Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
14 October 2021
Romanian National Sentenced in Connection with ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Romanian national was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2021 in federal court in Boston in connection with an ATM skimming scheme operating throughout Massachusetts and other states including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and South Carolina.
Nemanja Milosavljevic, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 27 months in prison and one year of supervised release. On March 31, 2021, Milosavljevic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (more commonly known as RICO conspiracy), conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and aggravated identity theft.
Milosavljevic was a member of the Hornea Crew, led by co-conspirators Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea, and engaged in ATM skimming – obtaining debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting bank customers, creating counterfeit cards and making unauthorized withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts. Over a period of 18 months, the Crew installed skimming devices to steal debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting ATM customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia and other locations within the United States. The stolen information was then used by Milosavljevic and others to clone the victim customers’ debit cards and make unauthorized withdrawals from those victim customers’ bank accounts at ATMs throughout the United States. Members of the Crew transferred money throughout the United States and to Romania and the People’s Republic of China. Some of those transfers were for the purchase of skimming devices and related components from abroad.
In May 2018, Judge Young sentenced Constantin Denis Hornea to 65 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $242,141 in restitution and a money judgment of $54,260. Also in May 2018, Judge Young sentenced Ludemis Hornea to 42 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $57,422 in restitution and a money judgment of $11,124.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was also provided by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Service; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Connecticut State Police; the Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, Boston, Florence (S.C.); Greenwich (Conn.), Houston (Texas) New York City (N.Y.), Quincy, Saluda (S.C.), Southwick, Waltham, Whately, and Westwood Police Departments; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department; and the Solicitor’s Offices of Greenville and Saluda Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran, Chief of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, prosecuted the case.
Rollin' 40s Street Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Crimes Committed While on ParoleRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Nashville, Tennessee man convicted earlier this year of drug distribution and firearms offenses was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Gary Edmiston, 33, was indicted in October 2019 and pleaded guilty in April to four counts of distributing heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Edmiston, a member of the Rollin’ 40s Street Gang, was on state parole for conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and a drug trafficking crime when he began selling heroin in front of his North Nashville residence in September 2018. After numerous sales of heroin to an informant and others in front of the residence, state parole officers made a surprise visit to his home and a search of Edmiston’s bedroom resulted in the seizure of approximately 36 grams of heroin, 17 grams of cocaine, a loaded assault rifle, a loaded handgun, and over $3,000 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Tennessee Department of Correction; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed A. Safeeullah prosecuted the case.
# # # # #
Robertsdale Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Robertsdale man was sentenced today to 15 year in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking felony.
According to court documents, Patrick Earl Pool, 38, was first arrested in January of 2020 in Elberta by Baldwin County Sheriff’s deputies who found him in possession of methamphetamine, Ecstasy pills and three firearms. Pool was next encountered by sheriff’s deputies in May of 2020 when deputies received information that he was traveling to Baldwin County with trafficking amounts of heroin and methamphetamine. His vehicle was stopped and the deputies found heroin, ecstasy and marijuana in the vehicle. In June of 2020, Pool was again arrested when deputies responded to his residence and found crack cocaine, marijuana, various types of pills, $1,738 in cash and two firearms. Pool was arrested on the federal charges in October of 2020, and he has been detained in custody since that time. Pool pled guilty to the three charges in December of 2020.
United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed the sente of 15 years and one month in Pool’s case on October 13, 2021, consisting of 121 months on the drug charge and the felon in possession charge, to run concurrently with each other, and 60 months on the firearms charge, to run consecutively to the sentences on the other counts. The judge ordered that Pool will serve a total of five years under supervision when he is released from custody. Special conditions of his supervision include drug testing and treatment, a mental health evaluation and treatment if necessary, and a model search condition. No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Pool pay $300 in special assessments, and that the firearms seized during the investigation are to be forfeited to the United States.
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Robert Renner Charged for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Robert Renner, 49, of Burlington, Vermont, was charged today by criminal complaint with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Renner is scheduled to appear on the charge before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on Monday, October 18, 2021.
According to court records, Renner was found in possession of four firearms during the execution of a Vermont state search warrant on October 13, 2021. State law enforcement with the assistance of agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Renner’s camper vehicle which was parked on Sears Lane in Burlington. The search of Renner’s camper also yielded ammunition and suspected controlled substances. Renner is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law due to his criminal record.
If convicted of the charge alleged in the complaint, Renner faces a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The Acting United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara M. Puls represents the defendant.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian and other law enforcement partners: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Winooski Police Department. For more information about Project Guardian, please see http://www.justice.gov/projectguardian/.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to over 33 Years in Federal Prison for Leadership Role in International Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
A Rhode Island man was sentenced today to 400 months in prison for his role in an international fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
Steven Barros Pinto, 40, of Rhode Island, was sentenced by Chief District Court Judge Peter D. Welte in Fargo, North Dakota today. Pinto was part of a Rhode Island organization that was distributing fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from Canada and China. After a five-week trial that began on June 8 in Fargo, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Pinto on various charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering conspiracy, continuing criminal enterprise, and obstruction of justice. One of Pinto’s principal U.S.-based partners in this criminal conspiracy, Anthony Santos Gomes, 36, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on July 30.
This investigation started on Jan. 3, 2015, with the overdose death in Grand Forks, North Dakota, of Bailey Henke, and eventually led to the indictment, and subsequent conviction, of multiple defendants including Daniel Vivas Ceron, 41, of Colombia, who pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal in Fargo in July 2019 to continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues resulting in serious bodily injury and death, and money laundering.
In 2021, three Canadian nationals from Quebec, Canada, Jason Joey Berry, 38; Xuan Cahn Nguyen, 41; and Marie Um, 41, were extradited from Canada to the United States. These defendants are detained and are currently awaiting trial scheduled on Oct. 4, 2022 in Fargo. On Aug. 31, 2021, the U.S. Department of State offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of People’s Republic of China national Zhang Jian, aka Hong Kong Zaron, 42, a fugitive in this transnational investigation.
Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase of the District of North Dakota, and Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Asphaug of the District of Oregon made this announcement.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Fargo Field Office; Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Portland Oregon Police Bureau – Drugs and Vice Division, Portland HIDTA Interdiction Task Force; Oregon State Police; and the Grand Forks Police Department.
The case is part of “Operation Denial,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and was significantly aided by the national and international coordination led by the multi-agency Special Operations Division.
Trial Attorneys Kaitlin Sahni and Imani Hutty of the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers of the District of North Dakota; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin of the District of Oregon prosecuted this case.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 33 years in Federal Prison for His Leadership Role in a Large-Scale International Fentanyl Trafficking Operation, Investigated Under “Operation Denial”Read the Press Release
FARGO – Acting United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase, District of North Dakota, along with Acting United States Attorney Scott E. Asphaug, District of Oregon, and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, announced that Steven Barros Pinto, age 40 of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte, to 33 years imprisonment for the charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Controlled Substances Analogues, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances and Controlled Substances Analogues into the United States, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE), and Obstruction of Justice.
On June 8, 2021, the trial of Steven Pinto commenced, in Fargo, North Dakota. Steven Pinto was part of a Rhode Island organization that was receiving fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from Canada and China. After a 5-week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Steven Pinto on various narcotics trafficking charges. The partner of Steven Pinto in this criminal conspiracy, Anthony Santos Gomes, age 36 from Rhode Island, was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment on July 30, 2021.
This case is part of "Operation Denial," an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and was significantly aided by the national and international coordination led by the multi-agency Special Operations Division (S.O.D.) near Washington, DC, as part of "Operation Deadly Merchant." The investigation started in North Dakota, on January 3, 2015, with the overdose death in Grand Forks, ND, of Bailey Henke.
Operation Denial has led to thirty-one (31) defendants charged in North Dakota and three (3) defendants charged in Oregon. The investigation has resulted in nearly $1 million in cash and property forfeited from members of the organization.
In 2021, three Canadian nationals from Quebec, Canada, Jason Joey Berry, 38, Xuan Cahn Nguyen, 41, and Marie Um, 41, were extradited from Canada to the United States. These defendants are detained and are currently awaiting trial scheduled on October 4, 2022, in Fargo. On August 31, 2021, the U.S. Department of State offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of People’s Republic of China (PRC) national Jian Zhang, a fugitive in this transnational investigation.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement -Homeland Security Investigations; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS-Criminal Investigation, Fargo; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Portland Oregon Police Bureau – Drugs and Vice Division; Portland HIDTA Interdiction Task Force; Oregon State Police; and Grand Forks Police Department.
The prosecutors for this case are Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers, District of North Dakota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin, District of Oregon, also designated as a Special Assistant U.S Attorney in North Dakota; and Trial Attorneys Kaitlin Sahni and Imani Hutty, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division.
######
Preston County man sentenced to 14 years for drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Ray Deberry, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 168 months of incarceration for drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Deberry, 34, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More Than Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm as Felon.” Deberry admitted to working with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from February 2017 to June 2018 in Harrison County and elsewhere. Deberry, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a .45 caliber pistol in January 2018 in Marion County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Portage Man Arrested on Federal Indictment Charging Fraud and Theft from Amazon’s Textbook Rental ProgramRead the Press Release
Geoffrey Mark Hays Talsma Faces Mail Fraud and Other Federal Charges
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Geoffrey Mark Hays Talsma, 36, of Portage, Michigan, was arrested today on a felony indictment filed in the United States District Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, charging mail and wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, aggravated identity theft and making false statements to the FBI.
According to the indictment, from January 2016 to March 2021, Talsma rented thousands of textbooks from Amazon’s Textbook Rental Program with no intention of returning the textbooks by the specified return date or paying the established buyout price for the textbooks. Instead, Talsma allegedly sold the textbooks to local textbook businesses and through the internet. Talsma defrauded Amazon and the Textbook Rental Program by repeatedly creating new Amazon accounts and using variations of other data to avoid detection, the indictment claims. On many occasions, according to the charges, Talsma additionally defrauded Amazon by seeking and obtaining a credit to his account by claiming that he did not receive the textbooks or that he received other items he could not return. Also named in the indictment were Gregory Mark Gleesing (age 43) and Lovedeep Singh Dhanoa (age 25), both from Portage, Michigan, and Paul Steven Larson (age 32) of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
If convicted, Talsma faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for each of the mail and wire fraud offenses; a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen property; and a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years for making false statements to the FBI. Additionally, if convicted of the aggravated identity theft charges, Talsma will serve a maximum term of imprisonment of four years consecutive to any sentence imposed for the other criminal offenses. Restitution and forfeiture of certain assets obtained with the proceeds of the scheme may also be ordered as a result of a conviction.
The offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kalamazoo, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, Grand Rapids, are handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Stella is prosecuting the case.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
###
Ponsford Man Sentenced to Prison for Violent Assault on the White Earth Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – A Ponsford man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violently assaulting a man on the White Earth Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, during the early morning hours of June 3, 2020, Wesley Robert Warren, 23, and another man got into an argument with the victim. The argument escalated into a physical altercation and Warren and the other man knocked out the victim. Once the fight was over and the victim was laying face down on the ground, Warren continued the assault by picking up a 42-pound cinderblock and dropping it on the back of the victim’s head. As a result of the assault the victim was hospitalized for several weeks due to brain trauma and was later transferred to a long-term care facility.
On June 17, 2021, following a four-day jury trial, Warren was found guilty of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Police Department, and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Caleb J. Dogeagle.
Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in South Side Gang’s Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court for narcotics trafficking in connection with a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Raelynn Stevenson, age 31, was sentenced ten years’ imprisonment to be followed by eight years of supervised release by United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. This sentence comes after Stevenson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl and heroin. Stevenson is one of 40 defendants that were charged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the sentencing hearing, the Court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019. Intercepted communications revealed that the defendant both collaborated with lead defendant Christopher Highsmith and supplied her own drug customers. On several occasions during the conspiracy, the defendant and Highsmith discussed the weight, packaging, and distribution of narcotics.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Bloch and Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Old Orchard Beach Man Sentenced for Stealing Government PropertyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine—An Old Orchard Beach man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Michael Gamash, 65, to one year of probation. He was also ordered to pay over $62,000 in restitution to the U.S. Navy. Gamash pleaded guilty on June 2, 2021.
According to court records, from about April 2014 to June 2016, Gamash took scrap metal belonging to the Navy from dumpsters located on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) and sold the metal to two area metal dealers. Gamash was an employee of PNSY at the time. When investigators from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) interviewed him, he admitted routinely taking scrap metal items from several dumpsters at PNSY and selling the metal. He acknowledged that he knew it was illegal to take the metal and sell it for his personal profit.
NCIS investigated the case.
New York Man Sentenced for Threatening President and White HouseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jean-Paul Gamarra, 45, of Copiague, N.Y., was sentenced today on federal charges of threatening the President of the United States and the White House complex during an incident in March 2017, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service.
Gamarra was found guilty on May 27, 2021, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, of one count each of threats to the President and threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Gamarra already had been in custody for 41 months, and the judge sentenced him to the time already served, which is an effective sentence at the higher end of the applicable guidelines range. Under the sentencing order, Gamarra will be placed on three years of supervised release. During that time, he must meet a number of conditions, including staying away from the White House, maintaining mental health treatment, cooperating with the Secret Service in assessing his future risk, and avoiding all physical and online contact with any Secret Service protectee.
As established at trial, on March 28, 2017, at about 10:17 a.m., Gamarra approached a uniformed, on-duty officer of the U.S. Secret Service at a pedestrian access gate l on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, within 100 yards of the White House. He presented the officer with a priority mail package, stating it contained a “nuclear bomb detonator” that was being presented for “safekeeping.” Written on the package, in what appeared to be Gamarra’s handwriting, were the words: “Warning this is a tre threat on the President and Senator life” and “Warning 100% threat Brand New Electronic Detonator Device,” as well as Gamarra’s name and address.
In response to Gamarra’s claims, the U.S. Secret Service cleared the surrounding area, including the north fence line of the White House, Lafayette Park, and other areas near 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. People inside nearby buildings were instructed to shelter in place while the Metropolitan Police Department Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit evaluated the package. After approximately 90 minutes, the package was declared “safe,” and the area reopened. Inside the package was a Bluetooth keyboard and letter. Gamarra was arrested at the scene and was in custody until August 2020.
Gamarra was previously interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service in 2014 regarding threats to then-President Barack Obama. In 2014, Gamarra admitted to Secret Service agents that he had threatened President Obama in order to gain the “attention” of the Secret Service so he could “expose” “corruption.” During that interview, agents warned Gamarra that threats on the President of the United States are not protected speech and counseled Gamarra that such conduct was taken seriously by the Secret Service.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Stohler commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Secret Service and those who provided assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Nicholas Coleman, and Daniel Lenerz, and Paralegal Specialists Genevieve De Guzman and Jorge Casillas. They expressed appreciation for the work of former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Hutchinson and Mary Freeman, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Pearlman, who handled prior stages of the matter.
New York Man Admits Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl from Drug Mill in the BronxRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man today admitted participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl from a drug mill in the Bronx to locations in New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Reimon Genao Rosario, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Dilson Vazquez Genao, 24, Eddie Urena Rodriguez, 36, Francisco Mercedes Gil, 32, Daury Contreras Ulerio, aka “Majimbou,” 35, and Jose Antonio Vazquez Pena, aka “Tono,” 48, all of the Bronx, all have previously pleaded guilty before Judge Salas to the same charges.
One other individual – Jhan Carlos Capellan Maldonado, 32 – was indicted on the same charge as Rosario in August 2019. His case is pending.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In early February 2019, law enforcement officers learned that Maldonado used an apartment in the Bronx to store, mix, and package heroin and fentanyl in distribution quantities. Pena stayed at the apartment in order to safeguard the narcotics and narcotics supplies. Maldonado employed five workers at a time – including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, and Genao – to assist in preparing the heroin and fentanyl for distribution, which Maldonado then distributed to customers in New Jersey.
On Feb. 25, 2019, law enforcement officers saw Maldonado drive to a retail store and emerge with several full shopping bags and then drive to the apartment. Genoa came out of the building and met with Maldonado, who got out of his vehicle and gave Genoa the plastic shopping bags. Law enforcement officers later learned that the plastic shopping bags contained materials to package heroin and fentanyl.
Genoa went back inside the building and was followed by law enforcement officers, who watched as Genoa entered Maldonado’s apartment with a key, still carrying the shopping bags. On Feb. 27, 2019, law enforcement officers searched Maldonado’s apartment and found seven individuals inside, including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, Maldonado, Pena, and Genao. All seven defendants attempted to escape out a window, and all but one – Rosario – were apprehended and arrested by law enforcement officers waiting outside. Rosario was arrested at a later date. Law enforcement officers recovered nearly a kilogram of fentanyl from the apartment, along with materials to grind and package fentanyl for distribution.
Rosario faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing for Rosario is scheduled for Feb. 15, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Gould, Acting Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations against Maldonado are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New Orleans Man Who Sold Fake Louisiana Drivers’ Licenses Sentenced to 42 Months for Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RYAN CLARK, age 35, of New Orleans, LA, was sentenced on October 13, 2021 to 42 months of incarceration by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk for having committed conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft (count 1) and aggravated identity theft (count 3).
According to court documents, the defendant was arrested after an investigation initiated by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. CLARK and others created and sold fake Louisiana drivers’ licenses with the names and dates of birth of real persons who were victims of identity theft. Using the fake licenses, CLARK facilitated the sale of at least six motor vehicles from several local dealerships. The fraudsters would use the stolen identities and the fake licenses to buy high end used cars. No money was ever paid and the loans went into default.
In addition to incarceration, CLARK was sentenced to three (3) years of supervised release and payment of a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. His self-surrender date is set for January 3, 2022, and a restitution hearing was set for January 5, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the agencies that contributed to this indictment, which represents a coordinated effort of federal and state law enforcement authorities within the United States Secret Service Louisiana Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF). U.S. Attorney Evans also thanked the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapon ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on October 13, 2021, defendant DARIUS WILLIAMS, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty as charged before U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk.
Count 1 of the Indictment charges WILLIAMS with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. WILLIAMS’s sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2022.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Weapons ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant TOMMIE MANGO, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on October 13, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk to carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Specifically, TOMMIE MANGO pled guilty to Counts One and Two of a Superseding Bill of Information. MANGO pled guilty to Count One, which charges him with a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2119(1) and 2. MANGO also pled guilty to Count Two, which charges him with brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, that is, a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).
As to Count One, MANGO faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. As to Count Two, MANGO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. MANGO'S sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2022.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
National Leader of Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Suffolk County, New York, man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Keith Richter, a/k/a “Conan,” 62, of Bay Shore, New York, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Richter is the national president of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (the “Pagans”)—an outlaw motorcycle gang known by law enforcement to engage in illegal activity including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes.
On or about February 20, 2021, the Pagans hosted a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While Richter was traveling from the party to his home in Suffolk County, New York, law enforcement pulled the vehicle over in Mercer County, New Jersey. Law enforcement recovered a loaded Ruger P345 .45 caliber handgun from a front-seat compartment in the vehicle. As a result, law enforcement obtained a warrant for Richter’s arrest, which was executed on February 26, 2021.
Richter was previously convicted of felony offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, for which he served a 16-year term of imprisonment.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Richter to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Timothy D. Sini; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of William A. Daniel; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Murder crew latest in violent crime arrestsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A group of violent criminals are now facing possible severe federal penalties for firearms charges, to include use of a weapon resulting in death, carjacking, robbery and other felonies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Authorities arrested three Houston men today - Charles Dawson, 42, Damon Randolph, 47, and Kiyon Marshal, 40, today. They are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 2 p.m. Also charged is Curtis Sandel, 36, who is already in custody and expected to be transferred to federal authorities to also make his initial appearance. All now face up to life in federal prison, if convicted
These men are now among several others who are charged with committing violent crimes in the Houston area.
U.S. Attorney Lowery joined several other leaders from federal and local law enforcement agencies to discuss the pervasive problem and their ongoing commitment to ensuring violent criminals are held accountable. Whether in state or federal court, leaders stressed that they strive to keep the community safe. The problem stretches across the entire Houston area, not in just one neighborhood or area.
In the aforementioned case, the men are accused of committing a robbery. During the crime, they allegedly shot and killed the victim and stole money and drugs from a local warehouse. They are charged with robbery, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and discharging a firearm resulting in death. They all now face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Also highlighted today was a violent carjacking case recently indicted in federal court. Iveon Gillaspie, 21, allegedly committed a violent carjacking Oct. 16, 2019. He was originally charged in state court and later allegedly committed another violent crime. A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging him with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He also now faces up to life in federal prison.
Earnest Taylor, 27, is a convicted felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, on Aug. 24, he fired shots from such a weapon at IRS agents who were attempting to serve a summons for aggravated identity theft. He is charged with illegally possessing the firearm and assault of a federal officer. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Two more Houston men - Frederick Crouts, 19, and Donvonte Wallace, 24 - are charged with robbing what should be safe places in June. They allegedly robbed a Subway and a Family Dollar, brandishing a firearm during the crimes. They face 20 years as well as an additional minimum of seven years for the firearms charges.
Other people are also charged with unlawfully possessing firearms, such as Sergio Cabrera, 28, and Jordan Allen, 29. They face up to 10 years in federal prison, upon conviction.
The FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Houston Police Department; Harris County District Attorney’s Office; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Houston Independent School District Police Department; Treasure Inspector General for Tax Administration; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are all assisting in the various cases.
An indictment or complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Missouri Man Sentenced to 10 years for Attempted Child EnticementRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Craig Darrah, age 56, formerly of Saint Peters, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court today in Omaha, Nebraska, for attempted child enticement. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Darrah to 10 years of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Darrah will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
In August 2020, law enforcement posted an online advertisement for sex. The advertisement stated it was $100 for a half hour and $200 for an hour. On September 4, 2020, Darrah responded to the advertisement. Between September 4, 2020, and September 24, 2020, Darrah texted and had phone calls with an undercover agent. Darrah was seeking to pay for sex. The undercover agent indicated she was 15 years old. On September 24, 2020, Darrah agreed to go to an apartment in Omaha and pay $150 to have sex with who he believed to be a 15-year-old female. Darrah arrived at the apartment complex with money and condoms. Officers made contact with Darrah when he arrived. He admitted that he agreed to pay $150 to have sex with the female.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Minneapolis Police officers received information that Brandon Marcel Thomas, 33, was engaged in drug and firearms trafficking. Officers executed a search warrant at a storage locker in Minneapolis that had been leased by Thomas since approximately October 2020. Officers recovered from the storage locker seven firearms, including a Radical Firearms, .300 caliber, semi-automatic rifle; a Smith and Wesson, .357 caliber, pistol; a Taurus, 9mm caliber, pistol; a Glock, .40 caliber, pistol; a Smith and Wesson, .380 caliber, pistol; a Glock .45 caliber, pistol; and a Glock, .22 caliber, pistol.
Because Thomas has prior felony convictions, including a 2009 federal carjacking conviction in the District of Minnesota, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Thomas entered his guilty plea today before Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.
Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspirators Sentenced to Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Conspirators Distributed Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine Throughout West Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that nine defendants have been convicted and sentenced to federal prison for their role in an extensive methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of hundreds of pounds of crystal methamphetamine throughout West Michigan. The final three defendants, who were convicted by a jury on June 10, 2021 after a four-day trial in Grand Rapids, were recently sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff.
Timothy Mark Calicutt, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on October 7, 2021. Calicutt, the Kalamazoo-based leader and organizer of this conspiracy, maintained a drug premises in Kalamazoo where he cut pure methamphetamine received from suppliers in Chicago for further distribution in Kalamazoo and Allegan Counties, and elsewhere. Calicutt, a previously convicted felon, also illegally possessed a firearm to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.
Dwayne Deshaun Parks, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on October 12, 2021. Parks connected the Chicago-based suppliers with Calicutt, and admitted to agents that between late 2019 and June 2020, he distributed between 150 and 200 pounds of crystal methamphetamine into West Michigan, all of it going to Calicutt for further distribution.
Ronald Lee Sutherland, a resident of Allegan, Michigan, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on October 7, 2021. Sutherland purchased pounds of methamphetamine during the conspiracy directly from Parks and further distributed that methamphetamine to other individuals in Allegan County.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Birge stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to bringing methamphetamine traffickers to justice. Anyone who distributes methamphetamine in West Michigan faces significant penalties, including years in federal prison. This multi-agency investigation, made possible through the hard work of state, local, and federal law enforcement officers, stopped the flow of large amounts of a dangerous drug into our communities.”
DEA began the investigation into this methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy in 2019, in partnership with the Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) and West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) of the Michigan State Police (MSP), and the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET).
“These nine individuals were part of a drug trafficking organization responsible for flooding western Michigan with potent and dangerous methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “These sentences should serve as a notice that DEA, and our law enforcement partners, will employ every resource to bring criminals who profit off the suffering of others to justice.”
MSP D/F/Lt. Rick Pazder, SWET Task Force Section Commander, stated: “Operation Rabbit Hole was a long-term, thorough investigation into the drug trafficking dynamic that was dumping multiple pounds of high-purity methamphetamine into our small towns and rural communities by way of Kalamazoo and Chicago. The operation took down high-level narcotics distributors within multiple counties while simultaneously indicting the large, regional sources of narcotics supply. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and very harmful drug, and the current low cost of this drug has contributed to an unprecedented spread, spurred on by greed and indifference. This investigation, and the resulting indictments and sentences, will make a lasting, positive impact on the communities in Allegan and Barry Counties. SWET is proud to work shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who made this investigation a success.”
During the investigation, investigators seized over 18 pounds of crystal methamphetamine (including 11 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from Calicutt and Parks on June 25, 2020), two firearms, and over $27,000 in drug proceeds. The nine defendants, their crimes of convictions, and sentence information are as follows:
Defendant
City
Conviction(s)
Sentence
Timothy Mark Calicutt
Kalamazoo
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition;
- Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.
240 months in prison
Dwayne Deshaun Parks
Kalamazoo and Chicago
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (2 counts).
240 months in prison
Ronald Lee Sutherland
Allegan
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
120 months in prison
Michael Chad Sutherland
Allegan
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime
92 months in prison
Jackie Lee Cherry, Jr.
Muskegon
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
120 months in prison
John Allen Galbreath
Muskegon
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
120 months in prison
Larry James Martz
Allegan
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
120 months in prison
Charles William-Maurice Hudson
Battle Creek
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
63 months in prison
Sara Ann Whittemore
Allegan
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
24 months in prison
The investigation, dubbed Operation Rabbit Hole, was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the multijurisdictional narcotics task forces SWET, WEMET, and KVET. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. McGraw handled the prosecution. The investigation was part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
###
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Ricky Demarcus Tubbs, 32, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office on August 5, 2019, during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Tubbs had a 9mm caliber pistol in his vehicle. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Tubbs to possess any firearm.
Tubbs is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
McKees Rocks Man Charged with Robbing Bridgeville BankRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - One resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Anthony West, age 28, formerly of Dohrman Street, as the sole defendant.
According to a publicly filed Complaint, on September 16, 2021, West entered a bank location in Bridgeville, PA and threatened or intimidated an employee, secured U.S. currency in the custody of the bank, and fled.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brian W. Castello is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Maryland United States Army Veteran Facing Federal Charges for Falsely Claiming to be a Paraplegic in Order to Obtain More Than $1 Million Dollars in Government Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint charges William Rich, age 41, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a total of more than $1 million dollars in Veterans disability benefits and Social Security Administration disability benefits by falsely claiming that he was a paraplegic. The criminal complaint filed on October 12, 2021, and was unsealed yesterday upon Rich’s arrest.
The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Inspector General Kim R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, Mid Atlantic Field Office, Washington, DC of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division (SSA).
The criminal complaint alleges that Rich misrepresented his physical condition in VA disability compensation claims, in communications with the VA and during medical examinations in pursuit of VA disability benefits, purporting that he is paralyzed and unable to walk. As a result, Rich has allegedly received more than approximately $800,000 in VA benefits to which he was not entitled, including disability compensation, special monetary and caregiver assistance compensation, as well as medical care and subsidies for medical equipment. In addition, the criminal complaint alleges that Rich received more than $240,000 in Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability Insurance Benefit payments.
According to the criminal complaint, Rich served in the United States Army from on or about September 22, 1998 to February 27, 2007, sustaining injuries on August 23, 2005, while serving in Baqubah, Iraq. As a result of those injuries, in 2007 the VA rated Rich one hundred percent disabled due to the “loss of use of both lower extremities…” The VA disability compensation program provides tax-free monetary benefits paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount of disability compensation a veteran receives is commensurate with their service-connected disability rating. Rich was also awarded special monthly compensation for paraplegia and given allowances for a caregiver. Rich also received SSA Disability Insurance Benefit payments.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, approximately six weeks after Rich’s injuries, he had begun to make substantial progress toward recovery, and was no longer paralyzed. In particular, a report from Rich’s annual physical examination dated October 7, 2005 stated that an MRI on August 24, 2005 revealed “no [spinal] cord impingement” or “[spinal] cord abnormalities” and noted that Rich’s “…paralysis has resolved somewhat and at present he is able to move his lower extremities.” A subsequent report, dated December 5, 2006, indicated Rich was able to perform certain essential daily activities with “complete independence” or “modified independence” such as using the bathroom and “locomotion.”
However, according to the affidavit, later records documenting a subsequent exam conducted on October 11, 2007 stated, “Since his accident, he has been paralyzed in both lower extremities; has been confined to a wheelchair….” The examining physician, who noted that he did not have access to Rich’s complete claims file, and so did not review Rich’s medical history or observe the earlier report, also did not order an x-ray, stating he “did not feel that it was worth the trauma to him of manipulating him around.” Based on this examination, Rich was granted permanent disability from VA.
In 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of certain claims and learned of conduct by Rich inconsistent with his purported condition. VA OIG opened an investigation into possible fraud in Rich’s claim for VA benefits. According to the affidavit, over the next two years, VA OIG Special Agents (SAs) conducted surveillance and observed of Rich walking, going up and down stairs, entering and exiting vehicles, lifting, bending, and carrying items—all without visible limitation or assistance of a medical device, including a wheelchair.
The affidavit further alleges that throughout the course of their surveillance, the only time agents observed Rich use a wheelchair was in connection with VA medical appointments. In particular, on five occasions between March 2019 and February 2021, VA OIG SAs allegedly observed Rich either loading his wheelchair into the trunk of his car before or after a VA medical appointment, using a wheelchair at VA appointments, or wheeling himself from a VA medical appointment to his car, and then loading his wheelchair into the car.
According to the affidavit, a review of Rich’s publicly available social media accounts revealed multiple images of Rich standing, with no indication that he is bound to a wheelchair, as well as an image Rich took of himself standing in front of a mirror at a gym, as well as videos of Rich lifting weights.
In addition to monthly benefits Rich received from the VA, according to the affidavit, Rich also received grants from the VA for “Automobile and Adaptive Equipment,” and “Specially Adapted Housing.” In particular, the affidavit alleges that Rich used the funds intended for the purchase of a specially adapted vehicle to buy a BMW 645ci luxury sports coupe.
If convicted, Rich faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. On October 13, 2021, Rich had an initial appearance in United States District Court in Baltimore and was ordered to be released pending trial.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the VA OIG and SSA Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Davio, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Man Sentenced for Lying to Federal Agents During International Wildlife Trafficking InvestigationRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Texas man was sentenced in federal district court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida yesterday for knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation to Special Agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service during a criminal investigation of international trafficking of primates into the United States.
Gary Tucker, 64, of Alice, Texas, was sentenced to serve a three-year term of probation, with a special condition of home confinement for a period of three months, and to pay a criminal fine in the amount of $5,000 by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas. Tucker had previously pled guilty to the charge before William P. Dimitrouleas. In connection with his guilty plea, Tucker admitted that in the course of an interview by Special Agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) about potential illegal trafficking of wildlife, he was asked about his involvement in the procurement and importation to the U.S. of long-tailed macaques -- small non-human primates regularly employed in scientific research -- from Southeast Asia. See included image. In particular, agents asked Tucker whether he or others working for his employer, Orient BioResource Center (OBRC), prepared or submitted to OBRC any audits or reports concerning their visits to supplier sites in Cambodia. Tucker responded to those questions in the negative, that is, that no supplier site visits were memorialized in any written reports to OBRC. In fact, as Tucker well knew, during the relevant period from 2017 – 2019, preparation and submission of site visit reports was a standard procedure at OBRC.
Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Burke of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Special Investigations Unit made the announcement.
USFWS investigated the case with assistance from Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina of Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, New Jersey. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 21-cr-20263.
###
LyondellBasell Companies Agree to Reduce Harmful Air Pollution at Six U.S. Chemical PlantsRead the Press Release
Three U.S. subsidiaries of Dutch chemical giant LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (Lyondell) have agreed to make upgrades and perform compliance measures estimated to cost $50 million to resolve allegations they violated the Clean Air Act and state air pollution control laws at six petrochemical manufacturing facilities located in Channelview, Corpus Christi, and LaPorte, Texas, and Clinton, Iowa. Lyondell will also pay a $3.4 million civil penalty. The settlement, announced today by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will eliminate thousands of tons of air pollution from flares.
According to the complaint, the companies failed to properly operate and monitor their industrial flares, which resulted in excess emissions of harmful air pollution at five facilities in Texas and one in Iowa. Lyondell’s subsidiaries regularly “oversteamed” the flares at their facilities and failed to comply with other key operating constraints to ensure the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants contained in the gases routed to the flares are effectively combusted.
The EPA identified potential environmental justice concerns at the two Channelview facilities for exposure to particulate matter (2.5 micron), ozone, toxic cancer risk, and respiratory hazard. The significant emissions reductions of VOCs, HAPs, and greenhouse gases that today’s settlement secures at the Channelview facilities serve to reduce exposure in the community to some of the same air pollutants that they are disproportionately exposed to.
“The Justice Department and EPA will continue to enforce the law against petrochemical plants that violate the Clean Air Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “In particular, we are committed to reducing harmful air pollution from unnecessary and improper flaring, especially near overburdened communities with environmental justice concerns.”
“This settlement will require LyondellBasel to install pollution control and emissions monitoring equipment at six facilities in Texas and Iowa, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful gases by thousands of tons per year,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Those controls, plus a requirement for fence line monitoring of benzene emissions, will result in significant benefits for the local communities in Texas and Iowa.”
The settlement requires the companies to install and operate air pollution control and monitoring technology to reduce flaring and the resulting harmful air pollution from 21 flares at the six facilities. Once fully implemented, the pollution controls are estimated to reduce emissions of climate-change-causing greenhouse gases, including CO2, methane, and ethane, by almost 92,000 tons per year. The settlement is also expected to reduce emissions of ozone-forming VOCs by almost 2,700 tons per year and of toxic air pollutants, including benzene, by nearly 400 tons per year.
The pollutants addressed by the settlement can cause significant harm to public health. VOCs are a key component in the formation of smog or ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Chronic exposure to benzene, which EPA classifies as a carcinogen, can cause numerous health impacts, including leukemia and adverse reproductive effects in women. Flares are also often large sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Flares are devices used to combust waste gases that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere during certain industrial operations. Well-operated flares should have high “combustion efficiency,” meaning they combust nearly all harmful waste gas constituents, like VOCs and hazardous air pollutants, and turn them into water and carbon dioxide. The agreement is designed to improve Lyondell’s flaring practices. First, it requires Lyondell to minimize the amount of waste gas that is sent to the flares, which reduces the amount of flaring. Second, Lyondell must improve the combustion efficiency of its flares when flaring is necessary.
Lyondell will take several steps to minimize the waste gas sent to its flares at each facility. At certain facilities, Lyondell will operate flare gas recovery systems that recover and “recycle” the gases instead of sending them to be combusted in a flare. The flare gas recovery systems will allow Lyondell to reuse these gases as a fuel at its facilities or a product for sale. Lyondell will also create waste minimization plans for each facility to further reduce flaring. For flaring that must occur, the agreement requires that Lyondell install and operate instruments and monitoring systems to ensure that the gases sent to its flares are efficiently combusted.
Lyondell will also perform air quality monitoring that is designed to detect the presence of benzene at the fence lines of the six covered plants. Monitoring results must be publicly posted, providing the neighboring communities with more information about their air quality. The monitoring requirements also include triggers for root cause analysis and corrective actions if fence line emissions exceed certain thresholds. Flare compliance is an ongoing priority for EPA under its National Air Toxics Initiative.
The consent decree, lodged in the Southern District Court of Texas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
For more information about this settlement please visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/equistar-chemicals-lp-lyondellbasell-acetyls-llc-and-lyondell-chemical-company-clean.
Long Island Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for $1 Million Bank Loan and Credit Card Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Marcello Sozio, the former operator of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber business based in Great Neck, New York and Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Judge Denis R. Hurley to 36 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud banks, his business partners and a customer who allegedly received services from Sozio’s business. The Court also ordered Sozio to pay approximately $1.1 million in forfeiture and restitution to the victims of his crimes.
The sentence was announced by Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the sentence.
“Today, the defendant has been deservedly sentenced to prison for the financial harm he caused by defrauding his business partners and lenders and stealing from the parents of a young patient,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “In conjunction with its law enforcement partners, this Office will continue to seek compensation for victims and prosecute defendants like Sozio who, out of greed, commit fraud for their own financial gain.”
“Mr. Sozio is a classic example of a fraudster, who schemed and used others to obtain funds based on nothing but lies. Now Mr. Sozio will spend his time behind bars soaking in the air from a jail cell instead of one of his hyperbaric chambers,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Bartlett.
Between approximately March 2014 and December 2016, Sozio applied for and obtained approximately $770,000 in loans for a hyperbaric oxygen chamber business. In the loan applications, Sozio claimed that his business partners had authorized him to apply for the loans on their behalf as part of their joint business venture. The partners did not authorize the loan applications and Sozio obtained the unauthorized loans by forging the partners’ signatures on various loan documents, both by hand and electronically, and by impersonating one business partner during a telephone call with a lender. As a result of Sozio’s actions, his partners were liable for approximately $770,000 in loans. In addition, between September 2016 and December 2016, Sozio caused approximately $230,000 in credit card charges to the parents of a minor patient for services that were purportedly provided for medical reasons at a Great Neck facility that Sozio operated. In reality, Sozio provided no services to the child in exchange for the fraudulent billings.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and Madeline M. O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
MARCELLO SOZIO
Age: 65
Huntington, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-177 (DRH)
Logan County Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for receiving child pornography.
According to court documents, Marvin Wayne Akers, 40, admitted that on December 21, 2016, he used his Facebook account to communicate with a person living in the Philippines and asked to see “her.” In response, Akers received two images and a video that he knew were child pornography or images depicting children under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Upon release from prison, Akers will be placed on federal supervised release for a period of 10 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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-00174.
###
Logan County Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY– A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment yesterday charging a Russellville man with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, on or about July 19, 2021, Albert Tyler, 60, of Russellville, KY, possessed two handguns. At the time he possessed the firearms, Tyler had previously been convicted of multiple felonies in Logan Circuit Court which included a conviction for third-degree burglary and two convictions for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Tyler is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett and ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow made the announcement.
The ATF and the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
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.
Last defendant sentenced in Gangster Disciples caseRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, Ga. – Lewis Mobley has been sentenced to federal prison for his role as an enforcer for the Gangster Disciples gang, including shooting a minor in the chest twice for interrupting the filming of a gang rap video.
“For decades, the Gangster Disciples have destroyed communities all across the United States. The gang’s criminal activity in Atlanta included the killing of innocent people, brazen shootings, and prolific drug-trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “These horrific acts and the victims lost and injured will not soon be forgotten. Our community remains united and our law enforcement partners are committed to making sure this type of crippling criminal activity is met with our best investigative and prosecutorial effort. We understand that the sentences issued in this case will not mend the hearts of those who lost loved ones to the crimes of the Gangster Disciples, but we do believe they will make our community safer.”
“These sentences are a major achievement in our fight against gang violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Gangster Disciples have ravaged communities across the nation, but now dozens of their leaders and enforcers are off the streets thanks to the extraordinary devotion of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”
“The Gangster Disciples have wreaked havoc in our neighborhoods for far too long with the drug trafficking, thefts, violent assaults and murders they have committed,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Mobley is the last of many members of the ruthless gang to be sentenced as a part of this investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force and its state and local partners. We are all committed to dismantling these organized and violent criminal enterprises in order to make Atlanta and all of our communities safer for our citizens.”
“This investigation into the Gangster Disciples demonstrated the commitment on the part of the DeKalb County Police Department to ensure that our communities within DeKalb County remain a safe place to live, work and raise their families. Utilizing firearms to injure or intimidate others cannot be tolerated and there is no question that the public is safer today because of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all agencies involved in this investigation,” said DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha V. Ramos.
“The convictions of Lewis Mobley and other defendants sends a resounding message to gang members around the country that gang activity will not be tolerated in Atlanta,” said Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant. “The Atlanta Police Department is proud of the effort put forth by our investigators to bring these criminals to justice. The sentencing of these gang members proves the effectiveness of our law enforcement partnerships work.”
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. The Gangster Disciples brought money into the gang through, among other things, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, extortion, wire fraud, credit card fraud, insurance fraud and bank fraud. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation, and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault, and obstruction of justice. It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, celebrations of the birthday of the Gangster Disciples founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies, and other events.
The gang was highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” Members were organized into different positions, including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers, and chief of security for each state where Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group.
The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which was “Silence and Secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. To enforce discipline among Gangster Disciples and adherence to the strict rules and structure, members and associates were routinely fined, beaten, and even murdered, for failing to follow rules.
At trial, the government presented evidence that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for 25 shootings from 2011 through 2015, including eight murders, multiple robberies, the extortion of rap artists to force the artists to become affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, fraud losses of over $450,000, and the trafficking of in large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs, and marijuana. Additionally, through trial and pleas, a total of 33 different firearms were forfeited.
In total, 38 defendants have been sentenced in the case, which a federal grand jury indicted on April 27, 2016, and then superseded to add defendants on Oct. 24, 2018. Convicted defendants include the highest ranks of Gangster Disciples leaders from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and California. Those sentenced by the Court include:
- Donald Glass, 31, of Decatur, Georgia, the leader of HATE Committee, a Gangster Disciples “enforcement team,” was sentenced to life plus ten years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy and using a firearm to cause death.
- Lewis Mobley, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciple enforcer, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after a trail jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and using a firearm during that attempted murder.
- Shauntay Craig, 43, of Birmingham, Alabama, who held the rank of Gangster Disciples “Board Member,” was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Kevin Clayton, 48, of Decatur, Georgia, the chief enforcer of the Gangster Disciples in Georgia, was sentenced to 33 years in prison after a trial jury convicted him of RICO conspiracy.
- Alonzo Walton, 52, of Atlanta, Georgia, who held different position including overseeing the gang in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Indiana, and South Carolina, was sentenced to 32 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, carjacking, and using a firearm in connection of that carjacking.
- Vertuies Wall, 45, of Marietta, Georgia, the leader of the Macon branch of the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy.
- Antarious Caldwell, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples HATE Committee member, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, robbery, and using a firearm in connection with that robbery.
- Mario Jackson, 39, of Jacksonville, Florida, the gang “governor” of Florida, was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Lawrence Grice, 32, of Bay City, Texas, the gang “overseer” for Texas, was sentenced to 21 years, 10 months in custody, after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy and illegal drug distribution.
- Mangwiro Sadiki-Yisrael, 48, of Marietta, Georgia, who held different positions including gang “governor” of Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $396,942.46 in restitution to victims based on his fraud conduct, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Damien Madison, 34, of Denver, Colorado, the gang “governor” of Colorado, was sentenced to 19 years, seven months, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Vancito Gumbs, 29, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, a member of the Gangster Disciples while at the same time serving as a police officer with the DeKalb County, Georgia Police Department, who provided sensitive information to the Gangster Disciples and claimed to be a hitman for them, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy.
- Frederick Johnson, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who sold drugs with other gang members, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Antonio Ahmad, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, the “chief of security” for senior gang leaders in Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Roy Farrell, deceased, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a former Gangster Disciples “board member,” was sentenced to 12 years, six months in prison after pleading guilty RICO conspiracy.
- Jeremiah Covington, 38, of Valdosta, Georgia, a local leader for the Valdosta region Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to 11 years, three months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Dereck Taylor, 35, who provided security to Macon, Georgia gang leadership, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- James Travis Riley, 40, of Coffeyville, Kansas, the gang “governor” of Kansas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs.
- Nicholas Evans, 32, of Newport Beach, California, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs.
- Ronald McMorris, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, a local leader of the Atlanta Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $10,345.00 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Markell White, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia, a regional leader in Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years, nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Eric Manney, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples’ member who stored narcotics and multiple guns at his house, was sentenced to eight years, one month in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Terrance Summers, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama, the gang governor for Alabama, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Alvis O’Neal, 43, of Denver, Colorado, a drug trafficker for the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to seven years, six months in custody after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Condelay Abbitt, 37, of Hoover, Alabama, a Gangster Disciples member who transported illegal drugs for the gang, was sentenced to seven years, three months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Adrian Jackson, 42, of San Jose, California, the national treasurer for the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Charles Wingate, 31, of Conyers, Georgia, a local leader for the Gangster Disciples in Covington, Georgia who sold drugs with the gang, was sentenced to six years, nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Quiana Franklin, 38, of Birmingham, Alabama, a Gangster Disciples’ member who stored drugs for gang leader Shauntay Craig, was sentenced to four years, nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Anthony Blaine, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to three years, five months in prison and ordered to pay $64,234.29 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Myrick Stevens, 32, of Madison, Wisconsin, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to three years, five months in prison and ordered to pay $8,700.00 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Thomas Pasby, 47, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison and ordered to pay $83,918.56 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Laderris Dickerson, 51, of Hartselle, Alabama, who orchestrated a carjacking with senior Gangster Disciples members, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison after pleading guilty to federal carjacking.
- Carlton King, Jr., 31, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $5,897.88 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Michael Drummond, 54, of Marietta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $3,677.00 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Curtis Thomas, 44, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year, nine months in prison and ordered to pay $59,521.90 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Kelvin Sneed, 33, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year, six months in prison and ordered to pay $24,417.89 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Arrie Freeney, 37, of Detroit, Michigan, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year, one day in prison and ordered to pay $25,641.36 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Denise Carter, 47, of Detroit, Michigan, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and three years of probation and ordered to pay $7,938.45 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Services, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton County Police Department, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, DeKalb Police Department, Georgia Dept. of Community Supervision, Georgia Dept. of Corrections, Gwinnett County Police Department, and the Marietta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Buchanan, Erin Spritzer, and Stephanie Gabay-Smith of the Northern District of Georgia, Principal Deputy Chief Kim S. Dammers, Trial Attorneys Conor Mulroe, and Hans Miller of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Last Defendant Sentenced in Gangster Disciples CaseRead the Press Release
Lewis Mobley, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison for his role as an enforcer for the Gangster Disciples gang, including shooting a minor in the chest twice for interrupting the filming of a gang rap video.
“These sentences are a major achievement in our fight against gang violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Gangster Disciples have ravaged communities across the nation, but now dozens of their leaders and enforcers are off the streets thanks to the extraordinary devotion of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
“For decades, the Gangster Disciples have destroyed communities all across the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia. “The gang’s criminal activity in Atlanta included the killing of innocent people, brazen shootings, and prolific drug-trafficking. These horrific acts and the victims lost and injured will not soon be forgotten. Our community remains united and our law enforcement partners are committed to making sure this type of crippling criminal activity is met with our best investigative and prosecutorial effort. We understand that the sentences issued in this case will not mend the hearts of those who lost loved ones to the crimes of the Gangster Disciples, but we do believe they will make our community safer.”
“The Gangster Disciples have wreaked havoc in our neighborhoods for far too long with the drug trafficking, thefts, violent assaults and murders they have committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Hacker of FBI's Atlanta Field Office. “Mobley is the last of many members of the ruthless gang to be sentenced as a part of this investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force and its state and local partners. We are all committed to dismantling these organized and violent criminal enterprises in order to make Atlanta and all of our communities safer for our citizens.”
“These gang members committed a number of heinous crimes including murder, and this sentence ensures the final defendant was held accountable for his actions,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This verdict shows the FBI is firmly committed to putting violent offenders behind bars and dismantling criminal enterprises across the country in order to make our communities safe from violent street gangs.”
In total, 38 defendants have been sentenced in the case, which a federal grand jury indicted on April 27, 2016, and then superseded to add defendants on Oct. 24, 2018. Convicted defendants include the highest ranks of Gangster Disciples leaders from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and California.
The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970s, and are now active in at least 25 states. The Gangster Disciples brought money into the gang through, among other things, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, extortion, wire fraud, credit card fraud, insurance fraud and bank fraud. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault and obstruction of justice. It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, celebrations of the birthday of the Gangster Disciples founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies and other events.
The gang was highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” Members were organized into different positions, including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chief of security for each state where Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group.
The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which was “silence and secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. To enforce discipline among Gangster Disciples and adherence to the strict rules and structure, members and associates were routinely fined, beaten and even murdered, for failing to follow rules.
At trial, the government presented evidence that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for 25 shootings from 2011 through 2015, including eight murders, multiple robberies, the extortion of rap artists to force the artists to become affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, fraud losses of over $450,000, and the trafficking of large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs and marijuana. Additionally, through trial and pleas, a total of 33 different firearms were forfeited.
Those sentenced by the court include:
- Donald Glass, 31, of Decatur, Georgia, the leader of HATE Committee, a Gangster Disciples “enforcement team,” was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy and using a firearm to cause death.
- Lewis Mobley, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciple enforcer, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after a trail jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and using a firearm during that attempted murder.
- Shauntay Craig, 43, of Birmingham, Alabama, who held the rank of Gangster Disciples Board Member, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Kevin Clayton, 48, of Decatur, Georgia, the chief enforcer of the Gangster Disciples in Georgia, was sentenced to 33 years in prison after a trial jury convicted him of RICO conspiracy.
- Alonzo Walton, 52, of Atlanta, Georgia, who held different positions including overseeing the gang in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Indiana and South Carolina, was sentenced to 32 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, carjacking and using a firearm in connection of that carjacking.
- Vertuies Wall, 45, of Marietta, Georgia, the leader of the Macon branch of the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy.
- Antarious Caldwell, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples HATE Committee member, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy, robbery, and using a firearm in connection with that robbery.
- Mario Jackson, 39, of Jacksonville, Florida, the gang “governor” of Florida, was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Lawrence Grice, 32, of Bay City, Texas, the gang “overseer” for Texas, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in custody, after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy and illegal drug distribution.
- Mangwiro Sadiki-Yisrael, 48, of Marietta, Georgia, who held different positions including gang “governor” of Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $396,942.46 in restitution to victims based on his fraud conduct, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Damien Madison, 34, of Denver, Colorado, the gang “governor” of Colorado, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Vancito Gumbs, 29, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, a member of the Gangster Disciples while at the same time serving as a police officer with the DeKalb County, Georgia Police Department, who provided sensitive information to the Gangster Disciples and claimed to be a hitman for them, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy.
- Frederick Johnson, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who sold drugs with other gang members, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Antonio Ahmad, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, the chief of security for senior gang leaders in Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Roy Farrell, deceased, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a former Gangster Disciples board member, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty RICO conspiracy.
- Jeremiah Covington, 38, of Valdosta, Georgia, a local leader for the Valdosta region Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Dereck Taylor, 35, who provided security to Macon, Georgia gang leadership, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- James Travis Riley, 40, of Coffeyville, Kansas, the gang “governor” of Kansas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs.
- Nicholas Evans, 32, of Newport Beach, California, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs.
- Ronald McMorris, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, a local leader of the Atlanta Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $10,345 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Markell White, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia, a regional leader in Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Eric Manney, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples’ member who stored narcotics and multiple guns at his house, was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Terrance Summers, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama, the gang governor for Alabama, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Alvis O’Neal, 43, of Denver, Colorado, a drug trafficker for the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to seven years and six months in custody after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Condelay Abbitt, 37, of Hoover, Alabama, a Gangster Disciples member who transported illegal drugs for the gang, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Adrian Jackson, 42, of San Jose, California, the national treasurer for the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Charles Wingate, 31, of Conyers, Georgia, a local leader for the Gangster Disciples in Covington, Georgia who sold drugs with the gang, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Quiana Franklin, 38, of Birmingham, Alabama, a Gangster Disciples’ member who stored drugs for gang leader Shauntay Craig, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Anthony Blaine, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison and ordered to pay $64,234.29 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Myrick Stevens, 32, of Madison, Wisconsin, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison and ordered to pay $8,700 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Thomas Pasby, 47, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $83,918.56 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Laderris Dickerson, 51, of Hartselle, Alabama, who orchestrated a carjacking with senior Gangster Disciples members, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to federal carjacking.
- Carlton King Jr., 31, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $5,897.88 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Michael Drummond, 54, of Marietta, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $3,677 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Curtis Thomas, 44, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison and ordered to pay $59,521.90 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Kelvin Sneed, 33, of Cochran, Georgia, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and ordered to pay $24,417.89 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Arrie Freeney, 37, of Detroit, Michigan, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison and ordered to pay $25,641.36 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
- Denise Carter, 47, of Detroit, Michigan, a Gangster Disciples member who engaged in fraud for the gang, was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and three years of probation and ordered to pay $7,938.45 in restitution to victims, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Services, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton County Police Department, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, DeKalb Police Department, Georgia Dept. of Community Supervision, Georgia Department of Corrections, Gwinnett County Police Department, and Marietta Police Department investigated the case.
Principal Deputy Chief Kim S. Dammers and Trial Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Hans Miller of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Buchanan, Erin Spritzer, and Stephanie Gabay-Smith of the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
Las Autoridades Federales Y Estatales Sostuvieron Una Reunión Estratégica Sobre Los Esquemas De Fraude Pandémico E Investigaciones En CursoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - El 7 de octubre de 2021, las autoridades estatales y federales se reunieron en una sesión de planificación estratégica sobre los esquemas de fraude pandémico que se están investigando en todo Puerto Rico. La reunión contó con participantes de las siguientes agencias federales y estatales:
1. Fiscalía Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico;
2. Departamento de Justicia de Puerto Rico;
3. Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico;
4. Oficina del Inspector General de Puerto Rico;
5. Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI);
6. Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI);
7. Oficina del Inspector General-Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los Estados Unidos (DHS-OIG);
8. Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico;
9. Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos (USPIS);
10. Oficina del Inspector General del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos (USPIS-OIG);
11. Servicio de Rentas Internas (IRS);
12. Administración de Pequeñas Empresas (SBA);
13. Oficina del Inspector General-Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos (HHS-OIG);
14. Administración del Seguro Social (SSA);
15. Departamento de Trabajo de Puerto Rico;
16. Servicio Secreto de Estados Unidos (USSS);
17. Oficina de Investigaciones Criminales-Administración de Drogas y Alimentos de los Estados Unidos (FDA-OIG);
18. Negociado de Investigaciones Especiales de Puerto Rico; y
19. Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
Las autoridades estatales y federales en Puerto Rico están investigando los siguientes tipos de esquemas de fraude:
A. Fraude en el Programa de Protección de Cheques de Pago (PPP);
B. Fraude de pago de estímulo de la Ley Cares;
C. Fraude de asistencia por desempleo pandémico (PUA);
D. Fraude relacionado con la vacuna COVID-19; y
E. Fraude por acumulación/aumento de precios
La sesión celebrada en las oficinas del FBI en San Juan sirvió como una oportunidad para que todas las agencias de ley que investigan el fraude pandémico discutieran los diversos esquemas de fraude que ya han identificado en Puerto Rico. A lo largo del día, los participantes compartieron información sobre las investigaciones en curso y las autoridades se comprometieron a seguir cooperando y coordinando entre sí para garantizar el uso más eficiente de los recursos de investigación.
El Fiscal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow declaró, “Los últimos dos años han presentado tremendos desafíos para nuestro sistema de atención médica, nuestra fuerza laboral y nuestro bienestar colectivo. Puerto Rico, sus residentes, empresas y el gobierno son elegibles para recibir aproximadamente $ 10 mil millones de dólares en ayuda pandémica del gobierno federal. Trabajaremos incansablemente con nuestros compañeros para asegurarnos de que cualquier persona que busque obtener ganancias ilegales de esta asistencia federal rinda cuentas con todo el alcance de la ley”.
Cualquier miembro del público que tenga información sobre un plan de fraude pandémico puede proporcionar la información de forma anónima llamando al 787-987-6500 o electrónicamente a través de FBI.gov/tips.
# # #
Laplace Man Sentenced for Being Felon in Possession of Ammunition at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International AirportRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DWAYNE BROWN, age 34, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, was sentenced for being a felon in possession of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The Honorable Barry W. Ashe sentenced the defendant to 37 months in prison, three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on or about October 1, 2019, BROWN attempted to go through security at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. At that time, BROWN was in possession of a “ghost” gun – a firearm that has no serial number or manufacturer’s marks of identification affixed to it. The firearm was assembled at an unknown time and location from a kit distributed by Polymer80, Inc. Moreover, the firearm was affixed with an auto-sear which permitted it to fire automatically. Along with the firearm, BROWN was in possession of $35,000 in cash and two 30-round magazines containing approximately 28 rounds each. Prior to this, BROWN had been convicted in the 40th Judicial Court, State of Louisiana, for aggravated flight from an officer, simple criminal damage to property, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorneys G. Dall Kammer and Rachal Cassagne.
* * *
Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today in federal court regarding his involvement in a fentanyl distribution ring operating in the Huntington area. Leonard Brandon Joe Rice, 35, pleaded guilty to using a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Rice admitted that on May 24, 2021, he used a telephone to arrange the purchase of fentanyl in Huntington. Rice then traveled from Louisa, Kentucky to Huntington where he received the fentanyl. When Rice returned to Louisa, he was stopped by a trooper with the Kentucky State Police. The trooper subsequently seized the fentanyl Rice purchased. Rice also admitted that he received fentanyl in Huntington from the beginning of 2020 through July of 2021. During that period, Rice redistributed some of the fentanyl he purchased in Huntington to other individuals in the Louisa, Kentucky area.
Rice faces up to four years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 18, 2022.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force. The Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force consists of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the Marshall University Police Department, with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West. The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus, Ohio also assisted in the investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00109.
###
Justice Department, EPA, and State of Texas Reach Settlement with DuPont and PMNA over Environmental Violations in EDTXRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – The U.S. Department of Justice, the Eastern District of Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have announced a settlement with E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) and Performance Materials NA, Inc. (PMNA) to resolve alleged violations of hazardous waste, air, and water environmental laws at the PMNA Sabine River chemical manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas. Under this settlement agreement, DuPont and PMNA will conduct compliance audits, control benzene emissions, and perform other injunctive relief to address violations at the facility. Defendants will also pay a $3.1 million civil penalty and attorney’s fees to the State of Texas. These measures will benefit nearby communities already overburdened by pollution by reducing uncontrolled emissions of hazardous air pollutants and unpermitted discharges from surface impoundments at the facility.
In a joint complaint filed on October 13, 2021, the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of Texas asserted claims against DuPont and PMNA for alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), Section 7.002 of the Texas Water Code, Tex. Water Code § 7.002, and applicable regulations, at the former DuPont facility now owned and operated by PMNA. The alleged RCRA violations include failure to make hazardous waste determinations, the treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste without a RCRA permit, and failure to meet land disposal restrictions. The alleged CWA violations include unpermitted discharges of process wastewater in violation of the facility’s Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The alleged CAA violations include failure to comply with the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for benzene waste operations and for miscellaneous organic chemical manufacturing for certain waste streams.
“The Eastern District of Texas is a proud home to numerous natural resources including lakes, rivers, and streams, which span the district,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Eastern District of Texas. “We are also home to some of the leading names in industry. Generally, these two co-exist harmoniously. However, when industry violates applicable laws and harms the environment, the Eastern District of Texas is committed to taking steps to hold that actor accountable and require better compliance in the future.”
“The petrochemical industry must operate in compliance with environmental laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to hold operators accountable to address pollution from industrial operations that violate the law, such as those at the Sabine River facility, and to enhance public health and the environment, particularly in surrounding communities overburdened by industrial pollution.”
“This settlement ensures proper management of hazardous wastes, requires a comprehensive review of the facility’s environmental compliance across all media, and ensures cleanup of contamination from past operations,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case not only benefits the environment but demonstrates our commitment to advancing justice and equity to communities across Texas.”
“TCEQ is committed to protecting human health and the environment consistent with sustainable economic development,” said Executive Director Toby Baker for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). “This settlement is a representation of that commitment.”
Under the settlement, an independent third party will conduct multimedia compliance audits to review the facility’s compliance with RCRA, the CWA and the CAA, as well as related state laws and regulations. Additionally, the defendants will undertake measures to monitor and control benzene emissions and pH levels in wastewaters. They also will conduct soil, sediment or groundwater sampling to determine the extent of contamination within and from certain surface impoundments. The defendants will perform this sampling and necessary cleanup work pursuant to the Texas Risk Reduction Program.
The consent decree was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Oct. 13, 2021 and is subject to publication in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment.
###
Justice Department, EPA and Texas Settle with DuPont and PMNA and Require Action to Address Violations of Waste, Water and Air Environmental Laws at Texas FacilityRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice, the Eastern District of Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced a settlement with E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) and Performance Materials NA, Inc. (PMNA) to resolve alleged violations of hazardous waste, air and water environmental laws at the PMNA Sabine River chemical manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas. Under this settlement agreement, DuPont and PMNA will conduct compliance audits, control benzene emissions and perform other injunctive relief to address violations at the facility. Defendants will also pay a $3.1 million civil penalty and attorney’s fees to the State of Texas. These measures will benefit nearby communities already overburdened by pollution by reducing uncontrolled emissions of hazardous air pollutants and unpermitted discharges from surface impoundments at the facility.
In a joint complaint filed on Oct. 13, the United States, on behalf of the EPA, and the State of Texas asserted claims against DuPont and PMNA for alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), Section 7.002 of the Texas Water Code and applicable regulations at the former DuPont facility now owned and operated by PMNA. The alleged RCRA violations include failure to make hazardous waste determinations, the treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste without a RCRA permit and failure to meet land disposal restrictions. The alleged CWA violations include unpermitted discharges of process wastewater in violation of the facility’s Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The alleged CAA violations include failure to comply with the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for benzene waste operations and for miscellaneous organic chemical manufacturing for certain waste streams.
“The petrochemical industry must operate in compliance with environmental laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to hold operators accountable to address pollution from industrial operations that violate the law, such as those at the Sabine River facility, and to enhance public health and the environment, particularly in surrounding communities overburdened by industrial pollution.”
“The Eastern District of Texas is a proud home to numerous natural resources including lakes, rivers and streams, which span the district,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Eastern District of Texas. “We are also home to some of the leading names in industry. Generally, these two co-exist harmoniously. However, when industry violates applicable laws and harms the environment, the Eastern District of Texas is committed to taking steps to hold that actor accountable and require better compliance in the future.”
“This settlement ensures proper management of hazardous wastes, requires a comprehensive review of the facility’s environmental compliance across all media, and ensures cleanup of contamination from past operations,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case not only benefits the environment but demonstrates our commitment to advancing justice and equity to communities across Texas.”
“TCEQ is committed to protecting human health and the environment consistent with sustainable economic development,” said Executive Director Toby Baker for TCEQ. “This settlement is a representation of that commitment.”
Under the settlement, an independent third party will conduct multimedia compliance audits to review the facility’s compliance with RCRA, the CWA and the CAA, as well as related state laws and regulations. Additionally, the defendants will undertake measures to monitor and control benzene emissions and pH levels in wastewaters. They also will conduct soil, sediment or groundwater sampling to determine the extent of contamination within and from certain surface impoundments. The defendants will perform this sampling and necessary cleanup work pursuant to the Texas Risk Reduction Program.
The consent decree was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Oct. 13 and is subject to publication in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment.
For more information on this settlement: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/dupont-sabine-settlement.
Justice Department Requires Divestitures in Neenah Enterprises Inc.’s Acquisition of US FoundryRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it will require Neenah Enterprises Inc. (NEI), U.S. Holdings Inc. (U.S. Holdings), and U.S. Foundry and Manufacturing Corporation (US Foundry) to divest certain gray iron municipal castings assets in order to proceed with NEI’s proposed acquisition of substantially all of the assets of US Foundry. NEI and US Foundry are two of only three significant suppliers of gray iron municipal castings in eleven eastern and southern states. Gray iron municipal castings are customized molded iron products such as manhole covers and frames used to access subterranean areas and grates and drains used to direct water in roadway, parking, and industrial areas.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive harm alleged in the lawsuit.
“NEI and US Foundry provide castings that are essential to public works and construction projects in towns and municipalities throughout the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The transaction, as originally proposed, would have led to higher prices, lower quality, and slower delivery times for essential pieces of infrastructure. Today’s settlement will ensure that towns and municipalities across the country will continue to benefit from competition for these critical products.”
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the parties must divest all rights, titles, and interests in over 500 gray iron municipal casting patterns to D&L Foundry Inc. (D&L Foundry), or an alternate acquirer approved by the United States. D&L Foundry is an established provider of gray iron municipal castings in the United States, but with sales primarily outside the states where NEI and US Foundry compete. With the divested patterns, D&L, or an alternate qualified acquirer, will be able to expand into the states where NEI and US Foundry had competed.
NEI, a corporation headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, produces gray and ductile iron castings for the industrial and municipal sectors. NEI operates two foundries in Neenah, Wisconsin, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
US Foundry is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Holdings, a corporation headquartered in Hialeah, Florida. US Foundry produces gray iron municipal castings at its foundry located in Medley, Florida.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Jay Owen, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Justice Department Announces Funding to Promote Law Enforcement Mental Health and WellnessRead the Press Release
Today, at a roundtable with state and local law enforcement, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta announced alongside Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Acting Director Rob Chapman $7 million in grants for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program. These program funds are used to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness and suicide prevention programs.
“Each day, law enforcement officers across the country put their lives on the line for the communities they serve,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “This has been especially true since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed hundreds of officers’ lives and added to the stress of an already difficult job. Mental health is as important as physical health, and the Department of Justice is committed to investing in mental health and wellness programs that help keep our nation’s law enforcement healthy and safe.”
“Law enforcement officers shoulder the solemn responsibility of protecting the public and experience high-stress and traumatic events throughout their careers,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The pandemic has only increased the strain on the policing profession. Maintaining – and improving – officers’ mental health is critically important, not only for them, but also for their fellow officers, their loved ones, and the communities they serve. The department is firmly committed to supporting the mental health of those who serve our communities so that they can best fulfill their duties to protect the public.”
Law enforcement professionals anticipate and accept the unique dangers and pressures of their chosen profession. However, people under stress find it harder than people not experiencing stress to connect with others and regulate their own emotions. They can experience narrowed perception, increased anxiety and fearfulness, and degraded cognitive abilities. This can be part of a healthy fight-or-flight response, but it can also lead to significantly greater probabilities of errors in judgment, compromised performance, and injuries.
As part of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017, Congress authorized the COPS Office to establish peer mentoring mental health and wellness pilot programs within state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies. Successful applicants identified specific program goals that will be directly accomplished if awarded LEMHWA funding. The 65 awards announced today meet the goals of the 2017 Act and support the Department of Justice and the Administration’s commitment to law enforcement. The full list of awards is available here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/lemhwa-award.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers.
Jury Convicts Liberian National for His Role in an Online Romance Scam Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has convicted Michael Moore, 39, a Liberian national residing in the Philadelphia area, for his involvement in an online romance scam that targeted older adults, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. presided over the two-day trial which ended late yesterday.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Charlotte, and Barry Chastain, Port Director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Area in Charlotte join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, beginning in January 2016, Moore and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme to defraud unsuspecting victims, many of whom were in or near retirement, by perpetrating an online romance scam. Trial evidence established that Moore and his co-conspirators generally targeted victims through Facebook, senior dating websites, and other social media platforms, convincing them through online communications that they were romantically interested in them. The fraudsters, who often said they were overseas for work, would then start asking for money, often falsely telling the victims the money was for plane tickets or to otherwise facilitate their travel to visit the victim. After the victim initially sent money as requested, Moore and his fellow fraudsters would tell additional lies about additional fees or costs that purportedly has to be paid to facilitate the visit from the person who purported to be in love with the victim. Evidence at trial showed that Moore and his fellow fraudsters would continue to solicit money from victims till they had no more money left.
Trial evidence showed that Moore served the fraud scheme as the “money man” or “bag man” purchasing one way tickets and flying around the country to meet unsuspecting victims and pick up cash from them in multiple cities. Moore was caught trying to fly out of Charlotte with $75,000 in cash, which he had taken from one of the victims. Evidence at trial also showed Moore taking pictures and making videos bragging with piles of cash taken from victims.
The evidence also showed that victims were repeatedly directed to deposit money into accounts held in the names of third parties. In total, Moore and his co-conspirators stole over $1.5 million from at least 30 victims through this fraud scheme.
The evidence at trial further established that Moore lied to CBP officers and ICE-HSI agents when he was questioned at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after being caught attempting to carry $75,000 in cash through airport security. Instead of telling law enforcement the truth – that he had received the cash from a victim the previous day – he told them a story about receiving the money from a Liberian government official to buy used cars. Later, Moore made similar false statements and representations on a federal form in an attempt to have the $75,000 returned to him.
The jury convicted Moore of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine, and two counts of making a false statement to an agency of the United States, which carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked CBP and HSI for handling the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Vento and Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
The U.S. Attorney’s Office Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud; and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners. For more information please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/elder-justice-initiative
Examples of financial scams targeting seniors are:
- Lottery phone scams – in which the callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Grandparent scams – which convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.
- Romance scams – which lull victims to believe that their online paramour needs funds for a U.S. visit or some other purpose.
- IRS imposter scams – which defraud victims by posing as IRS agents and claiming that victims owe back taxes.
- Sham business opportunities – which convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.
To avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.
- If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
If you have been contacted by a scammer or believe you have fallen victim to a scam, please contact the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-Fraud-11 (1-833-372-8311). The National Elder Fraud hotline was created for the public to report fraud against individuals who are age 60 or older. The hotline is open seven days a week. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.
Jupiter Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Child Pornography and Online Threats to ChildrenRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Yesterday, Coltin Plummer, 29, of Jupiter, Florida, appeared in Fort Pierce federal court and was sentenced to 600 months in prison after being convicted of production and distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, in February of 2020, children in Martin County, Florida, notified school officials that they had received threatening and lewd messages from an individual on a social media application. Investigators later located more than a dozen child victims, most between 11 and 15 years old, in Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, and Canada. Agents learned that Plummer had sent child pornography to the children, claiming that the images depicted his previous victims, and then threatened to rape or kill the children or their families. Plummer sent lewd images of himself, made lewd demands of many of the children, and extorted some of the children into sending compromising images of themselves. Plummer was later found in possession of child pornography, and admitted to downloading it from the “dark web” and sending it to others.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 20-cr-14023.
###
Johnstown Man Pleads to Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to charges of making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and immediately following, was sentenced to one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Paul Gregory Williams, Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Three of the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on or about July 6, 2019, and December 14, 2019, Williams, acting as a straw purchaser, purchased firearms from Gander Outdoors, Sporting Goods Discounters, and Dunham’s Sports, federally licensed firearms dealers, stating he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when, in truth and fact, he was not the actual buyer, but was purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Kaufman commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Chad A. Worthington (43), of Ellisburg, New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to 23 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to one felony count of failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender for failing to disclose his e-mail address to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York.
In pleading guilty previously, Worthington admitted that from June 16, 2018, through April 21, 2021, he failed to register a Google email address he created on June 5, 2018, as required by SORNA. Worthington also admitted that he failed to register five other Google email addresses as required by SORNA between August 2016 and April 2021. Worthington was required to register as a sex offender because of his federal convictions in 2005 for coercion and enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Worthington also admitted that his conduct violated the terms of his supervised release conditions.
Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue, who presides over the case, sentenced Worthington to 15 months in prison for the SORNA offense, and to a consecutive term of 8 months in prison for the supervised release violations, leading to a total prison term of 23 months. As part of his sentence, Worthington will remain on supervised release for 10 years after he is released from prison, and he will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael F. Perry as 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
Jackson County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Jackson County man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”).
According to court documents, on July 30, 2020, Emmanuel Tyshun Dukes, 29, sold methamphetamine and a sawed-off rifle to an individual in Jackson County. The sawed-off rifle was not registered to Dukes in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The ATF and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.
Hampshire County woman admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jennifer Ann Howell, of Three Churches, West Virginia, has admitted to her role in a drug distribution operation, United States Attorney William J Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Howell, also known as “Jennifer Jellerson,” 42, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting.” Howell admitted to selling methamphetamine in October 2018 in Hardy County.
Howell faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Moorefield Police Department investigated. The task force consists of the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Grant County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – William Glenn Vance, of Petersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.
Vance, 44, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Buprenorphine – Aiding and Abetting.” Vance admitted to selling buprenorphine in September 2019 in Grant County.
Vance faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the Moorefield Police Department, the West Virginia State Police and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gangster Disciple gang member handed significant sentence for multiple offensesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for numerous drug and firearm convictions, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before convicting Jason Edward Simpson aka Sixxgod Aug. 3 following a four-day trial. He was convicted of two counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do so as well as conspiracy to carry or possess a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett, who presided over the trial and sentencing, ordered Simpson to serve 168 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information, including evidence of Simpson’s violent prior convictions. The court also heard about Simpson boasting as to his leadership role in the Gangster Disciples on social media and in emails and phones calls he made while in custody. He had also claimed he provided “A1” ecstasy to the “entire third ward.” In handing down the prison term, Judge Bennett noted Simpson’s criminal history, which included convictions for aggravated robbery, assaulting a law enforcement officer, burglary of a vehicle and various controlled substances offenses.
Simpson is a documented member of the Gangster Disciples. The jury saw one of his gang membership tattoos featuring a six-pointed star on the back of his right hand with the letter G in the center surrounded by the numbers seven and four. At trial, the jury heard the number 7 refers to the letter G, while 4 refers to D - initials for Gangster Disciples. The six-pointed star is a Star of David in honor of David Barksdale, who was an original founder of the Folk Nation gangs which includes the Gangster Discples.
On two separate occasions in August 2018, Simpson sold drugs to Jose Angel Garza and Fernando Isai Melendez who, in turn, sold it to others. Witnesses at trial specifically recalled Simpson’s tattoos on the back of his hand. The combined transactions involved over 1.5 kilograms of narcotics in the form of approximately 6,300 pills. During the exchanges, the men possessed a loaded firearm. Also present was Michael Manning, who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At trial, the jury heard Simpson had claimed the drugs were ecstasy, but it was actually meth. The multi-colored pills were shaped like Minions, the Burger King logo and a Darth Vader head. At sentencing, the United States argued that one of the reasons pills are pressed into these shapes is to appeal to minors.
At the time of their arrests, authorities uncovered incriminating details on their phones. The jury saw evidence the phones contained substantial phone and text conversations in preparing and arranging the drug deals. Simpson had also made several calls and composed emails while in custody admitting to his involvement in the crimes.
The defense attempted to convince the jury there was insufficient evidence to prove Simpson was more than just merely present while the drug transactions occurred. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
Melendez, 29, and Garza, 29, both of Houston, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy with the intent to possess a controlled substance. Melendez was sentenced to 57 months while Garza received 64 months. Manning, 34, Houston, served 18 months.
Simpson has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Laurence Goldman and Christine Jiadai Lu prosecuted the case.
Four Defendants Charged in $7.6 Million COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (“SBA-OIG”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging JACOB CARTER, QUADRI SALAHUDDIN, ANWAR SALAHUDDIN, and CHRISTAL RANSOM with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, false statements, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), resulting in a loss to the SBA of more than $7.6 million. The defendants were arrested this morning. QUADRI SALAHUDDIN and ANWAR SALAHUDDIN will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court. JACOB CARTER will be presented this afternoon in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. CHRISTAL RANSOM will be presented later today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants schemed to steal taxpayer-funded resources intended for small businesses in need of assistance during the pandemic. My Office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who would illegally seek to profit from a national emergency.”
FBI Assistant Michael J. Driscoll said: “Today’s defendants have become the latest in line to be charged for SBA loan fraud as a result of their alleged conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. As this behavior continues to be uncovered, the FBI will continue to respond to illegal activity with appropriate legal action.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
The SBA is a federal agency of the Executive Branch that administers assistance to American small businesses. This assistance includes making direct loans to applicants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded SBA’s EIDL Program to provide small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million prior to in or about May 2020 and up to $150,000 beginning in or about May 2020, in order to provide vital economic support to help overcome the loss of revenue small businesses are experiencing due to COVID-19. Applicants seeking a loan under the EIDL program were also now permitted to request and receive an advance of approximately $1,000 per employee, for an amount up to $10,000, which the SBA has generally provided while the loan application was pending.
From March through July 2020, JACOB CARTER, QUADRI SALAHUDDIN, ANWAR SALAHUDDIN, and CHRISTAL RANSOM used the identities of more than 1,000 other individuals (the “Applicants”) to submit more than 1,000 online applications to the SBA, seeking over $10 million of funds through the SBA’s EIDL Program. (the “EIDL Applications”). In connection with the EIDL Applications, CARTER, QUADRI SALAHUDDIN, ANWAR SALAHUDDIN, and RANSOM falsely represented to the SBA, among other things, that the Applicants were the owners of businesses with 10 or more employees. Based on the fraudulent EIDL Applications, the SBA made advance payments of more than $7.6 million to the Applicants, who often then kicked back a portion of the advance payments to CARTER, QUADRI SALAHUDDIN, ANWAR SALAHUDDIN, and RANSOM.
* * *
JACOB CARTER, 35, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, QUADRI SALAHUDDIN, 25, and ANWAR SALAHUDDIN, 35, of Mount Vernon, New York, and CHRISTAL RANSOM, 44, of Los Angeles, California, are each charged with (1) conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, (2) wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, (3) false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and (4) aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.
The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the SBA-OIG.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Coffman and Courtney Heavey are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Former Postal Worker Sentenced to One Year Probation After Pleading Guilty to Mail Theft from Paulina, La Post OfficeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LACEY STEWART, age 34, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana was sentenced on October 13, 2021 to one year probation after pleading guilty as charged to a one count Bill of Information on June 29, 2021. She was charged in 2021 by a Bill of Information with Mail Theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708.
In papers filed with the court signed by LACEY STEWART, she admitted to being an employee of the Paulina, Louisiana Post Office. She further admitted to stealing a $1,000.00 postal money order from an Express Mail package she handled. She removed the postal money order from the package and cashed it at the Paulina Post Office. Her theft was discovered when the person to whom the package was delivered discovered that the postal money order was missing.
Judge Wendy Vitter ordered STEWART to pay $1,000.00 in restitution, as well as a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Office of Inspector General of the United States Postal Service in investigating the matter. The case was being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice Jr.
* * *
Former Owner of Florida Produce Business Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for tax evasion, at a proceeding in federal district court in Miami.
According to court documents, Alejandro Gomez, of Broward County, operated Fleischmann’s Produce, a company that imported fresh herbs for wholesale distribution. In March 2015, Gomez filed a 2014 corporate tax return for Fleischmann’s, which falsely reported $896,951 in personal gambling expenditures as cost of goods sold, thereby overstating total business expenditures. The next year, Gomez caused a 2015 corporate tax return to be filed, which again falsely characterized $1,051,213 in gambling expenditures as cost of goods sold. Because the information on the corporate returns flowed through to his individual tax returns, Gomez also substantially underreported his personal income for 2014 and 2015. In total, Gomez caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $545,000.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman ordered Gomez to serve one year of supervised release. As a further part of the plea agreement, Gomez paid $545,205 in restitution to the IRS.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Grace Albinson and David Zisserson of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Murder for Hire, Conspiracy to Kidnap and Murder Person Overseas, and Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Sean Fiore, 37, of Burlington, Vermont, pleaded guilty on October 14, 2021, in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to: murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap and murder a person overseas, conspiracy to produce child pornography, and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss set a sentencing date of March 1, 2022.
In his plea agreement with the government, Fiore admitted to the following:In September 2018, Fiore, in Vermont and using the alias “Marcus,” had communicated over WhatsApp with co-defendant Moraima Escarlet Vasquez Flores in Venezuela who was using the alias “Johana,” about Fiore’s interest in purchasing a video from Vasquez Flores depicting the kidnapping and torture of a “slave.” Vasquez Flores agreed to make the video to Fiore’s specifications for $600, which Fiore ultimately delivered in the form of Amazon gift cards. Fiore and Vasquez Flores discussed that Vasquez Flores was going to use a child to make the video. On October 3, 2018, Vasquez Flores sent Fiore a hyperlink to a video file, depicting sadistic abuse of a prepubescent boy consistent with Fiore’s specifications. In the video, Vasquez Flores inflicted pain on the child for the sexual arousal of the viewer of the video.
Fiore and Vasquez Flores subsequently used WhatsApp to discuss Fiore’s desire to purchase another video from Vasquez Flores which showed Vasquez Flores torturing and killing a “slave” she would kidnap in her home country of Venezuela. Vasquez Flores told Fiore that she intended to kidnap a slave by enticing a man to leave with her from a party with the promise of sex. Fiore sent Vasquez Flores specifications for the types of physical abuse, humiliation, and manner of death he wished to see in the video.
In December 2018, Fiore agreed to pay Vasquez Flores $4,000 for the second video. In April 2019, Vasquez Flores sent Fiore a hyperlink to a 58-minute video file depicting the requested sadistic abuse and possible death of an adult male.
At sentencing, Fiore faces up to 20 years of imprisonment for murder for hire; up to 10 years of imprisonment for possession of child pornography; up to lifetime imprisonment for conspiring to kidnap or murder a person in a foreign country; and up to 30 years of imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 15 years for conspiracy to produce child pornography. The Court will determine Fiore’s ultimate sentence after considering the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing factors set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and the impact of the mandatory minimum prison terms applicable to any count of conviction.
The woman who sent Fiore the videos, Vasquez Flores, is charged with conspiracy to murder and kidnap a person in a foreign country, conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, and aiding and abetting the receipt of child pornography. Vasquez Flores was arrested in Colombia pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice on Sept. 18, 2020. The United States is seeking her extradition from Colombia to the United States to face these charges. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt makes this announcement with Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston. Acting U.S. Attorney Ophardt commended the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and is grateful for the expertise contributed to the prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and DOJ Office of International Affairs.
Barbara A. Masterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, Patrick Jasperse, Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Eduardo Palomo, Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, represent the government. Maryanne E. Kampmann, Esq. and Robert L. Sussman, Esq. of Stetler, Allen, Kampmann & Sussman, PLLC, represent Fiore.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.