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24 August 2021
San Benito man sent to prison for robbing bank via threatening messageRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for bank robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gustavo Guadalupe Guevara pleaded guilty May 20.
Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered him to serve a 42-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from the victim and noted the seriousness and nature of the offense.
On the morning of Nov. 3, 2020, Guevarra approached a teller at a Lone Star National Bank in Harlingen and handed her a piece of paper with a threatening message. In it, Guevarra also demanded money. The teller feared for her safety and complied. Guevarra then fled the bank.
The investigation led to Guevarra. Law enforcement ultimately found a large amount of U.S. currency at his residence.
Guevara will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Harlingen Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.
Rochester Man Sentenced on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Herbert L. Brock, 44, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of felon in possession of firearm, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who handled the case, stated that at approximately 10:07 p.m. on September 24, 2020 police began investigating a Shotspotter activation in the area of Zimbrich Street in Rochester. During the investigation, police followed a suspect vehicle to Sullivan Street where the driver and sole occupant of the car, later identified as the defendant, exited the vehicle and ran into a home. While the defendant ran into the house he tossed a handgun. Police secured the location and obtained consent to search the vehicle and home. Upon searching the vehicle, officers recovered three fired cartridge cases. The recovered cartridges were compared microscopically with each other and with tests fired in the recovered firearm. Based upon the comparison, a firearms examiner determined that the cartridge cases were fired from the recovered firearm. The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm based upon a 2005 felony conviction for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
The case was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. 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.
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Rochester Man Sentenced for His Role in Arson During May 2020 Violent Protests in RochesterRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Shakell Sanks, 27, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of rioting for his role in violent protests held in the City of Rochester in May 2020, was sentenced to serve five months in prison by U.S. District Judge Larimer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie M. Kocher, who handled the case, stated that on May 30, 2020, Rochester Police Department (RPD) officers were assigned to assist with crowd control during protests scheduled at the Public Safety Building (PSB) on Exchange Boulevard. During the late-afternoon/early evening, those protests, being held in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, turned violent and resulted in vandalism, damaged property, looting, and fires.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. on May 30th in downtown Rochester, Sanks assisted others in attempting to light fabric on fire. The fabric was stuffed into the gas tank of a parked car belonging to the City of Rochester Family Crisis Intervention Team (FACIT). At approximately 6:20 p.m., the FACIT car began to smoke and shortly thereafter became engulfed in flames. The car was a total loss.
The sentencing is are the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan; the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief James VanBrederode; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, under the direction of Lieutenant Robert Hill; and the Rochester Fire Department, under the direction of Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr.
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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking by ForceRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Peter R. Kiwitt, 62, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to sex trafficking by coercion. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated Kiwitt is a registered sex offender who committed this offense while on probation in Monroe County. This investigation commenced in January 2019 after Rochester Police Department officers responded to a residence in the City of Rochester for the report of a fatal overdose involving a minor victim. The owner of the apartment found the minor deceased on his living room floor and called 911. He told officers he brought the minor victim back to his residence to engage in commercial sex acts with her. The investigation determined Kiwitt was sex trafficking the minor victim until shortly before her death, using the victim’s addiction to heroin to coerce her to engage in commercial sex acts with men in the Rochester area.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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Repeat Offender Convicted of Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On Friday, a federal jury convicted James Bates (50, of Las Vegas) — who previously had been convicted of multiple felonies in Clark County, Nevada and Broward County, Florida — for unlawful possession of a firearm following a drug transaction.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in August 2020, Bates unlawfully possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Bates’ prior felony conviction history includes second degree murder, robbery, burglary of a dwelling, and grand theft. As a result, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Following a four-day trial, the jury found Bates guilty of two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for November 29, 2021. At sentencing, Bates faces: up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 for the possession with intent to distribute charge; up to 10 years prison and a fine of $250,000 for the felon in possession of a firearm charges; and for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Andrew Duncan are prosecuting the case.
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Redding Restaurant Owners Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Forced LaborRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California couple pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit forced labor. According to court documents, Nery A. Martinez Vasquez, 53, and his wife Maura N. Martinez, 53, both of Shasta Lake, are naturalized United States citizens, originally from Guatemala. They owned and operated Latino’s, a restaurant, and Redding Carpet Cleaning & Janitorial Services, a cleaning company that serviced various businesses, including multiple car dealerships, in the Shasta Lake area.
In their plea agreement filed in federal court, the defendants admitted that if the matter proceeded to trial, the government would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they convinced a Guatemalan relative and her two minor daughters to come to the United States in August 2016 by falsely promising them a better life. The defendants arranged for the victims to enter the United States using temporary visitor visas and then compelled them to overstay their visas and work long hours at Latino’s restaurant and Redding Carpet Cleaning & Janitorial Services for minimal to no pay between September 2016 and February 2018. The defendants conspired with one another to manufacture an inflated debt that they told the victims they owed and instructed them that they could not leave until they repaid this fictious debt. The defendants also abused the legal system by threatening to call the authorities on the victims and have them arrested for overstaying their visas if they did not comply with their requests.
Similarly, the defendants forbade the minor children from attending school because they claimed that immigration authorities were looking to arrest and deport non-citizen children. Instead of attending school, the children worked for the defendants’ businesses. The defendants housed the victims in a dilapidated, unheated trailer with no running water, and degraded and humiliated them in front of others. Finally, the defendants used force and threats of force to intimidate the victims, with Nery Martinez Vasquez even going as far as hitting the minor victims with a stick when angry.
“These defendants used the promise of America to lure the victim and her children to the United States in search of a better life, only to turn around and use that hope to exploit their dreams under cruel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no place for such cruel conduct in our society, and the Department of Justice remains committed to eradicating human trafficking.”
“These defendants exploited vulnerable victims, forcing them to work in their businesses, failing to pay wages, and depriving them of basic human rights,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues its commitment to protect and defend vulnerable members of our society from human trafficking.”
“This case highlights how the dream of coming to the United States to begin a new, promising life can become a nightmare,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “The family worked in public view yet were imprisoned by fear and the lies they had been told by their exploiters. No human being — let alone a family — should be forced to work and live as these victims did. The FBI is committed to identifying and investigating human trafficking. We seek justice for victims, regardless of immigration status. We ask the public to report suspected human trafficking and encourage victims to come forward to escape the cycle of exploitation they may feel trapped within.”
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Nov. 8, 2021. They face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. As part of the defendants’ plea, they have agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution to the victims.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Tanya B. Syed and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Avner Shapiro are prosecuting the case.
Quincy Man Sentenced to 192 Months Federal Prison for Enticing A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Constantino Charrez, 27, of Quincy, Florida was sentenced to 192 months federal prison for coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The sentenced was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Charrez’s sentence was the result of a federal jury returning a guilty verdict on May 13, 2021, finding Charrez’s guilty on the sole count of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
“This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through concerted efforts like Operation Stolen Innocence we will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who prey upon our children.”
“We are grateful to see justice prevail for the victim in this case,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. Charrez’s sentencing is a testament to the judicial systems’ tireless efforts to hold accountable those who break the law and reiterate to the community that human trafficking will not be tolerated."
"Operation Stolen Innocence continues to result in making our communities safer and serves as a premier example of the excellent work being done by HSI and law enforcement partners like the Tallahassee Police Department,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs.
Charrez’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions.
This conviction was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations as part of Operation Stolen Innocence, a multi-agency coordinated effort by the United States Marshal Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit to combat human trafficking in the Tallahassee area. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Prisoner Pleads Guilty to Escaping from Hartford Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Lawrence Bobnick. Acting United States Marshal, announced that JOSE SOSTRE, 41, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to escaping from the custody of the Attorney General.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 28, 2012, Sostre was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 120 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing heroin. In September 2020, Sostre was transferred to the Watkinson House Residential Reentry Center in Hartford to complete his prison term. On November 24, 2020, Sostre left the facility without permission and did not return. He surrendered to the U.S. Marshals Service on February 23, 2021.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for November 24, 2021, at which time Sostre faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gresham.
Postal Employee Charged with Theft of MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans, announced that HAROLD SAINTES, JR. age 52, of Franklin, Louisiana was charged on August 23, 2021 in a one count Bill of Information with Theft of Mail.
According to court documents, the Office of Inspector General for the United States Postal Service initiated an investigation into SAINTES and determined that he was stealing packages from the Loranger Post Office from September 1, 2019 through October 19, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, SAINTES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the U.S Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
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Port Arthur Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm While Under Felony IndictmentRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Demarcus Dewayne Elam, 23, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2021, to receipt of a firearm while under indictment and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
“Those under a felony drug indictment have no business possessing a firearm, particularly a stolen one,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Thanks to the great work of ATF and the Port Arthur Police Department, Jefferson County is a little bit safer.”
According to information presented in court, on May 3, 2020, Elam was pulled over in Port Arthur for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the law enforcement officer conducting the stop learned that Elam was wanted on outstanding warrants. Elam was arrested on those outstanding warrants and the officer began to search Elam incident to arrest. Elam informed the officer he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer retrieved the firearm and learned from dispatch the firearm had been reported stolen in Beaumont. Further investigation revealed that on Sep. 24, 2018, Elam had been placed on four years of deferred probation for a felony drug charge. Based on the deferred adjudication, Elam is considered to be under indictment and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.
Poplar woman admits trafficking oxycodone on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar woman suspected of being a long-time distributor of oxycodone pills on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted drug trafficking and money laundering crimes today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Kaycee Lynn Menz, 31, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging her with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and with money laundering. Menz faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Dec. 8. Menz was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that beginning in June 2014 and continuing through at least May 2020, Menz, and her co-defendant and boyfriend, Jason Tyrell Lee, began selling illegal oxycodone pills from a house they rented in Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Law enforcement learned that Lee resided primarily in Minnesota, Menz primarily lived at the Poplar residence and that Lee supplied Menz with the pills she sold. Investigators interviewed many individuals who witnessed Menz and Lee distributing illegal pills. Some individuals occasionally helped with the drug enterprise by driving Menz around to conduct sale and by wiring or transferring drug proceeds to individuals in Minnesota. Menz also sent money using transfer services to individuals in Minnesota and asked others to send money on her behalf. Lee is pending trial in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and Montana Highway Patrol.
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Pascagoula Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Pascagoula woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Christina Elizabeth Hand, 40, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Jackson County between 2016 through 2021.
Hand is scheduled to be sentenced on November 23, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force in Pascagoula is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.
Parent in College Admissions Case Agrees to Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The chief executive officer of a California liquor distribution company has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in connection with securing her son’s fraudulent admission to the University of Southern California (USC) as a purported athletic recruit.
Marci Palatella, 66, of Hillsborough, Calif., will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to a sentence of six weeks in prison, a $250,000 fine, two years of supervised release, with a condition of home confinement for the first six months of supervised release, and 500 hours of community service.
As set forth in the charging document, Palatella agreed with William “Rick” Singer and others to pay $500,000 to facilitate her son’s admission to USC as a football recruit, even though he was not actually being recruited and would not play on the USC football team.
Palatella will be the 33rd parent to plead guilty in the case.
The charge of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents, and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Ian J. Stearns, and Stephen E. Frank of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Leo Joshua Nieves-Ramirez (24, Orlando) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Nieves-Ramirez to forfeit a SCCY 9mm pistol and 7 rounds of ammunition, which were involved in or used in the offense.
Nieves-Ramirez had pleaded guilty on May 28, 2021.
According to testimony and court records, beginning on October 30, 2020, FBI agents observed several photographs and videos posted to Nieves-Ramirez’s Instagram page with Nieves-Ramirez posing and displaying firearms and ammunition. In one photo, Nieves-Ramirez was observed holding a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine and an “Auto Sear” (a device used to convert a semi-automatic firearm to fully automatic firing mode) attached to the rear of the firearm. In one video, Nieves-Ramirez was seen pointing and firing what appeared to be the same pistol out of an open front passenger side window in “automatic mode” to a backdrop of numerous tractor trailers.
Nieves-Ramirez was arrested on January 5, 2021. As detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office approached, Nieves-Ramirez fled on foot and discarded a pink firearm into the bushes. The firearm was recovered and determined to be a SCCY 9mm pistol, loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition. The investigation also revealed that the firearm had been reported as stolen. Nieves-Ramirez has multiple prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Beatriz Gonzalez.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Ohio man admits to wire fraud chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Kenneth Werkau, of Clarington, Ohio, has admitted to a wire fraud charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Werkau, 63, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Wire Fraud.” Werkau was employed as an associate at Walmart in Moundsville. Beginning in September 2019 and ending in January 2020, Werkau stole $123,775 in gift cards and activating them without paying for them.
Werkau faces up to 20 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 Dane DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Newark Man Admits Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man today admitted possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
D’Sean Roper, 27, of Newark, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 18, 2021, Newark Police Department officers observed a large group of people in front of a house on Fairmount Avenue in Newark. An officer saw what appeared to be a black handle of a gun protruding from Roper's waistband. Officers approached Roper and saw the outline of the object in his pants that appeared to be a gun. He was found to have a Hi-Point 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition and five bricks of heroin.
The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, and members of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, the Orange Police Department and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gang Unit in Newark.
New York Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York, man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for his participation in a heroin mill located in the Bronx, New York, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Johan Manuel Lopez Brito, 34, of the Bronx, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between 2019 and June 2020, Lopez Brito conspired with others to distribute heroin and other drugs to customers in New Jersey and elsewhere. Lopez Brito worked at the mill packaging narcotics for distribution. On June 30, 2020, law enforcement searched the organization’s mill in the Bronx and recovered heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The quantity of heroin alone amounted to approximately 8,650 individual doses. Law enforcement seized the drug trafficking organization’s distribution materials, including glassines, tape, scales, cutting agents to mix with narcotics to increase their weight and value, and stamps for the branding of the drugs. Lopez Brito was at the mill during the search and was arrested.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Lopez Brito to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Calle of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
New York Life Insurance Broker Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York Life insurance broker was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently use his association with the company to solicit investor money, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Ivan Ramos, 39, of Hillside, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of securities fraud. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence by videoconference.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ramos, who worked at New York Life selling life insurance, sought out inexperienced investors seeking low-risk investments. The victims met Ramos after purchasing life insurance through him, or through New York Life marketing events, or through mutual acquaintances. Ramos led his victims to believe, through misrepresentations and omissions, that two entities that he controlled, Invexperts LLC and Wealth Seeds Capital LLC, were associated with New York Life when they were not. The victims believed that the money they entrusted to Ramos would be placed in investments through New York Life, and accordingly multiple victims referenced New York Life on the memo line of their investment checks. One victim, for example, attended a New York Life seminar, then subsequently met with Ramos at his office in Edison, and ultimately invested in Invexperts believing it was associated with New York Life.
Ramos falsely told victims that their investments in Invexperts and Wealth Seeds were no-risk with fixed annual returns. Instead of investing their money as he promised he would, Ramos used the funds for purposes not disclosed to the victims, including, among other things, to pay for personal expenses for Ramos and others, to develop a restaurant called “Frisky Bull Barbeque” in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and to repay other investors.
Ramos obtained over $1 million in investor money through the fraudulent scheme.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Ramos to three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a civil complaint against Ramos based on the allegations underlying the securities fraud charge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., and postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Kozar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
Nashville Man Charged with Civil Rights Violations for Series of Church ArsonsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A Nashville man was charged today with civil rights violations for his role in the arson of four Nashville area churches, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Kristen M. Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.
Alan Douglas Fox, 28, was charged by criminal Information with setting fire to the Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17, 2019; the Crievewood Baptist Church on June 25, 2019; the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church on June 25, 2019; and the Priest Lake Community Baptist Church on June 26, 2019. Fox is also charged with carrying and using a firearm during the arson of the Crievewood Baptist Church.
The Information alleges that Fox intentionally set the fires because of the religious character of the churches.
If convicted, Fox faces up to 20 years in prison for each fire, and a consecutive five-year sentence for the firearms violation.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Nashville Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty to Using Facility to Promote Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man pleaded guilty to use of an interstate facility to promote a conspiracy to distribute narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Rodney Lewis McLeod, 45, used a cell phone to promote and facilitate the carrying on of an unlawful activity, in this case a conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
McLeod is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force in Pascagoula is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Cultivation in the Dutch Oven Creek Area of the Sierra National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Lester Eduardo Cardenas Flores, 24, of Michoacán, Mexico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. He also agreed to pay $48,057 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage that the cultivation operation had on public land.
According to court documents, the cultivation operation contained 2,307 marijuana plants and was located in the Basin Creek drainage in the Dutch Oven Creek area of the Sierra National Forest. Cardenas and his co-defendant, Luis Madrigal Reyes, 37, also of Michoacán, Mexico, were apprehended at the grow site during the execution of a search warrant.
The cultivation operation caused extensive environmental damage, which serves as the habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, an endangered species and the California spotted owl. Agents found lethal banned pesticides, which appeared to have been applied to the marijuana plants. The water from Dutch Oven Creek had also been diverted to irrigate the marijuana plants. Dutch Oven Creek is part of the Chiquito Creek watershed, which drains into the Fresno River before flowing into the San Joaquin River.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) of the California Department of Justice, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. The Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems, assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Cardenas is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 15, 2021. Madrigal previously entered a guilty plea and is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 20, 2021. They face a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Memphis Medical Sales Rep Admits Misleading FBIRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Florida man pleaded guilty to misleading federal agents investigating his promotion of expensive compounded prescription drugs. Steve Hill, 57, of Port Orange, Florida (formerly of Memphis), entered his plea to making false statements to the FBI today before United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
A veteran of the medical sales industry based in Memphis, in 2014 Hill began to promote compounded prescription drugs covered by TRICARE. His compensation equaled a fixed percentage of sales generated. When a healthcare provider to whom Hill marketed the drugs went on to prescribe them, Hill earned a share of whatever the insurer reimbursed for the drugs.
Among the healthcare providers Hill solicited was Doctor 1. Unbeknownst to TRICARE, Hill shared his commission on Doctor 1’s prescriptions with Doctor 1’s wife, Spouse 1. Specifically, of the more than $500,000 in commission he earned from Doctor 1’s prescriptions, Hill paid $147,325.25 to Spouse 1 and kept the remaining $345,727.15 for himself.
Around 2016, federal agents began to investigate Hill’s promotion of compounded drugs as well as his financial relationship with Spouse 1. In August 2017, a Special Agent of the FBI travelled to Hill’s Tennessee home to speak with him directly. During that interview, Hill denied having paid Spouse 1, which he knew to be false.
Under the terms of his guilty plea, Hill agreed to forfeit $345,727.15 in illicit proceeds. He will be sentenced at a later date. Making a false statement to the FBI is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office, and Miranda Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and HHS-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander D. Morgan.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Maryland Woman Charged with Stealing Housing and Nutritional Assistance PaymentsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A Maryland resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government funds, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Briayell Moore, age 40, of Laurel, Maryland, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from approximately June 2010 until approximately May 2017, Moore converted for her own use Housing Assistance Payments that were funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and from approximately December 2015 until approximately September 2016, Moore converted for her own use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Payments (aka “food stamps”) from the Department of Agriculture, for which she was ineligible.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $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 Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Marrero Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BORIS GORDON, age 24 of Marrero, pled guilty on August 19, 2021 to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on December 30, 2015, GORDON falsely stated to a federally licensed firearm dealer that he was the actual purchaser of a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, when he knew that he was not the actual buyer.
GORDON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A fine of up to $250,000 may also be imposed. GORDON may be placed on supervised release after imprisonment for a period of up to 3 years. Additionally, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee will be assessed. U.S. District Court Judge Ashe set sentencing for December 9, 2021.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
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Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Bruce Warren Sampson, Jr., age 38, of Toppenish, Washington, was sentenced today after having been found guilty on May 6, 2021, of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury following a four-day jury trial. United States District Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr. sentenced Sampson to a 70-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Sampson beat and kicked the male victim in the head and chest causing grievous injuries, including eight broken ribs, traumatic brain injury and a broken eye socket. The victim was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington for treatment. The assault occurred in Sampson’s hotel room in Toppenish, Washington, which is within the external boundaries of the Yakama Nation. Sampson initially denied any knowledge of the assault and at trial claimed to have acted in self-defense. Sampson’s claim of self-defense was rejected by the jury.
Acting United States Attorney Harrington said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington commends the law enforcement officers with the Yakama Nation Police Department, Toppenish Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated this case. Prosecuting violent crime occurring on Indian Reservations in the Eastern District of Washington is a major priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
This case was investigated by the Yakama Nation Police Department, Toppenish Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Richard Burson, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing A Firearm While on State ParoleRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – A Louisville man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge David J. Hale to 15 years in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Danel Tawan Mathis, Jr., age 31, possessed a firearm on April 13, 2019, in the Western District of Kentucky, Jefferson County, with knowledge that he had previously been convicted of a felony. Court documents allege that Mathis had been convicted of three counts of Robbery in the second degree in Jefferson Circuit Court, case number 05-CR-731, on March 3, 2005, and two counts of Complicity to Robbery in the first degree in Jefferson Circuit Court, case number 06-CR-2667, on August 22, 2006. At the time of this federal offense, Mathis was on state parole.
During his plea, Mathis admitted in open court that he possessed a Hi-Point .380 and ammunition. He further admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Mathis has three prior convictions for crimes of violence and was sentenced to a 15-year mandatory-minimum term of imprisonment pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act. There is no parole in the federal system.
“I commend the ATF and LMPD for their work in this case,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “We will continue to strategically utilize federal resources and partner with LMPD to target the most significant drivers of violence in Louisville.”
“Firearms possessed by convicted felons pose a serious threat,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “Together with LMPD, ATF is committing to disarming dangerous felons and making our communities safer. Our partnerships with local law enforcement and the USAO are getting results like this 15-year federal prison sentence.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders 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.
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Leader of ‘Atomwaffen’ conspiracy sentenced to 3 years in prison for threatening journalists and advocatesRead the Press Release
Seattle – Cameron Shea, 25, a leader of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington to 3 years in prison for federal conspiracy and hate crime charges for threatening journalists and advocates who worked to expose anti-Semitism, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said, “This conduct cannot be tolerated. This kind of conduct has consequences… It is so serious that it requires a serious sentence.”
“The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute threats motivated by religious intolerance, and to prosecute defendants like this one who threatened violence against individuals who work to end discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting to the full extent of the law, violent neo-Nazis and other perpetrators of hate crimes.”
“This hate-filled conduct strikes at the heart of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “This defendant’s goal was to make people fearful in their own homes, and he recruited and cheered on others who joined his sick scheme. This federal prison sentence underscores the human damage from his crimes.”
Shea pleaded guilty in April 2021, to one count of conspiring to commit three offenses against the United States: interference with federally protected activities because of religion; mailing threatening communications; and cyberstalking. He also pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with a federally protected activity because of religion.
Shea and three co-defendants were charged with conspiring via an encrypted online chat group to identify journalists and advocates they wanted to threaten in retaliation for the victims’ work exposing anti-Semitism. The group focused primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color. The group created posters, which featured Nazi symbols, masked figures with guns and Molotov cocktails, and threatening messages, to deliver or mail to the journalists or advocates the group targeted. Shea messaged the group that he wanted Atomwaffen members in different locations to place posters on their victims’ homes on the same night to catch journalists off guard and accomplish a “show of force.” The posters were delivered to victims in Tampa, Seattle and Phoenix. Shea mailed posters to several victims, including a poster sent to an official at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that depicted a Grim Reaper-like figure wearing a skeleton mask holding a Molotov cocktail outside a residence, with the text “Our Patience Has Its Limits . . . You have been visited by your local Nazis.”
Two of Shea’s co-defendants previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and were sentenced. A fourth defendant pled not guilty and is awaiting trial in September 2021.
The case is being 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.
Leader of ‘Atomwaffen’ Conspiracy Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Threatening Journalists and AdvocatesRead the Press Release
Cameron Shea, 25, a leader of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to three years in prison for federal conspiracy and hate crime charges for threatening journalists and advocates who worked to expose anti-Semitism, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said, “This conduct cannot be tolerated. This kind of conduct has consequences…It is so serious that it requires a serious sentence.”
“The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute threats motivated by religious intolerance, and to prosecute defendants like this one who threatened violence against individuals who work to end discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting to the full extent of the law, violent neo-Nazis and other perpetrators of hate crimes.”
“This hate-filled conduct strikes at the heart of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “This defendant’s goal was to make people fearful in their own homes, and he recruited and cheered on others who joined his sick scheme. This federal prison sentence underscores the human damage from his crimes.”
Shea pleaded guilty in April 2021, to one count of conspiring to commit three offenses against the United States: interference with federally-protected activities because of religion; mailing threatening communications; and cyberstalking. He also pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with a federally protected activity because of religion.
Shea and three co-defendants were charged with conspiring via an encrypted online chat group to identify journalists and advocates they wanted to threaten in retaliation for the victims’ work exposing anti-Semitism. The group focused primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color. The group created posters, which featured Nazi symbols, masked figures with guns and Molotov cocktails and threatening messages, to deliver or mail to the journalists or advocates the group targeted. Shea messaged the group that he wanted Atomwaffen members in different locations to place posters on their victims’ homes on the same night to catch journalists off guard and accomplish a “show of force.” The posters were delivered to victims in Tampa, Seattle and Phoenix. Shea mailed posters to several victims, including a poster sent to an official at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that depicted a Grim Reaper-like figure wearing a skeleton mask holding a Molotov cocktail outside a residence, with the text “Our Patience Has Its Limits . . . You have been visited by your local Nazis.”
Two of Shea’s co-defendants previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and were sentenced. A fourth defendant pled not guilty and is awaiting trial in Sept. 2021.
The case is being 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 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.
Leader of drug trafficking organization headed to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Dimas DeLeon Rios pleaded guilty Nov. 9, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison imposed a total 15-year sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court found DeLeon was the leader of the drug trafficking organization and tampered with three witnesses during the course of the investigation. Judge Ellison found that firearms were used during the commission of the offense and noted a kidnapping of a U.S. citizen at the hands of members of the Gulf Cartel was part of the case.
The investigation began in 2011 when authorities targeted a drug trafficking organization involved in the transportation and distribution of cocaine and marijuana. Authorities soon found the organization was also stealing loads of cocaine and marijuana from its sources of supply. As part of the scheme, the organization had created fake bundles of drugs and used law enforcement officers to seize them in order to cover up the theft.
DeLeon helped facilitate the distribution of more than 194 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy. He and others were hired to transport the cocaine, but instead stole and sold it for profit. To cover up the theft, co-conspirators created fake drug bundles that were placed in an abandoned vehicle. DeLeon paid corrupt law enforcement officers for their participation in the scheme to seize the fake drugs.
This drug trafficking investigation has led to the arrest and prosecution of 20 individuals including six law enforcement officers, one of whom has already received a 10-year prison term. The court found another had played an integral role in the drug trafficking conspiracy, abused and exploited his position of trust and ordered him to serve 166 months in federal prison.
DeLeon will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Blue Shame. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz prosecuted the case.
Lead Defendant in Synthetic Identity Fraud Ring Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Knightdale man pleaded guilty today to Bank Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.
Acting United States Attorney G. Norman Acker, III stated, “Following a lengthy period of litigation, and delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Griffin will finally face justice for his actions. We look forward to the sentencing phase of this case, and an opportunity to seek justice for the victims.”
The indictment charges that defendant Michael Griffin, operating from his business location in Raleigh and home in Knightdale, accepted fees from clients for alleged credit repair services. The indictment alleges that, in reality, Griffin was creating fictitious credit profiles and fraudulently altering client credit data through the use of fictitious police reports.
The indictment further charges that various defendants, many of whom were family members, conspired with Griffin to defraud Synchrony Bank, a Lowe’s credit card provider, by opening credit accounts in the name of fraudulent identities, cashing out the accounts through prepaid card purchases, and then defaulting on the credit accounts. The indictment also charges various defendants with similar frauds against other banks, including Capital One and Discover.
Today Griffin pleaded guilty to Count 14 of the Second Superseding Indictment, which charged a fraud upon Synchrony Bank using a false identity in the name of M.J. and a social security number and date of birth that did not belong to him.
More than ten other defendants also named in the Second Superseding Indictment already pled guilty to related charges earlier this year. Sentencing in Griffin’s case, as well as these related cases, remains pending. Griffin’s sentencing is tentatively set for the September 20, 2021 term, with the exact date and location to be determined. At sentencing, Griffin faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represents the United States.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-245-1D(2).
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Kirbyville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Newton County Mail TheftsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Kirbyville man has been sentenced to prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
William Cody Shaver, 37, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2021, to possession of stolen mail and possession of fifteen or more stolen access devices and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
“Many Americans have either been directly affected by mail and identity theft or have a close friend or family member that has been victimized by mail and identity thieves,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “EDTX is proud to partner with the Postal Inspection Service to safeguard the public’s personal information and to aggressively prosecute those that would seek to steal or profit from such private information.”
“We understand the impact mail theft can have on our valued customers. Mail theft is a serious crime, and we will work tirelessly to find those responsible and bring them to justice, as represented in this sentencing. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service was created to protect the U.S. Mail, and we will not lose sight of that mission,” said Thomas Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division. “The mission is often accomplished through partnerships, and we thank the Newton County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in this case. We also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas for pursuing this case through to the end.”
According to information presented in court, in September 2020, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office received multiple complaints of stolen mail throughout the area. An investigation led authorities to Shaver and a search warrant was executed at his residence in Kirbyville on Sep. 25, 2020. Shaver was found to be in possession of more than 200 pieces of stolen mail and mail matter including: credit cards, checks, gift cards, personal identification numbers, bank statements, and other miscellaneous items. It was determined that Shaver victimized 82 separate Newton County residents at an estimated potential loss to those victims of more than $200,000. Shaver was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 3, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Lee.
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Justice Department Enters Agreement to Ensure Public Transportation for Passengers with Disabilities in the County of HawaiiRead the Press Release
The Justice Department entered into a settlement agreement with the County of Hawaii and the County’s Mass Transit Agency (MTA) to resolve an investigation conducted under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Under the agreement, the County and MTA must make their transit services, including Hele-On, the buses used by the majority of riders, accessible to passengers with disabilities. The agreement requires the County and MTA to ensure that passengers with disabilities have lifts to board buses; paratransit users are provided timely pick-ups and drop-offs; and bus stops are accessible. In addition, the County and MTA must ensure that transit system drivers undergo ADA training and that disability-related complaints are addressed fairly. The County and MTA also must report to the department regarding their compliance with these requirements. Both the County and MTA cooperated in this matter.
“Ensuring the availability of public transit for individuals with disabilities is a key promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Accessible transportation is critical to independence and engagement in civic life, and this agreement helps to make that promise a reality.”
“This agreement will remove accessibility barriers in transit for countless individuals with disabilities living on the Big Island,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Judith Philips for the District of Hawaii. “Our office strongly supports efforts to improve access and inclusion under the ADA.”
This matter was handled by the Disability Rights Section of the department’s Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the ADA website at http://www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Justice Department Enters Agreement to Ensure Public Transportation for Passengers with Disabilities in the County of HawaiiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – The Justice Department entered into a settlement agreement with the County of Hawaii and the County’s Mass Transit Agency (MTA) to resolve an investigation conducted under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Under the agreement, the County and MTA must make their transit services, including Hele-On, the buses used by the majority of riders, accessible to passengers with disabilities. The agreement requires the County and MTA to ensure that passengers with disabilities have lifts to board buses; paratransit users are provided timely pick-ups and drop-offs; and bus stops are accessible. In addition, the County and MTA must ensure that transit system drivers undergo ADA training and that disability-related complaints are addressed fairly. The County and MTA also must report to the department regarding their compliance with these requirements. Both the County and MTA cooperated in this matter.
“Ensuring the availability of public transit for individuals with disabilities is a key promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Accessible transportation is critical to independence and engagement in civic life, and this agreement helps to make that promise a reality.”
“This agreement will remove accessibility barriers in transit for countless individuals with disabilities living on the Big Island,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Judith Philips for the District of Hawaii. “Our office strongly supports efforts to improve access and inclusion under the ADA.”
This matter was handled by the Disability Rights Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the ADA website at http://www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Justice Department Approves Remission of over $32 Million in Forfeited Funds to Victims in the FIFA Corruption CaseRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it will begin the process of remitting forfeited funds to FIFA, the world organizing body of soccer; CONCACAF, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in North and Central America, among other regions; CONMEBOL, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in South America; and various constituent national soccer federations (collectively, the “Victims”). The department granted a joint petition for remission filed by the Victims, recognizing losses and granting remission up to a total of more than $201 million, of which $32.3 million in forfeited funds has been approved for an initial distribution. In total, well over the amount granted has been seized and has been or is expected to be forfeited to the United States in the Eastern District of New York as part of the government’s long-running investigation and prosecution of corruption in international soccer.
To date, the prosecutions have resulted in charges against more than 50 individual and corporate defendants from more than 20 countries, primarily in connection with the offer and receipt of bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies to soccer officials in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments and events.
This announcement is the beginning of the process for returning funds to the victims of the FIFA bribery scandal and marks the department’s continued commitment to ensuring justice for those victims harmed by this scheme.
“The approval of this remission of funds illegally obtained in the FIFA scandal marks another important milestone in these prosecutions and the department’s commitment to use all tools at its disposal to prosecute corruption and to deprive perpetrators of ill-gotten gains,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This remission highlights the importance of asset forfeiture as a critical tool for the recovery of criminal proceeds and the pursuit of justice.”
“Today’s announcement confirms that money stolen by corrupt soccer officials and sports marketing executives through fraud and greed will be returned to where it belongs and used to benefit the sport,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis for the Eastern District of New York. “From the start, this investigation and prosecution have been focused on bringing wrongdoers to justice and restoring ill-gotten gains to those who work for the benefit of the beautiful game. Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, will always work to compensate victims of crime.”
“Kickbacks and bribes have a way of spreading like a disease through corrupt groups; pure and simple greed keeps the graft going,” said Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “Not one official in this investigation seemed to care about the damage being done to a sport that millions around the world revere. The only silver lining is the money will now help underprivileged people who need it, not the wealthy executives who just wanted it to get richer. Our work isn’t finished, and our promise to those who love the game – we won’t give up until everyone sees justice for what they’ve done.”
“For years, corrupt soccer officials and greedy sports marketing executives engaged in dozens of multimillion-dollar bribe and kickback schemes,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan L. Korner of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “These individuals and companies lined their pockets with millions that were supposed to be used for the development and betterment of soccer worldwide. Agents with IRS-CI and their partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI relentlessly pursued this corruption and seized these ill-gotten gains. Now these funds can be used as they were intended, to promote and develop the world’s most popular game.”
On May 27, 2015, an indictment was unsealed charging 14 FIFA officials and sports marketing executives with racketeering, honest services wire fraud and money laundering offenses, among others. On Dec. 3, 2015, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging an additional 16 FIFA officials with similar crimes. Additional defendants were charged by indictment and information. During the course of the prosecutions to date, 27 individual defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the charged crimes. In December 2017, two former FIFA officials, Juan Ángel Napout, of Paraguay, and José Maria Marin, of Brazil, were convicted after trial of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses. Four corporate entities have pleaded guilty and others, including banking institutions, have acknowledged their roles in criminal conduct through deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements. The government’s prosecutions and investigation are ongoing.
As part of these proceedings, many of the defendants were ordered to forfeit assets obtained through their criminal activity. Under federal law, the Department of Justice has the authority to distribute the proceeds of forfeited assets through the remission process to victims of crimes, including to the soccer organizations that employed and were defrauded by the corrupt soccer executives.
FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL have committed to distributing funds received through the remission process to and through a newly created World Football Remission Fund (the “Fund”), to be established under the FIFA Foundation, an independent foundation focused on youth programs, community outreach and humanitarian needs. The terms of the Fund provide for oversight and independent audit measures to ensure remitted funds are distributed appropriately.
The government’s case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s FIFA Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel P. Nitze, M. Kristin Mace, Keith D. Edelman, Brian D. Morris and Kaitlin T. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution and coordination of the victim remission process. The Justice Department, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to restore lost funds to victims of crime. The victim compensation payments in the FIFA case would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the FBI’s New York Field Office and IRS-CI.
Justice Department Approves Remission of over $32 Million in Forfeited Funds to Victims in the FIFA Corruption CaseRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY - The Department of Justice announced today that it will begin the process of remitting forfeited funds to FIFA, the world organizing body of soccer; CONCACAF, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in North and Central America, among other regions; CONMEBOL, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in South America; and various constituent national soccer federations (collectively, the “Victims”). The Department granted a joint petition for remission filed by the Victims, recognizing losses and granting remission up to a total of more than $201 million, of which $32.3 million in forfeited funds has been approved for an initial distribution. In total, well over the amount granted has been seized and has been or is expected to be forfeited to the United States in the Eastern District of New York as part of the government’s long-running investigation and prosecution of corruption in international soccer.
To date, the prosecutions have resulted in charges against more than 50 individual and corporate defendants from more than 20 countries, primarily in connection with the offer and receipt of bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies to soccer officials in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments and events.
This announcement is the beginning of the process for returning funds to the victims of the FIFA bribery scandal and marks the Department’s continued commitment to ensuring justice for those victims harmed by this scheme.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement.
“Today’s announcement confirms that money stolen by corrupt soccer officials and sports marketing executives through fraud and greed will be returned to where it belongs and used to benefit the sport,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “From the start, this investigation and prosecution have been focused on bringing wrongdoers to justice and restoring ill-gotten gains to those who work for the benefit of the beautiful game. Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will always work to compensate victims of crime.”
“The approval of this remission of funds illegally obtained in the FIFA scandal marks another important milestone in these prosecutions and the department’s commitment to use all tools at its disposal to prosecute corruption and to deprive perpetrators of ill-gotten gains,” stated Assistant Attorney General Polite. “This remission highlights the importance of asset forfeiture as a critical tool for the recovery of criminal proceeds and the pursuit of justice.”
“Kickbacks and bribes have a way of spreading like a disease through corrupt groups; pure and simple greed keeps the graft going. Not one official in this investigation seemed to care about the damage being done to a sport that millions around the world revere. The only silver lining is the money will now help underprivileged people who need it, not the wealthy executives who just wanted it to get richer. Our work isn’t finished, and our promise to those who love the game – we won’t give up until everyone sees justice for what they’ve done,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“For years, corrupt soccer officials and greedy sports marketing executives engaged in dozens of multimillion-dollar bribe and kickback schemes,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan L. Korner of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “These individuals and companies lined their pockets with millions that were supposed to be used for the development and betterment of soccer worldwide. Agents with IRS-CI and their partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI relentlessly pursued this corruption and seized these ill-gotten gains. Now these funds can be used as they were intended, to promote and develop the world’s most popular game.”
On May 27, 2015, an indictment was unsealed charging 14 FIFA officials and sports marketing executives with racketeering, honest services wire fraud and money laundering offenses, among others. On December 3, 2015, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging an additional 16 FIFA officials with similar crimes. Additional defendants were later charged by indictment and information. During the course of the prosecutions to date, 26 individual defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the charged crimes. In December 2017, two former FIFA officials, Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay and José Maria Marin of Brazil, were convicted after trial of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses. Four corporate entities have pleaded guilty and others, including banking institutions, have acknowledged their roles in criminal conduct through deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements. The government’s prosecutions and investigation are ongoing.
As part of these proceedings, many of the defendants were ordered to forfeit assets obtained through their criminal activity. Under federal law, the Department of Justice has the authority to distribute the proceeds of forfeited assets through the remission process to victims of crimes, including to the soccer organizations that employed and were defrauded by the corrupt soccer executives.
FIFA, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have committed to distributing funds received through the remission process to and through a newly created World Football Remission Fund (the “Fund”), to be established under the FIFA Foundation, an independent foundation focused on youth programs, community outreach and humanitarian needs. The terms of the Fund provide for oversight and independent audit measures to ensure remitted funds are distributed appropriately.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s FIFA Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel P. Nitze, M. Kristin Mace, Keith D. Edelman, Brian D. Morris, and Kaitlin T. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution and coordination of the victim remission process. The Justice Department, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to restore lost funds to victims of crime. The victim compensation payments in the FIFA case would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the FBI’s New York Field Office and the IRS-CI.
Joint Statement from Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart and Special Agent in Charge Douglas M. Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field OfficeRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – To our neighbors who have been severely impacted by the catastrophic flooding-particularly to those in Humphreys County:
“We are devastated by the unprecedented level of destruction that has occurred and can barely fathom the pain and suffering inflicted on so many. As the rebuilding of these impacted communities begins, please be aware of scammers who will attempt to profit from the pain and suffering of others. If you suspect that you are a potential victim of a scam relating to this disaster, please call the Disaster Fraud Hotline or visit https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form to report fraudulent activity.
A warning to scammers who are already at work - the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI will be vigilantly supporting our local law enforcement partners in identifying and apprehending anyone engaged in fraudulent activity designed to further victimize those who have suffered so much from this catastrophe. We will maintain a zero-tolerance approach and bring federal charges whenever appropriate.”
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Jacksonville Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Transporting Illegal Aliens onto Camp Lejeune Marine Base by BoatRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Jacksonville husband and wife duo pleaded guilty today to transporting illegal aliens onto Camp Lejeune Marine Base by boat.
According to court documents, Timothy Scott Belcher, 56 and Georgina Belcher 63 orchestrated the transportation of three foreign nationals illegally residing in the United States onto Camp Lejeune Marine Base by circumventing the base gate and transporting them from Jacksonville, NC, to the Wilson Boat dock on base. The three aliens were employed by a drywall company owned by Georgina Belcher, which had a contract with the U.S. Military.
The Belcher’s pleaded guilty to Bringing in and Harboring Certain Aliens and face a possible sentence of not more than five years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release at the time of sentencing, scheduled for the November 16, 2021 term of court.
“The Nation's critical infrastructure provides the essential services that underpin American society. Proactive and coordinated efforts are necessary to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure – including our Military Bases, Airports, and other areas that are vital to public confidence and the Nation's safety,” said G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina who made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. Homeland Security Investigations and the Marine Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-86-1M and 7:21-CR-86-2M.
Inver Grove Heights Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor.
According to court documents, Antonio Eric Torres Maldonado, 34, admitted to sexually abusing a minor over a multiple year period. During this time, Maldonado used his cell phone to take sexually explicit photographs of the minor.
On April 21, 2021, Maldonado pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of production and attempted production of child pornography. Maldonado was also charged and convicted in Dakota County of first degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 172 months in prison, which will be served concurrent to the federal sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson sentenced the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Lakeville Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela M. Munoz.
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Illegal possession of firearm, ammunition sends Browning man to prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced on Monday to 27 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Wesley Allen Cross Guns, Jr., 32, pleaded guilty April 6 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that on Oct. 8, 2020, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services had been looking for Cross Guns, Jr., in relation to recent criminal activity including two police chases. Officers arrested Cross Guns, Jr., after he was seen walking with two juveniles. In a search of Cross Guns, Jr., officers found methamphetamine and bullets for a .22-caliber firearm. One of the companions, who was detained, told officers he had a firearm and asked them to get it. Officers pulled a .22-caliber rifle with a broken off stock from under the individual’s clothing. The name, Cross Guns, was on the rifle, and the individual said it was for the defendant. The individual told officers he had bought the rifle and shared it with Cross Guns, Jr. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of previous felony convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to court documents, in January, 2021, Lester Brown, 51, was apprehended throwing packages containing narcotics over the fence at the South Mississippi Regional Correctional Institution in Leaksville, Mississippi.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on November 23, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA in Gulfport is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams is prosecuting the case.
Former Preschool Teacher Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A former preschool teacher pleaded guilty today to purchasing sexually explicit images of children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Jason Sherod Baldwin, 29, was charged via criminal complaint in July 2020 and indicted less than a month later. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of receipt of child pornography.
In plea papers, Mr. Baldwin, a former teacher at Dallas’ Hockaday School, admitted that he used Kik, an encrypted messaging app popular among teenagers, to purchase links to child pornography from another Kik user. In chats, Mr. Baldwin requested “mainly preteen boy-on-boy vid[eo]s.”
According to court documents, the investigation into Mr. Baldwin began after FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at the home of a convicted sex offender in Philadelphia. A search of the offender’s phone revealed that he routinely used Kik to solicit payment for links child pornography. One of the accounts with which the offender communicated traced back to Mr. Baldwin.
On Oct. 29, Mr. Baldwin messaged the sex offender about purchasing child pornography. The offender shared a link to a “preview” folder and indicated the complete file set would cost $27. Mr. Baldwin sent the money through PayPal and received links to the files a few minutes later.
The investigation showed that Mr. Baldwin purchased child pornography from the offender several times over the ensuing months, on Nov. 11 ($13 for two videos of minor males), Dec. 8 ($10 for a video and more than 100 images), Dec. 18 ($12 for two videos), and Jan. 21 ($31 for seven videos).
In an interview with law enforcement after he was arrested, Mr. Baldwin admitted that he’d used Kik to purchase sexually explicit images of children. He said he had hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos of children stored on his cell phones, and that he had been viewing child porn for approximately eight years.
He now faces between five and 20 years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau’s Philadelphia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana prosecuted the case.
Former Owner of S&D Gun Show Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Pamlico County man was sentenced on August 24, 2021, to 12 months and one day in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Additionally, he was fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit all of his firearms and ammunition. On July 11, 2019, Sherwood Watson Caraway pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Caraway, 62, had previously been convicted in federal court for illegally dealing firearms without a license in 2005. Caraway at that time owned and operated S&D Show Promotions, Inc., a gun and knife show production company that holds events throughout Eastern North Carolina. Despite his conviction, Caraway continued to operate gun shows in the area. Investigation in 2016 and 2017 revealed that Caraway continued to possess multiple firearms in his home in Merritt, North Carolina. On September 2, 2017, detectives with the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Caraway’s home. They located numerous rifles, shotguns, and handguns, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition. Agents also searched a residence owned by Caraway’s daughter, where they seized another 33 firearms that had previously been kept at Caraway’s house. In total, the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) seized over forty firearms. After pleading guilty to these charges, Caraway sold his interest in the gun shows in 2020.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office and ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura S. Howard prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-CR-00032-FL.
Former Norfolk Sheriff Convicted of Public Corruption ChargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a former Norfolk City Sheriff today on eleven counts, including conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right, obtaining property under color of official right, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“As the evidence at trial demonstrated, former Sheriff McCabe brazenly abused his position of power as an elected official and accepted bribes to enrich himself in exchange for granting city contracts,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The jury’s guilty verdict on all counts sends a strong message that government officials who corrupt their oaths and betray the community’s trust will be held accountable in the Eastern District of Virginia. We are deeply grateful to trial team, our law enforcement partners, and the witnesses who came forward to help bring this defendant to justice on behalf of the citizens of Norfolk.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Robert James McCabe, 63, who currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, engaged in illicit quid pro quo relationships with vendors while McCabe served as the Sheriff of the City of Norfolk.
Evidence presented at trial showed that, from 1994 through 2016, vendors provided McCabe with cash, travel, entertainment, gift cards, catering, personal gifts, and campaign contributions, in exchange for official actions that favored the vendors and their contracts with the Norfolk City Jail. These favorable actions included changing the terms of the contracts to favor certain companies, granting extensions and renewals, and providing inside bidding information. In exchange, ABL Management, Inc., the company that provided food services for the Norfolk City Jail, regularly provided free catering at the defendant’s home, for his annual golf tournaments, and for other political events. ABL’s former CEO also gave the defendant free trips – including a trip to the 2004 BCS National Championship game in Louisiana – and a ride in a glass-bottomed helicopter in San Francisco.
Evidence further demonstrated that the defendant met with one vendor at a hotel in Philadelphia where he received $6,000 in cash, which he described during his testimony at trial as a “loan.” However, the defendant never executed any loan documents, never made any payments on this “loan,” and never disclosed the existence of this “loan” on his Statement of Economic Interest forms. Evidence presented at trial also showed that, despite receiving a multitude of gifts from these vendors, the defendant never disclosed any of these items in his required campaign disclosures.
“Robert McCabe betrayed his oath to the citizens of Norfolk out of greed and self-interest. Instead of living up to his promise to serve the community, he abused his official position to serve himself,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “There is no place in public service for this kind of self-dealing, and this case demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to rooting out and exposing public corruption.”
“Elected officials should be the standard bearers for the rule of law and be the model of integrity to their constituency. McCabe was neither. Instead, he used his position of public trust for personal enrichment,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington DC Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate resources to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure those who exploit their powers are held accountable.”
McCabe faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count when sentenced on January 21, 2022. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Internal Revenue Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa E. O’Boyle, Randy C. Stoker, and Anthony Mozzi are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-171.
Former Klamath Falls Police Officer Pleads Guilty for Stealing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl from Evidence RoomRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—A former Klamath Falls police officer pleaded guilty today in federal court after stealing methamphetamine and fentanyl from an evidence room.
Thomas Dwayne Reif, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.
According to court documents, on or about November 27, 2020, Reif is alleged to have entered the Klamath Falls Police Department’s temporary evidence room using an unauthorized key and removed an evidence item containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Reif briefly left the evidence room before returning the evidence item to the evidence locker and leaving the facility.
Shortly thereafter, Reif overdosed while operating his police car. The car jumped a median, travelled into oncoming traffic, and caused a multiple-vehicle accident. Reif was rushed to the hospital and successfully revived by medical personnel. Toxicology reports showed that Reif was under the influence of substances including methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Investigators searched the personal locker assigned to Reif at the Klamath Falls Police Department. Inside the locker, investigators found that Reif had concealed an evidence bag containing methamphetamine.
On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a two-count indictment charging Reif with possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.
Reif faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced on November 23, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Klamath Falls Police Department cooperated and provided assistance throughout the investigation.
Former Jacksonville Second Grade Teacher Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Videos Using Social Media AppRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Thomas Lester Hazouri, Jr. (41, Jacksonville) today
pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse videos over the internet using a social media messaging application (app). He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Hazouri’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Hazouri has been detained since his arrest on September 4, 2020.
According to court documents, a company that owns and hosts a particular online social media messaging app notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that on March 26, 2020, one of its users, who was later identified as Thomas Lester Hazouri, Jr., had uploaded and distributed four videos depicting children being sexually abused to several users in a public chat room. Further investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) traced the internet protocol address used to distribute these videos to Hazouri’s residence in Jacksonville Beach. At that time, Hazouri was employed as a second grade teacher at Mayport Elementary School in Jacksonville.
JSO obtained search warrants for the social messaging app account for user “mybfsgaynotme” as well as for another email account used by Hazouri. Hazouri’s “mybfsgaynotme” account contained 19 images and 45 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hazouri’s email account contained several photos depicting child erotica. On August 6, 2020, JSO detectives and other personnel executed a search warrant at Hazouri’s residence and seized Hazouri’s iPhone and two laptop computers. Forensic examination of the iPhone revealed that it contained 123 images and three videos depicting child sexual abuse. The three videos on Hazouri’s iPhone appeared to depict the same content as three of the videos distributed by Hazouri using the app on March 26, 2020. Hazouri was subsequently arrested.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Duval County School Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Essex County Postal Employee Admits Stealing Credit Cards from Mail in Access Device Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee today admitted stealing credit cards sent through the mail as part of a conspiracy to commit access device fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Kyle Williams, 36, of Vauxhall, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Williams was employed by the USPS. From July 2019 to August 2020, Williams stole from the mail credit cards issued by financial institutions outside of New Jersey and provided those credit cards to his conspirators, who fraudulently activated them and used them to make and attempt to make purchases without the cardholders’ authorization, including buying gift cards and electronics. The investigation to date has revealed that the victims have incurred over approximately $100,000 in intended and actual losses from fraudulent purchases made using their stolen credit cards. In addition to stealing and illegally using credit cards, Williams and his conspirators also schemed to fraudulently use over $11,000 of funds pre-loaded onto Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury and sent in the U.S. mail pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), that were stolen from the mail. The CARES Act authorized EIP payments structured as one-time refundable tax credits to certain eligible taxpayers of $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples filing jointly, and up to $500 for each qualifying child. The goal of the EIP card fraud was for the conspirators to unlawfully obtain the government funds pre-loaded onto these cards, in amounts ranging from approximately $400 to approximately $2,400.
The conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 90 months in prison in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2022.
Williams was charged with Jarid Brooks, 27, Justin Brooks, 21, and Kyjuan Hutchins, 22, also of Vauxhall, in October 2020. Jarid Brooks and Justin Brooks were charged in an indictment with conspiracy to receive stolen mail, commit bank fraud, and defraud the USPS and the U.S. Department of Treasury, theft of stolen mail, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession with intent to distribute narcotics (Jarid Brooks only), and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number (Justin Brooks only). The indictment is pending before Judge Cecchi. Hutchins has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit access device fraud and is awaiting sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins; special agents with the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; and special agents with the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. She also thanked the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the Caldwell Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Boonton Police Department, and the Millburn Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations against Jarid Brooks and Justin Brooks are merely accusations, and those defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Airline Pilot from Kenosha County Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 24, 2021, Devery Moses (age:29), a former airline pilot from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Lynn Adelman.
According to court records, Moses engaged in online “sextortion” with several underage girls from across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Some of the victims were as young as twelve years old. Filings indicate that after Moses received sexually explicit photographs and videos from his victims, he threatened to expose them on social media if they did not comply with his demand for increasingly outrageous and outlandish sexual acts.
Filings in the case reveal that many of the victims suffered significant, ongoing emotional trauma from his actions, including one victim reporting serious suicidal thoughts.
This successful prosecution of this case was the result of the extraordinary efforts of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Division, and the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan J. Paulson and Abbey Marzick.
Moses’s federal sentence will run concurrently with a -year sentence previously imposed for a state conviction for possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
Florida Man Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit Drugs on the Dark NetRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Inverness, Florida, man was sentenced today to three years in prison for selling hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription drug pills through the Internet.
“By selling counterfeit drugs through the Darknet, the defendant recklessly endangered the community and placed his own personal gain over the health and safety of the public,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Working closely with our partners through the Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force, EDVA will continue to investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable those who contribute to the proliferation of illegal pharmaceuticals on dark web marketplaces.”
According to court documents, from at least April 2019 until October 2020, Benjamin Burdick, 55, sold at least 249,700 counterfeit Xanax pills through online hidden marketplaces. From his residence in Florida, Burdick used a pill press to manufacture pills that he stamped with the letters ‘Xanax.’ The pills that Burdick created did not contain just alprazolam, which genuine Xanax contains, but also contained substances such as flualprazolam, etizolam, adinazolam, and microcrystalline cellulose.
“The FBI works every day with our law enforcement partners to stop the sale of illegal drugs on the Dark Web. These drugs are not only illegal but can be extremely dangerous because these drug dealers are not selling the drugs they claim to be. The counterfeit pills that Burdick was selling online could have deadly consequences in our communities across the country,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Bornstein of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “The FBI Washington Field Office’s Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force is charged with identifying and investigating the most egregious Dark Web marketplaces, and the vendors operating on the marketplaces who are engaged in the illegal acquisition and distribution of controlled substances, to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other opioids.”
“Selling counterfeit prescription drugs in the U.S. marketplace puts consumers’ health at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “The FDA remains fully committed to disrupting and dismantling illegal prescription drug distribution networks that place profits ahead of public health and safety.”
“Whenever someone uses the U.S. Mail to send anything that is counterfeit, illegal or potentially dangerous, Postal Inspectors will find them and bring them to justice,” said Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Together with our partners at the Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force we continue to investigate those who misuse the mail in furtherance of their criminal activity. We remain committed to keeping the mail safe for our customers and our employees.”
Between June 2019 and August 2020, undercover federal agents purchased multiple packages of counterfeit pills from Burdick. When his home was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant in October 2020, agents recovered 16,000 counterfeit pills, a pill press, and almost $150,000 in cash. Law enforcement also discovered six firearms and miscellaneous ammunition in Burdick’s residence.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang and Jay V. Prabhu and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karolina Klyuchnikova prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Josh Rothman and Senior Litigation Counsel Linda Marks of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch provided significant assistance on this case.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents and task force partners, including special agents and officers of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and detectives from local assisting police agencies. The task force is charged with identifying and investigating the most egregious Dark Web marketplaces, and the vendors operating on the marketplaces who are engaged in the illegal acquisition and distribution of controlled substances, to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other opioids.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-47.
First of 3 Brothers Sentenced for Attempting to Steal Guns from Federal Firearms LicenseesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Jerwahn Atkins, 24, formerly of Buente Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
In connection with the guilty plea of brothers Jerwahn Atkins, Jamir Atkins and Jerquay Atkins, the court was advised that on May 31, 2020, the Atkins brothers conspired to steal firearms from federal firearm licensee, Allegheny Arms and Gun Works. The Atkins’s used a crowbar in an attempt to gain entry to the gun store which triggered a burglary alarm. This alarmed caused the brothers to run away to which Jerquay and Jerwahn left the scene in the same vehicle while Jamir departed in a separate vehicle, not arriving at the next crime scene. Jerquay Atkins and Jerwahn Atkins then drove to the National Armory in Moon Township, also a federal firearm licensee. A crowbar was again used to pry open the door triggering the burglary alarm causing the two brothers to flee once more.
Before the sentencing, the defendant, Jerwahn Atkins, requested a downward variance. Judge Hardy denied said variance and imposed an 18-month term of imprisonment, three years of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for Jerquay Atkins on August 25, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. and Jamir Atkins on September 2, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., The law provides for a total sentence of not more than five years imprisonment, a term of supervised release not more than three years, and/or a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Jerwahn Atkins to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jerwahn Atkins, Jamir Atkins and Jerquay Atkins.
Federal Grand Jury Expands RICO Indictment Against MS-13 by Adding Defendants and 4 Previously Unsolved MurdersRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Nine new defendants and a series of previously uncharged murders are included in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed today that significantly expands a wide-ranging racketeering indictment targeting an arm of the MS-13 transnational street gang.
The 18-count Third Superseding Indictment, which was unsealed following the arrests of four defendants this week, alleges that members and associates of MS-13 murdered 11 people, five of whom were hacked to death with machetes or knives in the Angeles National Forest. The indictment, which was filed on August 5, adds nine defendants to the previous version of the indictment and nearly doubles the number of charged murders.
Mara Salvatrucha was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, and the street gang is now comprised of tens of thousands of individuals in at least 10 states and several Central American countries, notably El Salvador. In the mid-1990s, Mara Salvatrucha became associated with the Mexican Mafia and added the number 13 to its name (“M” is the 13th letter of the alphabet). To become a new member of a Mexican Mafia-affiliated gang, an individual underwent a 13-second beating by other members of the gang.
This case focuses on MS-13 Los Angeles’ Fulton clique, a particularly violent subset of MS-13 that operates in the San Fernando Valley and has been bolstered by an influx of young immigrants from Central America.
“In 2016, the Fulton clique decided to break from MS-13’s traditional program in Los Angeles in favor of a traditional Salvadoran Mara Salvatrucha program,” according to the new indictment. “The key difference between MS-13’s traditional Los Angeles program and MS-13’s Salvadoran program was that the Salvadoran program required a prospective member to have committed at least one homicide before becoming a homeboy,” or full-fledged member.
In addition to murders previously charged in this case – including one in which the victim was dismembered – the new indictment charges the January 2019 murder of a man who was fatally shot in a remote area near Santa Clarita and whose remains were not recovered until the Tick Fire burned the area 10 months later.
Of the 11 murders alleged in the indictment, five victims allegedly were killed with machetes or knives, while six allegedly were shot to death. All 11 murders are alleged to have been committed “for the purpose of gaining entry to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13 Los Angeles.”
The 111-page Third Superseding Indictment names 31 defendants, 21 of whom are charged with conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The RICO charge alleges nearly 300 “overt acts,” including acts involving murder, drug trafficking and extortion.
The new indictment was unsealed just before scheduled arraignments for three new defendants who were taken into custody in the Los Angeles area. The fourth new defendant was arrested in Colorado. Two new defendants were already in federal custody, and three new defendants were already in state custody.
The RICO case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanna Curtis, Chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall, a Deputy District Attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
This case 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.