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29 September 2021
Massachusetts Man Charged with Threatening and Harassing Interracial Couple and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was arrested today and charged with threatening an interracial couple via Facebook Messenger on Jan. 6, 2021, and with attempting to prevent the couple from reporting these threats and harassment to law enforcement.
Stephen M. DeBerardinis, 45, of Boston and Dedham, was charged with one count of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person; one count of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion; and one count of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment. DeBerardinis was arrested today and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today.
“My office aggressively prosecutes people who threaten racially-motivated violence because such threats are illegal, despicable and an affront to American values,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “We take a hard line on threats and intimidation, and these charges make clear that such conduct will be prosecuted federally.”
“Today’s arrest cannot mitigate the fear that Stephen DeBerardinis caused, and the sense of security this couple lost, but it does bring him to justice for allegedly sending a series of rage-filled messages threatening horrific acts of violence,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Acts of intimidation and threats of violence perpetrated against people because of their race, ethnicity, color, or creed are reprehensible. While we all have the right to believe whatever we want, when those views threaten or lead to violence, that’s a different story. We encourage anyone who has been the victim of, or witness to, such crimes to report it to the FBI.”
According to the indictment, in late December 2020, the victims, a white woman and a Black man, announced their engagement on Facebook which included photographs of the couple. DeBerardinis, who did not know the couple personally, could view the photographs. On or about Jan. 6, 2021, DeBerardinis allegedly used Facebook Messenger to send the couple a series of threatening and harassing messages concerning the couple’s interracial relationship. According to the indictment, DeBerardinis said, “EWWWWWWWW YOUR A N***** F***** F****** DIRTY A** WHITE TRASH,” and continued with similar messages. When the couple messaged DeBerardinis that they were reporting him to law enforcement, he allegedly sent them a message that said, “SNITCHES GET STITCHES” with a picture of brass knuckles. It is further alleged that DeBerardinis threatened, “Read up more on me lol… you will see how me and my crew burn n*****s alive,” and “And white whores like you well…. get rape and killed THAN we cut off body parts and mail them to your family lol.” The victims reported the incident to local police, who contacted federal law enforcement.
The charge of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. The charge of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott L. Garland and Torey B. Cummings, of Mendell’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team, are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy and Distribution of MethRead the Press Release
A Mason City man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced September 27, 2021 to 14 years in federal prison.
Cameron Brunstein, age 30, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
Brunstein admitted receiving pound quantities of methamphetamine and reselling it in and around the Mason City, Iowa area. Brunstein was caught selling methamphetamine twice in Mason City. Search warrants were conducted on Brunstein’s home, where law enforcement seized methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, LSD, and other pharmaceutical drugs, along with cash and distribution materials.
Brunstein was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Brunstein was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brunstein is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and was investigated by the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Mason 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 21-3007.
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Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Mason City man was sentenced September 27, 2021 to nearly two years in federal prison.
Brett Wetter, age 46, from Mason City, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In a plea agreement, Wetter admitted he possessed 10 guns while being a methamphetamine user.
Wetter was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wetter was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Wetter is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and was investigated by the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Mason 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 20-3007.
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Marion County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jackson Skye Yeager, of Farmington, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Yeager, 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Yeager, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a domestic violence conviction, admitted to having a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in February 2020 in Marion County.
Yeager faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and Fairmont Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Manchester Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Firearms Charge and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Juan Diaz, 40, of Manchester, was sentenced to a total of 87 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating supervised release, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July of 2020, while conducting another investigation, Ashland police learned that Diaz had been in recent possession of several firearms. Officers learned that while spending time with an Ashland family, Diaz had handled and shot two firearms on the family’s property on June 27, 2020. Law enforcement officers also obtained photographs of Diaz shooting the firearms.
Diaz has numerous prior felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms. Most recently, he had served a 10-year sentence in federal prison for possession of child pornography. He began his term of federal supervised release in May of 2020.
Diaz, who previously pleaded guilty on June 23, 2021, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison for the firearms conviction and an additional 24 months for violating his supervised release.
“A vital part of our effort to reduce violent crime is keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “As this case demonstrates, we will not hesitate to pursue federal charges against convicted criminals who possess firearms. As Mr. Diaz has learned, convicted felons face substantial prison sentences if they unlawfully use or possess guns.”
“Today’s sentence should send a clear message to those who are prohibited from possessing firearms.” said James M. Ferguson ATF Special Agent in Charge. “As a convicted felon Mr. Diaz should have never been in possession of a firearm. We hope today’s sentence sends a clear message that the ATF and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to bring these offenders to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the Ashland Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Ludington Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Being A Felon in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced that Jeffrey Allen Kaiser, of Ludington, Michigan, was sentenced to 228 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney on Monday September 27, 2021. Mr. Kaiser was also ordered to pay a $300 special assessment, and, when he is released from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for a period of 3 years. Judge Maloney, in imposing sentence, commented that Mr. Kaiser posed a “very significant threat to the public.”
Mr. Kaiser was convicted after a three-day jury trial earlier this year. The jury heard that on August 13, 2020, the Ludington Police Department received 911 calls regarding two separate incidents where Mr. Kaiser threatened people with a pistol. One of these incidents occurred outside in a residential neighborhood in downtown Ludington. Following these events, Ludington Police searched Mr. Kaiser’s home and backyard, locating a .357 Magnum revolver, a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, and various rounds of ammunition. Because he had been previously convicted of a felony, Mr. Kaiser was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“The use of firearms to threaten or harm others calls for serious consequences,” commented U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. “We work hard and coordinate with local law enforcement partners as much as we can to ensure there are significant consequences in such cases.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Ludington Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren F. Biksacky and Alexis M. Sanford as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
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Lowell Man Convicted of Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that a federal jury found Laveneur Jackson, 41, of Lowell, Massachusetts, guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The verdict was returned on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
According to trial exhibits and witness testimony during the two-day jury trial, Jackson was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions. Despite this, on two separate occasions in December of 2016, Jackson unlawfully obtained firearms by having an acquaintance purchase them for him at two separate federally-licensed gun stores in New Hampshire. Jackson then sold the guns to others in Massachusetts.
Jackson, who is detained, faces up to ten years in prison on each count of conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2022.
“To protect the public from violent crime, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “By unlawfully obtaining guns and then selling them in Massachusetts, this defendant was engaging in conduct that jeopardized public safety. Thanks to the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors who worked on this matter, a federal jury had held Mr. Jackson accountable for his dangerous and unlawful conduct.”
“Part of law enforcement’s efforts to reduce violent crime is removing weapons from the hands convicted felons like Laveneur Jackson" said ATF Boston Special Agent in James M. Ferguson. "This guilty verdict should serve notice of the ATF’s commitment to the citizens of New Hampshire and to our continued work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to make our community safer for everyone.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Seth R. Aframe, as well as former Assistant United States Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Loves Park Investment Advisor Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $950,000 from CustomersRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Loves Park man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $950,000 from three of his customers.
A criminal information filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Rockford charges NASEEM SALAMAH, 40, with one count of wire fraud.
Salamah, who worked as an investment advisor in Loves Park, fraudulently obtained more than $950,000 from the accounts of three customers from August 2017 to May 2021, the information states. Salamah told the customers that he needed to move the money to diversify their assets, when, in fact, Salamah deposited the money into a bank account that he controlled, the charge alleges. Salamah allegedly used the money for his own benefit and without the customers’ knowledge or consent.
The charge 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed a civil enforcement action against Salamah, provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Paccagnini.
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.
Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Arraignment in U.S. District Court in Rockford has not yet been set.
Liquor Store Shootout Sends Waterloo Felon to Hospital, Then to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was shot in the ankle during a shootout at a liquor store in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Demitrius Cannon, age 35, from Waterloo, received the prison term today after an April 21, 2021 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at prior hearings showed that Cannon engaged in a shootout with Charles Ware at a liquor store in Waterloo during the early morning hours of September 25, 2020. During the shootout, Cannon was shot in the leg and bullets went through multiple nearby windows. Cannon was admitted to the hospital for his injuries and is currently confined to a wheelchair. The judge at sentencing described the scene as reminiscent of the Wild West. Cannon had previously been convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in Wisconsin in 2003. Ware, whose criminal history included 30 adult convictions, was previously sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment.
Cannon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cannon was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Cannon is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Schunk and Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-02063-CJW-MAR.
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Lexington Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Vonnie McDaniels, 32, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after being convicted of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
McDaniels obtained a $382,500 commercial loan from Kentucky Bank in August 2019 under false pretenses, and used the loan proceeds to purchase an office building in Frankfort, Kentucky that was being leased by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. According to the evidence at trial, during the loan application process, McDaniels gave the bank falsified financial records and other information, which misrepresented his assets and liabilities, and modified key terms of the lease agreement with the state. The state terminated the lease in December 2019. In March 2020, McDaniels requested loan forbearance from Kentucky Bank, falsely claiming that the reason he was unable to repay the loan was that the state of Kentucky had suspended rent payments under the lease due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To corroborate this lie about the pandemic, McDaniels fabricated a letter from a state employee purporting to suspend lease payments at the office building, and used the name and signature of that employee.
McDaniels was convicted in June 2021.
Under federal law, McDaniels must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, and upon he release from prison will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Edward J. Gray, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Office; and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and FDIC-OIG. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey.
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Lexington Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Investment FraudRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. —A Lexington, Ky., man, William S. Evans, III, 69, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison Tuesday, by U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell, for commodities fraud and wire fraud.
Evans, doing business as Turning Point Investments, purported to be a professional investor and solicited substantial amounts of money from numerous friends and acquaintances as investments, into a fund that he would manage by investing on the commodity futures market. According to his plea agreement, he accepted funds from more than 20 investors, amounting to nearly $17 million, and invested a portion of that money on the commodity futures market, without registering as a commodity pool operator. Evans convinced investors to turn over savings and liquidate their retirement accounts, promising substantial gains, low-risks, and coverage for any tax penalties. He reported back to his investors that there were substantial gains on their investments, paid out distributions upon request, and continuously solicited more investments. However, in reality, Evans lost nearly all the funds he invested on the commodity futures market, paid people distributions out of other people’s investments, and spent some of the investment funds on personal expenditures.
Evans pleaded guilty in June 2021. Evans was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,934,773.40.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; and Charles Vice, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions; made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, with assistance from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Anderson.
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Lebanon, Virginia Man Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Lebanon, Virginia man was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for using the online messaging application KIK to distribute images of child pornography to undercover law enforcement officers.
According to court documents, Matthew Thompson, 40, used KIK, an application where individuals create usernames and can send messages online, to communicate with others he believed to be interested in trading images of child pornography.
In June 2020, undercover law enforcement officers located in Wisconsin identified Thompson’s KIK username, “gbrown20201,” as being responsible for distributing child pornography by posting such materials onto a KIK chatroom messaging board frequented by individuals interested in child pornography images.
In July 2020, law enforcement officials in Texas identified the “gbrown20201” username as being an active member of two known child pornography chatgroups and serving as an administrator for one of the groups. The Texas investigation revealed that Thompson distributed at least nine images of child pornography between the dates of July 24, 2020, and July 31, 2020, and received additional child pornography materials.
Thompson pleaded in June 2021 to one count of knowingly distributing one or more visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that has been mailed or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Virginia State Police, and Russell County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Leader of ‘Atomwaffen’ hate group convicted of five federal felonies for conspiracy to threaten journalists and Anti-Defamation League employeesRead the Press Release
Seattle – The leader of a Neo-Nazi hate group ‘Atomwaffen’ was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of five federal felonies for his conspiracy to send threatening posters to journalists and employees of the Anti-Defamation League. Kaleb Cole, 25, of Montgomery, Texas, was convicted of conspiracy, three counts of mailing threatening communications, and one count of interfering with a federally protected activity. The jury deliberated about 90 minutes following the two-day trial. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour scheduled sentencing for January 11, 2022.
According to records in the case and testimony at trial, Cole, and other members of Atomwaffen participated in a plot to intimidate journalists and others by mailing threatening posters or gluing the posters to victims’ homes. The group focused primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color. Kaleb Cole created the posters, which told the recipients that “you have been visited by your local Nazis.” The posters contained threatening images, such as a hooded figure preparing to throw a Molotov cocktail at a house. Another poster contained the words “Death to Pigs,” which is the same message that followers of Charles Manson scrawled in victims’ blood during a home invasion murder.
In January 2020, the coconspirators printed and delivered or mailed the posters to journalists or others the group was targeting. In the Seattle area, the posters were mailed to a TV journalist who had reported on Atomwaffen, and to two individuals associated with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In Tampa, the group targeted a journalist, but delivered the poster to the wrong address. In Phoenix, the poster was glued to a bedroom window at the residence of the editor of a Jewish lifestyle magazine.
At trial, the victims described how receiving the posters impacted them. Some moved from their homes for a time, and installed security systems. One purchased a firearm and took a firearms safety class. Another started opening her mailbox with a stick due to fear of what might be inside. One left her job as a journalist.
In his closing argument, Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods told the jury that Cole “was not simply sending a message of hate, he was sending a statement of terror.” Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson added, “All of the images (in the posters) were selected by Kaleb Cole to send one message ‘We can get you in your home.’ Cole wanted to terrorize them with threats of physical harm.”
Conspiracy is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Mailing a threatening communication is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Interference with a federally protected activity is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Three other coconspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. In August 2021, Cameron Shea, 25, of the Seattle area was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Tampa, Seattle, Houston, and Phoenix with assistance from the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Woods and Seth Wilkinson for the Western District of Washington, and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer, with assistance from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona, and Central District of California.
Kansas City Man Sentenced to Prison for Attack on ATF AgentRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced 180 months in prison following an attack on a federal law enforcement agent during an undercover operation.
In May 2021, Nicholas Newman, 20, of Kansas City pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon and guilty to one count of using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. In September 2021, Newman was sentenced 120 months for the assault conviction and 60 months for the firearms conviction to run consecutively.
According to court documents, in February 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an undercover operation in Kansas City. Two undercover ATF agents drove their vehicle to a parking lot to meet with Newman after he contacted them a few days earlier suggesting he had a firearm for sale. Newman handed the undercover agent in the driver’s seat a firearm which she put on the floorboard. She then gave him cash provided by the ATF for the undercover operation. After Newman reached to grab the firearm, a violent struggle ensued between the agent and Newman for control of the weapon. Newman physically assaulted her inflicting severe bodily harm. The second agent, who had been in the rear passenger seat, came around and attempted to subdue Newman from behind. A short time later, ATF surveillance units arrived and instructed Newman to let go of the weapon which he did. He was subsequently taken into custody.
“Every day our ATF agents work to make our communities safer by trying to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard. “In doing so, they often put themselves in harm’s way. Thanks to the bravery and quick action of these agents no lives were lost in an incident which could have resulted in tragedy.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kansas City Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania prosecuted the case.
OCDETF STRIKE FORCE CASES
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The Kansas City Metro Strike Force’s mission also includes targeting violent street gangs and cartel members operating in and around the metropolitan area that are engaged in violent offenses and firearms offenses.###
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Asotin County, Washington, Regarding Alleged Sexual Harassment by Superior Court JudgeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has filed a complaint against Asotin County, Washington, alleging that the County discriminated against a female deputy clerk on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion. The United States and Asotin County also filed a joint notice of settlement informing the court that they plan to submit a proposed consent decree that, if approved and entered by the court, would resolve the United States’ complaint.
The complaint, which was filed by the United States in the Eastern District of Washington, alleges that an Asotin County deputy clerk was subjected to sexually harassing conduct by a former Superior Court judge, including both physical touching and verbal harassment, creating a hostile work environment and that the County negligently failed to take prompt and adequate action to stop the harassment. The joint notice of settlement describes the general terms of the proposed consent decree. If the consent decree is approved by the court, Asotin County will offer the female deputy clerk $100,000 in compensatory damages. Asotin County also must designate individuals responsible for receiving and investigating employees’ complaints of harassment for the duration of the decree, maintain and adhere to a written policy addressing sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, and provide mandatory training regarding Title VII’s prohibitions against sex discrimination to all its employees.
“No employee should be subject to unlawful sexual harassment on the job, and the Justice Department is committed to holding employers accountable when they fail to act promptly to protect employees and stop the unlawful conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The proposed consent decree requires the County to undertake comprehensive actions necessary to protect employees from sex harassment, and effective measures to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination and harassment.”
“Discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace are unlawful,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington for the Eastern District of Washington. “An employer’s failure to take affirmative acts to intervene in response to discrimination and/or sexual harassment reports violates federal law, and risks an investigation and corrective measures by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The County’s voluntary agreement with the terms and conditions of the consent decree will ensure that future reports of sexual harassment and/or discrimination will be addressed promptly and thoroughly.”
The female deputy clerk filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s Seattle Field Office investigated the charge and made a reasonable cause finding. After unsuccessful conciliation efforts, the EEOC referred the charge to the Justice Department.
The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section brought the case in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
More information about Title VII and other federal employment laws is available on the Civil Rights Division’s website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Obtains over $1.5 Million from American Honda Finance Corporation to Compensate Servicemembers Whose Federal Rights Were ViolatedRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that American Honda Finance Corporation (AHFC) has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by failing to refund a type of up-front lease payment to servicemembers who lawfully terminated their motor vehicle leases early. Under the settlement agreement, AHFC must pay up to $1,585,803.89 in compensation to 714 servicemembers who were harmed by the alleged violations.
“This case illustrates the Justice Department’s steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of servicemembers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously enforce federal law to ensure that no servicemember faces unlawful treatment by auto leasing companies or other entities.”
“Servicemembers selflessly heed the call to duty, and their sacrifice should not subject them to unlawful economic harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison of the Central District of California. “This settlement is the latest resulting from investigations my office has conducted in conjunction with Justice Department attorneys to ensure our brave men and women in uniform can perform without having to worry about unjust actions at home.”
The SCRA permits servicemembers to terminate motor vehicle leases early without penalty after entering military service or receiving qualifying military orders for a permanent change of station or to deploy. When servicemembers lawfully terminate motor vehicle leases, the SCRA requires that they be refunded all lease amounts paid in advance.
AHFC is a California-based auto-financing company that provides auto-leasing for customers of Honda and Acura. Individuals who lease vehicles from AHFC, including servicemembers, often contribute an up-front monetary amount at lease signing, in the form of a cash payment, credit for a trade-in vehicle, or rebates or other credits. A portion of this up-front amount can be applied to the first month of the lease and certain up-front costs such as licensing and registration fees. The remainder, which is called the capitalized cost reduction amount, operates to reduce the monthly payment the lessee must make over the term of the lease.
Today’s settlement, which must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, resolves a lawsuit filed today by the Department of Justice. The lawsuit alleges that, while AHFC regularly provided refunds of cash payments toward capitalized cost reduction made by servicemembers, AHFC failed to provide refunds of vehicle trade-in credit that was applied toward capitalized cost reduction, in violation of the SCRA.
In addition to compensating 714 servicemembers, the settlement requires AHFC to pay $64,715 to the U.S. Treasury to adopt new policies and implement new training requirements.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe their SCRA rights have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/.
The Justice Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the department has obtained over $476 million in monetary relief for over 121,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. Additional information on the department’s enforcement of the SCRA and other laws protecting servicemembers is available at www.servicemembers.gov.
Jennifer Lynne Faith Charged with Murder-For-Hire in Husband’s DeathRead the Press Release
Jennifer Lynne Faith, the Oak Cliff woman whose boyfriend allegedly shot her husband to death, has been charged with orchestrating the murder, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah announced today.
Ms. Faith, 49, was charged Tuesday via superseding indictment with use of interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire, a charge that carries a potential death penalty. She was previously charged with obstruction of justice, to which she entered a plea of not guilty.
Ms. Faith’s boyfriend, Darrin Ruben Lopez, 49, allegedly gunned down her husband, American Airlines technology director Jamie Faith, on Oct. 9, 2020 in front of his home in Oak Cliff. Mr. Lopez was previously charged by the state with murder and by the feds with a gun crime, to which he also entered a plea of not guilty.
Court documents unsealed today allege that Ms. Faith used two phony email accounts to correspond with Mr. Lopez, assuming the identities of her own husband and one of her friends in order to falsely convince Mr. Lopez that her husband was physically and sexually abusing her.
“Ms. Faith’s alleged murder-for-hire scheme was depraved and calculated. She preyed on her boyfriend’s protective instinct and his pocketbook in order to convince him to execute her husband,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “Jamie Faith’s brutal murder was a tragedy. His death has been a double blow to his family and friends, who had just begun to absorb the news of his murder when they were confronted with evidence of his wife’s alleged involvement. We are committed to getting justice for Jamie – and to holding both Ms. Faith and Mr. Lopez accountable for their alleged crimes.”
“Although the indictment of Ms. Faith is a win for law enforcement, I can’t help but think of the pain associated with so many others in this investigation. ATF is grateful to the Dallas Police Department for their dogged efforts in bringing this case to justice. ATF will not waver in its fight against violent crime in North Texas and beyond,” stated ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
According to the superseding indictment, Ms. Faith allegedly created the fake Gmail account in her husband’s name on April 9, 2020. Posing as Mr. Faith, Ms. Faith emailed Mr. Lopez multiple times during the spring and summer of 2020, taunting Mr. Lopez with details of extreme physical and sexual abuse that had never actually occurred. (Investigators have found absolutely no evidence of domestic or sexual violence by Jamie Faith.) Ms. Faith repeatedly attached fake photos of injuries as bogus proof of the abuse.
“I am telling you to stay away from my family,” she wrote in an email to Mr. Lopez on April 10 while posing as Mr. Faith.
“Enjoy knowing you can’t do a [expletive] thing about it,” she wrote in another email to Mr. Lopez on May 9, attaching close-up photos of purported injuries.
Ms. Faith allegedly created the fake Gmail account in her friend’s name on May 13. Posing as that friend, Ms. Faith sent multiple emails to Mr. Lopez’s personal email account falsely claiming that Mr. Faith was physically and sexually abusing her. Ms. Faith downloaded stock images of injuries from the internet and attached those images to her emails.
“Jamie slapped Jen … then he sent the pic of him choking her,” she wrote in an email to Mr. Lopez on May 13 while posing as her friend. “I am asking if you are willing to get involved and help Jen get out of this situation.”
“Jamie is abusing Jen today,” she wrote in another email to Mr. Lopez. “Any ideas how we can help her?”
“I know I won’t feel better about her situation until she is out of the house away from him or she lets me put a bullet in Jamie’s head,” Mr. Lopez replied by email on May 20.
“I am also very concerned and if it were up to me, I would tell you to go for it with your idea --- lol; I’ll give you an alibi,” Ms. Faith responded, still posing as her friend.
“Darrin, I talked to Jenn – he’s burning her, among other things,” she continued in another email sent to Mr. Lopez on July 26.
On Oct. 8, Mr. Lopez allegedly drove from his home in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, to the Faiths’ home in Dallas, where he laid in wait until the early morning hours of Oct. 9. When Mr. and Ms. Faith emerged from their home to walk the family dog, Mr. Lopez allegedly approached Mr. Faith from behind and shot him seven times – three times in the head, three times in the torso, and one time in the groin – before fleeing the scene in his black Nissan Titan pickup truck with a distinctive “T” decal on the back window.
In the days following the murder, the pair exchanged multiple text messages about removing the decal from Mr. Lopez’s truck – messages they later attempted to delete.
On Oct. 10, an associate of Ms. Faith created a GoFundMe account to raise money for the deceased’s family. Ms. Faith allegedly withdrew approximately $58,000 from the fund, which she used to pay for purchases made on two credit cards she gave to Mr. Lopez. She also used the credit cards to pay for expenses for Mr. Lopez and his family, purchase airline tickets for Mr. Lopez and his daughters, and pay FedEx to ship Mr. Lopez a large screen television.
On Nov. 11, Ms. Faith initiated a life insurance claim seeking approximately $629,000 in death benefits from Met Life. She repeatedly updated Mr. Lopez as to the status of the claim:
“Ok, so life insurance. They aren’t processing the claim yet because when they spoke to Det Walton in November, he told them I couldn’t be ruled out as a suspect,” she texted Mr. Lopez (as herself) on Dec. 29.
“Oh no,” Mr. Lopez texted back.
On Jan. 10, 2021, law enforcement agents asked Ms. Faith to come in for an interview. She immediately texted Mr. Lopez in Tennessee:
“Detective called. He wants me in for an interview tomorrow. He said he wants to go over the investigation and go through some things to start moving things forward. I’m a ball of nerves now,” she wrote.
“You don’t need to be,” Mr. Lopez responded. “Just keep saying what you have been … you will be fine.”
“If asked about you, you are an old friend going through a divorce,” Ms. Faith replied. “Don’t text me Monday, I am going to factory reset my phone on Sunday night after deleting texts. Just thinking in case they pulled phone records and ask.”
On Jan. 11, Mr. Lopez was arrested in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee. Law enforcement agents located the .45 caliber handgun used to kill Jamie Faith inside a satchel in Mr. Lopez’s residence. Jamie Faith’s blood was recovered on the firearm.
The following week, Ms. Faith allegedly transferred a total of $118,00 from her checking account into an account belonging to a third party. A few days later, she asked another individual to transmit a message to Mr. Lopez:
“I’ve just needed to be cautious because every communication is being monitored,” she said. “Please tell him ASAP that I will always be his.”
“Please stay strong for US,” Mr. Lopez, who was in custody, responded via the individual. “Your knight always.”
Indictments are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, both Ms. Faith and Mr. Lopez are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Ms. Faith faces up to life in federal prison, and could be subject to the death penalty. Mr. Lopez faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the firearm charge and up to life in a state penitentiary on the Dallas County murder charge.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. NDTX Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Briggs and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McKay are prosecuting the case.
Janesville Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Brian Garbe, 47, of Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to five years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. This term of imprisonment is to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Garbe pleaded guilty to this charge on June 24, 2021.
Garbe bought child pornography from a website dedicated to the exploitation of children three times in 2016. He also visited the website numerous times between September 2015 and March 2018. In 2018, agents searched electronic devices found at Garbe’s home and found more than 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography.
Judge Conley noted Garbe made a horrendous decision to access child pornography but found his conduct mitigated by his military service and mental health issues.
The charge against Garbe was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; and Janesville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Neil Shai-Cameron Lewis, age 26, entered a guilty plea to one count of Murder (Second Degree) in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that the crime occurred on or about March 21, 2020, at a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Low Rent Housing Edition located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. The defendant was homeless and staying with someone in the complex, and during the course of hours, a group of men drank and socialized in an apartment in the complex. They drank to excess and became intoxicated, and the defendant started to become argumentative and aggressive toward the other drinkers. The defendant then struck one of the men outside of the apartment, and the man was injured enough that EMS and the police were summoned. After attending to the injured man, the police knocked on the door to the apartment where the defendant and the other men had been drinking. Eventually, the defendant answered the door with blood all over his person, and the police discovered the victim, Deslin Gouge, who had been beaten severely and was lying on the floor. It appeared that the television set and a coat rack were used as weapons to inflict blunt force trauma on the victim. The victim subsequently died, and while in the county jail the defendant admitted to another inmate that he was a killer.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Kimberley West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Gialketsis represented the United States.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Santiago “Jimmy” Perez III, age 40, entered a guilty plea to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 United States Code Section 2422(b), punishable by a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, or both, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years, and a special assessment fee in the amount of $100.00.
The Indictment charged the defendant with crimes stemming from an incident occurring on or about May 3, 2019, in which the defendant visited the school of the victim, who was eleven years old at that time. The defendant removed the victim from school without the parents’ knowledge or consent, and the defendant took the victim to his residence in Westville, Oklahoma, which is in Adair County. Once in the home, the defendant attempted to sexually abuse the victim.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jodi Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek represented the United States.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Child Neglect and Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Henry Charles Littlebear Redhat, age 29, entered a guilty plea to one count of child neglect, in violation of 18 United States Code Sections 1151, 1153, 2, and 21 Oklahoma Statute Section 843.5(C), punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to life imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release determined by the court, and a special assessment fee in the amount of $100.00, and one count of sexual abuse in Indian Country, in violation of 18 United States Code Sections 2242(2), 2246(2)(A), 2, 1151, and 1153, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to life imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release determined by the court, and a special assessment fee in the amount of $100.00.
The Indictment alleged that the crimes occurred on or about February 26, 2020, at a residence in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Defendant Redhat engaged in sexual acts with a female victim who was unconscious and physically incapable of declining participation in such sex acts. A three-old child was awake and present during these events and Redhat willfully and maliciously failed to protect the child from exposure to the illicit sexual activity and the possession of marijuana.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Kimberley West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Child NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brooke Lynn Davidson, age 29, entered a guilty plea to one count of child neglect, in violation of 18 United States Code Sections 1151, 1153, 2, and 21 Oklahoma Statute Section 843.5(C), punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to life imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release determined by the court, and a special assessment fee in the amount of $100.00.
The Indictment alleged that the crime occurred on or about February 26, 2020, at a residence in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Defendant willfully and maliciously failed to protect a child from exposure to illicit sexual activity and the possession of marijuana.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Kimberley West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Houston Man Guilty of Trafficking Fentanyl through Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jorge Sayon, Jr., 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess 400 grams or more of fentanyl today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.
“Fentanyl is among the deadliest drugs that America has ever encountered. Even a small dosage can greatly increase the user’s chance of overdose or death. Simply put, there is no safe amount of fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Taking these drugs off the street undoubtedly saved lives, and we are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their continued vigilance.”
According to information presented in court, since at least May 2017, Ruben Flores Pulido, Ivan Castano-Aguirre, and Javier Hernandez, supervised, managed and controlled a drug trafficking organization of more than five people that distributed cocaine and fentanyl and laundered narcotics proceeds in Houston, Texas, Southeast Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, and Monterrey, Mexico.
On June 26, 2018, agents intercepted a call where Flores told Castano-Aguirre that Jorge Sayon had picked up illegal narcotics and was traveling back to Houston. Agents relayed this information to Texas DPS who were able to locate the Sayon traveling southbound on Interstate 45 through Montgomery County. During a subsequent traffic stop of Sayon, DPS Troopers located two bags that contained approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine and 16.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.5 kilograms of which were in pill form.
Sayon was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2020. He faces up to life in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp.
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Holbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holbrook man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Andre Echevarria, 41, of Holbrook, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2022.
Echevarria was charged along with 24 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.
Echevarria was identified as a customer for co-defendants and wholesale drug suppliers Winston McGhee and, allegedly, Derek Hart. Over the course of the investigation, McGhee and, allegedly, Hart provided quantities of cocaine to Echevarria for purposes of drug trafficking. In June 2021, McGhee was sentenced by Judge Stearns to 115 months in prison. Hart has not yet been apprehended and remains a fugitive.
Echevarria is the eighth defendant to plead guilty in the case. The 17 remaining defendants are pending trial.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of Mendell’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
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.
Guilty Verdict in 77-Kilogram Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a federal jury convicted a Bear, Delaware man on Monday on charges of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The defendant was acquitted on two related charges. U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark accepted the verdict.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Omar Morales Colon, age 44, imported 77 kilograms of cocaine into Delaware from California. The cocaine was smuggled inside four-foot-tall oxygen tanks. Colon was arrested shortly after giving his cocaine supplier $382,045 in cash in a hotel parking lot in Newark, Delaware. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also discovered a secret underground bunker beneath Colon’s residence, accessed by a tunnel behind a false fireplace, in which Colon hid a marijuana grow operation.
Colon and his wife, Shakira Martinez, have also been charged with various money laundering offenses. A trial date for the money laundering charges has not yet been set.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented on the case, “The defendant was a sophisticated drug trafficker who conspired with others, including members of the Sinaloa cartel, to bring vast amounts of cocaine into Delaware. The DEA’s investigation led to the seizure of 17 kilograms of cocaine, pounds of marijuana, nearly $1 million in cash, and the conviction of a major drug trafficker. My office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who profit from illegal drug operations.”
Colon faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison when sentenced. Judge Stark will determine the defendant’s sentence, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer K. Welsh and Whitney C. Cloud are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by the DEA Philadelphia Division.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-00047-LPS.
Grand Rapids Man Sentenced to Five Years, $1.6 Million in Restitution for ArsonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced that today Kevin Daniel Baker, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment, followed by two years’ supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff.
Mr. Baker admitted to breaking into Austin Jordan Engines, an automotive repair business located in Wyoming, Michigan, to find items that he could steal and sell to support his drug addiction. To conceal the evidence of his burglary, Mr. Baker set the business on fire and then drove away in a stolen car packed with stolen goods. The next day, Mr. Baker drove the stolen car to a local business and attempted to cash checks that he had stolen from Austin Jordan Engines. A suspicious employee called law enforcement and Mr. Baker was quickly placed under arrest.
Judge Neff commented that Mr. Baker “was extremely lucky no one was injured or killed” because of his arson. The blaze severely damaged Austin Jordan Engines, resulting in over $1.6 million dollars of loss and damages, which Judge Neff ordered Mr. Baker to pay back as a part of his sentence.
“Setting a fire to conceal evidence of another crime is extremely dangerous” commented U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. “Arson is an inherently violent act that puts many of our community members at risk, including the firefighters who respond to the scene. With today’s sentence, Mr. Baker is held accountable for his actions.”
“Our partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our State and local counterparts, along with our considerable fire investigative resources, ensures those responsible for violent crimes like arson are apprehended and prosecuted,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Krolczyk.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Wyoming Fire Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin K. Lane.
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Goffstown Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Transportation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Timothy P. Diggins, 60, of Goffstown, was sentenced on Tuesday to 78 months in federal prison for transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Microsoft OneDrive is an online cloud-based storage service used to store and share digital files, images and/or video. On or about January 1, 2019, Microsoft’s automated system detected potential child exploitation material on an account associated with an IP address located at Diggins’ Goffstown home. The matter was referred to law enforcement for investigation.
On September 18, 2019, investigators conducted a consensual interview with Diggins at his home. Diggins confirmed he lived alone and admitted to using the internet to view child sexual abuse material. Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for Diggins’ residence and seized cellular phones, computer equipment and various electronic media for forensic examination. The examination revealed that Diggins downloaded child sexual abuse material from the internet and saved his collection of over 1,000 of the images on his computer equipment and electronic media.
“Protecting children from abuse is one of the highest priorities of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Criminals who possess or transport child pornography are furthering the abuse of the innocent victims who appear in these images. As part of our effort to protect children, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit offenses involving images of child sexual abuse.”
"The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is proud to work with our local and Federal partners in law enforcement in an effort to protect the children of New Hampshire.” said Eric Kinsman, Commander, NH ICAC. “We encourage parents to talk to their children about internet safety and to visit https://www.missingkids.org/ for resources and helpful information."
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Goffstown Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam Le.
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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Gang Members Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Armed Robbery and Shooting at Beverly Hills RestaurantRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two South Los Angeles men pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from an armed robbery earlier this year on the crowded patio of a Beverly Hills restaurant in which one customer had a gun held to his head while the robbers removed his $500,000 wristwatch, and a second restaurant patron was shot and wounded.
Malik Lamont Powell, 21, and Khai McGhee, a.k.a. “Cameron Smith,” 18, each pleaded guilty today to three felony counts: conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
A third defendant who participated in the robbery – Marquise Anthony Gardon, 41, also of South Los Angeles – pleaded guilty on September 10 to two counts: interference with commerce by robbery, and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, the three defendants – each of whom is a documented member of the Rollin’ 30s Crips street gang – drove to Beverly Hills on the afternoon of March 4 to commit an armed robbery. After scouting Beverly Hills for potential victims, the defendants decided to target a man wearing a Richard Mille wristwatch who was seated in the outdoor dining section of the Il Pastaio restaurant.
During the robbery, the victim was held at gunpoint. A struggle for the gun ensued, and at least two rounds were discharged from the firearm, one of which struck another restaurant patron in the leg. The gun was left at the scene, but the robbers fled with the watch, which was worth approximately $500,000.
United States District Judge John F. Walter is scheduled to sentence Powell and McGhee on February 14, 2022. Gardon’s sentencing hearing was previously scheduled for November 29.
As a result of their guilty pleas, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the robbery-related offenses. The firearms charge, because the weapon was discharged, carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life.
The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph D. Axelrad and Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Former New York City Department of Education Senior Official and Three Others Charged with Extortion Conspiracy and BriberyRead the Press Release
A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Eric Goldstein, the former Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Department of Education’s (“NYC DOE”) Office of School Support Services (“OSS”), Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey with conspiring to commit extortion under color of official right and solicitation and giving of bribes relating to programs receiving federal funds. Goldstein was arrested this morning, made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lois M. Bloom and was released on a $150,000 bond. Turley was arrested in Arkansas this morning and will make his initial appearance in the Western District of Arkansas tomorrow. Iler and Twomey will make their initial appearances in the Northern District of Texas this afternoon.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.
“Goldstein is alleged to have abused his position as a senior executive with the Department of Education by soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars in bribes for pure financial gain. In exchange, Goldstein’s co-conspirators obtained lucrative contracts to provide food services that consisted of substandard products that were served to students, teachers and staff in public schools.” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “This Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring integrity in government contracts, and will not tolerate corruption that compromises the quality of food that is served in New York City public schools.”
“As alleged, Goldstein used his position within the DOE to help promote a business in which he had a financial interest, which is not only illegal, but also doesn’t allow for a fair bidding process between competing interests. As a result of this scheme, Goldstein—and his coconspirators—learned a lesson of their own today in what not to do with taxpayer money,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
As alleged in the complaint, from 2008 to 2018, Goldstein was the Chief Executive Officer of OSS. In that role, Goldstein was the NYC DOE senior executive in charge of overseeing the management, budget and operations of several NYC DOE departments, including the Office of Food and Nutrition Services, also known as SchoolFood, which is responsible for managing the food service operations for all New York City public schools. Iler, Turley and Twomey were the founders and operators of a food services company (the “Food Service Company”) that sold food products to retail and food service markets, including schools.
Between 2015 and 2016, Goldstein, while he was head of OSS, together with Iler, Turley and Twome, formed and operated a grass-fed beef importation business called Range Meats Supply Co., LLC (“RMSCO”). During the same time, between 2015 and 2016, Goldstein used his official position within SchoolFood to ensure that the food products promoted and sold by the Food Service Company would be purchased by SchoolFood and served in New York City public schools. In exchange, Iler, Turley and Twomey transferred tens of thousands of dollars to RMSCO for Goldstein’s benefit, including a payment of $7,000 to Goldstein’s personal divorce lawyer and a $3,000 wire transfer to a close relative of Goldstein.
In one instance alleged in the complaint, in October 2016, SchoolFood stopped serving the Food Service Company’s chicken tenders after a NYC DOE employee choked on a bone that had not been removed from a chicken tender supplied by the Food Service Company. Goldstein, who had final approval as to whether and when the chicken tenders would be allowed back in schools, delayed approving the reintroduction of the tenders until Iler, Turley and Twomey agreed to transfer the Food Service Company’s ownership interest in RMSCO to Goldstein as well as to transfer $66,670 to a bank account in RMSCO’s name that Goldstein had opened and controlled. Following weeks of negotiations, on November 29, 2016, Iler, Turley and Twomey agreed to pay the bribe Goldstein was soliciting and one day later, on November 30, 2016, Goldstein approved reintroduction of the Food Service Company’s chicken products in schools. The products were served in schools until April 2017 when, following repeated complaints from students and staff that the chicken tenders continued to contain foreign objects, including plastic, metal and bones, SchoolFood decided to remove all of the Food Service Company’s food products from New York City public schools.
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Polemeni and Laura Zuckerwise are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants
ERIC GOLDSTEIN
Age: 53
New Rochelle, New YorkBLAINE ILER
Age: 34
Dallas, TexasMICHAEL TURLEY
Age: 51
Fayetteville, ArkansasBRIAN TWOMEY
Age: 48
Dallas, TexasE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-MJ-1102
Former CEO of Melrose Credit Union Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Prison for Violating Bank Bribery StatuteRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ALAN KAUFMAN, who at the time of the offense was the chief executive officer of Melrose Credit Union (“Melrose CU”), was sentenced today to 46 months in prison. KAUFMAN was previously convicted, following a three-week jury trial, of participating in a scheme in which he accepted from Tony Georgiton free housing and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financing for the purchase of his personal residence, after approving millions of dollars in loans to Georgiton’s companies at favorable terms. KAUFMAN was also convicted for accepting lavish vacations, including to Paris and Hawaii, from CBS Radio after increasing Melrose CU’s advertising purchases at CBS Radio. KAUFMAN’s sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Alan Kaufman accepted lavish gifts from Tony Georgiton as a reward for favorable loan rates for Georgiton’s companies. In addition, Kaufman accepted luxury travel and hotel accommodations in return for approval of advertising spending by Melrose Credit Union at CBS Radio and elsewhere. Kaufman shirked his duty to act in the best interests of the credit union and its account holders, exploiting his position for personal gain. Now, thanks to the work of the FBI, Kaufman will spend time in federal prison for his crimes.”
According to the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence presented at trial:
In 2010, Georgiton purchased a home in Jericho, New York (the “Jericho Residence”), and permitted KAUFMAN to live in that home rent-free for over two years. While KAUFMAN was living rent-free at the Jericho Residence, KAUFMAN personally approved the refinancing of over $100 million worth of loans at Melrose CU held by a company owned by Georgiton with favorable terms. The head of Melrose CU’s loan department did not sign off on the loans made to Georgiton because, among other things, he believed that the terms were too favorable and did not comply with Melrose CU’s loan policy.
In 2011, KAUFMAN sought approval from Melrose CU’s board of directors (the “Melrose Board”) for Melrose CU to purchase the naming rights to a ballroom under construction in Astoria, Queens (the “Melrose Ballroom”). That ballroom was owned by a company that was in turn owned by Georgiton. KAUFMAN did not disclose to the Melrose Board that he was living rent-free in a house owned by Georgiton at the time he sought Melrose Board approval for the naming rights acquisition. Over the next five years, Melrose CU paid $2 million to Georgiton’s company for the naming rights to the Melrose Ballroom. KAUFMAN also directed that payment for the naming rights be paid a year in advance of the Melrose Ballroom’s actual opening for operations.
In 2013, KAUFMAN purchased the Jericho Residence from Georgiton, with financing that largely came from Georgiton. To purchase the Jericho Residence, KAUFMAN took out a $200,000 loan from Melrose CU, co-signed by Georgiton and secured by Georgiton’s shares in Melrose CU. Georgiton also gave KAUFMAN a $240,000 unsecured personal “loan.” Georgiton has never made a demand for payment on that purported loan and KAUFMAN has never made a payment on that purported loan. Rather than repay the loan, the following year, KAUFMAN purchased a used Maserati sports car valued at over $100,000 for his wife.
In addition, from in or about 2010 through in or about 2015, KAUFMAN solicited and accepted lavish vacations and other gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars from CBS Radio and other media vendors, after KAUFMAN approved advertising spending by Melrose CU. For example, in 2010, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife, who also worked at Melrose CU, to fly to Paris, France, and stay at the Four Seasons George V Paris. In 2012, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife to fly to Maui, Hawaii, and stay at the Four Seasons in Wailea. In 2013, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
KAUFMAN did not seek approval for these vendor-paid trips from the Melrose Board, nor did he disclose these vendor-paid trips to the Melrose Board, in violation of Melrose CU’s anti-bribery policy.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, KAUFMAN, 62, of Jericho, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit specified property, pay restitution to the National Credit Union Administration in the amount of $2 million, and pay a fine of $30,000.
On January 11, 2021, Georgiton was sentenced to three years’ probation, a fine of $95,000, forfeiture of $286,663.65, and a special condition of nine months’ home confinement.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She also thanked the National Credit Union Administration for their efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Dina McLeod, Michael McGinnis, and Nicholas Chiuchiolo are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Alorton Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Funds from the Village of Alorton Police Department by FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ricky Perry, 51, of East St. Louis, Illinois, formerly a police officer with the Village of Alorton Police Department, entered a plea of guilty to “Obtaining Funds by Fraud from the Village of Alorton Police Department, a Unit of a Government that Received Federal Funds.”
As part of the plea, Perry acknowledged that he obtained funds by fraud from May 2018 through April
2021 claiming to be working when he was out of the jurisdiction, usually at his residence in East
St. Louis. The Information alleges that there was approximately 4000 hours where
Perry claimed he was working but he was outside the jurisdiction of the Village of
Alorton causing a financial loss of approximately $60,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January
26, 2022.U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “We proudly support the thousands of law enforcement officers in this district who serve the public with honor, integrity, and dedication.
The Metro-East police departments are staffed by many such officers, and this guilty plea should not undermine the public’s confidence in the work of law enforcement as a whole. This case shows that law enforcement will police their own, and that officers are held accountable when they violate the law.”
Embezzling money from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution.The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of agents with the FBI, and the Illinois State Police.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois
Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
Federal Indictment in Chicago Charges Turkish National with Directing Cyber Attack on Multinational Hospitality CompanyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An alleged cyber attacker from Turkey has been indicted in federal court in Chicago for allegedly orchestrating a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on a Chicago-based multinational hospitality company.
In August 2017, IZZET MERT OZEK used the WireX botnet, which consisted of compromised Google Android devices, to direct large amounts of network traffic to the hospitality company’s website, preventing legitimate users from completing hotel bookings, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The hospitality company, which managed luxury hotels and resorts, was headquartered in Chicago and the servers for its website were located in northern Illinois.
The indictment charges Ozek, 32, with one count of intentionally causing damage to a protected computer. Ozek is believed to be residing in Turkey, and a warrant for his arrest will be issued.
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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Didwania.
The public is reminded that an indictment 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 charge in the indictment is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 15 for Their Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Operating in Kanawha CountyRead the Press Release
Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 40 firearms seized
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced that a federal grand jury has returned two indictments charging 15 individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Kanawha County.
Charged in a 15-count indictment are: Ramon David Alston, 41, of Decatur, Georgia; Jonathan Gregory Bush, 38, of Dunbar, West Virginia; Kelly Cordle, 43, of Kimberly, West Virginia; Scott Edward Hudson, 49, and Jason Robert Oxley, 38, of St. Albans, West Virginia; Leo Antoine Smith, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia; and James Edward Bennett III, 30, Treydan Burks, 31, Kaitlyn Brooke Combs, 24, Denise Marie Cottrell, 63, Brittany Frances Gilbert, 33, Brian Dangelo Terry, 36 and Douglas Johnathan Wesley, 32, all of Charleston, West Virginia. The indictment charges 11 of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Kanawha County from March 2019 to September 2021. The indictment also charges various drug and gun crimes carried out in connection with the DTO.
In a separate 10-count indictment, Shane Kelly Fulkerson, 43, of Saint Albans, West Virginia and Timothy Wayne Dodd, 45, of Charleston, West Virginia are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Kanawha County from March to September 2021. Additional charges against Fulkerson include distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
During the course of the nearly 18-month-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 40 firearms, more than $80,000 cash, and several vehicles. Several of the vehicles and firearms had been reported stolen.
“The indictments unsealed earlier today are the result of tremendous effort, teamwork, and cooperation between our federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I commend their efforts and thank them for their countless hours of hard work in bringing down this violent drug organization.”
“Charleston and the surrounding areas have been plagued by illegal drugs and the fear of violence for too long,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “The FBI and our local, state and federal partners will not let drug dealers hold a community hostage. We are committed to cleaning up the streets and holding those individuals accountable for the violence and drug trafficking they engage in.”
“The number of offenders, the quantity of drugs seized, and the guns taken off our streets is impressive work, but it does not begin to tell the full story of how this impacts the City of Charleston and our surrounding cities,” said Chief James “Tyke” Hunt of the Charleston Police Department. “Violence was curbed, and lives were saved multiple times throughout this investigation and that is the bigger picture, that is why all of us standing before you today do what we do.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Please note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00171 (Fulkerson, et al.) and 2:21-cr-00172 (Alston, et al.).
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Federal Court Orders Miami-Area Tax Preparer to Pay Contempt Sanction for Violating Permanent InjunctionRead the Press Release
A federal court in the Southern District of Florida has ordered a Miami-area tax preparer to pay a $403,969.70 contempt sanction for violating a permanent injunction that barred her from preparing, filing or assisting in the preparation or filing of federal tax returns for others.
The United States filed a complaint against Milagros Espinal on Feb. 7, 2011, that alleged that she had prepared returns for customers that claimed deductions for fraudulent medical expenses, charitable contributions and unreimbursed employee business expenses. According to the complaint, an IRS review of returns she prepared uncovered errors in 97% of the returns the agency examined. The parties contemporaneously filed a consent order, in which Espinal agreed to a full bar on return preparation. On Feb. 16, 2011, the court issued a permanent injunction.
On Aug. 18, 2021, following an evidentiary hearing, the court found that the United States proved by clear and convincing evidence that Espinal continued to prepare returns in violation of the injunction and held Espinal in contempt. The court stated in its order that it would decide the appropriate contempt sanction at a later date. Today, in ordering her to pay $403,969.70 to coerce her compliance with the injunction, and to compensate the Treasury for the harm Espinal caused, the court found that the government “had demonstrated that $395,280 is a reasonable approximation of [Espinal’s] ill-gotten gains.” According to the order, the balance of the sanction ($8,689.75) represents the costs the United States incurred to investigate and litigate Espinal’s actions violating the court’s injunction.
Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. (More information can also be found here.) The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Ex-Roommate and Co-Schemer of Former Eagles Linebacker Found Guilty of Trading on Inside Information Provided to ThemRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Mark Ramsey, 31, of San Francisco, CA, was convicted today at trial of insider trading charges arising from his use of non-public information provided to him and former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Marvin Mychal Kendricks by a Goldman Sachs investment banker with respect to four separate stocks.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant traded on inside information provided by Damilare Sonoiki, at the time a junior analyst at Goldman Sachs, who had offered Kendricks information regarding upcoming mergers involving four Goldman Sachs clients. Ramsey and Kendricks purchased call options in the target companies between July 2014 and November 2014. When the proposed merger was announced in each case, the value of the options purchased by Ramsey and Kendricks increased significantly. During the period of the conspiracy, the trading conducted by Ramsey and Kendricks from Kendricks’ account resulted in profits of nearly $1.2 million on the four securities listed in the Superseding Indictment:
- The trading began when Sonoiki and Kendricks purchased call options for Compuware based on pending acquisition of Compuware that was known to Sonoiki. When Compuware announced on September 2, 2014, that it had been acquired by a private company, Kendricks made $78,423 in profits.
- Sonoiki provided Kendricks and Ramsey inside information on a second deal in which Goldman represented News Corporation, which was in talks to acquire Move, Inc. Ramsey and Kendricks purchased call options in Move during the month of September. When the News Corporation acquisition of Move was announced on September 30, 2014, Ramsey and Kendricks sold the open options contracts at profit of $278,701.
- In early October 2014, Sonoiki provided Kendricks and Ramsey with inside information about a pending acquisition of Sapient, another company represented by Goldman. Sapient was in discussions with Publicis Corporation regarding a merger deal. Ramsey began trading in Sapient on October 6, 2014. On November 3, the merger was announced, and Ramsey and Kendricks made a profit of $489,079.
- In October 2014, Oplink was in discussions with Molex, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, regarding a merger deal. Goldman represented Molex and Koch Industries. Ramsey purchased call options in Kendricks’s account between October 31 and November 17, 2014. Ramsey’s trading occupied so much of the open call option market that there was a Reuters article on November 19, 2014, suggesting that someone must have had insider information. The deal was announced on November 19, 2014, at which time Ramsey and Kendricks made a profit of $351,872.
Defendants Sonoiki and Kendricks previously pled guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges based on these same events.
“Insider trading undermines faith in our financial markets and harms ordinary investors who play by the rules,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Mark Ramsey placed himself above the law by cheating in the market and cheating other investors, and for that crime, a jury found him guilty. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity of the financial markets.”
“Mark Ramsey was given material, non-public information that he used to score an investment windfall. Exploiting such knowledge is illegal and today a jury has held him accountable,” said Bradley S. Benavides, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Insider trading undermines the trust necessary for our financial markets to function properly. The FBI is working hard to derail dishonest profiteers who cheat the system in this way.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Ignall and Eileen Zelek.
- The trading began when Sonoiki and Kendricks purchased call options for Compuware based on pending acquisition of Compuware that was known to Sonoiki. When Compuware announced on September 2, 2014, that it had been acquired by a private company, Kendricks made $78,423 in profits.
Essex County Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Defraud Banks of over $250,000 using Credit Cards and Blank ChecksRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud two banks of more than $250,000 using stolen credit cards and blank checks, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Qshaun Brown-Guinyard, 27, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2018 through January 2020, Brown-Guinyard and his conspirators engaged in a scheme to use stolen credit cards and checks to fraudulently make purchases and withdraw money from two banks, leaving the banks to bear the losses of the scheme. The credit cards were stolen from facilities used by the U.S. Postal Service in Pine Brook and Warren, New Jersey. Because the cards were stolen, they never reached the intended cardholders. After obtaining the stolen cards, Brown-Guinyard and his conspirators used them to make unauthorized purchases at various retail stores and withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) in New Jersey and elsewhere.
The blank checks were also stolen from various New Jersey-based post office facilities, and never reached their intended recipients. Once obtained, Brown-Guinyard and his conspirators altered the date, payee, and amount of the stolen checks prior to deposit. He and his conspirators would then fraudulently withdraw money at various ATMs from the third-party account holders’ accounts.
Four of Brown-Guinyard’s conspirators – Nasheed Jackson, Alexander Varice, Dashawn Duncan, and Allen Varice– have previously pleaded guilty to identical informations. Jackson and Duncan were each sentenced to 24 months in prison, and Allen Varice was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Alexander Varice is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5, 2021.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Brown-Guinyard to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $181,158.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Engineer ends trial by pleading guilty to the federal crime of conspiring to steal trade secretsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A South Carolina man who joined in a conspiracy to steal trade secrets from aircraft companies faces sentencing in federal court after admitting guilt during his trial.
Gilbert Basaldua, 62, of Hilton Head, S.C., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property during the second day of his jury trial in U.S. District Court in Statesboro, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Basaldua faces a statutory sentence of up to 10 years in prison on each charge, plus substantial financial penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Gilbert Basaldua stole an aircraft company’s intellectual property in order to avoid having to spend millions of dollars and years of research to develop an icing wind tunnel testing plan that could win FAA certification,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “On the second day of his jury trial however, Basaldua could not overcome the overwhelming evidence presented against him and learned that his theft of another company’s intellectual property would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment in the case filed in August 2020, Basaldua worked as a numerical control engineer contractor for an aircraft manufacturer in the Southern District from October 2016 through November 2018. During that time, Basaldua conspired with his co-conspirators to steal valuable proprietary aircraft wing designs and anti-icing testing information from various aircraft manufacturers, including the company where Basaldua worked. The conspirators intended to use the stolen information to quicken the process of obtaining Federal Aviation Administration certification for another company’s product.
“Basaldua chose to steal the secrets of a U.S. company rather than commit to putting in the money and hard work that is necessary to succeed, and for that he will pay,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI takes the theft of intellectual property very seriously, and we will not allow anyone to circumvent the system by using deceptive practices to steal protected information.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee.
East St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 59, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pled guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, on September 27, in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
As part of his guilty plea, Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on
September 15, 2020, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Wisham further admitted that on
December 10, 2020, he possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 21.3 grams of cocaine and that he possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.Sentencing is scheduled for December 29 at 10:30 a.m. in East St. Louis. Under federal law, Wisham faces a maximum sentence of 20 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.EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 59, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pled guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, on September 27, in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
As part of his guilty plea, Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on
September 15, 2020, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Wisham further admitted that on
December 10, 2020, he possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 21.3 grams of cocaine and that he possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.Sentencing is scheduled for December 29 at 10:30 a.m. in East St. Louis. Under federal law, Wisham faces a maximum sentence of 20 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.
EDVA Commemorates National Hispanic Heritage MonthRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) honors and celebrates the countless achievements, cultural contributions, and rich history of the Hispanic American community during this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Hispanic Americans have enriched our Office, our communities, and our country through their strong bonds of family and friendship, tenacity, kindness, and invaluable contributions to all facets of our lives,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This year’s theme of resilience and hope comes at a critical time, as we continue to fight prejudice and collectively work to remove barriers to equality that have too often disproportionately impacted minority communities. EDVA expresses its deep gratitude to the many Hispanic Americans who have defended our Nation and to those who have dedicated their lives to upholding our Nation’s most sacred values. Hispanic Americans, through their courageous leadership, tireless efforts, and extensive civic contributions, consistently remind us of the importance of unity as we strive to achieve our cherished goal of ensuring that our system of justice is equal and fair to all.”
Each year, from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the contributions of Hispanic American communities to the social fabric of our country by recognizing the exceptional impact that these diverse communities have on American society. The unique timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. For example, on September 15, 1812, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declared their independence from Spain. Mexico and Chile declared independence from Spain on September 16 and September 18, 1810 respectively. Belize also declared its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981.
The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers announced that the theme of the 2021 celebration is: “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” We are all invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on the resilient nature of Hispanic Americans in the face of profound challenges and to look to the future with hope.
EDVA’s commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month will include an office-wide virtual panel discussion with the Honorable Mary H. Murguia, who began serving as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2011 and who became the first Latina to ever serve as a judge on the federal bench in Arizona in 2000; and the Honorable Adalberto J. Jordán, who became the first Cuban American to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 2012.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Drug User Indicted on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A Greene County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearm laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Chester Aaron Hostutler, 34, of New Freeport, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, on two separate occasions in August 2020, Hostutler knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as a drug user or addicted person.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J, McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Dominican National Sentenced for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement with a drug trafficking organization based in Lawrence.
Leisy Baez-Zapata, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately 26 months in prison). Baez-Zapata will be subject to deportation proceedings. On April 21, 2021, Baez-Zapata pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, in October 2018, federal agents began investigating a Lawrence-based drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl in the Lawrence area of Massachusetts. Between October 2018 and July 2019, agents used a cooperating witness to make controlled purchases of fentanyl from the drug trafficking organization. On July 25, 2019, Baez-Zapata delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl as part of one of those controlled purchases.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Dallas Attorney Pleads Guilty to Laundering Purported Drug MoneyRead the Press Release
A Dallas lawyer pleaded guilty today to conspiring to launder money he believed was linked to narcotics trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah.
Rayshun Jackson, the 52-year-old defense attorney at the helm of The Jackson Law Firm, was arrested in April. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money before Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn.
“As an attorney, Mr. Jackson swore an oath to uphold the rule of law – an oath he violated completely when he conspired with purported drug traffickers to commit a federal offense,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “Street-level dealers may be the most conspicuous sign of our nation’s drug epidemic, but the men and women who launder the profits are no less culpable. The drug trade would die if it weren’t lucrative. Mr. Jackson attempted to profit off the backs of addicted individuals, and we are gratified to bring him to justice.”
“Money launderers, like Mr. Jackson, complete the circle of drug trafficking by returning ill-gained profits to criminal organizations,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “As a defense attorney, Mr. Jackson disregarded his oath to promote respect and confidence in the legal profession. Today’s plea reflects that nobody is above DEA’s reach, especially those who swore to defend the rule of law.”
In plea papers, Mr. Jackson admitted to laundering $380,000 for an individual he believed was a drug trafficker, but was actually an undercover DEA agent.
He was introduced to the agent on Sept. 3, 2020 by “Person A,” the leader of a large-scale opioid distribution ring known to deal in illegally diverted narcotics. After Person A vouched for each individual’s credibility, Mr. Jackson and the undercover agent discussed how the attorney could “clean” the agent’s “dope money.”
Mr. Jackson advised the agent that he could launder around $500,000 a month by funneling it through non-traceable cash businesses (i.e., coin laundries, car washes) and shell corporations. He agreed to use his firm’s bank accounts, as well as charitable bank accounts established for providing legal services to indigent persons, to transfer the money into and out of the undercover agent’s bank account.
“Ray is the bomb... He’s a thug, he’s just got a law degree,” Person A told the undercover agent after the meeting, according to court documents.
Three weeks later, the undercover agent delivered a black backpack stuffed with $100,000 cash to Mr. Jackson at his office. The attorney agreed to launder the money in return for 5% cash up front. After depositing the remaining $95,000 into his various bank accounts in various amounts on various days, he eventually transferred the entire sum into the DEA’s undercover bank account.
The next month, the undercover agent delivered an additional $300,000 cash to Mr. Jackson at his office. Again, the attorney agreed to a 5% up-front fee in return for laundering the money. After depositing the remaining $285,000 into his various bank accounts in various amounts on various days, he eventually transferred the same amount into the DEA’s undercover bank account.
In plea papers, Mr. Jackson admitted he knew of the unlawful purpose of the agreement and joined in it willingly.
Per his plea agreement, he now faces five years in federal prison and a forfeiture money judgment of $20,000 (an amount equal to the amount he collected in fees from the undercover agent). According to the Texas State Bar’s compulsory discipline policy, he will likely be stripped of his law license.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of IRS – Criminal Investigations and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Coker, the Northern District of Texas’ Deputy Criminal Chief, is prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juanita Fielden and Nashonme Johnson.
Columbus police officers charged with crimes related to distributing at least 7 kilograms of fentanylRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Federal agents arrested two officers with the Columbus Division of Police’s drug cartel unit.
Marco R. Merino, 44, of Columbus, and John J. Kotchkoski, 33, of Marengo, Ohio, were allegedly involved in the distribution of approximately seven and a half kilograms of fentanyl. Merino also allegedly accepted bribes to protect the transportation of cocaine.
According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, Merino allegedly tried to recruit a confidential informant to traffic drugs with him. Merino allegedly promised law enforcement protection to the individual and said he could intervene if other law enforcement agencies attempted to investigate the confidential informant.
Court documents detail that Merino intended to gain citizenship in Mexico as part of a plan to launder their drug proceeds. Merino allegedly planned to buy properties in Mexico to run as Airbnb properties and traveled to Mexico in July.
Specifically, it is alleged that, in March, April, May, August and September 2021, Merino accepted a total of $44,000 in cash in exchange for protecting the safe transport of at least 27 kilograms of cocaine. Unbeknownst to Merino, there was no actual cocaine and each of the transactions was controlled by federal law enforcement.
During the transports of the purported cocaine, it is alleged Kotchkoski made himself available by radio to make any calls that Merino might need, including to other law enforcement officials, to protect the safe transportation of the cocaine. According to an affidavit, cell phone data places Kotchkoski near Merino during the transports.
In June and August 2021, Merino allegedly distributed approximately seven and a half kilograms of fentanyl that Kotchkoski provided to him. It is alleged that Merino would make between $60,000 and $80,000 for the sale of the fentanyl.
Possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl is a federal crime punishable by 10 years and up to life in prison. Federal Program Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to Six and A Half Years for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Ricky Lewis Bush, 21, of Charlotte, to 78 months in prison late yesterday, for carjacking and gun charges, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also ordered Bush to serve three years under court supervision after completing his prison term and to pay restitution to the victim of the carjacking.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer is joined in making today’s announcement by Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on the night of January 13, 2021, Ricky Lewis Bush and his co-defendant, Jontez Xavier McLeod, carjacked at gunpoint a female victim identified in court documents as C.K. Court records show that C.K. was exiting her vehicle which was parked at the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte, when Bush and McLeod approached the victim. Bush pointed a firearm at the victim, and the two men grabbed the victim and pulled her from her vehicle. Bush and McLeod then got into the victim’s car and fled the scene, leaving the victim in the parking lot.
According to court documents, CMPD officers located the victim’s car. McLeod was driving the vehicle and Bush was in the front passenger seat. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the defendants sped off in an attempt to evade the police. CMPD officers pulled over the vehicle and arrested Bush and McLeod. Over the course of the investigation, CMPD officers recovered several videos from Bush’s cell phone, taken shortly before and after the carjacking. In one of the videos, Bush is holding the same firearm used in the carjacking.
On November 12, 2020, Bush pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is currently in federal custody. Upon designation of a federal facility, he will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
McLeod has also pleaded guilty for his role in the case and will be sentenced at a later date.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor G. Stout, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. ordered Malik Eli Davis, 41, of Charlotte, to serve 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release for drug and gun charges, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer is joined in making today’s announcement by Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to filed court documents and information at today’s sentencing hearing, in June 2019, CMPD officers learned that Davis was dealing cocaine from motel room in Charlotte. On June 29, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the motel room and Davis’s vehicle. Law enforcement recovered from the room cocaine, various material that indicated Davis was manufacturing crack cocaine, other drug paraphernalia, more than $2,800 in cash, and a loaded firearm. Court records show that law enforcement found in Davis’s vehicle a semi-automatic pistol loaded with a high capacity magazine and over $1,600 in cash.
Davis pleaded guilty on November 12, 2020, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Davis qualified for a sentencing enhancement due to his prior criminal convictions and was sentenced as an armed career criminal.
Davis is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon the designation of a federal facility.
The investigation was handled by the ATF and CMPD. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Cedar Rapids Man Charged with Being a Drug User in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Douglas Studer, age 62, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been charged with being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition. The charge is contained in an Indictment unsealed on September 27, 2021, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, in May 2019, Studer possessed two firearms and ammunition when he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and marijuana.
If convicted, Studer faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Studer appeared for a detention hearing on September 28, 2021, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond. Studer’s next appearance for trial is set for November 29, 2021.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 21-1027.
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Camden-Wyoming Man Who Threw A Lighted Bottle onto Apartment Building Roof Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Camden-Wyoming man was sentenced yesterday to 5 years in prison for Malicious Use of a Fire to Damage Interstate Commerce. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents, Benjamin Glanden, was arrested on June 29, 2020, after officers with the Dover Police Department and the Dover City Fire Marshal’s Office were called to the Liberty Court Apartments, 1289 Walker Road, Dover, Delaware, for a report of an individual setting fires. Surveillance video from the scene showed Glanden walking up to Apartment Building C, lighting a bottle which contained gasoline and a paper towel, and throwing the bottle onto the building’s roof. At the time Glanden threw the lighted bottle on its roof, Building C was occupied by 8 adults and 10 children.
Before imposing sentence, Chief Judge Connolly noted the seriousness of the defendant’s incredibly reckless behavior, indicating that tragic consequences could have resulted from Glanden’s actions.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Defendant’s grossly irresponsible behavior jeopardized the safety of innocent apartment dwellers. But for timely reporting to law enforcement, defendant’s fire setting could quickly have led to substantial property damage with potentially deadly consequences. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those, like the defendant, whose actions directly threaten public safety.”
“The defendant’s reckless disregard for human life could have easily resulted in tragedy,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones. “We are grateful for the public’s quick reporting and fast response by our Dover law enforcement and fire service partners that prevented that tragedy from happening. By combining ATF arson investigation resources with the knowledge and experience of our partners, we were able to ensure this defendant was brought to justice. ATF is unwavering in its commitment to remove violent offenders like this from Delaware communities.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen McCartney prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Dover Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware.
Butte meth trafficker sentenced to five years in prison after law enforcement intercepts 10-pound packageRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Butte man who admitted to accepting packages of methamphetamine in the mail for redistribution after investigators seized a 10-pound shipment destined for his residence was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Steven Douglas Shipe, 52, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Shipe was allowed to self-surrender.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement learned Shipe was involved in drug trafficking in Montana and purchased about one ounce of meth from Shipe in June 2019. Law enforcement also learned that Shipe was receiving packages of meth in the mail. Investigators recovered a package containing approximately 10 pounds of meth that was addressed to Shipe’s residence in Butte. Ten pounds of meth is the equivalent of 36,240 doses. The drugs were intercepted in Bakersfield, California, and the shipping label indicated that the parcel was sent by another individual in that city. In addition, Shipe used local co-conspirators to help with meth deals. Local co-conspirators would bring prospective buyers to Shipe’s house to complete the transactions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Service.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty After Cocaine and A Loaded Weapon Were Found in His ResidenceRead 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 Adrian Funderburk, 37, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Watkins, who is handling the case, stated that on January 6, 2021, the Buffalo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on Wecker Street in Buffalo. Investigators recovered a loaded .40 caliber pistol, approximately 36 grams of cocaine, approximately seven pounds of marijuana, and $70,000 in cash. Funderburk possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking in order to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2022, before Judge Vilardo.
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Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Being A Felon in Possession of A Firearm and AmmunitionRead 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 Denzel Robinson a/k/a Sparks, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 38 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Charles E. Watkins, Jr., who handled the case, stated that on April 28, 2020, the Buffalo Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant's residence on Sun Street in Buffalo and recovered a .22 caliber rifle and multiple rounds of ammunition. In June 2018, Robinson was convicted in Erie County Court of bail jumping and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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