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8 October 2021
Winnebago County Man Arrested on Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Winnebago County man has been indicted on federal firearm and drug trafficking charges.
XZAVIOR SMITH, 22, of Roscoe, Ill., is charged with possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Smith was arrested Thursday.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, Freeport Police Department, Roscoe Police Department, and Beloit Police Department’s Crime Interdiction Team provided valuable assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The drug possession charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the illegal firearm possession charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. If Smith is convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
West Palm Beach Investment Fraudster Guilty of Wire Fraud, Victim Losses in the MillionsRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Fifty-four-year-old West Palm Beach, Florida resident Salvatore Renaldi pled guilty this week in South Florida federal district court to orchestrating and running two investment fraud schemes that led victims across the country to collectively lose over $3 million.
Renaldi was the founder and CEO of The Sanctum Group of Companies, Inc., Sanctum Publishing and Marketing, Ltd., and Sanctum Media Group, Inc. (the “Sanctum companies”). During the change of plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman, Renaldi admitted that he and others used the Sanctum companies to solicit funds from victim investors. To induce people to invest, Renaldi lied to them, promising to use their money to build a profitable business and guaranteeing a solid return on their investment. In addition, Renaldi failed to tell investors that he had a history of violating federal securities laws and that he used most of their money to pay for his personal expenses, make cash withdrawals, pay prior investors, and pay undisclosed commissions and fees. From about 2011 to 2015, Renaldi defrauded approximately 14 Sanctum company investors out of almost $1.5 million.
Renaldi also was associated with Magnum Health Management, Magnum Media Management, and Magnum Media Mining (the “Magnum companies”). During the change of plea hearing, Renaldi admitted that he represented himself to the public as the Magnum companies’ CEO, owner and operator. When soliciting funds for the Magnum companies, Renaldi falsely told investors that he would use their money as working capital and to build diabetes clinics. Instead, Renaldi used almost all the money for his personal use and benefit. From about 2017 to 2019, Renaldi defrauded approximately 14 Magnum company investors out of more than $1.6 million.
Renaldi pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. Judge Altman will sentence Renaldi on January 4, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., in federal district court in Fort Lauderdale. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, FBI Miami, announced the guilty plea.
This case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yisel Valdes.
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-80045-Altman/Brannon.
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Ventura County Man Pleads Guilty to Dark Web Narcotics Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ian Hoffmann, 42, of Bell Canyon, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Hoffmann and his co-conspirators sold heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine using the dark web vendor accounts CALICARTEL and BUXOMBRUNETTE on the dark web Dream marketplace, PLAYGROUND on the Silk Road 3.1 marketplace, and GAMBINOCRIMEFAMILY on the Wall Street Market. Federal agents served a search warrant at Hoffmann’s residence in May 2019, and seized more than 2 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing heroin, more than 7 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, and more than 19 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Agents also seized a firearm and cryptocurrency as part of their investigation into Hoffman’s narcotics distribution operation.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hemesath and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case.
Hoffmann is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 11, 2022. Hoffmann faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
USMM and VPA Pay $8.5 Million to Resolve Overpayment of Medicare Claims for Laboratory and Diagnostic TestingRead the Press Release
DETROIT - U.S. Medical Management, LLC (“USMM”) and VPA, P.C. (“VPA”), providers of home-based healthcare services, have agreed to pay the United States $8.5 million to resolve allegations that USMM and VPA submitted to the Medicare program claims for payment for laboratory and diagnostic testing services performed from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015, which were not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury. The United States contends that the payments USMM and VPA received in connection with these claims were overpayments.
“USMM and VPA received millions of dollars from the United States for Medicare claims that were not eligible for reimbursement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin for the Eastern District of Michigan. “With this lawsuit and the accompanying resolution, USMM and VPA are being held to account for their improper receipt of Medicare claim reimbursements.”
Under the alternate remedy provision of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733, this settlement resolves allegations that were raised in five lawsuits filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of that law. The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Although the United States has not intervened in any of the False Claims Act allegations, under the alternate remedy provision of that law, the first-to-file whistleblower in this case will receive $1.53 million of the settlement amount.
The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Spaccarotella from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The five qui tam cases are docketed as United States ex rel. Irfan Mahmood v. U.S. Medical Management, LLC, et al., No. 2:10-cv-12022; United States ex rel. Lisa R. Hines v. VPA, P.C. d/b/a Visiting Physicians Association, et al., No. 14-cv-13385; United States ex rel. Muhammad S. Rais, M.D. v. U.S. Medical Management, Inc., et al., No. 2:12-cv-15518; United States ex rel. Pamela Henkels and Margaret Wisniewski v. U.S. Medical Management, LLC, et al., No. 2:14-cv-11944; and United States ex rel. Sian Ghosh v. U.S. Medical Management, LLC, et al., No. 18-10029. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Two Parents Convicted by Jury in College Admissions SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two former executives were convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with conspiring to bribe athletic officials to facilitate their children’s admission to the University of Southern California (USC) as purported athletic recruits.
John Wilson, 62, of Lynnfield, Mass., and Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, of Las Vegas, Nev., were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. Wilson was also convicted of three counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, two counts of federal programs bribery, and one count of filing a false tax return. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2022 for Abdelaziz and Feb. 17, 2022 for Wilson.
In 2013, Wilson agreed to pay William “Rick” Singer $220,000 to facilitate his son’s admission to USC as a purported water polo player. More specifically, in October 2013, Singer sent Wilson a water polo profile for Wilson’s son that included fabricated awards and swim times. After Wilson’s son was accepted to USC, Wilson wired $100,000 to Singer’s sham charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), $100,000 to Singer’s company, The Key, and $20,000 directly to Singer. Wilson paid the bribe from a corporate account and deducted it as a business expense. In 2018, Wilson agreed to pay Singer $1.5 million to have his twin daughters admitted to Harvard University and Stanford University as purported sailing recruits.
In 2017, Abdelaziz agreed to pay Singer $300,000 to facilitate the admission of his daughter to USC as a purported basketball recruit, despite the fact that she did not make her high school’s varsity team and did not play basketball at all during her junior and senior years in high school. In a July 2017 email, Singer asked Abdelaziz for an action shot of his daughter playing basketball to be used in an athletic profile for USC. A co-conspirator, Laura Janke, created a phony athletic profile for Abdelaziz’s daughter which included falsified awards and athletic honors. In October 2017, Abdelaziz’s daughter was admitted to USC as a basketball recruit and in March 2018, she was formally accepted and Abdelaziz wired $300,000 to KWF.
Singer and Janke previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney and Ian Stearns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
UPDATE: In May 2023, The First Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the jury conviction of defendant Gamal Abdelaziz and all but one conviction of defendant John Wilson. In June 2023, the government moved to dismiss all criminal charges against defendant Gamal Abdelaziz and four of the five criminal charges against defendant John Wilson.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOISE – Two men were sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Atilla Ferenc Orban, a/k/a David Babos, 37, and Hakim Slafti Hannaoui, 33, admitted that they conspired to commit access device fraud. As part of the scheme, the defendants attached electronic devices known as “skimmers” to ATMs. Once installed, the skimmers captured the information stored on the magnetic strips of payment cards inserted into the ATMs. The defendants retrieved the information captured by the skimmers and used equipment to encode the fraudulently obtained payment card information onto the magnetic strips of physical cards. They then used the re-encoded cards to unlawfully acquire money and other goods.
Senior U.S. District Bill R. Wilson presided over the sentencings. Orban and Hannaoui pleaded guilty to the charges on August 24, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service, Idaho State Police, Boise Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Vancouver Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to charges.
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Two Men Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that Fernando Contreras-Herrera, 25, and Cesar Inda-Silva, 25, both from Mexico, were each sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that, on January 22, 2021, officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department intercepted a shipped package with indicators of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed that the shipping box contained an inner box. Inside that box was a locked safe, and inside the safe were three wrapped “bricks” consistent with kilogram quantities of narcotics.
After replacing several of the bricks with “sham” narcotics, law enforcement repackaged the parcel and conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel to its intended address in Myrtle Beach. Contreras-Herrera retrieved the package from the porch of the house and Inda-Silva arrived immediately after that.
Law enforcement then executed a search warrant at the address. Contreras-Herrera and Inda-Silva were located in the living room of the home together with the package which had just been delivered. In the minutes since the delivery, the inner and outer boxes of the package and the safe had been opened, the “bricks” had been removed, and one of the “bricks” had been slit open. The suspected controlled substance intercepted was later confirmed to be just over three kilograms of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Further investigation revealed that Contreras-Herrera and Inda-Silva were to receive the fentanyl and deliver it to another individual.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Contreras-Herrera and Inda-Silva each to 96 months in federal prison, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Lydon commented on the dangers of fentanyl, and noted that it was fortunate the fentanyl in this case was now off the streets.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Horry County Police Department, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Flynn of the Florence office prosecuted the case. This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Tucson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Robert Henderson, Jr., 59, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 10 years in prison. Henderson previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography.
Henderson was charged with child pornography offenses on June 26, 2019, after a law enforcement investigation identified him as using a file-sharing network to obtain child sex abuse material in 2018. Upon release from prison, Henderson will be placed on lifetime supervised release with stringent conditions of supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program.
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. Attorney’s Offices and 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.
Homeland Security Investigations, Tucson, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 19-01675-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021- 068_Henderson# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Violent Robbery of a Minneapolis Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis men have been sentenced to prison for violently robbing a south Minneapolis jewelry store.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2019, Demilo Demontez Martin, 30, Dierre Jameson Martin, 32, and Corey Roscell Chester, 29, robbed the Joyeria Ecuador jewelry store on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Dierre Martin smashed the jewelry cases and stole jewelry while Chester and Demilo Martin restrained and assaulted the store owner. The defendants stole between $50,000 and $60,000 worth of jewelry.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Demilo Martin was sentenced to 100 months in prison, Dierre Martin was sentenced to 80 months in prison, and Chester was sentenced to 100 months in prison. All three defendants were also ordered to pay $46,755.63 in restitution to the victim.
The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute individuals who commit armed robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendant.
This case 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 was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Three Men Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A federal jury today found three men guilty of various narcotics and firearms offenses for their roles in a Trenton-based drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Jerome Roberts, 51, of Delran, New Jersey, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin
Timothy Wimbush, 31, of Trenton, was convicted of one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Taquan Williams, 24, of Trenton, was convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The jury found Williams not guilty of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
The jury deliberated for approximately 2½ days before returning the verdicts following a three-week trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court.
In October 2018, Roberts, Wimbush, Williams, and 23 other individuals were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin; Wimbush, Williams, and others also were charged with firearms offenses. On Feb. 27, 2020, a grand jury returned a 10-count third superseding indictment charging Roberts, Wimbush, Williams, and four other defendants with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and various other drug and firearms offenses. Roberts, Wimbush, and Williams are the last of the 26 defendants charged in the original criminal complaint to be convicted of one or more federal criminal offenses. The other 23 defendants have pleaded guilty.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
In 2018, Roberts, Wimbush, and others participated in a large drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in various areas of Trenton, and which sought to profit from the distribution of heroin. Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendant Jerome Roberts and conspirator Jakir Taylor obtained regular supplies of hundreds of “bricks” of heroin from conspirator David Antonio, whom they referred to as “Pop” and “Papi,” and that they distributed those supplies of heroin to other dealers and end users in and around Trenton. In August and September 2018, Roberts and Taylor agreed to obtain a massive supply of heroin of more than 1,400 “bricks,” which Roberts referred to as “the motherload.” On Oct. 25, 2018, law enforcement executed a search of supplier Antonio’s residence in Trenton and recovered nearly 1½ kilograms of heroin and a substantial amount of packaging paraphernalia.
On Sept. 6, 2018, law enforcement officers stopped a green 2002 Volkswagen Passat after observing Williams, a previously convicted felon, enter the vehicle carrying a yellow plastic bag believed to contain contraband. The Passat was driven by, and registered to, Wimbush, who also was a previously convicted felon. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered from a secret trap compartment installed under the rear passenger’s seat approximately 57 bricks of heroin, four semiautomatic firearms – including a .223 caliber assault rifle linked with a shooting in Trenton four days earlier – hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and the yellow plastic bag that defendant Williams had carried into the vehicle moments earlier. Law enforcement officers discovered in the yellow bag two boxes of .45 caliber ammunition and three .45 caliber firearm magazines, which matched one of the semiautomatic firearms also found in the trap compartment. Law enforcement officers identified the heroin as having been supplied by Taylor and another member of the conspiracy.
Roberts faces a combined statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million. Wimbush faces a combined statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. Williams faces a statutory a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve Wilson; officers of the Princeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Christopher Morgan; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Albert Rhodes; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Acting Public Safety Director James Sullivan; and detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Scott A. Coffina, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. She also thanked officers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo Onofri; officers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John A. Kemler; and members of the New Jersey State Board of Parole for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
The government is represented by Attorney-in-Charge J. Brendan Day and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
This case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Greater Trenton Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to enhance the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of individuals involved in gang-related activities, violent crime, and drug distribution in and around the greater Trenton area. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
The City of Knoxville Receives $200,000 in Federal Funding for Community Policing Development ProgramsRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The City of Knoxville will receive $200,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) that will support practices and strategies for creative approaches to preventing crime and de-escalation training, announced Acting United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has announced over $33 million in funding to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement. Community Policing Development (CPD) program funds are used to support promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. Approximately $13 million will support the creation and delivery of national level de-escalation training efforts, as well as state and local law enforcement agency efforts to build and maintain their officers’ de-escalation proficiency.
The funding awarded to the City of Knoxville will help enhance the Knoxville Police Department’s capacity to implement, evaluate, and monitor de-escalation techniques. De-escalation techniques have the potential to help prevent the need for use of force in many police and community encounters.
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. More information on all the awards announced can be found on the COPS Office website at https://cops.usdoj.gov/cpd-award.
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St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Deandre Young, 42, of Saint Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting co-defendant Lamondra Beckley’s possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense on Thursday, October 7 in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Young was charged for the offenses on April 6, 2021. Young acknowledged that on March 11, 2021, he helped arrange the sale of approximately 114 grams of methamphetamine by his co-defendant
Lamondra Beckley to a customer at a gas station in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Young was in possession of a firearm when agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested him.Sentencing is scheduled on February 9, 2022. Under federal law, Young faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment for these offenses.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak is prosecuting the case.
Six South Carolina Residents Charged in Interstate Gun Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Six South Carolina residents have been charged with conspiring to illegally sell firearms, including nine handguns, in and around New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Kendell McFadden, 28, Laronmir McFadden, 27, Savon Harrison, 25, Dontavian Jones, 24, Donjanea McClary, 24, and Michael Gamble, 31, all of Florence, South Carolina, are each charged by amended criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing. Kendell McFadden is also charged with one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Gamble made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
McClary had her initial appearance before Judge Waldor by videoconference on Sept. 28, 2021 Kendell McFadden, Laronmir McFadden, Harrison, and Jones, appeared by video conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on Sept. 27, 2021. All of these defendants were released on $100,000 unsecured bonds.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2019 through September 2021, Kendell McFadden, Laronmir McFadden, Harrison, Jones, McClary, and Gamble and others engaged in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from South Carolina to New Jersey. Kendell McFadden, a convicted felon, and Laronmir McFadden, directed Harrison, McClary and other straw purchasers to purchase firearms in or around Florence, South Carolina, and then transported and sold those firearms to individuals in and around Paterson, New Jersey, and elsewhere.
On Sept. 26, 2021, law enforcement intercepted a vehicle containing Kendell McFadden, Laronmir McFadden, Jones and Harrison traveling from South Carolina to New Jersey and recovered nine firearms. Two of the firearms recovered were purchased by McClary in South Carolina.
On July 9, 2021, Harrison and Gamble purchased approximately five firearms in South Carolina using Gamble’s debit card. One of the firearms purchased using Gamble’s card was recovered approximately four days later in Paterson. Another firearm purchased using Gamble’s card was recovered in Paterson last week. And records obtained from accounts associated with Kendell McFadden showed that Kendell McFadden had transmitted multiple payments to Gamble in and around July 9, 2021.
The count of conspiracy to engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In July 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice launched five cross-jurisdictional strike forces to help reduce gun violence by disrupting illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country. Leveraging existing resources, the regional strike forces will better ensure sustained and focused coordination across jurisdictions and help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms from source cities, through other communities, and into five key market regions: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region and Washington, D.C. According to gun trace data, a significant number of firearms recovered in the New York/northern New Jersey area originate from outside the area. The new strike force will help ensure sustained and focused coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors in the New York/northern New Jersey area with their counterparts in those other locations.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, Newark Division, and Special Agent in Charge Vince Pallozzi, Charlotte, South Carolina Division; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sophie E. Reiter of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the amended complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sheldon Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Sheldon man who sold large amounts of methamphetamine he received through the mail pled guilty on October 7, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Scott Demers, age 39, from Sheldon, Iowa was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Demers admitted to receiving large quantities of methamphetamine through the mail and redistributing it. Demers also admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of trafficking methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Demers remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. For conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Demers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Demers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office; the Sioux City Police Department; the South Sioux City Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4019.
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Scott Phillips Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Scott Phillips, 36, of Mechanicville, New York, was arraigned today after having been indicted by the grand jury for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Phillips pleaded not guilty at today’s hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Phillips detained pending further proceedings.
According to court records, Phillips possessed a loaded pistol in Winooski, Vermont, on July 16, 2021. Officers encountered Phillips that day when responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle. Phillips attempted to drive away when a police officer approached him, dragging the officer a short distance. A search of Phillips’ car yielded a pistol, ammunition, and suspected controlled substances. Phillips is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law due to his criminal record.
If convicted of the charge alleged in the federal indictment, Phillips 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 indictment 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 Spencer Willig. Federal Public Defender Michael L. Desautels and Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara M. Puls represent 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/
Ringleader of Gloucester City Drug Ring and His Son Sentenced for Trafficking Prescription Pills and Engaging in SNAP FraudRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to a federal prison term for leading a conspiracy to distribute and sell oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax while also defrauding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and his son was sentenced for conspiring with his father to distribute Adderall, distributing oxycodone, and defrauding the SNAP program by using unlawfully obtained benefits sold to him by his father, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Rocco DePoder, 68, of Gloucester City, New Jersey, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. His son, Michael DePoder, 41, also of Gloucester City, was sentenced to five years of probation, with 14 months of home detention with location monitoring. Rocco DePoder previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, distributing a quantity of oxycodone, and unlawfully acquiring SNAP benefits in exchange for controlled substances and unlawfully using and possessing those and other SNAP benefits. Michael DePoder previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before Judge Bumb to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Adderall, distributing oxycodone, and unlawfully acquiring and using SNAP benefits. Judge Bumb imposed both sentences today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rocco DePoder admitted that on multiple occasions from June 2019 to March 2020, he worked with Erick Bell and others to sell oxycodone in New Jersey. Rocco DePoder obtained 60 80 mg. oxycodone pills for $25 per pill from Bell on February 3, 2020, with the intention of distributing the pills to other people. He also admitted to purchasing resale quantities of oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax from conspirators and reselling the pills to others, serving as a leader of criminal activity in that conspiracy. Rocco DePoder admitted to selling oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax pills to another person in exchange for a total of $8,374 in SNAP benefits, which were on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, and then personally using some of those SNAP benefits and selling and giving EBT cards to others so they could unlawfully use the SNAP benefits. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. EBT cards are similar to debit cards and are used to make food purchases with SNAP benefits – when an EBT card is swiped at a food store authorized for participation in the SNAP program, the amount of the purchase is deducted electronically from the SNAP benefits reserved for the customer and the purchase amount is credited to the retailer’s designated bank account.
Michael DePoder admitted that on multiple occasions from December 2019 to March 2020, he distributed Adderall to his father, Rocco DePoder, as part of a drug distribution conspiracy. Michael DePoder also independently sold oxycodone pills to an associate on multiple occasions. He also admitted to unlawfully acquiring SNAP benefits from his father and unlawfully using and possessing those and other SNAP benefits totaling $2,676.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Bumb sentenced Rocco DePoder three years of supervised release, ordered him to pay restitution of $8,374 and forfeit cellphones, a police badge and $6,598 in case. She ordered Michael DePoder pay $2,676 in restitution.
Nine other defendants – Marcus Rushworth, 48of Gloucester City; Alfred Kee, Jr., 52, of Blackwood, New Jersey; Robert Pratt, 58, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Blackwood; Eric Bell, 50, Steven Walker, 50, William Summers, 69, and Neal Thompson, 58, all of Camden; Antwan Tucker, 51, of Woodbury, New Jersey; and Anwar Abdullah, 32, of Pennsauken, New Jersey – previously pleaded guilty before Judge Bumb to informations charging them with drug trafficking offenses involving the distribution of prescription drugs. They are all awaiting sentencing. Kenneth Rushworth, 60, of Gloucester City, was previously sentenced to 1 year in federal prison, and Alexander Siaca, 56, of Camden was sentenced to 3 years’ probation, including 3 months of home detention with location monitoring. Charges remain pending against Maurice Williams, 40, and Lolita Paynter, 56, both of Camden, and Holly Clark, 40, of West Deptford, New Jersey.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley S. Benavides; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; the Camden County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Acting Director Laurie R. Doran; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.
She also thanked the FBI Newark Division, New Jersey State Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara F. Merin of the Special Prosecution Division in Newark.
Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Charles Paul Jansen, 35, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of child pornography, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 11, 2020, an undercover officer (UC) was conducting an investigation on Kik in an attempt to identify users who were using the platform to exchange child sexual abuse material. Kik is a social media platform that facilitates communication by users over the internet. The UC identified an individual who posted an image to a Kik group devoted to the exchange of child sexual abuse material. Further investigation indicated identified Jansen as the individual who posted the image. A search warrant was executed at his residence in Pittsfield. During a voluntary interview, Jansen admitted using Kik and other online applications to view, download, and store pornographic images, some of which contained child sexual abuse material.
Jansen is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2022.
“Protecting innocent children is one of the foremost duties of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “As part of our effort to fulfill this duty, the law enforcement community is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who engage in child pornography crimes. Those who distribute these horrific images are further victimizing innocent victims of child sexual abuse. As this case demonstrates, such unlawful conduct will not be tolerated in New Hampshire.”
“Simply put, Charles Jansen is a predator who admitted today to sexually exploiting children by distributing and exchanging their images online for his own gratification,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “What he did is despicable, and the FBI and our partners won’t ever stop fighting to protect children and making sure their abusers are held accountable.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Guns from a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer in Tazewell CountyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Zabian Hatcher, 21, of the 2600 block of Montana Ave, in Peoria, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to charges including conspiring to steal guns from a federal firearms licensee, burglary of a federal firearms licensee, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of firearms by a felon. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 10, 2022.
In court today, before U.S. District Judge James Shadid, Hatcher admitted his involvement in the theft of nine firearms – including a Colt 9mm AR15 rifle equipped with a high- capacity magazine – during the burglary of a gun store in fall 2020.
During the change-of-plea hearing, the government stated that on October 29, 2020, at approximately 2 a.m., Creve Coeur police officers were dispatched to a gun store known as “Thompson Trading Company,” after a window was shattered during a break-in that was captured on store security camera footage. Six individuals participated in the burglary, three of whom were video-recorded as they stole the firearms and three others who remained outside the store.
The government stated that the individuals then fled from an East Peoria police officer in a getaway car until the car struck a curb and sustained damage. Six of the occupants fled, but a seventh person, the driver, stayed in the vehicle and was taken into custody. Two firearms stolen from “Thompson Trading Company” were recovered and two additional firearms from the burglary were found in a nearby driveway. An identification card for Zabian Hatcher was found in the car.
The government noted that shortly after investigators discovered that an Uber driver had picked up five of the six men involved in the burglary after they abandoned the get-away car and dropped them off at residences in North Peoria.
According to the government’s statements in court, Hatcher subsequently acknowledged to investigators that he had participated in the burglary by entering “Thompson Trading Company” and stealing firearms. At the time of the burglary and possession of the guns, Hatcher had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
Hatcher remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Three others charged in the conspiracy – Tyruis Bramlett, Deondra Proctor, and Devin Price – have also pleaded guilty. All have either been sentenced or have sentencing hearings scheduled. Charges against a fifth individual, Jaquon Timothy, remain pending, and members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the East Peoria Police Department; the Creve Coeur Police Department; and the Peoria Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
For the offense of conspiracy to steal from a licensed firearms dealer, the statutory penalty is up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
The offenses of stealing from a licensed firearms dealer, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of a firearm by a felon each carry a statutory penalty of up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
Owasso Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
An Owasso man who killed his stepfather in March 2020 pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Jordan Taylor Kuykendall, 24, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country.
“Too many lives are taken by senseless acts of violence and countless families are left to grieve,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “These crimes are malicious and inexcusable. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold perpetrators of violent crime accountable.”
In his plea agreement, Kuykendall admitted that on May 17, 2020, he got into an argument with his stepfather, Charles Botts, and stabbed him, resulting in the victim’s death.
On the night of the incident, Mr. Botts intervened when Kuykendall, who was intoxicated, assaulted his mother. He pulled the defendant off the mother and pinned him down on the floor. When he released Kuykendall and walked away to his bedroom, the defendant followed him with a knife. Inside the bedroom, the defendant fought with the victim and stabbed him.
The FBI and Owasso Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan H. Heatherman is prosecuting the case.
Nicholas W. Brown sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle – Nicholas W. Brown was sworn in today as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Mr. Brown previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the office from 2007 to 2013. From 2013 to 2017, Mr. Brown served as General Counsel to Governor Jay Inslee, and was a partner with Pacifica Law Group in Seattle when he was nominated by President Joe Biden to be U.S. Attorney 0n July 26, 2021. Mr. Brown’s nomination was approved by the full U.S. Senate on September 30, 2021. Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez administered the oath of office.
“I am humbled to return to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and my outstanding colleagues, who devote their careers to seeking justice and public service,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “The work of the office is vitally important and incredibly challenging, and the issues facing our justice system today require our full dedication. As the chief law enforcement officer in Western Washington, I am excited about working with our communities and federal partners to improve public safety and to ensure civil rights for all our residents.”
U.S. Attorney Brown leads an office comprised of both criminal prosecutors and civil litigators. The civil division is tasked with defending the government in a variety of litigation and bringing affirmative cases to protect civil rights and in cases of waste, fraud and abuse. U.S. Attorney Brown will also oversee an appellate unit that handles litigation before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In his previous five years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Brown handled more than 100 cases ranging from complex firearm and drug trafficking matters, to child sexual abuse in Indian Country, and financial fraud. As General Counsel to Governor Inslee, Mr. Brown was involved in a wide range of critical issues including high-priority litigation, criminal justice policy, tribal gaming and Indian law, and clemency petitions. For Pacifica Law Group, Mr. Brown focused his practice on assisting public and private clients with complex civil and regulatory litigation, public policy, municipal law, and political matters.
An Army veteran, Mr. Brown served in the Judge Advocate General Corps from 2003 to 2007 at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), Fort Bliss, Texas, and Bagdad, Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 2005.
Mr. Brown has volunteered his time for a number of public service and non-profit organizations, including Seattle Ethics and Elections, the Campaign for Equal Justice, the Washington State Bar Association Leadership Institute, Seattle Works, and Treehouse. Mr. Brown is also active in the Federal Bar Association.
A Western Washington native, Nicholas Brown received his BA Magna Cum Laude from Morehouse College in 1999, and his JD from Harvard Law School in 2002. He graduated from Steilacoom High School in 1995.
Mr. Brown takes over as U.S. Attorney from Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. She previously served as First Assistant United States Attorney under U.S. Attorney Brian Moran, who left the office in February 2021, with the change in administration. Ms. Gorman remains with the office.
New Orleans Men Sentenced for Two Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – BYRON WATSON, age 32, and REGINALD LUMAR, age 30, residents of New Orleans, were sentenced this week by the Honorable Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. WATSON was sentenced to 72 months of incarceration and LUMAR was sentenced to 51 months of incarceration. Both men were ordered to serve three (3) years of supervised release after completion of their prison sentences and payment of $200 mandatory special assessment fees. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,576.
According to Count One of the indictment, on September 10, 2019, WATSON and LUMAR robbed the Total Choice Federal Credit Union located at 100 Palmetto Drive in LaPlace, Louisiana. They obtained $7,841 in the robbery. According to Count Two of the indictment, on September 26, 2019, WATSON and LUMAR robbed the Fidelity Bank located at 9099 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, Louisiana. They obtained $7,735 in that robbery.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab as well as officers with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri was in charge of the prosecution.
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Monmouth County Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute more than 40 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Derrick Norwood, 58, of Neptune, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Judge Thompson imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 18, 2019, Norwood knowingly possessed 39 bricks, or 1,982 individual glassine bags, of heroin mixed with fentanyl inside a safe in his residence. Norwood admitted that he possessed the heroin-fentanyl mixture for the purpose of distributing it to others in and around Monmouth County.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Norwood to five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, and detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Lori Linskey, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
Moline Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Michael Terrell Richardson, of Moline, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 180 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base. Richardson was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, Michael Terrell Richardson, age 40, was involved in long-term trafficking of controlled substances in and around Davenport. Richardson knowingly possessed two firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. At the time of these offenses, Richardson was under supervision for a prior controlled substance charge. Richardson also had a prior conviction for attempted first degree murder.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, East Moline Police Department, and the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Mills County Man Convicted of 2003 Kidnapping and Sex OffensesRead the Press Release
Crucial DNA Evidence Obtained Through Iowa Attorney General’s Sex Assault Kit Initiative
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On Wednesday, October 6, 2021, Myron Lee Brandon, age 43, of Pacific Junction, Iowa, was found guilty in federal court of two counts of kidnapping and two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The verdict came after a three-day trial before United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 21, 2003, Brandon was in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, and offered a ride to two teenage girls. One female was fifteen years old and the other fourteen. The girls were expecting to be transported to a location in Omaha, but Brandon drove to a location near Pacific Junction, Iowa. On a rural road outside Pacific Junction, Brandon brandished a knife before sexually assaulting both victims and used a cigarette to burn each of them on the breast area. The victims escaped from Brandon and managed to walk to Interstate 29 where they were picked up by a motorist and taken to safety.
Law enforcement began an investigation on June 22, 2003, that included a medical exam and collection of evidence from each victim. After an extensive investigation failed to identify a suspect, the evidence that had been collected was stored until a suspect was identified.
In 2015, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office created the Sex Assault Kit Initiative, a program that submits old case evidence to a laboratory to determine if DNA evidence is present to help identify suspects. In July of 2018, the sexual assault kits collected from the victims were placed in this program. In February of 2020, Brandon was identified as a suspect, and further DNA evidence collected from Brandon confirmed he was the person who sexually assaulted the victims.
This was the first jury trial in the State of Iowa using DNA evidence processed by the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. The first conviction in a Sexual Assault Kit Initiative case occurred in 2019 in Dallas County, Iowa.
Sentencing has been set for March 2, 2022 in Council Bluffs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Omaha Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to seven years in federal prison for armed robberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Samuel Perez, 34, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Sept. 22 to seven years in prison for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Perez pleaded guilty on Jan. 8.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 28, 2018, Perez robbed a gas station convenience store. He entered the store with an accomplice, brandished a gun and demanded money and merchandise from an employee.
Upon completion of his sentence, Perez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Co-defendant Jared Barnhill pleaded guilty on March 23, 2020, to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, and was sentenced on Jan. 6 to 18 years in prison. Another co-defendant, Jeyden Barnhill, pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2019, to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, and was sentenced on Feb 5, 2020, to three years and 10 months in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Outler prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for homemade bombRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Ryan Cook, 45, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Sep. 28 to one year and six months in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm. Cook pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2020.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on June 24, 2020, law enforcement received a call from Cook’s roommate about an explosive device in Cook’s possession at their shared residence in Los Lunas, New Mexico. After a standoff with the local SWAT team, Cook surrendered and was arrested. Law enforcement located and secured the destructive device.
Upon his release from prison, Cook will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Hurtado prosecuted the case
Man Who Shot Firearm Inside West Palm Beach VA Medical Center Committed to 198 Months in CustodyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, federal district judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced Larry Ray Bon, 62, a former West Palm Beach resident who shot a firearm inside the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach to a federal prison term of 198 months.
According to court records, Bon brought the firearm and ammunition to the emergency room of the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach. When he became frustrated with medical staff, Bon retrieved the firearm from his wheelchair and fired several shots. He placed VA Medical Center employees in fear for their lives, including two employees who were near Bon. An emergency room doctor attempted to disarm Bon, who fired the gun again, hitting the doctor in the neck. Despite being injured, the doctor was still able to disarm Bon. VA Medical Center staff then subdued Bon. The doctor survived the gunshot wound.
On March 13, 2020, Bon pleaded guilty to three counts of Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Federal Employees, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in a Federal Facility with Intent to Commit a Crime. Judge Marra originally committed Bon to the custody of the U.S. Attorney General for 25 years of mental health care and treatment at a suitable medical facility. This was a provisional sentence allowable under federal law where a judge “finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect and that he should, in lieu of being sentenced to imprisonment, be committed to a suitable facility...” 18 U.S.C. §4244 (d). Bon was determined to no longer need psychiatric hospitalization, and was sentenced today.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI’s Miami Field Office, and David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge, Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.
“When this defendant fired shots inside the West Palm Beach VA medical center, he turned a place of healing and comfort into one of violence, fear, and confusion for the U.S. military veterans and medical personnel who were present that day. For this, he is being held accountable,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “We are committed to protecting our veterans, their families, and the dedicated employees of the South Florida VA medical clinics who treat them.”
“On February 27, 2019, Larry Ray Bon entered a Veterans Affairs Medical Center then fired several shots from a firearm that resulted in fear and confusion and the severe wounding an emergency room doctor,” said George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “While this sentence cannot erase what happened, he is now being held accountable for this senseless and cowardly act of violence.”
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the VA OIG and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant and resolute in holding accountable anyone who commits an act of violence at a VA facility,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG wants to ensure that VA employees have a safe environment in which they can work and veterans can receive quality healthcare."
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and VA OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Osborne and Rinku Tribuiani prosecuted this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Croke handled the asset forfeiture aspects of 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.
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Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Children Through Social Media AppsRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 55 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
Jacob Blanco, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Blanco’s activities were discovered in March 2017 when the parents of a then six-year-old discovered the child had communicated with and created sexually explicit images at the request of another user on the social media application Musical.ly (now TikTok). Law enforcement investigators subsequently identified the offender as Blanco.
Investigators thereafter searched Blanco’s residence and digital devices and discovered that he had successfully persuaded and coerced multiple minors to produce sexually explicit material. Blanco used various methods of deception and enticement, including by pretending to be a modeling agent or to be a minor himself. Blanco used Snapchat, Kik, Musical.ly and other applications to communicate with minor females for the purpose of having those minors create and transmit to him images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Blanco admitted, as part of his plea agreement, that he communicated with at least 50 minors and asked for and received sexually explicit images from many of them.
“The defendant used an array of social media to target and manipulate young children,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “I commend the investigative and prosecution teams for their success in removing a dangerous child predator from the community. While no amount of jail time can undo the pain caused in this case, I hope today’s sentence brings a sense of justice and healing to those harmed by the defendant’s crimes.”
“Today’s sentence is warranted due to the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, the large number of minor victims, and the impact that the defendant’s conduct has had – and will continue to have – on the dozens of children victimized by the defendant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “The fact that the defendant used social media to sexually exploit the victims serves as a reminder that the internet can be a dangerous place especially for children.”
“The abuse and exploitation of children is deeply cruel, violating the trust and safety of victims, which generates trauma that may never fully heal. We hope today’s sentence provides some measure of justice to those he harmed,” said Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI stands ready with its local, state and federal partners to bring a network of resources and its international law enforcement capabilities to bare against those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable. HSI appreciates the dedicated work of its special agents, computer forensics agents, criminal analysts, victim witness coordinators and forensic interviewers, together with the investigative and prosecutorial teams of our law enforcement partners, who are unwavering in their commitment to pursue these predators.”
HSI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Fresno County Sherriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa of the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Nadia C. Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Lubbock Drug Traffickers Sentenced to Combined 106 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A dozen Lubbock drug traffickers have been sentenced to a combined 106 years in federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
The defendants were arrested during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Los Perros De Nieve (“Operation Snow Dogs”), which also resulted in the seizure of multiple kilograms of cocaine, more than a dozen firearms, and roughly $80,000 cash from drug dealers in Lubbock.
The last of 12 in-custody defendants, Ruben Alejandro Rodriguez-Parada, was sentenced yesterday to almost four years in federal prison. A 13th charged defendant remains a fugitive.
According to court documents, DEA agents used a confidential informant to buy cocaine from several defendants. They also executed search warrants at several defendants’ residences, including their vehicles, and seized five bricks of cocaine from a storage unit in Lubbock.
One defendant, Robert Bruno, admitted that he regularly worked with a cocaine source of supply in Mexico, who delivered the drug with little advance notice and then aggressively collected on his debts.
“Cocaine extracts a terrible toll, wreaking havoc on users’ bodies and brains. We are determined to dismantle the organizations that inject this drug into our communities. The sentences announced today send a message to would-be dealers in Lubbock: The penalty for cocaine distribution is serious,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
“Cocaine is not manufactured in Lubbock nor does the coca plant, from where it is derived, grow in West Texas’ fertile land. Its prevalence and distribution in the area must be deliberate and for only one purpose: greed,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez, who oversees DEA operations in Lubbock. “These sentences handed down to Mr. Rodriguez-Parada, Mr. Bruno, and their co-conspirators should send a message to all violent drug trafficking organizations operating in the area that decisions based on greed could lead to more than a collective century in prison.”
Those who’ve been sentenced include:
- Ronnie Manuel Garcia – pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms; sentenced to 180 months in federal prison.
- Jonathan Phillip “J.P.” Reyes – pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison (to run consecutively to any sentence imposed in the state case against him).
- Raul Perez, III – pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine; sentenced to 235 months in federal prison (to run consecutively to any sentence imposed in the state case against him).
- Krystal Lynn Ramos – pleaded guilty to misprision (concealment) of a felony; sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
- Amy Shawn “Evon” Rodriguez – pleaded guilty to misprision (concealment) of a felony; sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.
- Juan Moncada – pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; sentenced to 125 months in federal prison (to run consecutively to any sentence imposed in the state case against him).
- Jacob Anthony Molina – pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
- Jeremy Wayne “Lil’ Jay” Beck – pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
- Michael Paul Perez – pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine; sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.
- Robert Lee Bruno – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine; sentenced to 188 months in federal prison.
- Amaris Arestin Leon – pleaded guilty to misprision (concealment) of a felony; sentenced to 30 months in federal prison (to run consecutively to any sentence imposed in state cases against him).
- Ruben Alejandro Rodriguez-Parada – pleaded guilty to money laundering; sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Lubbock Police Department with assistance from the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, and the Texas Department of Safety. This investigation was carried out as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program with the coordination of the Lubbock HIDTA group and Texas Anti-Gang initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long is prosecuting the case.
Jamestown Man Indicted for Causing Overdose Death and Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging James Brandow, 33, of Jamestown, NY, with distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing death, distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing serious bodily injury, and narcotics conspiracy. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2020 and June 2021, the defendant is accused of conspiring with others to sell heroin and fentanyl. According to the indictment, on July 31, 2020, Brandow sold heroin and fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as K.T. and resulted in seriously bodily injury to an individual identified as B.F.
The indictment is result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Israeli National Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Forcing Dozens of Girls to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Israeli man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for blackmailing dozens of girls into producing child pornography for him.
Elad Gaber, 39, was sentenced by United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, who also ordered him placed on lifetime supervised release once he completes serving his prison sentence. Gaber pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce to induce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Since at least 2010, Gaber executed a systematic “sextortion” scheme on dozens of victims, beginning with obtaining compromising videos of the girls. Gaber located victims through social media and found some type of “embarrassing” material of them, usually suggestive or nude photos.
He would then locate the victim on Facebook, copy her contact list, and threaten to release her compromising video to her entire contact list – often including her parents and schoolmates – if she did not live-stream sex acts according to a detailed script.
If the victims did not immediately comply, Gaber blackmailed them by sending them screenshots of the consequences of noncompliance, often either of a prewritten, but unsent, message to those close to the girls with the embarrassing material attached or the aftermath for previous victims where he had sent the material.
For those who complied, Gaber would demand the girl perform the script on herself over a video chat while he gave live feedback and criticism.
For several victims, Gaber used the material from the cam sessions as further material with which to blackmail them. If a victim refused to do as he demanded, Gaber would vengefully distribute her prior compromising material to some of her social media contacts, which often included the victims’ parents.
In 2014, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Gaber after a victim in Southern California reported him to law enforcement. Israel extradited Gaber to the United States last year to face criminal charges in this case.
In court today, some of Gaber’s victims spoke of the emotional impact they suffered from his actions, which led for some to substance abuse, suicide attempts, and lost educational and employment opportunities. Several victims also told the court that despite the trauma, they have managed to overcome what happened to them. As one victim concluded her statement today in court, she told Gaber, “Not only am I a victim, but I am a survivor.”
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Catharine A. Richmond of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case. The Israeli authorities and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Israel.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris and pleading not guilty on Oct. 4 was:
Joseph Daniel Fox, 29, of Kalispell, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, possession with intent to distribute meth and heroin and possession of a firearm by a user or addict. If convicted of the most serious crime, Fox faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years to life of supervised release. Fox was detained pending further proceedings. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-44.
Appearing in Missoula for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on Oct. 7 was:
Carlos Guatimea Aguirre, 35, of Fresno, California and Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Aguirre faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Aguirre was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missoula Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-100.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Oct. 5 was:
Brittany Michele Darnell, 30, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Darnell faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the fraud counts and a mandatory minimum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release consecutive to any other sentence. Darnell was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-58.
Mickey James Buchholz, 35, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Buchholz faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the fraud counts and a mandatory minimum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release consecutive to any other sentence. Buchholz was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-58.
Michael James Burke, 42, of Browning, on charges of aggravated sex abuse of a child and abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious crime, Burke faces a maximum life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Burke was released with conditions, including home detention, pending further proceedings. The FBI and the Fort Peck Tribe investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-62.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Oct. 5 was:
Amanda Christine Brown, 33, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brown faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Brown was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-25.
Appearing on Oct. 7 was:
Karrie Lynn Madill, 51, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Madill faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Madill was released pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-74.
Appearing on Oct. 8 for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint was:
Anthony Ray Morgan, 32, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Morgan faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Morgan was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-61.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Human Trafficker Sentenced to Two Decades in Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
Spokane – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Seth Randles, age 38, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to two federal sex trafficking charges. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Randles to 20 years in federal custody, the maximum sentence available, to be followed by a 15-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Randles used violence, threats, and manipulation to force women to engage in commercial sex acts with strangers of his choosing. He took the money his victims earned and used gruesome physical violence and the threat of force to ensure their compliance. He caused at least one victim to get a tattoo of his street name, “Silky,” on her body, to indicate that she was his property.
In 2017, after years of Randles forcing her to engage in oral sex and intercourse with customers, one victim and her family were brave enough to go to the police. Law enforcement officers learned that Randles forced his victims to perform sex acts on the main floor of his house in Spokane, while he hid on the second floor. Randles also used that residence to stage photos of women that he could post online to advertise for additional sex trafficking acts. When one victim refused to do as he wanted, Randles dragged her out of the shower by her hair, pushed and kicked her, stomped on her body, and punched her in the mouth. The victim’s mother was so terrified of Randles that she repeatedly told law enforcement officers that she feared Randles would kill her daughter or retaliate against their family if he found out they had contacted law enforcement.
On at least one occasion, Randles beat a victim to the point that she needed medical care, but did not allow her to receive it. When there was a dispute with a “client” about a commercial sex act, Randles would violently beat both the “john” and his trafficking victim, because he was worried that the “client” would post about the incident online and negatively affect his business.
Randles advertised his victims online. One victim reported being trafficked at least once a day, and up to as many as ten times in a day, while Randles kept the money generated by the trafficking. He also arranged for the serial rapes of at least two of his victims after driving them to Wenatchee – all for his own financial profit. As Randles admitted in his plea agreement, “roughly from 2009 onward, pimping women to engage in commercial sex acts was his sole source of income.”
United States Attorney Waldref said, “Randles used intimidation, violence, and humiliation to force his victims to perform commercial sex acts and caused immeasurable harm. The significant term of imprisonment imposed today will help the victims in the healing process while holding Randles accountable for his criminal conduct. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue its aggressive efforts to bring justice to all victims of sexual exploitation. I commend the FBI and our local law enforcement partners who investigated this case. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: law enforcement will protect the public from human traffickers through tenacious investigation and vigorous prosecution.”
The Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Seattle, Donald Voiret, said “For years Seth Randles terrorized and intimidated his victims, trafficking them to strangers and treating them as his personal property for his own personal gain. Our hope is these victims realize they are not invisible and see the imposition of the highest sentence possible, as tangible proof of our commitment to protect those involved in similar circumstances.”
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by David M. Herzog, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Hudson Woman Pleads Guilty to Crimes Related to Social Security Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jane B. Smith, 65, of Hudson, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to attempted wire fraud and making false statements, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in 1993. She was required to report any changes in her employment and income to the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, between 2007 and 2018, Smith worked for multiple employers, including the IRS, and failed to report her employment to the SSA. The SSA learned of Smith’s employment and suspended her benefits several times during that time period. On each occasion, Smith took steps to cause the SSA to provide her with SSDI benefit payments that she was not entitled to receive.
In February of 2018, Smith filed a false police report with the Nashua Police Department claiming that she was the victim of identity theft and that someone else had used her name to work for her employers. She also made similar false statements to the IRS and SSA in efforts to secure benefits that she was not entitled to receive. In February of 2021, Smith admitted to federal agents that she had lied about her work and falsely claimed to be the victim of identity theft because she did not want to lose her benefits. As a result of her criminal conduct, Smith obtained over $90,000 in benefits that she was not entitled to receive.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2022.
“While Social Security Disability Benefits provide important financial support for qualified individuals, some criminals seek to take advantage of this system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “By lying about her employment and falsely claiming to be a victim of identity theft, this defendant sought to exploit this program to obtain money that she knew she was not entitled to receive. As this case shows, we work closely with the Office of the Inspector General to identify fraud and protect the integrity of Social Security’s benefit programs.”
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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Henderson Man Sentenced to Prison for 21 Years Following Shooting of a Raleigh Police OfficerRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Henderson man was sentenced yesterday to 252 months in prison for carjacking and aiding and abetting, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of stolen firearms. On March 10, 2020, Cedric Jamal Kearney, 26, pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 4, 2019, Kearney and a co-defendant, Sherry Marie Richmond, robbed a Raleigh man of his car keys and cellphone at gunpoint. The crime spree continued on January 9, 2019 as Kearney and other co-defendants broke into a Holly Springs, NC apartment and stole several firearms and pairs of shoes. Finally, later that night on January 9, 2019, the Raleigh Police Department responded to a reported sighting of the stolen vehicle in the area of Shaub Drive and Teakwood Place. Upon arrival, the officers witnessed Kearney and another man attempting to get inside of the stolen vehicle. Officers gave out commands to the men and while one complied, Kearney fired shots at the officers and fled on foot. Kearney shot Raleigh Police Officer Charlie Ainsworth two times. Ainsworth had to be rushed to WakeMed hospital with life threatening injuries, but ultimately survived. Body Camera surveillance captured the harrowing incident in its entirety. Kearney was found several hours later in a shed of a nearby homeowner; still in possession of the gun used to shoot Officer Ainsworth. Kearney had one prior conviction for reckless driving out of Virginia.
“Today was a good day for both the Ainsworth family and the justice system. The Court sent a very clear message that these type of assaults on law enforcement simply will not be tolerated,” Acting U.S. Attorney Acker said of Judge Flanagan’s sentencing.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Boykin and Daniel Smith prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-382-FL.
Hartford Man Involved in Gun Battle Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM TISDOL, 22, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, shortly after noon on September 9, 2020, members of the Hartford Police Department responded to reports of gunshots on Sterling Street in Hartford. At the scene, officers found a female companion of Tisdol sitting in a car in front of a residence and suffering from serious gunshot wounds. Tisdol was subsequently located inside the residence in critical condition and suffering from gunshots to his arms, hips and torso. Both Tisdol and his companion were transported to the hospital. Officers recovered a .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number, and multiple shell casings, from the pavement next to the car. The investigation revealed that Tisdol had used the firearm in a gunfight with unidentified assailants.
At the time of the shooting incident, Hartford Police had an open arrest warrant for Tisdol related to an armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in May 2020.
Tisdol has been detained since his hospitalization.
In a separate federal case, on September 15, 2020, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Tisdol and seven other individuals with offenses stemming from numerous “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states. A “grab-and-go” scheme is a type of theft where one or more perpetrators enter a retail store, grab as many items of clothing or other goods as they can carry, leave the store without paying for the merchandise, and depart in a waiting getaway vehicle.
On May 14, 2021, Tisdol pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property and, on July 7, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
On September 9, 2021, Tisdol was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to six months of imprisonment for his role in the grab and go theft scheme.
These investigations were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford, New Canaan, Wrentham (Mass.), Auburn (Mass.) and Nassau County (N.Y.) Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Brendan Keefe.
Greenwich Resident Admits Making False Statement in Immigration MatterRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PATRICIO MILINIK, 43, a citizen of Argentina residing in Greenwich, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to making a false statement during an immigration matter.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) granted conditional permanent resident status to Milinik after he had married a U.S. citizen in 2015. In 2018, Milinik petitioned to have the conditions removed to allow him to become a lawful permanent resident and obtain a “green card.” While his petition was pending, a USCIS immigration officer and HSI special agent visited Milinik and his then-wife at their residence. During the visit, the immigration officer asked Milinik whether there had been any periods of separation from his wife during their marriage. Milinik falsely denied any period of separation with the exception of occasion work-related travel.
The investigation revealed that Milinik and his then-wife were separated for several periods during their marriage, and that Milinik had communicated with several individuals expressing that he was not in a bona fide marriage and that he only stayed married to his wife in order to obtain his green card.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for January 3, 2022, at which time Milinik faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Milinik is released pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Nancy V. Gifford.
Grand Blanc Man and Flint Woman Sentenced in Fraudulent Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
FLINT - A former pastor and his associate have been sentenced for their role in a multi-year Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 140 individuals from multiple states out of nearly $9.3 million, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Joining Mohsin in the announcement was Brian Thomas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.
Sentenced were Larry A. Holley, 64, of Grand Blanc and Patricia E. Gray, 60, of Flint. Holley received a sentence of 100 months in federal prison followed by a two-year term of supervised release. Gray received a sentence of 42 months in federal prison followed by a two-year term of supervised release. A restitution hearing will be set by United States District Judge Laurie Michelson, at which time the court will determine the amount of restitution each defendant will be required to pay back to the victims.
"Holley and Gray deliberately misled investors to convince them to turn over their savings,” said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. "Investors should not be lulled into trusting an investment advisor just because they know them or because they are a member of an organization to which they belong.”
“Today’s sentencing is another reminder that when an investor promises not only extraordinarily high returns, but also guaranteed returns, it’s too good to be true,” said Brian Thomas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “IRS-CI is committed to investigating Ponzi schemes similar to that of Holley and Gray’s and will aggressively act to protect American taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”
According to court records, Gray and Holley, who was a pastor at Abundant Life Ministries in Flint, operated Treasure Enterprise, LLC, which fraudulently purported to provide financial planning and asset management services to investors. Holley and Gray solicited many of the victim investors at financial seminars held at churches throughout Michigan and other states.
As alleged in the indictment, in order to lure the potential investors, many of whom took their money out of legitimate investments–such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s–Holley and Gray promised high, guaranteed returns, and the safe return of an investor’s entire principal at the end of the investment period. The money, however, was not invested and did not earn the profits to pay the guaranteed interest payments. Instead, Holley and Gray, and others directed by them, simply deposited the victim investor funds into Treasure’s bank accounts and then used the money for their personal benefit, for the benefit of Abundant Life Ministries, to make interest and principal payments to earlier investors, and to pay other Treasure employees.
Both Holley and Gray pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud on July 8, 2019 and May 28, 2019, respectively. Sentencing was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ann Nee and Anthony Vance.
Gloversville Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Pipe Bomb ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Darling, age 42, of Gloversville, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing firearms as a felon and unlawful possession of six pipe bombs.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Darling was arrested on February 14, 2021, after police had been called to his residence to conduct a welfare check. Police seized six operable pipe bombs from the home. At the time of his arrest, police also recovered two firearms and ammunition, which Darling was prohibited from possessing as a result of a felony burglary conviction.
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for February 4, 2022 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, at which time Darling faces up to 10 years in prison, as well as a fine up to $250,000, and post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on a particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Darling has been in custody since his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Gloversville Police Department, the New York State Police, ATF, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert A. Sharpe.
Georgian Pleads Guilty to Child Porn DistributionRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former truck driver and Georgia resident has pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography.
Stanley Joseph Weaver, 60, formerly of McDonough (Henry County), Georgia, and currently of Jackson (Butts County), Georgia, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self on Oct. 6. Weaver faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, no less than five years up to a lifetime of supervised release and registration as a sex offender upon release from prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2022.
“Stanley Weaver distributed hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography, fully immersed in an online world which feeds off the pain and suffering of innocent children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold Weaver, and other child predators, accountable for their criminal roles exploiting and victimizing children.”
"A child is victimized every single time pornographic images of that child are shared, and in this case, it was hundreds of thousands of times," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "That's why the FBI makes it a high priority to remove predators like Weaver from our everyday society, unable to inflict any more pain and suffering on innocent children."
According to court documents, FBI agents determined Weaver distributed child pornography on publicly available peer to peer sharing software to FBI undercover agents on multiple occasions, most recently on Jan. 12, 2021. Weaver was taken into custody on Jan. 23. Weaver shared a total of 342,756 files (524.8 GB) of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, sadomasochism, infants and toddlers during two interactions with undercover agents plus a combined 54 images and six videos of child pornography during two more interactions with a foreign law enforcement partner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Criminal Chief Michael Solis are prosecuting the case.
Geddes Resident Admits Making False Statements to U.S. Immigration OfficialsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Chasib Hafedeh Saadoon Al Fawadi (“Al Fawadi”), 36, an Iraqi citizen residing in Geddes, New York, pled guilty on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, to making false statements in a U.S immigration application for permanent residency, and making false statements to U.S. immigration officials during an oral interview for permanent residency, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Matthew Scarpino, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office.
As part of his guilty plea, Al Fawadi admitted that in a written application given to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Syracuse, New York, on June 8, 2017, he falsely denied being a member of any group engaged in violent activities. Al Fawadi’ statement was false because while living in Iraq, he was a member of As’ib Ahl al-Haq, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia and paramilitary organization. Also, as part of his guilty plea, Al Fawadi admitted that he falsely reaffirmed his previous written statements during an in-person oral interview with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Syracuse on April 9, 2019.
Sentencing in this case is scheduled for March 8, 2022, in Binghamton, New York, at which time Al Fawadi faces a maximum of up to 10 years for his false written statements, and up to 5 years imprisonment for his false oral statements to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, as well as a fine of up to $250,000.00 on each count of conviction, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Al Fawadi remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending the imposition of sentence.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer.
Fresno Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Children Through Social Media AppsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Fresno man was sentenced today to 55 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
Jacob Blanco, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Blanco’s activities were discovered in March 2017 when the parents of a then six-year-old discovered the child had communicated with and created sexually explicit images at the request of another user on the social media application Musical.ly (now TikTok). Law enforcement investigators subsequently identified the offender as Blanco.
Investigators thereafter searched Blanco’s residence and digital devices and discovered that he had successfully persuaded and coerced multiple minors to produce sexually explicit material. Blanco used various methods of deception and enticement, including by pretending to be a modeling agent or to be a minor himself. Blanco used Snapchat, Kik, Musical.ly, and other applications to communicate with minor females for the purpose of having those minors create and transmit to him images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Blanco admitted, as part of his plea agreement, that he communicated with at least 50 minors and asked for and received sexually explicit images from many of them.
“The defendant used an array of social media to target and manipulate young children,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “I commend the investigative and prosecution teams for their success in removing a dangerous child predator from the community. While no amount of jail time can undo the pain caused in this case, I hope today’s sentence brings a sense of justice and healing to those harmed by the defendant’s crimes.”
“Today’s sentence is warranted due to the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, the large number of minor victims, and the impact that the defendant’s conduct has had — and will continue to have — on the dozens of children victimized by the defendant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “The fact that the defendant used social media to sexually exploit the victims serves as a reminder that the internet can be a dangerous place especially for children.”
“The abuse and exploitation of children is deeply cruel, violating the trust and safety of victims which generates trauma that may never fully heal. We hope today’s sentence provides some measure of justice to those he harmed,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI stands ready with its local, state and federal partners to bring a network of resources and its international law enforcement capabilities to bare against those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable. HSI appreciates the dedicated work of its special agents, computer forensics agents, criminal analysts, victim witness coordinators, and forensic interviewers, together with the investigative and prosecutorial teams of our law enforcement partners who are unwavering in their commitment to pursue these predators.”
The case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa and Trial Attorney Nadia C. Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Fresno Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Children Through Social Media AppsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Fresno man was sentenced today to 55 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.
Jacob Blanco, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Blanco’s activities were discovered in March 2017 when the parents of a then six-year-old discovered the child had communicated with and created sexually explicit images at the request of another user on the social media application Musical.ly (now TikTok). Law enforcement investigators subsequently identified the offender as Blanco.
Investigators thereafter searched Blanco’s residence and digital devices and discovered that he had successfully persuaded and coerced multiple minors to produce sexually explicit material. Blanco used various methods of deception and enticement, including by pretending to be a modeling agent or to be a minor himself. Blanco used Snapchat, Kik, Musical.ly, and other applications to communicate with minor females for the purpose of having those minors create and transmit to him images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Blanco admitted, as part of his plea agreement, that he communicated with at least 50 minors and asked for and received sexually explicit images from many of them.
“The defendant used an array of social media to target and manipulate young children,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “I commend the investigative and prosecution teams for their success in removing a dangerous child predator from the community. While no amount of jail time can undo the pain caused in this case, I hope today’s sentence brings a sense of justice and healing to those harmed by the defendant’s crimes.”
“Today’s sentence is warranted due to the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, the large number of minor victims, and the impact that the defendant’s conduct has had — and will continue to have — on the dozens of children victimized by the defendant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “The fact that the defendant used social media to sexually exploit the victims serves as a reminder that the internet can be a dangerous place especially for children.”
“The abuse and exploitation of children is deeply cruel, violating the trust and safety of victims which generates trauma that may never fully heal. We hope today’s sentence provides some measure of justice to those he harmed,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI stands ready with its local, state and federal partners to bring a network of resources and its international law enforcement capabilities to bare against those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable. HSI appreciates the dedicated work of its special agents, computer forensics agents, criminal analysts, victim witness coordinators, and forensic interviewers, together with the investigative and prosecutorial teams of our law enforcement partners who are unwavering in their commitment to pursue these predators.”
The case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa and Trial Attorney Nadia C. Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Former Uniontown Man Sentenced to Prison for Conpsiring to Obtain PUA Benefits while IncarceratedRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to six months imprisonment followed by a two-year term of supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Jamelle Fairfax, age 33.
In order to combat the devastating impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the United States, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law. The CARES Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program, which provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. Individuals are eligible for PUA if they were unemployed due to the pandemic and could accept a job if one were offered.
While incarcerated at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Fayette, the defendant conspired to obtain PUA benefits. Due to his incarceration, the defendant was unemployed and unemployable for reasons unrelated to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the defendant’s jail call recordings prove that he conspired with another to falsify material facts in a PUA application filed in the defendant’s name. Specifically, the conspirators certified that Jamelle Fairfax was available to work and was only unemployed due to COVID-19. The total amount paid on the claim was $11,100.00, which was money allocated to individuals in need of financial assistance during the global pandemic. The defendant was ordered to pay restitution for this amount.
“Jamelle Fairfax conspired to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program by having his co-conspirator fraudulently file for and receive benefits on his behalf while Fairfax was incarcerated at SCI Fayette. The United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is grateful for our partnerships with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and our many law enforcement partners. We also want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued efforts to prosecute those who violate public benefit programs and commit fraud,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fairfax.
Former Nantucket Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Role in Two Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Nantucket Bank employee pleaded guilty today to her role in two fraud conspiracies.
Rushell Harris, 32, of Nantucket, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2022. Harris was charged on Sept. 16, 2021.
Between approximately June 2014 and November 2018, Harris engaged in two separate wire fraud conspiracies. In the first conspiracy, Harris exploited her position at Nantucket Bank by obtaining personally identifiable information of a customer and surreptitiously taking photographs of the victim’s account information. Harris then shared that information with co-conspirators who attempted to transfer funds out of the customer’s bank account without authorization.
In the second conspiracy, Harris helped perpetuate a fraudulent lottery scheme targeting at least 13 victims. According to the charging documents, victims were contacted by co-conspirators via phone and informed that they won large prizes, and that in order to receive the funds they needed to pre-pay taxes on their winnings. In reality, no such prizes existed. After victims made an initial payment, they were advised that additional advance payments were required for expenses such as insurance, transportation or other international customs’ fees. Harris and her co-conspirators transferred proceeds of the scheme to associates in Jamaica and in the United States.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nantucket Police Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Gardena Police Officer Again Found Guilty of Operating Unlicensed Firearms BusinessRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – At the conclusion of a second trial prompted by an earlier conviction being overturned, a former Gardena Police officer has been found guilty of federal charges for scheming to purchase “off-roster” firearms not available to the general public and then illegally reselling the firearms for profit.
A federal jury on Thursday convicted Edward Yasushiro Arao, 51, of Eastvale, of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and a substantive count of engaging in an unlicensed firearms business.
According to the evidence presented during a four-day trial, Arao and his co-conspirator, former Gardena Police officer Carlos Fernandez, 46, of Norwalk, exploited their positions as police officers to operate an illegal gun-selling business.
As part of the scheme, Arao purchased “off-roster” firearms – all Colt .38 Super-caliber handguns that were not available to the general public, but which could be legally purchased by law enforcement officers – through Ronin Tactical Group, a federal firearms licensee that Arao owned and operated. Arao then transferred the guns to himself individually from the inventory of Ronin Tactical Group and re-sold 41 of these weapons to non-law enforcement officers. Similarly, Fernandez obtained multiple “off-roster” weapons, which he re-sold to the general public through Ronin Tactical Group. Through messages on Instagram and via other means, Arao and Fernandez negotiated the prices and terms of firearm sales, and then delivered the guns and accepted payment, often in cash.
In a previous trial in November 2019, a federal jury found Arao guilty of the same two felony charges and found Fernandez guilty of conspiracy, selling firearms to a convicted felon, engaging in an unlicensed firearms business, and making false statements in federal firearms licensing paperwork.
In March 2020, United States District Judge S. James Otero sentenced Fernandez to 33 months in federal prison. At the same time, Judge Otero ordered a new trial for Arao after determining the two defendants should not have been tried together.
Arao is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2022 by United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, who took over the case after Judge Otero retired. At sentencing, Arao will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Previously in this case, six other defendants who illegally purchased firearms from Arao and Fernandez pleaded guilty and were sentenced, with two of those defendants being ordered to serve time in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. The Gardena Police Department provided its full cooperation during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Veronica Dragalin and Cassie D. Palmer of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Former Erie Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years in jail to be followed by 10 years supervised release and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to two separate victims on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Adam Gregory Ryzinski, 43.
According to information presented to the court, Ryzinski received and possessed tens of thousands of computer images and movies depicting prepubescent minors, as young as infants and toddlers, being sexually abused.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ryzinski.
Former Cleveland City Councilman Sentenced to 6 Years and Ordered to Pay $746k in Restitution After Conviction of Federal Program Theft, Tax Violations, Witness Tampering and Falsifying RecordsRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that former City of Cleveland Councilman Kenneth Johnson was sentenced today by Judge John R. Adams to six years imprisonment. Johnson was found guilty by a jury on July 30, 2021, of conspiracy to commit federal program theft, federal program theft, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, tampering with a witness and falsification of records in a federal investigation.
Garnell Jamison was also sentenced today by Judge Adams to five years imprisonment following his conviction on the same date of conspiracy to commit federal program theft, federal program theft, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, tampering with a witness and falsification of records in a federal investigation.
In addition, Judge Adams ordered Johnson Jamison to pay total restitution in the amount of $746,839.38 to the IRS and HUD.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, from January of 2010 through October of 2018, Johnson and Jamison devised a scheme to induce the City of Cleveland to issue reimbursement checks to Johnson for Ward 4 services that were never actually performed. Court records established that during this time frame, the City issued $1,200 monthly expense reimbursement checks to Johnson totaling approximately $127,200. Each reimbursement check from the City was deposited into Johnson’s personal bank account.
Johnson was also convicted of personally benefiting from federal Community Development Funds distributed to the Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation (BSSDC) from the City of Cleveland. From in or around December 2013 to in or around March 2018, prosecutors proved that the BSSDC issued approximately $50,000 in checks distributed to third-parties, which were later deposited or transferred the funds into bank accounts held or controlled by Johnson. Federal regulations prohibited Johnson, or his family members, from personally benefiting from these funds.
Furthermore, for the calendar years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, Johnson and Jamison submitted false and fraudulent Individual Income Tax Returns to the Internal Revenue Service.
Evidence and testimony during the trial proved that Johnson and Jamison knew that the returns fraudulently understated Johnson’s total income by failing to report additional income and by inflating the value of Johnson’s itemized deductions.
Johnson and Jamison were also convicted of attempting to persuade and influence the testimony of a grand jury witness by providing that person with false and fraudulent information and records purporting to document charitable donations made by Johnson and falsifying a donation receipt with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence an investigation.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and IRS-Criminal Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Seabury Gould and Megan R. Miller.
Felon Charged with Unlawful Possession of 21 FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Dallas man has been charged with unlawful possession of more than 20 firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham.
Kevion Deshaun Rogers, 27, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the indictment, Mr. Rogers – who’d been previously convicted of multiple drug charges as well as evading arrest – allegedly possessed 21 weapons unlawfully, including 10 Glock pistols, three AM-15 pistols, two Smith & Wesson rifles, and a German Sports Guns Kalashnikov.
Court documents show he was arrested on Sept. 11, 2021 with an empty handgun holster strapped to his left leg. Although he denied having a weapon on him, law enforcement located two handguns, including a loaded 9mm Glock, stashed in the steering wheel column cover, and a 50 round drum magazine full of ammunition on the rear passenger floorboard.
According to the indictment, Mr. Rogers also allegedly possessed and intended to distribute marijuana.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Rogers is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 19 ½ years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Winn is prosecuting the case.
Federal Officials Close Review of the Officer-Involved Shooting of Jacob BlakeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against a Kenosha Police Department (KPD) officer for his involvement in the Aug. 23, 2020, shooting of 30-year-old Jacob Blake.
Officials from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin informed representatives of the Blake family of this determination. The department makes this decision because the evidence obtained is insufficient to prove that the KPD officer willfully used excessive force.
A team of experienced federal prosecutors from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office reviewed evidence obtained by the FBI and state investigators to determine whether the police officer violated any federal laws, focusing on the application of deprivation of rights under color of law, a federal criminal civil rights statute that prohibits certain types of official misconduct. They conducted a detailed and lengthy analysis of numerous materials, including police reports, law enforcement accounts, witness statements, affidavits of witnesses, dispatch logs, physical evidence reports, photographs and videos of some portions of the incident.
Under the applicable federal criminal civil rights laws, prosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that an officer “willfully” deprived an individual of a constitutional right, meaning that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is the highest standard of intent imposed by the law. Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence, nor bad judgment is sufficient to establish a willful federal criminal civil rights violation.
After a careful and thorough review, a team of experienced federal prosecutors determined that insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the KPD officer willfully violated the federal criminal civil rights statutes. Accordingly, the review of this incident has been closed without a federal prosecution.