’s propaganda materials on social media to recruit fighters and inspire violence against the United States and other countries. Many social media platforms remove ISIS media content due to the violent nature of the materials. Osadzinski, a U.S. citizen, 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.
Osadzinski in 2019 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 actually covert FBI employees and a person confidentially working with law enforcement.
Charleston Felon Involved in Drive-by Shooting Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A man involved in a drive-by shooting on Charleston’s West Side in February 2020 pleaded guilty today to a federal firearm charge. Ronald Edward Tinsley, 49, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, on or about February 25, 2020, Tinsley was driving a vehicle on the west end of Charleston when officers with the Charleston Police Department attempted to stop him for a traffic violation. In response, Tinsley fled at a high rate of speed for several blocks until he crashed into a building in the 1200 block of 6th Street. As Tinsley exited the vehicle, he kicked a Makarov 9x18mm semi-automatic pistol underneath the vehicle. This firearm had previously been stolen, and Tinsley knew or had reason to know that it was stolen at the time he possessed it. Tinsley also admitted that he had been the driver of a vehicle during a drive-by shooting on the West Side of Charleston the night before and that the firearm he possession was used in the shooting by a passenger in the vehicle. Through the use of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), law enforcement officers were able to confirm that spent shell casings recovered at the scene of the shooting matched the Makarov pistol that Tinsley possessed.
Tinsley has a long criminal history to include prior federal convictions related to controlled substance distribution, as well as prior convictions for burglary and malicious assault in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
“In partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement, we are utilizing every asset at our disposal to remove violent repeat offenders from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. “ATF’s NIBIN technology is an important tool in law enforcement’s toolbox and this case demonstrates the value of the ballistics evidence it provides in violent crime investigations. I commend the outstanding investigative work done by the ATF and the Charleston Police Department.”
“ATF’s NIBIN technology linked a violent felon to a drive-by shooting in Charleston,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of ATF’s Louisville Field Division. “This technology, being used by law enforcement in West Virginia and across the United States, provides critical links between violent street crimes and assists in obtaining serious federal charges. Working with law enforcement partners like the Charleston Police Department, ATF Task Forces protect the public and make West Virginia communities much safer.”
Tinsley faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 13, 2022.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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-00133.
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Car Buyer Convicted of Mail Fraud Going to PrisonRead 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 Michael E. Levesque, 52, of Saco, Maine, who was convicted of mail fraud, was sentenced to serve six months in prison and ordered to pay $152,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that the defendant worked independently as a “fee buyer.” As a fee buyer, Levesque purchased vehicles from auctions for automobile dealerships for a fee. In 2016, the owner of an automobile dealership in the Western District of New York met the defendant at an automobile auction and, over the next two years, Levesque acted as a fee buyer for the dealership, purchasing approximately 20 to 30 vehicles in exchange for a fee.
Between February and March 2, 2018, the defendant devised a scheme to defraud the dealership owner out of money and property. Levesque falsely represented to the owner that he was looking for a new business partner to fund vehicles which the defendant would purchase and re-sell to individuals or dealerships for a profit. As part of the scheme, Levesque told the owner that although the purchased vehicles would be titled to the owner, the owner would never actually possess the vehicles. In exchange for the owner providing the funding to purchase the vehicles, the defendant and the owner would split equally the profits from each vehicle sold. Based on false representations and promises, the owner agreed.
For example, Levesque falsely represented that he had a buyer for a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe that was owned by a dealership in South Parish, Maine, which would result in a $4,000 profit. The defendant instructed the owner to send a $44,500 check to the South Parish, Maine dealership purportedly to fund the deal. However, the payment to the South Parish, Maine dealership was actually to satisfy a pre-existing debt which Levesque owed, not to purchase the Tahoe. In addition, the owner also sent a $44,500 check to a dealership in Lisbon, Maine, and a $41,000 check to a dealership in Sanford, Maine, purportedly to purchase vehicles. These payments did not fund the purchases of vehicles, rather, the payments were to satisfy pre-existing debts which Levesque owed to the automobile dealerships. The defendant also defrauded a dealership located in Lisbon, Maine out of $22,000.
In total, Levesque fraudulently obtained $152,000 during the course of his scheme.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Cabell County Man Sentenced to Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeremy Midkiff, 39, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for escape from a halfway house.
According to his own statements and court documents, Midkiff admitted that in October 2020, he left Dismas Charities, Inc., a Bureau of Prisons residential reentry facility located in St. Albans, West Virginia, without permission and did not return while he was still serving an undischarged term of federal imprisonment. He had been on escape status for approximately eight months before he was apprehended by local law enforcement in connection with unrelated charges in June 2021. Midkiff has underlying federal convictions for felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of fentanyl.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. 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. 2:21-cr-00083.
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Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine out of Hotel RoomsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Burnsville man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2020, law enforcement determined that Eric Michael Dungy, 50, was selling methamphetamine out of hotel rooms in the Twin Cities metro area. On September 30, 2020, law enforcement encountered Dungy in the Element Hotel parking lot in Bloomington. Agents arrested Dungy and found heroin and $16,621 in cash on his person. Agents conducted a search of Dungy’s vehicle and recovered 364 grams of methamphetamine, three methamphetamine pipes, needles, gallon Ziploc bags with methamphetamine residue on them, an electronic money counter, and a Kel-Tec 9mm handgun. On October 3, 2020, law enforcement searched Dungy’s unoccupied hotel room and found 5.5 pounds of methamphetamine and other personal effects belonging to Dungy.
After obtaining release on bail from the Hennepin County Jail in November 2020, Dungy was again investigated for methamphetamine distribution and by December 14, 2020, he agreed to sell three pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $15,000. On the same day, law enforcement searched two adjacent rooms he rented at the Country Inn & Suites in Bloomington, and recovered approximately 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 13.5 grams of heroin, three digital scales, multiple small Ziplock bags, eleven phones, and $12,286 in cash.
Dungy pleaded guilty today to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Selling FentanylRead 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 Shamir Suddith, 33, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that in September 2018, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) developed information that the defendant was a fentanyl drug dealer. Based on this information, HSI conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Suddith on September 12 and October 3, 2018.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 22, 2022, before Judge Vilardo.
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Broken Arrow Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
A Broken Arrow man whose trial was slated to start this week in federal court pleaded guilty today for sexually abusing a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Christopher Dean Dana, 35, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Country.
In his plea agreement, Dana, a non-Indian, admitted that he sexually abused the victim when she was between the ages of seven and 11 then again when she was between 12 and 16 years old. When she resisted his advances, Dana would further pressure the victim by offering her money. The victim is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation reservation.
“Christopher Dana betrayed this young victim. He should have been an adult she could trust but instead was a sexual predator,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate the abuse of the most vulnerable in our communities- children.”
Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III will sentence Dana on Feb. 25, 2022.
The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey P. Todd and Gina S. Gilmore are prosecuting the case.
Bitcoin Money Transmitters and Launderers Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Christopher Allan Boden, a/k/a “Captain,” 46, of Grand Rapids, Daniel Reynold DeJager, a/k/a “Daniel Miester,” and “Danichi,” 35, of Tacoma, Washington, and Leesa Beth Vogt, a/k/a “Lis Bokt,” and “Moose,” 37, also of Grand Rapids, pled guilty to various financial crimes. Boden pled guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, money laundering, and structuring deposits to evade financial institution reporting requirements. DeJager pled guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and money laundering. Vogt pled guilty to structuring while operating the unlicensed money transmitting business. The pleas occurred before the Honorable Robert J. Jonker, Chief United States District Judge. Boden and DeJager pled to offenses carrying a maximum of up to twenty years in prison, and Vogt pled to an offense carrying a maximum of ten years. The defendants also are subject to financial penalties. The Court scheduled Vogt’s sentencing hearing for February 17, DeJager’s sentencing hearing for February 22, and Boden’s sentencing hearing for February 25.
According to the plea agreements and other public records, Boden, DeJager, and Vogt operated an unlicensed money transmitting business at The Geek Group, a registered non-profit entity, between March 2017 and December 2018, when federal agents searched the business, leading to its closure. DeJager purchased bitcoin from registered exchanges, often laundered it, and then sent it to Boden to sell. Boden and other staff at The Geek Group, including Vogt, would sell bitcoin to customers. Boden, Vogt, and others then “structured” deposits of the cash proceeds so as to avoid detection of their operation and in order to purchase more bitcoin. The defendants sold more than $740,000 in bitcoin. Boden’s customers included drug dealers, and he held himself out to be a money launderer, explaining to prospective customers that “people buy from” him because he sold “clean” bitcoin, not “dirty” bitcoin that could be traced.
“Cryptocurrency is not a license or invitation to commit crime,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “Federal law regulates those who deal in cryptocurrency as it does those who deal in government-issued currency. We will root out and prosecute crypto criminals wherever we find them. Whether cryptocurrency will be with us for years to come remains to be seen, but its vitality is contingent upon the willingness of those who use it to follow the law.”
“HSI is in the forefront of investigating crimes that utilize cryptocurrency to launder criminal proceeds or to purchase illegal services from throughout the world,” said Homeland Security Investigations Detroit Special Agent in Charge Vance Callender. “Our special agents, working with the IRS, dismantled this unlicensed money transmitting business and put a stop to their illegal enterprise.”
“Financial transactions designed to mask the origin of proceeds from the sale of controlled substances often involve multiple crimes including money laundering, structuring and even unlicensed money service businesses. Stopping complex financial schemes that inject proceeds from illicit sources into the financial system is paramount to dismantling criminal enterprises,” said IRS Criminal Investigation’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Thomas. “IRS-CI is committed to following the money every step, investigating and uncovering complex criminal financial schemes to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal enterprises.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Grand Rapids Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant is prosecuting the case.
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Area man pleads guilty to his role in carjacking plotRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Paul Eric Latham on October 14, 2021 for aiding and abetting a carjacking in January 2020.
A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri indicted Latham in May 2021 for aiding and abetting Antwan Jones in carjacking a victim in St. Louis the previous year. According to the plea agreement, Latham stopped his SUV next to the victim on January 15, 2020. Latham waited in the SUV while his co-defendant approached the victim at gunpoint and demanded her purse. The carjacking victim surrendered her purse, which contained the keys to her car. Latham and his co-defendant drove around the area and used the victim’s key fob to locate her Mercedes Benz. Once they found the car parked nearby, Latham used the victim’s keys to drive her car away while his co-defendant drove away in Latham’s SUV.
Later that night, police tracked the victim’s phone to East St. Louis, Illinois. There, police discovered Latham’s SUV parked in the 1800 block of Boismenue Avenue with the victim’s purse still inside.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Kourtney Bell and Ryan Finlen are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Amherst Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Trafficking Exotic African CatsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – 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 for 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 (FWS) 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 Noe, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation, Region 9.
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.
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Administrator Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison and 3 Years’ Supervised Release for Converting $1.5 Million from FEMA Grant to His Own Use, Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Duncansville, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 46 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of conversion of government funds and filing false tax returns. Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Benjamin Allen Rhine, 49, of Duncansville, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on or about April 19, 2013, to on or about June 18, 2017, Rhine received and converted falsely to his own use a total of $1,590,257 in federally-funded grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with payments made to him to which he was not entitled. Further, on Feb. 12, 2015, Feb. 20, 2016, and April 10, 2017, Rhine willfully filed Income Tax Return Form 1040, in which a written declaration was made under the penalties of perjury, and which he did not believe to be true and correct. The tax returns reported no taxable income; whereas Rhine knew and believed he had a taxable income resulting in additional tax due in the amounts of $103,626 for tax year 2014, $138,115 for tax year 2015, and $60,157 for tax year 2016.
“Benjamin Rhine’s greed overtook his good sense,” said U.S. Attorney Kaufman. “Massive thefts of government funds will be prosecuted aggressively.”
“Mr. Rhine's actions resulted in him illegally enriching himself and shortchanging the community he was supposed to be serving,” said Yury Kruty, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “The Special Agents of IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute others who participate in schemes like this.”
“I want to thank our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to bring Mr. Rhine to justice” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, of the Department of Homeland Security-Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman commended the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security-Office of the Inspector General for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Rhine.
A dozen Western Washington cities receive DOJ funding for crime prevention, community outreach, and officer safety equipmentRead the Press Release
Seattle – A dozen cities in Western Washington will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for specific community safety needs identified by their local police departments, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Brown. The grants from DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, are aimed at preventing crime and assisting criminal justice programs based on local needs identified by the jurisdiction.
“From innovative communication APPs, to de-escalation and implicit bias training and less lethal equipment, our cities have identified ways these grant funds will make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “I congratulate them on successfully competing for this federal funding.”
Both Seattle and Tacoma are receiving large grants aimed at reducing violence. Seattle will receive $771,127 under the Byrne Grant program. Tacoma will receive $303,790 to enhance their community violence intervention program. Other grantees include:
Vancouver - $107,942 to fund a crime prevention, domestic violence task force.
Puyallup - $12,968 to purchase officer safety/less lethal equipment
Kitsap County - $42,903 for training and equipment
Olympia -$25,269 for de-escalation training
Marysville -$15,768 for “stop sticks” in police vehicles
Lynnwood- $11,868 for a community engagement APP
Lakewood -$42,903 for a crime scene mapping scanner
Everett -$41,370 for equipment
Bremerton -$18,035 for the community resource unit
Bellingham -$38,736 for training in implicit bias and community policing
Additionally, Washington State received $3,644,335 in Byrne grant funding. The monies will be funneled to state and local organizations supporting a variety of initiatives including anti-gang and drug task forces, crime prevention, and officer safety.
The Byrne Grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988. Officer Byrne was just 22 years old.
15 October 2021
Yankton Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Yankton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of Production of Child Pornography.
Jason Sejnoha, age 43, was indicted on October 5, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between May 6, 2021, and August 12, 2021, Sejnoha knowingly used three minor females and one minor male to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct, knowing that such visual depictions would be produced with materials that had been made out of state.
The charges are merely accusations and Sejnoha is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Sejnoha was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for December 21, 2021.
Woodbury County Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty October 12, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Sandoval, 28, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, Sandoval admitted that between on or about 2016 and continuing to on or about June 2021, he and others conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Sandoval remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sandoval faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4059.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Wolf Point man admits assaulting man in the head with batRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man accused of attacking a man in the head with a bat on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Harry B. Azure, 21, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Azure faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Feb. 17, 2022. Azure was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that on Nov. 19, 2019 in Wolf Point, Azure and another individual broke through the door of the residence of the victim, identified as John Doe, struck the victim multiple times in the head with a small baseball bat and left. The victim initially was treated at a local hospital then flown to Billings because of the severity of injuries. The victim later told law enforcement that the assault occurred days after an incident involving the other individual.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy A. Johnson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Tribal Police.
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USP Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possession A WeaponRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that yesterday Alfonso Algeria, age 39, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood (USP Allenwood) was indicted by the federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges that on September 4, 2021, while an inmate at USP Allenwood, Algeria possessed an approximately 7 1/2-inch long piece of wood, sharpened to a point and wrapped with tape and cord to form a hand grip and lanyard, concealed within his rectal cavity.
This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case.
Indictments 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.
Algeria faces a maximum term of 5 years’ imprisonment on the single count of the indictment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years. 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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USP Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing A Weapon and Threatening A Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Ronald Rogers, age 31, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood (USP Allenwood) was indicted by the federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison and threatening to assault and murder a law enforcement officer.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the two-count indictment charges that on April 13, 2021, while an inmate at USP Allenwood, Rogers possessed a piece of plastic-like material with a metal screw sharpened to a point, measuring approximately 6-inches in length. The indictment also charges Rogers with threatening to assault and murder a correctional officer following the recovery of the weapon.
This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case.
Indictments 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.
Algeria faces a total maximum term of 15 years’ imprisonment on both counts of the indictment, a fine of up to $500,000 on both counts, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years on each count. 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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Two Montgomery Tax Preparers Plead Guilty for Their Roles in Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart and IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced that two Montgomery women, operating separate tax preparation businesses, have pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. On October 14, 2021, Alisaya Danita Thompson-Dixon, 43, entered a guilty plea to for her role in filing false tax returns. Last month, Lashunda Deann Crittenden, 42, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
According to court records, Ms. Thompson-Dixon operated a tax preparation business under the name Magic Tax Service in Montgomery. In June of 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ms. Thompson-Dixon charging her with numerous counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false returns for clients from 2015 through 2017. During her plea hearing, Ms. Thompson-Dixon specifically admitted to assisting in filing false tax returns on at least two occasions. First, on February 15, 2016, Ms. Thompson-Dixon aided a client in a tax return that falsely claimed business income in the amount of $2,150.00 while claiming expenses in the amount of $67,107.00. Ms. Thompson-Dixon knew the client was not entitled to claim any business income or expenses and this deception resulted in a loss of $11,294.00 to the IRS. In addition, Ms. Thompson-Dixon also admitted to facilitating an illegal tax return on January 16, 2018. In similar fashion, she claimed false business revenue and expenses for a client that resulted in a tax loss of $10,499.00.
In the second case, Lashunda Deann Crittenden operated a tax preparation service located on South Court Street in Montgomery, Alabama where she prepared federal income tax returns for others. During her plea hearing, Ms. Crittenden admitted that on February 26, 2018, she electronically transmitted a return prepared by her that claimed a client incurred $8,726.00 in qualified solar electric property costs, $6,358.00 in medical and dental expenses, and $8,364.00 in gifts to charity despite knowing that the client was not entitled to claim these items for calendar year 2017. The IRS subsequently paid a larger refund to the taxpayer based on Ms. Crittenden’s misrepresentations.
“By aiding in the completion and filing of these fraudulent tax returns, both defendants stole taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” stated Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. “I applaud the Internal Revenue Service for their efforts to identify tax fraud like this and hold the offenders accountable.” Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart also encourages all taxpayers to review their returns and confirm that they recognize the items on them. If a tax preparer refuses to let you examine your tax return before it is filed, or if you review your tax return and see a business that is not yours or expenses you do not recognize, ask for clarification or seek a second opinion from a different return preparer. For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.
“Thompson-Dixon and Lashunda Crittenden knowingly manipulated taxpayers’ returns for the sole purpose of generating large refunds and preparer fees,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Please be advised, if you file false tax returns for others, it is illegal, and you will face the consequences.”
A sentencing hearing will be held for Ms. Thompson-Dixon and Ms. Crittenden in the coming months. At their hearings, they will be facing up to 3 years in prison for each count along with significant fines. They will also be subject to an order of restitution to the IRS after the total losses are determined by the court.
These cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the cases.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that JOEL LINDSAY, also known as “Joey Guapo,” 23, and JOSEPH PINA, 24, both of East Hartford, have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to offenses related to the sex trafficking of a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2019, Lindsay and Pina recruited, enticed and transported a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts. Specifically, on October 17, 2019, Lindsay, Pina and another individual picked up the minor victim and took her to a hotel in East Windsor. At the hotel, they took photographs of the minor victim and posting her photos on a website and advertised her sexual services. Lindsay and Pina than arranged prostitution appointments for the minor victim. On that night, the minor victim earned at least $100 from prostitution appointments, all of which she gave to Lindsay.
On October 18, 2019, Lindsay and Pina posted more advertisements on the same web site and arranged prostitution appointments for the minor victim at a hotel in Windsor Locks. The following two days, Lindsay and Pina posted additional advertisements on the website and the minor victim saw prostitution customers each day. The victim again gave all of the money earned through these appointments to Lindsay.
The investigation further revealed that Lindsay and Pina engaged in sexual activity with the minor victim, even though they knew that she was under the age of 18.
Lindsay pleaded guilty today to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on January 12, 2022. Lindsay, a citizen of Jamaica, has been detained since arrest on August 20, 2020.
On October 6, 2021, Pina pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, and offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He is released on a $100,000 bond while awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for January 19, 2022.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Hostage TakingRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Mario Peia and Alexandra F. Foster (619) 546-9706/6735
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 15, 2021
SAN DIEGO – A federal magistrate judge denied bond today for one of two Mexican nationals indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the kidnapping and death of a 19-year-old San Diego man in May of 2020.
The defendant, Wyatt Valencia-Pacheco of Tijuana, is charged along with fugitive Jonathan Emmanuel Montellano-Mora, also from Tijuana. They were indicted on June 3, 2021, for Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, Conspiracy to Take Hostages Resulting in Death, and Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking. The indictment was unsealed last week.
According to the indictment, Valencia and Montellano worked with others to arrange the killing of the victim, M.A.R., as part of their methamphetamine importation and trafficking activities.
The indictment further alleges that Valencia and Montellano worked with others to kidnap, detain and threaten the victim at a location outside the United States, in order to compel the victim’s family to pay with money or methamphetamine to gain his release. The victim was ultimately killed.
At Valencia’s detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard, the government provided greater detail as to Valencia’s alleged involvement. The government identified the victim as a 19-year-old U.S. citizen who had been arrested twice before for strapping drugs onto his body and attempting to cross into the United States through a port of entry. The victim was tortured and killed over the theft of three pounds of methamphetamine, the government told the court.
At the hearing, the government provided the following chronology of the alleged crimes:
On May 28, 2020, the victim stole three pounds of methamphetamine from a drug trafficker connected to the defendants in Tijuana. Almost immediately after the theft, Valencia started sending the victim threats over Facebook Messenger, ordering the victim to return the drugs immediately or pay them $2,000. In Spanish, Valencia told the victim that he “fucked up” and now had to take responsibility, because “they only gave us two hours to pay for that shit.”
The victim asked for more time or a smaller payment, to which Valencia responded: “I don’t know how you’re going to do it, but I want it today.” The victim asked for Valencia to trust him and promised to pay later. Valencia replied, “I don’t give a fuck. You’ll see how I make you pay today.” Valencia even told others that he planned to kidnap the victim.
On May 29, 2020, approximately four hours after the victim was supposed to have crossed the drugs, Valencia was in conversation with a co-conspirator on Facebook Messenger, assuring the co-conspirator that he (Valencia) was in touch with the victim, and they would find him. Valencia assured his co-conspirator that the victim was scared.
About eleven hours later, at a little after 11 a.m. that same day, Valencia told a girlfriend that he was angry, because a guy stole “work” from him, and Valencia was looking for the guy. When asked why he was looking for the guy, Valencia answered, “because I’m going to kill him.” Valencia said he gave the guy until 5 p.m. to return and pay for the “work,” or else Valencia was “going to send people to his house … here and there … here I’m going to shoot it up.”
About an hour later, Valencia communicated with a co-conspirator to plan how best to kidnap the victim.
At 11:57 p.m. on May 29, 2020, three males forcibly took the victim from a hotel in Tijuana at gunpoint. The event was captured by hotel surveillance cameras. One of the kidnappers was wielding a gun, which he used to beat the victim.
In the early morning hours of May 30, 2020, the kidnappers began contacting the victim’s mother and stepfather to demand money (sometimes $2,000, other times $3,000) or methamphetamine. The hostage takers permitted the victim’s family to see him through FaceTime, as proof of life. The victim appeared bloodied and beaten.
During this same time, a co-conspirator asked Valencia, “Hey, dude, give us ideas where we can get him signed,” that is, where to kill the victim.
After a few minutes, and after insisting that he did not want to get further involved, Valencia answered the previous question about “where can we get him signed.” Valencia offered, “Smoke the guy by the dam, dude. Or by Cerro Colorado. … Or in the canal. It’s around the corner.” The co-conspirator asked, “Which canal?” To which Valencia responded, “The one by La Rapida (laughs)”
The family’s last contact with the victim occurred on May 30, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. No one has heard from or seen the victim since that time.
At the close of the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Goddard detained Valencia, finding that there were no conditions of release which would guarantee his return to court. She detained the defendant based on the nature and circumstances of the criminal activity, the lengthy period of incarceration which the defendant faced, the defendant’s use of weapons, the fact that he would be subject to immigration removal to Mexico if he were released from custody, his significant ties outside the United States, and the weight of the evidence against him.
“The narcotic netherworld is full of extreme danger and tragedy, and this case is no exception,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “A misguided young man tangled with the wrong people and paid a terrible price, and now his family lives with the unspeakable horror of their loss. We will always seek justice for victims of drug-related violence that destroys families, communities and futures.” Grossman thanked prosecutors Mario Peia and Alexandra Foster, as well as the investigating FBI agents, for their excellent work on this case.
“The FBI will vigorously pursue justice for U.S. citizens who fall victim to violence regardless of where the crime occurs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “The victim was killed over a $2,000 drug debt. May these charges serve as a warning to those who think violence against U.S. citizens committed outside of the United States exempts them from prosecution here; It does not.”
Valencia is next in court on December 16, 2021, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes. Montellano has not yet been apprehended.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21CR1683-WQH
Wyatt Valencia-Pacheco,
aka “JC HF,” aka “Jacob,” aka “Jacob Herrera” Age: 21 Tijuana
Jonathan Emmanuel Montellano-Mora,
aka “Che Cho” aka “Chori,” Age: 22 Tijuana
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
21 USC Sec. 848(e) (1) (A) - Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking
Maximum Penalty: Life or Death Penalty; Mandatory Minimum: Twenty years in prison
18 USC Sec. 1203 - Hostage Taking Resulting in Death
Maximum Penalty: Life or Death Penalty; Mandatory Minimum: Life in prison
18 USC Sec. 1203 - Conspiracy to Take Hostages Resulting in Death
Maximum Penalty: Life or Death Penalty; Mandatory Minimum: Life in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man who possessed a revolver and shotgun to protect himself and the marijuana he was illegally distributing pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
LeMorris Walton Jr., 33, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan will sentence Walton on Feb. 15, 2022.
“Violating federal firearms laws has consequences. The prosecution of these cases reduces violent crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This office is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms.”
Walton admitted that on Nov. 9, 2020, he possessed firearms at his residence in Tulsa for the purpose of protecting and furthering his marijuana distribution operation. The defendant possessed a Herman Weihrauch .38 special revolver, a Maverick 12 gauge shotgun, and 33 rounds of ammunition. Walton is also a felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Buscemi and Mark R. Morgan are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the 2150 Initiative. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Police Department, ATF, and all other local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime by focusing efforts on prohibited persons in possession of firearms as well as straw purchasers.
Tompkins County Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Remanu Phillips, 31, of Ithaca New York, appeared in federal court yesterday on charges that he sexually exploited a child.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
A criminal complaint filed in United States District Court alleges that in June 2019 Phillips produced 3 sexually explicit videos of a 10-year-old child. United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric ordered Phillips detained pending a hearing on October 18, 2021. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Phillips faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. He would also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), with assistance from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing and Selling Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jovaun Clark, age 45, of Syracuse, pled guilty yesterday to possessing unregistered machine guns and short-barreled rifles, possessing firearms and ammunition while a convicted felon, and selling firearms and ammunition to a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department, and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his guilty plea, Clark admitted to selling seven firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition to a confidential informant during four meetings in January 2019. Five of the firearms were “ghost guns” bearing no serial number, two were handguns that had been modified to operate as machine guns, and two were short-barreled rifles. None of the machine guns and short-barreled rifles were registered to the defendant as required by federal law. In 1999, the defendant was convicted in Onondaga County Court of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a felony offense. The confidential informant to whom Clark sold the firearms and ammunition also was a convicted felon.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2022, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York, at which time Clark faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The Court has discretion to order the sentences on separate counts to be served concurrently or consecutively in some circumstances. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Syracuse Police Department, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Sutcliffe and Andrew Beaty.
Sudbury Man Arrested for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sudbury man was arrested today on child pornography charges.
Tyson Tu, 49, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Tu will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the charging document, from approximately Feb. 20, 2021 through April 13, 2021, Tu received child pornography. Tu also allegedly possessed child pornography on or about April 13, 2021.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Misappropriating Funds from Non-Profit OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from a non-profit organization for physically and psychologically challenged children.
From 2011 to 2016, STUART NITZKIN worked as Executive Director of an Illinois-based non-profit organization whose mission was the rehabilitation of physically and psychologically challenged children. During that time, Nitzkin knowingly submitted to the organization invoices and receipts for payment and reimbursement of expenses that Nitzkin claimed were incurred on behalf of the organization. In reality, Nitzkin knew the expenses were actually incurred by Nitzkin for his and others’ personal benefit.
The expenses included luxury vacations for Nitzkin and his family to Nevada, Florida, Ireland, and Puerto Rico, personal golfing expenses, tickets to professional sporting events, personal medical expenses, real estate taxes for his family residence, health club dues, and household goods. Nitzkin also pocketed cash from the organization’s fundraising events and took money from the charity’s bank accounts through ATM and other withdrawals, all for his personal benefit.
Nitzkin, 45, of Deerfield, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a wire fraud charge. In addition to the 42-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis on Thursday fined Nitzkin $150,000 and ordered him to pay the remaining restitution of $516,400.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri H. Mecklenburg.
St. Petersburg Man Pleads Guilty to 2014 Robbery and 2018 Murder Relating to Nightclub Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Corey Small (43, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery and to using and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, as well as to conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense, and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, causing death by murder. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
Regarding the robbery and the use and brandishing offenses listed above, according to court documents, in 2014 Small robbed a dry-cleaning business in St. Petersburg. During the robbery, he pointed a gun at the clerk and stole $51.41.
Regarding the three other offenses listed above, which are unrelated to the 2014 crimes, court documents show that in 2018 Small conspired with an employee of a night club to sell cocaine for him. Later that year, the victim, who was a friend of the nightclub employee, attempted to persuade the employee to leave the club and stop selling drugs for Small. In response to this attempted interference with his drug business, Small argued with the victim and then shot him four times, killing him. Small, a previously convicted felon, was later arrested and found to be in possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas Park Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
Springfield Man and Woman Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two Springfield, Illinois, residents - Heather Horrighs, 42, and Theodis Parnell, 50 – were arrested on October 14, 2021, for allegedly robbing the Alliance Community Bank on September 13, 2021.
Horrighs and Parnell were charged via a criminal complaint in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Both defendants appeared in federal court in Springfield today in front of Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins, at which time the criminal complaint against them was unsealed.
According to the complaint affidavit, Horrighs entered the bank carrying a box with a note attached to it. The note stated that the box contained a bomb and demanded that bank employees hand over money. Parnell is alleged to have acted as an accomplice and getaway driver in the robbery.
Both defendants remain in the temporary custody of the United States Marshals Service pending detention hearings that are set for next week.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The United States has thirty days to present the case to a grand jury, which will decide if there is probable cause. Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office; the United States Marshal’s Service; the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office; the Springfield Police Department; the Sherman Police Department; and the Chatham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weir is representing the government in the prosecution.
Six Individuals in Hawaii Charged with Conspiring to Defraud the IRS and Other Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
Three individuals were arrested this week in the District of Hawaii on conspiracy to defraud the IRS and other fraud charges.
Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao, Elvah Miranda and Daniel Miranda were arrested and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned a 45-count superseding indictment on Sept. 9 charging Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, Elvah Miranda, Daniel Miranda, Lazerrick Lawrence and Danitta Ross Morton with conspiring to defraud the United States. Additionally, Lastimado-Dradi was charged with aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and Daniel and Elvah Miranda and Dumlao were charged with filing false tax returns and with making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. The superseding indictment also charged Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao and Elvah Miranda with money laundering.
According to the superseding indictment, from at least January 2015 through September 2018, the defendants conspired to defraud the IRS. As part of the tax fraud scheme, the conspirators allegedly filed fraudulent individual tax returns and other tax documents that reported false withholdings from mortgage lenders and then claimed substantial refunds from the IRS. After processing the false returns, the IRS allegedly issued refunds totaling over $1 million. To prevent the IRS from recovering the fraudulently obtained refunds, the conspirators allegedly created trusts, opened new bank accounts in the name of business entities and the trusts, and transferred the criminal proceeds between the accounts to conceal the funds from the IRS. Lawrence also allegedly filed retaliatory liens on behalf of Dumlao and the Mirandas against an IRS employee assigned to recover the fraudulently obtained refunds. The superseding indictment further alleges that Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao and Elvah Miranda laundered the fraudulently obtained refunds through a series of bank transactions.
Lawrence and Ross Morton were arrested on Sept. 15 and were arraigned on Sept. 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
If convicted, each of the six individuals charged face a maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao and Elvah Miranda each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. The Mirandas and Dumlao each face a maximum sentence of three years for each count of filing a false tax return and a maximum sentence of five years for each count of making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. Lastimado-Dradi faces a maximum sentence of three years for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Judith A. Philips for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Valerie G. Preiss of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii 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.
Six Defendants Charged with Conspiring to Defraud the IRS and Other Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Three defendants were arrested this week in Hawaii on conspiracy to defraud the IRS and other fraud charges. Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao, Elvah Miranda, and Daniel Miranda were arrested and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned a 45-count superseding indictment on September 9, 2021 charging Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, Elvah Miranda, Daniel Miranda, Lazerrick Lawrence, and Danitta Ross Morton with conspiring to defraud the United States. Additionally, Lastimado-Dradi was charged with aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and Daniel and Elvah Miranda and Dumlao were charged with filing false tax returns and with making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. The superseding indictment also charged Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, and Elvah Miranda with money laundering.
According to the superseding indictment, from at least January 2015 through September 2018, the defendants conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As part of the tax fraud scheme, the conspirators allegedly filed fraudulent individual tax returns and other tax documents that reported false withholdings from mortgage lenders and then claimed substantial refunds from the IRS. After processing the false returns, the IRS allegedly issued refunds totaling over $1 million. To prevent the IRS from recovering the fraudulently obtained refunds, the conspirators allegedly created trusts, opened new bank accounts in the name of business entities and the trusts, and transferred the criminal proceeds between the accounts to conceal the funds from the IRS. Lawrence also allegedly filed retaliatory liens on behalf of Dumlao and the Mirandas against an IRS employee assigned to recover the fraudulently obtained refunds. The superseding indictment further alleges that Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, and Elvah Miranda laundered the fraudulently obtained refunds through a series of bank transactions.
Lawrence and Ross Morton were arrested on September 15 and were arraigned on September 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom A. Trader of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
If convicted, each of the six individuals charged face a maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Lastimado-Dradi, Dumlao, and Elvah Miranda each face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for each count of money laundering. The Mirandas and Dumlao each face a maximum sentence of three years for each count of filing a false tax return and a maximum sentence of five years for each count of making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. Dradi faces a maximum sentence of three years for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Judith A. Philips for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Valerie G. Preiss of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the U.S. Attorney’s Office 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.
Sioux Falls Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Eugene Leon Featherman, age 33, was indicted on October 5, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, mandatory minimum five years of supervised release, up to life, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between July 19, 2021, and September 7, 2021, in the District of South Dakota, Featherman a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Featherman is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.
Featherman was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sioux Falls Couple Sentenced for Meth Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man and a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Lanny Leif Vensand, Jr., age 58, was sentenced on September 27, 2021, to 235 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Robin Jo Vensand, a/k/a Robin Jo Graff, age 57, was sentenced on October 13, 2021, to 262 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
The Vensands were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021. Lanny pled guilty on June 18, 2021, and Robin pled guilty on June 21, 2021.
The convictions stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about January 12, 2021, when the Vensands knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with others, to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.
They voluntarily and intentionally joined in an agreement or understanding to distribute methamphetamine. At the time they joined in the agreement or understanding, they both knew the purpose of that agreement or understanding.
They purchased over 500 grams of methamphetamine from co-conspirators, which they sold to other co-conspirators. They were aware that the methamphetamine supplied would be distributed to drug customers in South Dakota and elsewhere.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Lanny Vensand and Robin Vensand were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Recidivist Maritime Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Operating a Semi-Submersible with 4,400 pounds of CocaineRead the Press Release
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Bredariol (619) 546-8419 and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Mellor (619) 546-9733
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 15, 2021
SAN DIEGO – Jose Rosario Segura Balentierra, a Colombian national interdicted by the United States Coast Guard on a semi-submersible vessel containing approximately 2,000 kilograms (4,4000 pounds) of cocaine, was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court to 200 months in prison for operating a semi-submersible vessel on the high seas twice in less than five years.
Balentierra was interdicted by United States Coast Guard Cutter BERTHOLF on a semi-submersible vessel with his three co-defendants on August 14, 2020, over 500 nautical miles from Central America.
The Defendants on the semi-submersible vessel failed to stop when ordered by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard first tried warning shots, and then used disabling fire, shooting at the engines of the vessel to try to get the defendants to stop. When even this failed, one of the Coast Guard boarding officers jumped onto the moving vessel, took control of the engines, and removed the fuel lines to finally stop the vessel.
The Coast Guard observed two to three feet of water in the bottom of the semi-submersible vessel, indicating the defendants attempted to scuttle or sink the vessel to evade capture and seizure of its cargo. The semi-submersible vessel itself was stuffed with packages of cocaine, totaling over 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) and worth over $35 million.
Balentierra was previously convicted in 2016 in the Southern District of Florida for Conspiracy to Operate and Embark on a Semi-Submersible Vessel Without Nationality with Intent to Evade Detection, and Operating and Embarking on a Semi-Submersible Vessel Without Nationality with Intent to Evade Detection. Similarly, in that case he was interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard on a semi-submersible vessel approximately 300 nautical miles from Mexico. That semi-submersible vessel rapidly sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor and no drugs were recovered. He was sentenced to 41 months in custody and three years of supervised release. After serving his sentence he was deported to his home country of Colombia. In 2020, just over eighteen months after returning to Colombia, he engaged in this almost identical offense.
On July 14, 2021, Balentierra pleaded guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute on Board a Vessel in violation of 46 U.S.C. § 70503 and Operation of a Semi-Submersible Vessel without Nationality in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2285. On Tuesday he was sentenced to 182 months in custody and five years of supervised release on each of the charges, to run concurrently. He was also sentenced to 18 months in custody, to run consecutively, for violating the terms of his 2016 supervised release by engaging in trafficking cocaine. He was sentenced to a total custodial term of 200 months.
“The Pacific Ocean is not a freeway for drug traffickers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The sentence issued in this case sends a clear message that repeated maritime drug smuggling will not be tolerated in the Southern District of California.” Grossman thanked prosecutors Nicole Bredariol and Josh Mellor and the U.S. Coast Guard and San Diego Strike Force for their excellent work on this case.
“Due to the dedicated actions of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf’s commanding officer and crew, these smugglers have been brought to justice,” said Rear Adm. Brian Penoyer, the Eleventh Coast Guard District commander. “The Coast Guard kept $35 million worth of drugs off our streets, and we will continue to patrol the maritime domain to fight against the trafficking of narcotics.”
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
DEFENDANT Case Number 20cr2671-LAB
Jose Rosario Segura Balentierra Age: 35 Colombia
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine
Operation of a Semi-Submersible Vessel without Nationality, with Intent to Evade Detection –
Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2285
Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
United States Coast Guard
San Diego Strike Force
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Taskforce (OCDETF)Reagor Dykes Owner Found Guilty of Lying to BankRead the Press Release
Reagor Dykes Auto Group owner Bart Reagor was convicted today of lying to a bank about his company's prospects, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham.
After 12 hours of deliberation, a federal jury found Bart Wade Reagor, 55, guilty of making false statements to a bank insured by the FDIC. Mr. Reagor, whose trial lasted four days, now faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
“Bart Reagor’s greed and insatiable need to flaunt his wealth led him to lie to a federally-insured bank and ultimately resulted in that bank suffering a loss of over $20 million dollars.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “He’s now bracing for a possibly decades-long sentence. The Department of Justice will not permit this kind of abuse of our nation’s financial institutions and the funds of its hard-working depositors.”
“This multi-year investigation was extremely complicated and required dedicated complex financial crimes resources and today’s outcome demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting the best interests of the American people,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The resulting loss caused by false statements has the potential to harm the U.S. economy and investor confidence, and we will continue to work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served.”
According to evidence presented at trial, in 2017, Mr. Reagor told International Bank of Commerce (IBC) that the auto group was experiencing tremendous growth and expected to go public. He claimed the company needed a cash infusion to sustain its upward trajectory and maintain a cash cushion for each of the dealerships to operate.
Relying on that information, IBC granted Reagor Dykes a $10 million working capital loan, which was distributed in two tranches: $5,000,000 in July 2017 and another $5,000,000 in February 2018, to be disbursed to the various RDAG entities.
Instead of investing all of the money into the business as he’d said he would, Mr. Reagor diverted more than $1.7 million to his personal account at Prosperity Bank – $766,277 in July 2017, following IBC’s disbursement of the first tranche of money, and $1 million in February 2018, following IBC’s disbursement of the second tranche of money.
Reagor Dykes’ CFO, Shane Smith, testified that Mr. Reagor and his partner, Rick Dykes, routinely drew money out of the business. Over a 10-year-period, Mr. Smith estimated, the pair withdrew more than $25 million.
While the jury convicted Mr. Reagor of lying to an FDIC-insured bank, they acquitted him of bank fraud. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
Fifteen of Mr. Reagor’s employees previously pleaded guilty to various crimes involving dummy flooring and check kitting at Reagor Dykes, including:
- Shane Andrew Smith, Reagor Dykes’ CEO, who pleaded guilty in June 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Diana Urias, an office manager in Reagor Dykes’ used car mall in Levelland, who pleaded guilty in September 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
- Sheila Miller, an RDAG group controller, who pleaded guilty in September 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Paige Johnston, an office manager in Reagor Dykes’ Chevrolet store in Floydada, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Lindsay Williams, and RDAG group accounting manager, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sherri Wood, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Pepper Rickman, an accounting controller at Reagor Dykes’ Toyota store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Brad Fansler, an RDAG group administrative director, who pleaded guilty in November 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Ashley Dunn, executive assistant to the CEO, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Whitney Maldonado, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Mitsubishi store in Lubbock, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Elaina Cabral, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Toyota store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud-
- Mistry Canady, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Lamesa, who pleaded guilty in January 2020 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Andrea Kate Phillips, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in February 2020 to misprision of a felony
- Wesley Neel, RDAG Safety & Compliance Manager, who pleaded guilty in March 2020 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Steven Reinhart, RDAG Legal Compliance Director, who pleaded guilty in February 2021 to misprision of a felony
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and Internal Revenue Services - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto, Jeffrey Haag, and Amy Burch are prosecuting the case.
Readout of Roundtable with Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta and State and Local Law Enforcement LeadersRead the Press Release
In honor of Police Week, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta hosted a roundtable discussion Thursday with various leaders from state and local law enforcement to discuss the importance of health and wellness.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco opened the discussion by thanking everyone for their partnership in this area and reiterating the department’s commitment to the health and wellness of those in law enforcement. Associate Attorney General Gupta acknowledged how the weight of the pandemic has been borne by so many communities, including first responders and law enforcement professionals. Throughout the discussion, the department’s leadership emphasized the importance of having meaningful and honest conversations about mental health and meeting the needs of those who work and serve our communities under tremendous stress. They described some of the heartrending trends of officer suicide, and recognized the tireless work of those in attendance to address officer wellness.
Moderating the discussion was Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Acting Director Robert Chapman, who spoke about the office’s commitment to engaging the law enforcement community in order to better understand their needs. He also noted that the COPS Office announced $7 million in mental health and wellness grant funding for law enforcement. Those in attendance also shared recommendations on ways the department could better support law enforcement on these issues.
Associate Deputy Director Vince Davenport of the department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) spoke about BJA’s commitment to funding, training and supporting law enforcement across health and wellness topics. For instance, he discussed the recent release of BJA’s COVID-19 toolkit for law enforcement.
Themes throughout the hour-long discussion ranged from the impact that COVID-19 has had on law enforcement and the need to fund mental health and wellness programs for not just sworn officers but professional staff and prosecutors, as well; to the need for investment in long-term sustainable care, such as counseling and therapy, to providing better training specific to mental and physical health to leadership. Deputy Attorney General Monaco and Associate Attorney General Gupta closed by emphasizing that officer wellness is a top priority across the federal government and pledged the department’s full support to improving the wellbeing of law enforcement professionals, their loved ones and the communities they serve.
Rapid City Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
Nathan David Hankins, age 28, was indicted on December 17, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on October 1, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of five up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Hankins receiving and possessing child pornography between August 2019 and December 2019, at Rapid City. The charges are merely an accusation and Hankins is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Hankins was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.
Raeford Certified Nursing Assistant Sentenced for Elder FraudRead the Press Release
Raleigh, N.C. – A Raeford, NC woman was sentenced today to 12 months and a day imprisonment and ordered to pay $90,003 in restitution for committing wire fraud involving an elderly veteran in her care. On July 6, 2021, McNeill pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents, Tracey McNeill, 51 years old, between February 2015 and February 2017, fraudulently obtained VA and OPM benefits by executing a power of attorney (POA) over a disabled veteran, W.R., who served in the U.S. Army, and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 41 years. The investigation revealed that McNeill arranged for the victim, who had dementia, to move into her home in February 2015, and then directed the VA and OPM to deposit W.R’s benefits into McNeill’s bank account between April, 2015, and December 2016. W.R. passed away on December 6, 2016. In total, OPM deposited $61,318, and the VA deposited $11,151 into her account. A financial analysis showed that most of the funds were spent on McNeill’s personal expenses, including rent, utilities, credit card payments, and personal purchases. Further, McNeill completed Beneficiary forms listing herself as the beneficiary of the victim’s retirement and life insurance benefits. OPM disbursed W.R.’s life insurance proceeds in the amount of $17,533 to McNeill.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James C. Dever, III. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General (OPM-OIG) assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-000474-D.
Prior Federal Felon Convicted on Armed Robbery Charges of Publix SupermarketRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Nathaniel O. Cox, 30, was found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a Kel-Tec SUB-2000 assault rifle during the commission of a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Jason R. Coody. Cox was previously convicted of a similar crime in the Middle District of Georgia in 2015; for which he was sentenced to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, having been released in May 2020.
Trial evidence revealed that on the evening of October 22, 2020, Cox entered the Publix supermarket located at 5998 Mobile Highway in Pensacola, Florida, where he confronted a store manager and another employee, warning that he was armed and there to rob the store. Cox then instructed them to take him to the money room. Once inside, Cox brandished his semi-automatic rifle and instructed the two employees, along with a third employee who was inside the room, to gather the money and place it in his backpack. The employees were then ordered to lay on top of each other and to count out loud or they would be shot. Cox then fled the supermarket with the stolen United States currency. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was the first to respond to and investigate the crime scene. Working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, law enforcement officers were able to locate Cox at the international airport in Jacksonville, Florida, after he fled Pensacola, where he was taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement also recovered the assault rifle used to commit the robbery.
“The investigation and prosecution of violence crime – in this case by an armed repeat offender – is central to our mission to protect the public,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “As a result of the collaboration and outstanding investigative work of our law enforcement partners at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, this violent, armed robber has been adjudicated guilty and will be sentenced for his criminal conduct.”
“A priority for ATF is reducing violent crime and protecting the public. Through collaborative efforts with our local law enforcement partner’s, we were able to capture this dangerous felon and prevent him from any further threats to our communities. This prosecution demonstrates that working jointly with our local partners makes the communities safer,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier.
“We are pleased that our working relationship with our federal partners led to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Cox. This is another example of local law enforcement and federal agencies coming together to serve and protect our community,” said Escambia County Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works 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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
Cox’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 21, 2021, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Due to a prior federal violent crime conviction, Cox faces a mandatory minimum 25 years’ imprisonment on the charges.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Possessing over a Kilogram of Meth and Guns Leads to More Than Two Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Taylor James Kruckenberg, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 15, 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Kruckenberg admitted that in February 2020, law enforcement officers searched Kruckenberg’s car and recovered methamphetamine, $7,000, and a handgun. On the same date, officers recovered over 1,600 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded shotgun from his residence. At sentencing, the court found that Kruckenberg possessed the firearms in connection with his drug trafficking. Kruckenberg had previous felony convictions for possession of a firearm as a felon, trafficking in stolen firearms, and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
Kruckenberg was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Kruckenberg was sentenced to 277 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Kruckenberg is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Geocaris and Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tri-County Drug Taskforce, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-cr-2038.
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